Repair my salvaged trailer

[satdog01]

Have pic similar to op 's. Tt on its side, rear of truck still attached but off the ground. Insurance totalled it. We were able to walk away and we did. In new tt almost a year and growing to like it more each camping trip, on our fourth trip now in new rig, al out like trading up. No regrets of losing old tt, glad to have walked away from accident that totaled both vehicles. New tt has several item old tt did not. Shop around and see what is out there. Managed to find a newer model tow veh for good price. Life is to short, spend it camping or restoration work. I chose the former and am loving it!

[satdog01]

Side note, got a call from man that bought our 2011 Flagstaff for $4000 from salvage company. He planed to tow it to site he had and to use it as a weekend camp. Had several thousand invested in axles, tires, wheels slide hardware, and the like. He had many, many hours in it to get it in towable condition. After all his work not a tt he would use as a camper to tow around even on short trips.

[hdmtnrider]

My 2 cents! As stated before, TT are built from the frame up.(i.e. floor is attached to frame from the top) Question is are you going to be able to attach the new frame to you salvaged TT box from underneath as strong as before? Good luck with your rebuild.

[KyDan]

I know you want to save it but it's toast.

RVTrader.com and search for your model.
Several came up when I looked a moment ago.

Very glad you weren't hurt and no one else involved.

Wrecker driver didn't do you any favors but that's water under
the bridge.
Have your truck checked carefully before you settle with your insurance.

Good luck!

[Evereddie]

Your good memories are in your mind and heart. It's just a box. Move on

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by hdmtnrider

TT are built from the frame up.(i.e. floor is attached to frame from the top) Question is are you going to be able to attach the new frame to you salvaged TT box from underneath as strong as before?

The OP's trailer is stick & tin - you remove the skins, inspect/repair the framing and then you absolutely can remove the shell from the floor and frame in one piece (after you have pulled all the interior furniture). I did this on a 1963 Holiday Rambler we restored - got all the techniques from a couple good trailer restoration forums. Its a ton of work, but fairly straight forward. We pulled the frame, took it to a welding shop for major repairs, cleaned/painted it, built a new plywood floor and re-attached the shell. The original 1963 carriage bolts were still holding when we took it apart. Just put new in through the bottom plates of the walls, through the floor, through and through the holes in the frame.

Same technique will work on a modern stick & tin trailer. Not sure if its worth all the work, but certainly do-able.

[325BH]

I'm envisioning a TON of sweat and money being poured into this project... only to get broadsided when pulling out of the driveway on its maiden voyage! D'oh!

The other big issue is the "point of no return." At some point you will wish you hadn't taken this on... but have no choice but to follow through due to investment.

[riley3131]

No decisions yet... we had to leave the camper at the tow lot, and wait for insurance to finish. Haven't figured how to get it home (too wide for a car trailer). We have some business that will keep us busy for a while, so we may not get start work until June, but hopefully we can start the process of getting it back home so it will be ready for us to start (if we do) in June.

[Herk7769]

I doubt even the factory would attempt this, even if they got the camper for free.

[Iwannacamp]

Good luck with your final decision sir. I wish you and your family success however you decide.

[ProfChuck]

I think you said it all when you said you haven't figured a way to even get it home yet. Just leave it there and let the insurance worry about it. As others have said, get the "memory stuff" out of it and transfer that to the new trailer. Instead of worrying about how to fix (or even get it home), "worry" about picking a new trailer and making it yours. We have been camping over 40 years and gone through several trailers and campers. Some, we have kept for over 20 years, but, it finally just wouldn't do what we needed it to do and we had to get another one. The memories, kitchen appliances, and many things I made for it over the years went into the new trailer and, now, after 4 years, it is our "new" memory maker. We have pictures of the old ones, but, wouldn't look back, except with fond memories of the good times we had - while we are now enjoying our new trailer with better amenities and new stuff - and all the new things I've built/made for it. Spend your time enjoying yourselves and planning for the future and only look back on the memories. You will be happier you did.

[SidecarFlip]

Looks to me like your truck is toast too. Certainly a bent frame from the twist.

[bareftn]

well sometimes the truth hurts I live in real world and when you can buy a new one for 2017 $12000.00 its a no brainer to move on. Just the towing storage and then towing it back home, buying a new frame and shipping and to deal with a salvage title for getting back on the road and having a a salvage title the value really drops

[wmtire]

The site team is closing this thread pending a review of several posts.