Trailer for keeping at the beach

[Mitch52656]

We are looking to purchase a TT to store in a campground at the beach. We will have the campground move it put onto a camp site about 10 weeks a year. Rest of the time it will be on a storage lot. Don't want to purchase a new one. Can afford it but would rather have a pre pandemic model. Are there a few that are better built than the rest? Is there such a beast that has a washer/ dryer?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Size is a factor here - most all smaller trailers will be pretty much similar in quality and amenities cause they are targeted at the same entry-level market demographics. And they don't have space or demand for washers. Once you get up to the 30+ ft size, you begin to find some models that are more upscale in both construction and amenities, but even there the better models tend to be 5W rather than TT. That's simply because the people willing to spend more for quality & features usually want a 5W type.

With that preamble, I'll offer that Holiday Rambler built some really nice TT's in the 90's and early 2000's, especially the Presidential models. Airstream too, but high demand for those makes them really pricey. Forest River offers some higher-grade TT models like the Grand Surveyer and Heritage Glen, but they are hard to find on the used RV lots. Jayco Eagle, Arctic Fox, Keystone Outback or Sprinter Limited, and others that don't readily come to mind.

 

[Kirk]

but even there the better models tend to be 5W rather than TT.

In the lower price market that is true, but there are exceptions such as Airstream, and several others. Since you want to keep it near the beach and prefer an older unit, you may want to consider an Airstream even though they do cost more than most others. Durability and long life have always been the key to their success.

 

[Martian]

Yup! Aluminum goes very well with salt water. If you do get an Airstream make sure it has a coating on it. Lots of older and restored units are bare metal due to owner actions to clean/polish them. Those bright shiny sides are nice but without a coating there is nothing to protect the skin. There are a lot of dark gray Airstreams because of their exposure to salt air. Lots of work to come back from that.

 

[Onyrlef]

We are looking to purchase a TT to store in a campground at the beach. We will have the campground move it put onto a camp site about 10 weeks a year. Rest of the time it will be on a storage lot. Don't want to purchase a new one. Can afford it but would rather have a pre pandemic model. Are there a few that are better built than the rest? Is there such a beast that has a washer/ dryer?

Look into a Park Model, you won't be moving it far and they're oriented more toward full timing.

 

[Ex-Calif]

Tell me more about this beach campground that will relocate you trailer every year for you. That sounds really intriguing.

To get washer and dryer you are definitely looking at 30 feet, probably. Or having to mod it yourself. I drew up plans to remove the sink vanity, install a combo unit and reinstall the sink above the combo unit.

 

[DutchmenSport]

It doesn't really matter if a unit is Pre-Covid, Covid, or Post-Covid, with any pre-owned camper, the current condition all depends upon how well the previous owner(s) took care and maintained maintenance on the unit up to this very moment.

Yes, Covid era campers had their problems. But, folks who purchased them went through nightmares to get them fixed and fixed right. Now, most of the issues are resolved, or those campers have been hauled away to junk yards.

In the end, a pre-owned camper's current conditional all depends upon how well, how much attention, and how much money the previous owner was willing to invest in it. No matter what you choose, you'll need it inspect it thoroughly. There WILL be issues with anything you purchase (brand new or 50 years old), but only you can determine if you are willing to invest in fixing those issues or if you can live them. If you are not willing to invest yourself into the camper, no matter how new it is, or how perfect it is when you get it, if you don't invest it will be junk in a very, very short time. They ALL demand work.... lots of work to keep them nice.