I'm looking for a trailer to pull behind my 56 f100. You know, for swap meets and stuff. I found this one in the desert. It appears very solid. Anybody out there know what is a fair offer or if this trailer is worth my time. I'm not positive of the make/model. I drive by it at work and have always wanted to make an offer to the owner.
I would climb under it and check the sub structure, and get a look inside....if it is, in fact, for sale. Base your offer on your need vs. condition of the trailer. If the tires are bad, look for rotted floors, might be a rat/mouse haven inside.... Just some thoughts as I am not completely familiar with common issues caused by desert environment. I would also check it for snakes! If it is fairly clean on the inside, you don't find spongy floors, and the tires are decent, I would say 600-800 would probably be a fair offer, but doesn't mean you can't offer less. Then get on with the rustoleum restoration, and some spray on rubber for the roof to seal it up nice!
Yeah... That's about what I was thinking. I was going to offer 400 but like you said, I haven't looked at it in detail. I know certain trailers are worth more such as Shasta and airstream but I am by know means an expert.
There is a Shasta Vintage trailer forum that is very informative. Google it. That one is not Shasta but the people there are very friendly and have a SOB (some other brand) category that may be able to identify it. Not sure what it is or what you want to do with it but most of the older canned hams like didn't have showers or actual toilets. If you need them then you are looking at a major modification to incorporate into a vintage trailer. Most of these no matter where they are located leak and will have wooden structural damage. Not a big deal for us car guys to correct but a little more difficultfor people that don't have the tools etc. etc. Based on your pictures I would think it needs a total resto and I wouldn't pay more than $300.00 for it and it better have a title. You do need to license these pups.
What I was really planning on doing is making it structurally sound and leak free, paint, and then make it into a mobile bar for car shows, swap meets, etc... No need for a bathroom. I'm not to concerned about the brand since it's not a restoration. I hope it has a title... If not then it won't be worth my time.
I have four vintage trailers now back to 50s only paid $250.00 for one the rest were free for the taking. Theres a vintage trailer social group on the hamb as well
If the tires are good and it's solid, it'll bring $1,200 to $2,000 on ebay. Is that sign over the front window the manufacturer's name? I can't make it out.
I think it says corvelle. I'm not sure though. I see it almost every time I go home from work. It seems to be very cherry but much like old cars looks can be deceiving. Trailers like this are all over the California high desert and are well preserved in the dry desert air.
The dry desert air dries out the wood, almost impossible to check for wood rot in the inner structure. If you can tow it, DO IT! If the sides bow out, be concerned! My "Tin Toaster" looked like it had slide outs going down the freeway at 65! It was free.......we had a GREAT time with it.......then turned it into a light duty trailer, kind of a sorry end.
Thats a Corvette trailer. I have a 58 one and I would bet that it probably would not be very cheap. Vintage trailers are pretty popular now, but if you do get it and are going to gut it I want first dibs on buying the interior!! Here is mine:
The vast majority of those trailers are stick built minimalist structure with the paneling and outer skin keeping everything together. See the recent deconstruction of one on a recent thead here by Flyinbrian. A most helpful and eye-opening look at the "standard" construction features of most camp trailers from 8-30 footers. Offer the guy a couple hundred bucks if he asks YOU to price HIS stuff..."make me an offer". Be sure to get a title if required in your state or at least a very detailed Bill of Sale with serial number, make etc.
Check out the Vintage Trailer sub-group on the HAMB, and Tin Can Tourist on the web. tons of info & sources.
Inspect it inside and out. If it is perfectly original and intact, with no missing parts, no butchery, no sign of water stains inside $500 - $1000 tops. Missing parts, water stains etc bring it down to $100 - $500. The best info on restoring canned ham trailers are Youtube videos by a guy named Larry. Search on Youtube for Mobiltec trailer videos and watch as he restores a 1958 Deville from scratch and fixes a Shasta that somebody else did wrong.
Those are worth something? WOW, people try to give them away here, not very valuable to scrappers cause they gotta strip it before a salvage yard will take it... Lots sitting around here...
Go to any mobile home park and ask if they have any trailers that they don't want. Many have abandoned ones and they will be happy to give you them. Check Charigs List, I have seen many in there for free!
I'd be checking the wood inside real close on that one. Especially around the corners and up front. Got a bigger one for 50.00 because so much of the inside was rotted out. It's intended to be a flatbed trailer when it gets done being a storage shed with wheels. Around here the Shasta trailers don't have a great reputation as they are prone to leaking. They especially leak behind the little wings that Shasta put on them. I spotted a little canned Ham trailer the other day that I am going back to check on in a week or two but it's probably someone's "huntin" trailer.
if i wanted it it would be super rare and cost thousands but if i was selling it it would not be worth sh%t
The little ones are worth money in good shape, the big ones are worth practically nothing. Because guys are buying the little ones to fix up. Around here junkyards won't even take a trailer for nothing because there is too much wood and insulation, too little metal, and it is too hard to separate the metal from the garbage, and then you have to dispose of the garbage.
What it'll bring on ebay, and what it's really worth, are two entirely different things. Check out my thread, "Canned Hamb project", here, and see what you're in for. I paid $100 bucks for mine, sold the Panel-Ray heater for $275 and STILL had too much in it! Brian
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