justriley
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Post by justriley on Feb 4, 2020 9:27:02 GMT -8
Dear everyone, The owner and I are negotiating a price for this trailer. Any thoughts on where I should stand on the price? Here are some pictures of the exterior and interior. Two front windows do not open and are flimsy. Some of the interior is rotting, so I understand I will need to rebuild. Stove works, electrical outlets work, icebox fridge, tail lights don't work I hope this link works well.
IMG_0742 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr IMG_0737 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
IMG_0738 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
IMG_0743 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
IMG_0736 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
IMG_0752 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
IMG_0740 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
IMG_0741 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
IMG_0735 by Riley Godinez, on Flickr
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 4, 2020 9:51:47 GMT -8
Unique looking trailer. Because of it's age it's going to need some piece meal type restoring. Removing the outer skin will reveal what is needed. Now that I can see the inside it really does look better than I though it would but looks are deceiving. I would value this trailer at around $1500. But then again I'm more into 50s trailers. THe places that will be the most difficult to rebuild will be in the front and rear with their unique shapes. Lots of time involved. Cost will be mostly lumber and paneling and a bit of metal perhaps.
Welcome to our little corner of the vintage world.
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justriley
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Post by justriley on Feb 4, 2020 10:02:07 GMT -8
Thank you Larry, I am only worried of someone else coming along with no sense of true value and making me pay more because they have tons of money.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 4, 2020 10:11:10 GMT -8
Yes that is a gamble that we all take when negotiating price.
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justriley
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Post by justriley on Feb 4, 2020 13:15:48 GMT -8
I don’t think the owner will take 1500$. It’s personally not my taste in trailers either. I’d like to make more people aware of your videos so the market doesn’t get destroyed by people willing to pay tons of money for these when they are not worth it. What is worth it is “maybe” keeping it for life, which I think would be a good idea for a reasonable price. My goal isn’t to flip it as fast as possible and make profit with cheap labor. I’d like to preserve it and camp in it for a very long time
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 4, 2020 14:33:37 GMT -8
Well you missed the boat on that one a very long time ago. They have been over pricing these trailers for about a decade now because they all see dollar signs when they discover what they see on FB and CL. Now you can barely even find a real vintage trailer for sale on CL. I wouldn't know about FB because I don't do "social" media. Value is in the eye of the buyer. So it's really up to you what you pay for it. After that we will help with the build all we can.
This used to be a vintage trailer restore forum. It actually started out as a Shasta forum. But it grew beyond that and then with time it broadedned to not only non-vintage trailers but now includes brand new trailers built to look like vintage trailers. You'll find just about anything here now. I try to stick to restoring vintage trailers from the mid-century-modern era. That would be from 1945 to 1965. That era is my passion. By the way your trailer looks to be from the 60s. Perhaps a 63?
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justriley
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Post by justriley on Feb 4, 2020 14:52:55 GMT -8
Well thanks you for all the words of advice. This website is great. As far as I’m aware of it is a 1965. Just double checked.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Feb 4, 2020 16:25:05 GMT -8
I agree with everything Larry is saying above.
If you want it for life but don’t love the camper, don’t overpay. If you loved it, overpaying is now the only way to be sure you get it.
I think it’s work maybe $2500 if the skin is savable (not covered with filler and house paint) and the floor and frame are solid. While the skin is off you’ll replace all the wiring. Cheap. And you’ll add a 12 volt system. Not so cheap.
If you can get by with just replacing a few panels, rotted piece meal framing here and there, you might pay a little more. The ability to repair it in a few months and be camping is worth more.
Worth checking out: Some excellent videos at cannedhamtrailers.com And a great book at vintagetrailerrepairmanual.weebly.com/
Hopefully Dan will chime in. He did an excellent restoration of a 1965 Field and Stream.
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Post by vikx on Feb 4, 2020 18:31:50 GMT -8
I agree with NC and Larry. I'm seeing some bulging/rippled skin (rot probably behind it). Also think it is going to need a LOT of work.
Any old trailer with a higher price tag should already have had structural repairs done. I'd say anything approaching 5K should be repaired and have photos to prove it.
What is the seller asking?
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justriley
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Post by justriley on Feb 4, 2020 23:13:42 GMT -8
Hi there seller is asking 4500$ We’ve negotiated a lower price. I would say it on the forum our new negotiated price though I don’t want to interfere with a private negotiation. I have a friend who will help me restore it, though the buyer is willing to hold onto it, supposedly, and restore it to make more money. Though if the trailer is not restored properly as I’d like to do, then the owner just signed off on the trailers deathwish. Many People have yet to understand or be aware of what it takes to keep these trailers alive for another 60years. Perfect reconstruction of old engineering which is difficult. I have in mind of how I want to handle the negotiation, though the seller might wait for another buyer who is willing to pay 4500$ for rotten wood. Thank you for all the responses . Here in California people are money hungry for every dollar , I can’t blame them , to many folk want money quick n easy. It’s up to to consumers to control this market and I want to make everyone who is interested in buying old trailers aware of mobiletecs videos and this forum. It will help people from buying crap for to much everywhere, and also help people be realistic of what they have and how much cash they want for them.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 5, 2020 6:45:58 GMT -8
Hi there seller is asking 4500$ We’ve negotiated a lower price. I would say it on the forum our new negotiated price though I don’t want to interfere with a private negotiation. I have a friend who will help me restore it, though the buyer is willing to hold onto it, supposedly, and restore it to make more money. Though if the trailer is not restored properly as I’d like to do, then the owner just signed off on the trailers deathwish. Many People have yet to understand or be aware of what it takes to keep these trailers alive for another 60years. Perfect reconstruction of old engineering which is difficult. I have in mind of how I want to handle the negotiation, though the seller might wait for another buyer who is willing to pay 4500$ for rotten wood. Thank you for all the responses . Here in California people are money hungry for every dollar , I can’t blame them , to many folk want money quick n easy. It’s up to to consumers to control this market and I want to make everyone who is interested in buying old trailers aware of mobiletecs videos and this forum. It will help people from buying crap for to much everywhere, and also help people be realistic of what they have and how much cash they want for them. It's like you are reading my mind. I agree with you in everything you said. Matter of fact I preach everything you said. Reverse engineering is how we do this. Works every time. Old engineering worked and it is still working. They are still building trailers with this type of engineering because it still works and they haven't come up with anything better. Thanks so much Riley for singing the song of proper restoration....
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justriley
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Post by justriley on Feb 5, 2020 8:32:27 GMT -8
larry cheers, its all from you, your from the era and understand it well, I trust you as youve been around every nook in these trailers. Im just trying to carry on the best good for these trailers. I believe I will be back here before tonight, because tomorrow the deal is happening around 5pm . Again thanks everyone
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justriley
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Post by justriley on Feb 5, 2020 8:34:33 GMT -8
oh just to say, why im willing to pay more, Its a very cheap house, cheapest property in california possibly, I need a place to live in temporarily as I attend school for the next two-threee years. Could anyone guess the restoration value if I rebuild the frame and complete the two broken windows , also there is no rock guard!?
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Feb 5, 2020 9:31:46 GMT -8
"...value if I rebuild the frame"
You mean rotten wood wall/ceiling framing not the metal camper frame below?
My guesstimate: if the rot is fixed, no water stains or signs of rot on the inside panels, decent paint job but not professional, clean flooring but not new, working systems, clean but not new cushions and mattress, $5000+ depending on if the woodwork looks great or just good.
As a rule, it's easier to get $2500 for a rotted camper than $10,000 for a completely restored camper.
You'll need a working heater (or electric hookup) along with a working fridge if you plan to live in it. Also a Fantastic Fan and charge ports would be nice.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 5, 2020 11:50:19 GMT -8
In most cases we lose money on a restored trailer when we go to sell it so we don't do it to make money. On the few that I have profited from I make about a buck an hour if that. I remember the first trailer I restored I made exactly $1.75. That's it. Now adays when I do a restore for someone else I charge by the hour so they are people who don't really care about the price and just want a really nice and safe trailer. With the Super Shasta she spent about $34k on it having me do the work. The trailer will never be worth more than about $20k if that. I sold my Deville completely restored for $7500 and they sold it after putting another $3k into it. They got $16,500 for that one. Not the norm really. Your trailer is very unique and if you do it up all properly and perhaps lighten up the inside with lighter stain (DON'T PAINT IT) You might actually get $7500 for it. But from what I can see you will need a lot of new metal. Roof mostly. You'll also be installing a lot of electrical which can add up quickly. You're going to want a new fresh water tank as well. The paint depends upon how you go about it. There's cheap if you do it yourself. And then more expensive if you do it yourself with more expensive paint and equipment. And then there is really expensive if you have someone else do it. My trailers that size are costing me around $3500 to have painted by a pro.
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