Older Popup Camper - Good Deal or Not

[bh357]

My wife and I are looking at buying an inexpensive popup camper.  Here is the information on one she found.

1987 Palomino Pony

The Good:
Canvas replaced in 2004
new carpeting in 2004
overall in good condition
has awning (good condition with no leaks)
No known roof leaks
electrical and plumbing works with no known issues
lift mechanism, stabilizers, jack work good
bunks slide out good
icebox

The Not so good
does not include the bunk mattresses (current owner uses futon mattresses
no furnace
needs propane regulator - remainder of propane system and stove unknown working condition
no refrigerator
no a/c
Needs 1 new tire (possibly 2)

He is asking $1100 obo. What would be a good range for an offer. Camper is in SE Michigan.

[wavery]

First off...........WELCOME TO PUT!!

Everyone has a different tolerance for negotiating a fair deal or finding the seller's bottom line.

If it were me (and it's not), I think that I may offer him $700 the way it is. If he comes back and says, "The least I'll take is $1000", then you know where you stand. You could even say, "OK, I'll give you $1000 if you put 2 new tires on it and have the wheel bearings serviced". Never be afraid to ask. The guy might just want rid of it and take the $700.

As for the missing cushions, we took out our foam mattresses. I don't like them. They are heavy and bulky. We like sleeping on air-bed mattresses. It gives us more storage space too.

There are plenty of portable heaters on the market. Propane regulators are cheap.

A lot of people on PUT use their fridges as dry storage anyway. They use ice coolers. We like our fridge and it serves us well. I sure wouldn't turn away from that PU over a fridge though. There are lots of alternatives.

I would recommend replacing both tires if there is any question about their condition.. I would also consider servicing the wheel bearings as a must. Those 2 items are the most hazardous items on your trailer. I would consider those as a "MUST DO" on any used trailer.

Does the trailer have brakes?

[bh357]

Thanks for the welcome and prompt feedback waverly.  I'll have to discuss this a bit with Mrs. bh357.

The only issue I have with the regulator is that there is no way of knowing the status of the rest of the propane system.  The current owner stated that it was not working when he got it.  I agree that regulators are cheap.

I will definately repack and inspect the bearings before any use.  I basically view the fact that they were repacked in '04 as assurance I could tow the thing 20 miles home.

There are no brakes, but the empty weight is ~900lbs.  How difficult would it be to retrofit/have retrofitted brakes to this unit?

The current owner has a dorm fridge in the popup now.  I forgot to ask if the dorm fridge goes with the unit.

[Recumbentman]

Hello bh357
Welcome to PUT, Waverly gave you some good advice. from your list of items. I would think the only thing your propane system consist of is the stove. so once you have the new regulator on, there shouldn't be much more to replace. maybe a rubber hose at one end or the other.
as for the brakes, I guess that's a personal thing. But for me a PU of that lite of weight, I wouldn't bother. But that's me !!! I had an old 1977 Coleman that weighted approx the same and I never had a problem with my TV. Dorm fidge's are cheap, but if the owner wasn't going to include it. I would think he would of removed it before showing the PU.

[wavery]

I'm not familiar with that particular PU but many trailer axles have accommodations for trailer brakes. You can buy the kits on eBay and install them yourself if you are mechanically inclined:
 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Reliable-Electric-Trailer-Brakes-12in-Pair_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50073QQihZ017QQitemZ270014336455QQrdZ1

Drums are separate. Some trailers have drums even though they don't have brakes.

If you have a substantial tow vehicle, brakes may not be necessary on that light trailer.

[bh357]

Thanks waverly and Recumbentman.

The tow vehicle will be a Saturn Vue (awd V6), which has a rated towing capacity of 3500 lbs.

[PopUpMomma]

We've been looking for a nice used popup for my mother and $1100 sounds high to me.  We've been looking at 2000's for around $1500...no frills of course but has heat, fridge, etc.

My wife and I are looking at buying an inexpensive popup camper.  Here is the information on one she found.

1987 Palomino Pony

The Good:
Canvas replaced in 2004
new carpeting in 2004
overall in good condition
has awning (good condition with no leaks)
No known roof leaks
electrical and plumbing works with no known issues
lift mechanism, stabilizers, jack work good
bunks slide out good
icebox

The Not so good
does not include the bunk mattresses (current owner uses futon mattresses
no furnace
needs propane regulator - remainder of propane system and stove unknown working condition
no refrigerator
no a/c
Needs 1 new tire (possibly 2)

He is asking $1100 obo. What would be a good range for an offer. Camper is in SE Michigan.

[GeneF]

Friends of ours just bought a 96 or 97 Jayco.

It was adevertiesed for $2000.

They looked it over and told the guy that the canvas had mildew, it needed new tires, bearings repacked.

They got estimates for a new canvas and tires.  Used that to negotiate the deal and bought it for $1100.

Even with the cost of the new canvas, new tires and having the bearings repacked and having a dealer check electrical and gas stuff, they still came out a bit less than $2000.

Nada had the camper priced at $1800 to $2200 so they came out with a decent deal.

[evilspock]

The guy was asking $1000 obo, I guess $600 was the best offer because he sold it to me for that. Furnace, water tank, sink etc. All work. I am amazed at what good condition it is in for an 83...

 

[brainpause]

Looks pretty good! You got a king size bunk, which, in 1983, was Hog Heaven!

Any inside pics?

Larry

[Beerlifter]

Got my 83 for $500. Had some small problems but nothing I couldn't take care of right off the git go.

[rebel43]

We have an 87 Palomino TXL which if I am not mistaken is larger (25' when open) and I would not pay $1100 today for it. Ours is average to above average condition. I would expect to pay in the $600 to $800 range for the one you are looking at. By the way, we love our Palomino.

[bh357]

Well, that one sold to someone else.  There are a couple of others in the area which I'll be looking at, but just about everything I've seen advertised in our area (SE Michigan) seems to be priced on the high side of the NADA guide. :confused: