Need help starting on a Shasta project

Here is a little help:








CUSHIONS!!  I am jealous......

Maybe the first pointer should be to make sure you can get all the paperwork and all that is needed to be able to transfer ownership.  Get it in your name before investing anything...

Three specific points I would mention, to pay particular attention to for your "first contact":

1.) Check the wall beneath that huge rear window. Lean into it a bit, make sure there is not excessive sag, , and watch for the floor corners, beneath the dinette and the gaucho. Those windows are famous for leakage, and severe rot to the framing inside the walls and the floor in those corners.   I'd point out too, that as you plan for fixing it up, it is always a good idea to remove all of the windows, vents, door frames, hatches, and covers, and replace the putty tape that seals these openings.  It is likely dried out and hard and will not prevent water from getting in.  Sounds massive, really is not difficult...but I don't want to get too far ahead of you here....





2.)The refrigerator in these models was originally a gas/ electric combination unit, and had a roof vent over the top of the front corner.  These vents were notorious for leaking, and often were "repaired" by applying way too much goop on them, which seldom stopped the leakage; or they were removed altogether, especially if the refrigerator was removed or replaced.  In either case, leak damage can be quite extensive to the front corner, and can sometimes be detected in the cupboard behind the fridge (if it is there), or inside the cargo door at the lowest point in that front corner.  Take a glance at the front wall beneath the window also, right about at the "point" below the window.  Lean-test it from inside and out.  That will give a pretty good indication of any rot in the framing in the front. 



3.)  Perhaps one of the most important items is getting it home.  Wheel bearing, tire, and rim conditions are all very important, as are brake conditions and  tight wheel lugs.  Safety is the number one concern, no matter any of the other factors.  Get help determining its condition for road-worthy if you are not sure yourself. 

There is a half of the battle right there. Paperwork is nothing but a headache in most cases. A lot of states require things that most people are unaware of and it turns into that headache. It seems you are beyond that step. Towable...well, enough can't be said about safety, but then the fact it has moved is quite remarkable. I have had experiences with a couple which have not been moved in years, and the list of "to-do" is long but distinguished...Something to keep in mind moving forward is that most of the tires will "rot" out before they will "wear" out. The fact that they sit so much leads to sidewall decay and dry-rot. Even though it has moved, be sure to consider the tire condition carefully, and especially if you intend to use it a lot more than it has been used.
Most of my curiosity comes from having one, and I had one prior to it. I have learned a lot by being involved with a couple of them. In the last months I have gained a lot of insight into the way the systems were designed for the times when these were built. I'm really looking forward to having the chance to go out and shake mine down, and make the systems work like they are supposed to.
I looked back through your photos again, and really can't wait to see many many more...... we trailer nuts are a voyeuristic bunch, to say the least.
I noticed in the photos that the bed is covered with sleeping materials. Be sure to uncover those cushions and check for their condition. It seems like a minor point, but replacing them can be an expensive proposition... smells are difficult to rid the place of if there are any. (...tough to tell that from photos.) one thing...DO NOT throw anything out until you have it positively replaced....even stuff that seems "garbage" can be useful for measurements.
The toilet seems to have been dismounted for some reason. It should not sit at the angle that it is in the photo, and the only flag that raises is to find out if the holding tank is somehow damaged. It could also be that it was frozen and something mechanically is wrong with the toilet itself. These are just spitball guesses here, don't let the observations bother you too much. Plumbing can be fixed.

There certainly seems to be plenty of TV's in it, in my opinion.

Sometime I will explain my reasoning if you want, but my guess for a year of manufacture is 1971.