[VAC] Re: i'm new-hello! - 76&78 excella?

["Jerry Harris" <jharrisphd@xxxxxxxx>]

Welcome Rusty,
I wish I knew you better.  I have SOOOOOO many Arkansas jokes.

I believe the 76 and maybe the 78 trailers, especially the longer ones as
you are looking at, were prone to frame seperation and tail dragging.
While bouncing over rough roads with the holding tanks full, the frames
would give way and the tail would sag or the frame would seperate from the
frame.  You can see this by a bulge behind the rear tires.  If the units
have been fixed, you may see a "scar" sometime called "Elephant ears" where
the repairs were made.   You might look at that.  Somepeople have carried
too much weight in the rear of the unit or didn't drain the holding tanks
before driving.

A lot goes into value on these units.  Does everything work: heater, AC,
water (no plumbing leaks), waterheater, refer, toilet, etc.?  Do you see any
visible leaks in the unit from rain, especially around the door and windows?
Is the floor sound (push on it with an ice pick or screwdriver by the door,
under the windows and by the frame).  Is the skin in good shape with no
holes or creases or indentions?  Are the insides clean and well cared for?
Does the unit have awnings?  Do they work and look to be in good shape (no
rot)?  Does the propane system check out with no leaks.  Do the breaks work?
Tires in good shape?   Antisway bar (you will need one with that length)?
Load levelers?   That is a few things to look at.

If everything is in good shape, those prices do not sound too high to me for
that length of unit.  If the unit needs work, then you can start trying to
talk down the price of fixing the thing.

Anyway, welcome to the VAC.  Good to have you.  Others will respond and let
us know what you do.

Jerry and Deborah Harris
1971 Tradewind 25 foot
2000 diesel Excursion