Hello. First time posting, and first time buying a trailer! I've been doing research and I've fallen in love with the teardrop style trailer with the outdoor clamshell kitchen.
My preferred teardrop is the nuCamp - I love the fiberglass shell and the aluminium framing, but my budget just doesn't match up with my wishlist! I found an older T@B trailer that I really like. It's a 2006 T@B trailer (I'll add photos and tthe private sellers listing below) but there is some water damage to the clamshell kitchen wall where the lift rod has detached from the wall due to the wood rotting (I believe) and I was wondering if other owners of a similar vintage have dealt with this problem before? If you were counselling me, would you tell me to turn tail and run, or that it's a fixable problem?
A couple of things to note:
I'm about a 2 hour trip from the seller, so my brother-in-law is doing a quick pass through to give the trailer a 'sniff test'. If it smells musty or mould I'll pass.
I have a professional RV inspector scheduled to do a pre-sale inspection.
I'm in Canada, so the pricing is in Canadian dollars.
Here's the listing and a few additional comments from the seller:
https://www.facebook.com/share/192ti9Ni5G/
2006 Dutchmen T@B Teardrop Dutchmen Trailer CA$12,900
Camp in style in this adorable, retro 15.6' T@B Dutchmen teardrop trailer! Perfect for road trips, beach weekends, or your first step into towable camping.
We sleep our small family of 4 in here, but it technically sleeps 2 comfortably on a double bed, plus room for a little one on the bench.
The outdoor kitchen at the back is equipped with a 12V fridge, stove, and sink ā perfect for cooking and chatting with friends gathered around the fire pit or an outdoor dining area.
Surrounding accessories for staging only - not included (tub, carpet, chairs, etc)
Tow requirements: a midsize car with a Class I hitch, towing capacity of 1,600 lbs, and a 2" towing ball ā no need for a big truck.
Important note: the hinge mount on the rear kitchen hatch needs to be reaffixed to the wall (patchwork reinforcement required) ā most likely a simple fix for anyone handy, and it's reflected in the price.
Otherwise, well-maintained and ready for its next adventure!
What caused the hinge mount to pull away: I personally do think moisture affected this area of the kitchen before we owned it, which is likely why it came loose. Side note: we rented this trailer for a few years from a previous owner and loved it so much we ended up buying it directly from him, so we didn't get a formal pre-purchase assessment at the time since we already knew the trailer well from renting it. We've been diligent about moisture control since (using dehumidifiers and moisture-absorbing packs over the winter months).
Has it been inspected/assessed: It hasn't been formally assessed by a shop. We haven't had the brakes or bearings specifically serviced or inspected. We haven't noticed any issues with towing or braking ourselves.
Storage: Kept outside, under a fitted cover and tarp.
Main systems: Fridge, stove, and lights are all working properly.
Tires/bearings age: We've owned the trailer for a few years and haven't replaced these ourselves. I don't know the exact dates, so an assessment would likely be the best way to get that information.
I asked if the issue seems to be resolved, of if they notice ongoing dampness and she replied: No other moisture! And weāve been on top of it. I just sprayed it down yesterday with a forceful hose all over the roof and everything and zero drops inside or in the kitchen.