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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
     
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | What are some things to look for, structurally, that people look for when purchasing used LQ's? For example, damaged tanks, propane leaks, etc.?
Thanks! |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Water damage. Check the roof also, look at all vents on top as they will crack with age and will need recaulking.
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Check tire wear. If they are new tires then I would wonder why. Bent axles, bearings wore etc. The LQ part is a different story since things can go to pot no matter how new, old or how well maintained such as the hot water heater, appliances etc. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Make sure that the trailer has been plugged in. The refrigerator needs to be running all the time. A new refrigerator costs about $1400. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | check all welds... especially depending on the brand where the gooseneck meets the body (the drop) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Iv been wondering the same thing. . . So if someone says the trailer has been "serviced" are there still things you need to look for?
Not to mention if it hasnt been serviced. . . |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Great, thank you guys for the input and keep it coming! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| How often the generator has been serviced
Has it been winterized or drained every winter (water pump will be most likely bust if not and pipes)
Hot water heater serviced? They are expensive to replace
AC coils been cleaned during service?
Propane in working order
Axles, what type of tires are being used (14 ply or higher would be ideal)
LEAKS (around AC, skylight in bathroom, vents)
Speakers on outside can bust easily from wear
Lights that need to be replaced (this can add up more than you think)
Has the septic been cleaned regularly (my previous owner did not and now the sensor doesnt work)
If it has hydrolic (sp?) jack, does it have any leaks.
BATTERIES! have they been well maintained. Very expensive to replace.
Edited by kboltwkreations 2016-06-22 8:29 AM
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 Night Watchman
Posts: 5516
Location: Central Montana | The floor! Look under the mats.
We are in the process of downsizing from a 4H LQ to a 3H LQ (we bought a "new" used one and are putting the other up for sale) and had the owner pull the mats to see what the floor looked like. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | The water....have them hook it up to a hose to make sure there are no leaks. Thought we were golden until we went for the first overnighter and turned the hose on to it. Water leaking all over the place. Lesson learned the hard way here. |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Speedy Buckeye Girl - 2016-06-22 8:32 AM The water....have them hook it up to a hose to make sure there are no leaks. Thought we were golden until we went for the first overnighter and turned the hose on to it. Water leaking all over the place. Lesson learned the hard way here.
Ohh good one, I don't know that I would have thought about that! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 747
| Definitely check everything on the trailer! Start the generator, run some water, check the fridge, under the mats in the back, the latches on all the drop down windows, everything! We didn't check the generator on ours when we bought it and when we got home, it wouldn't start. Turns out it hadn't been run in over a year.
Check along the floor in the living quarters to see if you can see any water damage on the wood molding. The water tank is under our sofa and there was slight water damage (hardly noticeable) along the wood that framed in the tank that also supported our sofa. Don't be afraid to ask about anything you want to know about, after all it is a large investment and you don't want to be left in the dark on anything! |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
Location: In The Land of Cotton | We drove 900 miles one way to get our LQ used trailer. We bought from NRS. We bought site unseen. They are top notch to deal with. It was plugged up, had water running to it when we showed up. They did everything mentioned as far as looking at the underside, tanks, every light, etc. if you are going to buy used I would go straight to them. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Keep in mind if you are buying from a dealer, not all of them are top notch! |
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Member
Posts: 35
| Check the roof for leaks! I bought a camper, no signs of water damage, everything looked great. The first time we had to go somewhere we ran into a huge rainstorm, stopped to check everything and the thing leaked like a sieve! It was soooo bad  We were going to be staying in that camper until we found a place to rent and it was awful. (not the living in a camper part, the horrible leaking!) My husband finally had to get a bucket of tar and tar the whole roof to get it stopped. Never want to deal with that again! If we ever buy another trailer I will run a hose on the roof and make sure it doesn't leak. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Thats a good idea. . . lol Make it rain! |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I would honestly find a trailer or RV service place would will check it over for you. I do the same thing with vehicles I buy and take them to mechanic and horses for a vet check. Trailers can be just as big a money hole if you buy a bad one so I think it's money well spent. I can see obvious issues, but some not so obvious ones may take someone who knows what they're doing. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| OhMax - 2016-06-23 7:33 AM
I would honestly find a trailer or RV service place would will check it over for you. I do the same thing with vehicles I buy and take them to mechanic and horses for a vet check. Trailers can be just as big a money hole if you buy a bad one so I think it's money well spent. I can see obvious issues, but some not so obvious ones may take someone who knows what they're doing.
I agree, that is a good idea, but my question would be if you have to drive a long ways to look at a trailer and decide to buy it, where do you take it to get checked out in a strage city? If you buy it, bring it home and then find out it has issues, your screwed! |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | horsiace1025 - 2016-06-23 7:37 AM OhMax - 2016-06-23 7:33 AM I would honestly find a trailer or RV service place would will check it over for you. I do the same thing with vehicles I buy and take them to mechanic and horses for a vet check. Trailers can be just as big a money hole if you buy a bad one so I think it's money well spent. I can see obvious issues, but some not so obvious ones may take someone who knows what they're doing. I agree, that is a good idea, but my question would be if you have to drive a long ways to look at a trailer and decide to buy it, where do you take it to get checked out in a strage city? If you buy it, bring it home and then find out it has issues, your screwed!
Yes this is what a lot run into I think. Especially those of us that live in the middle of nowhere and have to travel a good ways to look at anything decent!
Thank you everyone for the tips! |
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 Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | TwistedK - 2016-06-22 6:53 AM
check all welds... especially depending on the brand where the gooseneck meets the body (the drop)
This especially!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  |
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