txdave
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Post by txdave on Nov 25, 2015 9:24:55 GMT -8
Howdy from Central Texas. This is my first post on this forum. I've been wanting a vintage canned ham trailer for a long time. I'm looking for a reasonably solid candidate that I can restore. Yesterday, I went to look at a 1964 twelve foot Mobile Scout. The exterior is in good shape. All of the windows are intact as is the door and screen door. Inside, there are a couple of areas of water damage (under front window, one rear corner), but all of the original parts are there, such as light fixtures, stove, sink, etc. I am not afraid of putting in the elbow grease to make this a nice trailer. I have a lot of tools and building experience. I've built an airplane from a set of plans, 2 sailboats, and 6 teardrop campers from scratch. I can weld, paint, work with wood, and do pretty much anything I should need with sheet metal. My question for all of you experts out there relates to price. The seller was asking $2750. I offered $2000 and he said "OK". Is this a reasonable price? '64 Mobile Scout
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Nov 25, 2015 9:47:15 GMT -8
I have been following this ad from afar because I love the shape and the skin looks excellent. The door window is great.
The only downside (for me) is the paint inside. But that can be undone with some work.
The frame is solid? The hitch is straight with no bend in it? The floor seems solid? If yes, I would have considered it myself for $2000...if it was local.
In today's market, I think you're not overpaying. It's not a giveaway, but it's not crazy expensive. After all, it is a small ham. Nothing is in more demand than a restored small ham.
With all that said, it all depends on how much you like it. Beautifully restored hams sell for big money so you should make out fine.
Enjoy!
fyi vikx wrote a great book on restoring hams and Mobiltec created some must-see videos at cannedhamtrailers.com And there are some very experienced people on this forum here to help.
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Post by vikx on Nov 25, 2015 23:42:14 GMT -8
I have a slightly different opinion. This is a 64 ham and doesn't have golden glow (usually birch) interior. I have a 65 Mobile Scout with the same paneling. This is a nice little repair candidate but won't bring big money restored. It is too *new* and the floor plan is less desirable. Most people want a front dinette separate from the back bed..
Skin is very good and shape in demand. Roof looks coated which can be a problem. Interior paneling needs to be replaced. The cost of parts is going to be high on this one.
To me, 2K is too much. I'd say maybe 1500. I'm a cheapskate.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Nov 26, 2015 5:44:37 GMT -8
Vikx is right about a 64 not being old enough to get top dollar. I think 55-60 is the ideal. And painted interior never seems to sell for as much as the Amber woodwork even when it's done very well.
I will offer a counterpoint to her counterpoint on layout. Although I think the classic dinette in the front layout is much more comfortable, on the east coast the Shasta Compact (the layout of the scout) is in HUGE demand. From what I see here, it's in more demand than the classic Shasta layout. I think there are two reasons, small is cuter and the weight. Others may disagree.
On price, this is a classic East Verses West debate. In the east a rotted, barely safe to move, ham sells for $1000. Anything filthy dirty but safe to tow...$2000. Anything needing a complete restoration, yet it's safe to tow and can be camped in on the way home...$3000+. West coast there are ten canned hams for sale for every one in NC. Okay, okay, twenty to one.
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Nov 26, 2015 6:27:36 GMT -8
Some will say the price is too high, others too low. I always expect to pay a premium for something I truly want, maybe my bad luck but it's just the way it always seems to work out for me. This is especially true when it comes to something like these old trailers that are extremely popular right now and in limited supply.
Once you have toiled for the hundreds of hours and spent the thousands of dollars a top tier restoration requires, that extra money spent on the initial purchase will be long forgotten. With your skill set you are way ahead of most people who grossly underestimate what it takes to bring one of these back. Go pick it up before someone else does and show us what you can do to it!
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Nov 26, 2015 9:04:40 GMT -8
The seller was asking $2750. I offered $2000 and he said "OK". Is this a reasonable price? '64 Mobile ScoutHe dropped from 2750 to 2000 for no reason except for the fact that this is pure profit to him... and you're doing the work to haul it off his property. Offer a reason (like, it has a painted interior), and offer 1800 and tell him (don't ask) that you're on your way over to pick it up. Spend the 200 you saved on new birch plywood. Mobile Scouts are cool trailers and the later models still have that 50's ham profile everyone likes. With your capabilities you'll have a great compact trailer. I predict the work/materials will be 2-3X's what you anticipate. Happy thanksgiving. Good luck!
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Nov 26, 2015 9:14:28 GMT -8
You will get just as many opinions as the number of folks who answer. We all know from years around this hobby that price is subjective. The truest answer is: It is well worth it if you think it is. If you really want this one, really want to put the work into this and want the expected results badly enough, it's worth it. None of that hinges at all on what it might be worth selling it after you finish. Take a little time to imagine what it would be like using the layout though, to make sure it could work for you personally.
You seem to have a lot of the experience needed to start work easily, with the first rule being: "They are not built like a house, and repair exactly the opposite". You already know this if you have built your own teardrops before!
Three years have past since I made my purchase of the Airflyte. A member and friend clued me in on its existence, and long story short, my wife and I both knew when we saw it that it needed to come home. The previous owner stuck firmly to his guns regarding his asking price, once it was decided, and even though we tried to negotiate a little, we ended up paying his price...which coincidentally was $2000. It fit much of the same description as this Mobil Scout.... Good shape, some water damage to deal with, all original parts with it...
The prices on the open market for such a trailer are insane now, compared to then. Just going by my experiences, and what I see available within my "striking distance", I would consider it a good buy. But, again, only if you see it as such....
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txdave
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Post by txdave on Nov 26, 2015 11:11:05 GMT -8
Thanks for all of the great advice. I have been to look at this trailer 3 times. The frame has some surface rust, but nothing rusted through. There is not a single missing piece. I know it will take quite a bit of work to make this a really nice looking and fully functional trailer, but I feel there is a lot of potential here. I'll most likely go back and offer $1800, and will buy it whether or not he accepts that offer. A small ham such as this doesn't come along very often. The bottom line is I want it, and I'm not happy unless I have a project to work on. I think this would be one that I really enjoy. By the way, here's a link to a photo of one of my recent teardrop builds. teardrop
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Post by danrhodes on Nov 26, 2015 11:52:12 GMT -8
Thanks for all of the great advice. I have been to look at this trailer 3 times. The frame has some surface rust, but nothing rusted through. There is not a single missing piece. I know it will take quite a bit of work to make this a really nice looking and fully functional trailer, but I feel there is a lot of potential here. I'll most likely go back and offer $1800, and will buy it whether or not he accepts that offer. A small ham such as this doesn't come along very often. The bottom line is I want it, and I'm not happy unless I have a project to work on. I think this would be one that I really enjoy. By the way, here's a link to a photo of one of my recent teardrop builds. teardropThat's a nice teardrop. Love the retro paint job. We totally over paid for our trailer considering the poor build quality and hidden condition issues, but still feel it's worth it. The kids love "working on the trailer" and the whole family helps out. We are going very slow in our project, but it is nice to have something to work on when you just need to relax and use your hands. My feeling is, if you have the skills and you find a trailer you like, pull the trigger... The buy price will likely end up a small percentage of the total build price, but the experience is priceless.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2015 18:00:21 GMT -8
Hello friends, well heck we all seem to get a piece of work we think isn't gonna take too much and then we open it up the can of worms. It's a canned ham but also a can of worms haha!! I do agree with nccamper and teh, varying opinions and it's about what's worth it to you. I paid 1500 for my little compact and currently in the heart of repairing it the best I can. But even if I come out after its done at 2500 I have a camper that is everything I want and I know what was done to it. Not a bad deal to me. Best wishes on your Scout if you get it. My wife is from San Antonio its a great place, don't know if you're from there but greetings from Florida.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Nov 26, 2015 19:14:03 GMT -8
txdave, Nice job on the teardrop. The Scout will be like a huge mansion in comparison.
"I'm not happy unless I have a project to work on."
Isn't that the truth?
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Post by vikx on Nov 26, 2015 23:15:35 GMT -8
What they said above... got tired of "liking" everyone's post. LOL. Haven't quite decided what to do with my Mobile Scout but do toy with the idea of golden glow birch and a full frame up...
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Post by vintagebruce on Nov 29, 2015 8:31:18 GMT -8
What they said above... got tired of "liking" everyone's post. LOL. Haven't quite decided what to do with my Mobile Scout but do toy with the idea of golden glow birch and a full frame up... I commented on this one when the ad was listed in our For Sale section. Normally I would suggest a 64 is not going to command the best price when considering a Compact, BUT...although the side window configuration/style gives away "her" age, and is a bit "modern", it will let in more light than the usual smaller jalousie window like the ones on the canned ham Shasta Compact. The cost to rebuild from the frame up on one of this size/model, combined with the opportunity to tweak the layout such as what was done when Hamlet was rebuilt, if rebuilt to the quality standard of a vikx rebuild, imho would result in a very cute desirable Compact Mobile Scout that would be valued in the $7K+ range. It is unique, being the smallest of the Mobile Scouts. I think any buy-in of $2K or less would be a good purchase. Just don't skrimp on the rebuild. It must get an amber glow birch interior. And super cool exterior two-tone paint scheme Hope you bought it.
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txdave
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Post by txdave on Nov 29, 2015 19:08:49 GMT -8
Well, with the $2000 in hand I went to the sellers house today, ready to buy the Mobile Scout. Feeling brave I asked him if he would consider $1700. He got very angry, called me a few bad names, and stormed off into his house. I'm not quite sure what to do at this point.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Nov 29, 2015 20:24:04 GMT -8
Something will pop up sooner or later. It always does.
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