My FEMA trailer thread

HomeGrown · 07-26-2011, 06:53 PM

Thought I would start this thread to document our (my wife and I) experience with our recently purchased FEMA travel trailer. Our primary reason for buying this is not for camping, but for full-time living (it's a long story, but it seemed to be the best option at the moment). After looking briefly at trailers and not knowing what to look for, we pulled the trigger and bought this 32' Gulf Stream Cavalier advertised on Craigslist for $4500. We picked it up for $3700. Seemed like a great deal, as it was one of those trailers that was never actually lived in. The guy we bought it from owned it since 2008, and it never left his yard (his wife was ill, and eventually passed away, so they/he never used the trailer).

Here's the pic from the CL ad:

I pulled it home with my Toyota Tacoma, which was a bit small for the task, but we made the 2 hr. trip back to Georgetown, KY. where we parked it at a new RV park that just opened earlier this year.

My primary task for full-time living in it was to convert it to all electric. Since my wife and I don't really use the oven, that was the first thing to go. We need the countertop and storage space more than the stove/oven. We have a nice Cuisinart toaster oven and a hotplate that suits our needs.
I am also replacing the hot water tank with a Rheem 9kw tankless water heater, which will require hooking up to the 50 amp 220v service.

Although unused, the trailer had water damage to the floor and roof. Since we are in the middle of moving out of our leased townhouse, I don't have anywhere to work on it so I contracted a local trailer repair business to fully replace the floor and roof with treated plywood. When I got the quote for just under $6k, I decided to move forward with it rather than sell it and buy something else (potentially no better than what I started with). Because of the extensive modifications I'm doing, i really didn't want to buy something new.

Thanks for looking, continued below:

HomeGrown · 07-26-2011, 06:54 PM

Here's the progress, with the inside pretty much gutted:

We should have the trailer back in about a week, and really looking forward to many modifications and improvements. Part of which will include expanding the bathroom area and putting in a Splendide combo washer/dryer, which I picked up on CL lightly used for $400.

I will keep this thread updated as I get more pics and eventually get moved into it.

j2detroit · 07-26-2011, 07:22 PM

sounds like you are really going to do some neat things with your rig hope you enjoy for many years to come

HomeGrown · 07-26-2011, 07:25 PM

Thank you J2, it should be a worthwhile distraction for awhile.

**bikendan** · 07-26-2011, 07:44 PM

boy, you've got more guts than me, pulling a 32' TT with a Tacoma!!!

good luck on your repairs.

HomeGrown · 07-26-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

boy, you've got more guts than me, pulling a 32' TT with a Tacoma!!!

good luck on your repairs.

Yeah, tell me about it! If my truck were a access or double cab with a V6 it would be within the 6500 lb rating, but my reg cab 4 cyl. is only rated to tow 3500. But towing will be rarely and minimal. Believe me, if I had seen the future I would have ordered a Tundra instead of a Taco!

11XLITE28BH · 07-26-2011, 09:06 PM

I know you said you won't be towing alot, but I'm simply amazed you pulled that 32' TT with a 4 cylinder small truck. Your probably lucky the hitch didn't rip right off the truck with that heavy trailer. Good luck with your repairs.