Here for research!

[KrakenSandpiper]

Hi everyone! Quite the forum you guys have going here, I think this might be a good place to settle down with my renovation project.

Over the weekend my family helped me yank my to-be-home out of the woods. Unfortunately this trailer has been beaten and abused, tossed between owners and lost identifying paperwork along the way.

I'm under the impression I've acquired a 1996 Super Sandpiper by Cobra, supposedly the M29-FK model. I know this was made before Forest River bought them out, but I'm hoping the community here might be my closest connection for finding answers.

This poor trailer has had all its furnishings removed, busted water lines, missing fresh water tank, leaking water heater, absolutely butchered electrical, a missing breaker box, possibly a missing bump out hand crank and motor, and a carpet that reeks to the high heavens. We have a rat's nest of wiring coming out of the wall in the bedroom. Looking like a creature of the sea, we've dubbed this unit "The Kraken." It's ROUGH, but in it's own way it was exactly the kind of project I was looking for. The hard part about this trailer is we can only assume what the model is. It was built in mid 1995, and the specs only seems like they could fit the 1996 M29-fk. I cannot find any photos of this model online, which in turn means I have no idea what it looked like in its prime.

I'm here to learn through other people's projects, and possibly start a thread on my own renovation. If you guys think this isn't the place for it, I'd be happy to take my reno project to another forum. Otherwise, I'd love any help on finding photos, manuals, diagrams, ANYTHING on this poor trailer. It's begging to be saved, and I'd like to think I can make it into something great again. Looking forward to joining this community and seeing where it takes me and the Kraken!

I'll be keeping a google drive of photos here, which right now includes a post clean up walkthrough, and another walkthrough after hitting it with some bleach and tearing out some carpet

 

[Oaklevel]

Welcome to the forum from Virginia!!!

Search the forum forum for some that have taken on large projects in the past. There is a lot of knowledge by the forum members.

First place I would start is search out the serial number that will give you an year and other info. I am sure that the stickers on the front corner have faded out. The tongue should have a stamped number .

My other question is can you get a title to register it?? It is very hard in Virginia if you do not have one signed from the former owner. Depends on what you plan on doing with it when it is finished.

Good Luck!!

 

[Chuck_S]

Is this it?

https://www.rvvaluemart.com/product/used-1996-sandpiper-cobra-29-1134556-5

-- Chuck

 

[aceinspp]

Welcome the the forum. lots of knowledgeable folks here to help with your questions. Search the sub forums for for what you are looking for to repair or replace. Later RJD

 

[Oaklevel]

Found a 1999 Sandpiper Brochure on Ebay. Close

 

[DogMan635]

Welcome to Forest River Forums!

Krakensandpiper

We are from the Sunshine State, on Florida's west coast.
We are H.L. and Jan, our campervan is Greta.

"USER CP" and fill in as much RV information as you want to share. This will help other members trying to help you fix an issue, as they will go there to check what you may not know to be important to fix the problem in your model. Most needed help questions come back needing basic RV information to know best how to help you.

USER MANUAL for Forest River Models
Has most all their Owner's Manuals online for most brands. "Forest River Models Click HERE Find your name brand type RV go to the bottom of the page on your left and look for. OWNER'S MANUAL, then look for your brand's year and download your complete owner's manual onto an SD card. Here is a tip on where to do it yourself.

View attachment 299354​

Tips to Better help you maneuver:
To help in understanding how this forum can help with posting issues, Click Here to OPEN and review the posts on how to post, to get you up and running with a smile.

FRF Library
Here are some FREE Tips, Tricks, and Checklists, uploaded from your fellow members to our Forest Rivers Forum members: Click HERE

Remember, all Outdoor adventures begin and end with a road trip, drive safely with your family cargo!

 

[emugel]

That will be quite a project. Are you hoping to make it road-worthy and use it as a travel trailer? Or just fix it up enough to plunk it down somewhere and live in it without ever moving it?

The best I could do was to find brochures from 1996 and 1997 - the first years after FR bought Cobra. But I doubt very much changed in those first few years so you should be able to glean some idea of what you have/need from the specs.

Good luck.

https://www.jerrystrailers.com/siteart/pdfs/brochures/1996/1996_Sandpiper.pdf

https://www.jerrystrailers.com/siteart/pdfs/brochures/1997/1997_Sandpiper.pdf

 

[Odyknuck]

My first question would be, will it cost more to repair then to buy a similar one in working condition with a title and skip the labor.

 

[DogMan635]

Your model number was helpful, and I hope you agree M-29FK meaning "M" model 29' feet long FK - Front Kitchen, 7400 Lbs, 8-foot wide and still searching. You may want to contact the Department of Motor vehicles and learn what you need to register an Abandoned RV and prior run a 30-local news ad as found abandoned trailer. But I am sure you are already up to speed on all of this. But congratulations and I look forward to following to see how it all unfolds. Good Luck and stay safe with what you do.

Click Here

 

[fipntdot]

My first question would be, will it cost more to repair then to buy a similar one in working condition with a title and skip the labor.

That was my first thought upon reading this. Can't imagine it would be cheaper to repair then just find another old or similar unit.

 

[KrakenSandpiper]

Is this it?

https://www.rvvaluemart.com/product/used-1996-sandpiper-cobra-29-1134556-5

-- Chuck

Mine is a bumper pull, I don't have the available 5th wheel hitch without renting someone else's truck. I see them a lot though! In my area, every other sandpiper that came up was also a 5th wheel!

 

[KrakenSandpiper]

That will be quite a project. Are you hoping to make it road-worthy and use it as a travel trailer? Or just fix it up enough to plunk it down somewhere and live in it without ever moving it?

The best I could do was to find brochures from 1996 and 1997 - the first years after FR bought Cobra. But I doubt very much changed in those first few years so you should be able to glean some idea of what you have/need from the specs.

Good luck.

https://www.jerrystrailers.com/siteart/pdfs/brochures/1996/1996_Sandpiper.pdf

https://www.jerrystrailers.com/siteart/pdfs/brochures/1997/1997_Sandpiper.pdf

My first question would be, will it cost more to repair then to buy a similar one in working condition with a title and skip the labor.

That was my first thought upon reading this. Can't imagine it would be cheaper to repair then just find another old or similar unit.

Any brochures are better than the single note of numbers I've gleaned off the body of the trailer! I'd like to make it road worthy enough to move at least once, but I plan to have this rig as a settle down live-in for as long as I need it. Anywhere I go will be long term with hook ups. I would have loved to put more money into something cleaner up front, but ultimately I fully intended on gutting all and any furniture and carpet out of something regardless of its condition. The layout of this particular model was exactly the kind of simple floor plan I wanted to work with. I need an open floor space to work on projects that require cutting down yards of fabric, and the empty bump out was perfect for what I'll be up to in my freetime. I was also pretty tired of the craigslist/facebook market hunting. It's coming into summer, and people act like they're sitting on gold. When in reality they have a piece of junk. The Kraken here gives me a guilt free remodel. I can do everything I wanted to without feeling bad for dumping "nice" furnishings, or having to go through the process of selling the dinette set, etc online. In short, I wanted something to tear into. This cheap shell gives me all the flexibility I need, and I have a bit more in my remodel budget.

Title concerns are on my to-do list, this unit has been passed between hands via bill of sale for at least a decade. I'm far from surprised though, this rig came out of what I call "no man's land." I'm doing my proper research to make sure I go about it as legally as I can, I'm dealing with what would be considered a "mutilated title" in my state (I think a REG227 is in my future).

Once I start the remodel, I'll get the thread going in the actual Sandpiper forum!

 

[KrakenSandpiper]

Your model number was helpful, and I hope you agree M-29FK meaning "M" model 29' feet long FK - Front Kitchen, 7400 Lbs, 8-foot wide and still searching. You may want to contact the Department of Motor vehicles and learn what you need to register an Abandoned RV and prior run a 30-local news ad as found abandoned trailer. But I am sure you are already up to speed on all of this. But congratulations and I look forward to following to see how it all unfolds. Good Luck and stay safe with what you do.

Click Here

My original wording probably wasn't the best. I bought it via bill of sale written agreement for dirt cheap, as far as I know the actual pink slip was transferred about 4+ sales ago, god knows how many years that's been. But the trailer itself came out of the hicks. My family has worked with loss title rigs a number of times, it definitely comes up a lot in the dirt bikes and quads that come with out lifestyle. We've dealt with "stolen" titles that originated from useless family drama. I really appreciate the concern though, we're going about this the best we can and plan to get this thing up to speed legally before it ever leaves out property again (which I plan to!). Taking your luck with me! See you in the remodel thread!

 

[DogMan635]

probably wasn't the best. I bought it via bill of sale written agreement for dirt cheap, as far as I know the actual pink slip was transferred about 4+ sales ago, god knows how many years that's been. But the trailer itself came out of the hicks. My family has worked with loss title rigs a number of times, it definitely comes up a lot in the dirt bikes and quads that come with out lifestyle. We've dealt with "stolen" titles that originated from useless family drama. I really appreciate the concern though, we're going about this the best we can and plan to get this thing up to speed legally before it ever leaves out property again (which I plan to!). Taking your luck with me! See you in the remodel thread!

Click Here As this link may be helpful with appliances and what nots. Good luck to both as it looks like a great project. Be safe.

Outstanding, and here to be of help.

 

[bikendan]

Welcome to Forest River Forums!

Krakensandpiper

We are from the Sunshine State, on Florida's west coast.
We are H.L. and Jan, our campervan is Greta.

"USER CP" and fill in as much RV information as you want to share. This will help other members trying to help you fix an issue, as they will go there to check what you may not know to be important to fix the problem in your model. Most needed help questions come back needing basic RV information to know best how to help you.

USER MANUAL for Forest River Models
Has most all their Owner's Manuals online for most brands. "Forest River Models Click HERE Find your name brand type RV go to the bottom of the page on your left and look for. OWNER'S MANUAL, then look for your brand's year and download your complete owner's manual onto an SD card. Here is a tip on where to do it yourself.

View attachment 299354​

Tips to Better help you maneuver:
To help in understanding how this forum can help with posting issues, Click Here to OPEN and review the posts on how to post, to get you up and running with a smile.

FRF Library
Here are some FREE Tips, Tricks, and Checklists, uploaded from your fellow members to our Forest Rivers Forum members: Click HERE

Remember, all Outdoor adventures begin and end with a road trip, drive safely with your family cargo!

Dogman, I doubt if anything on FR's websites, will have any documentation pertaining to a nearly 30 year old non-FR trailer. Not even component manuals.
The generic owners manuals will have basic RV systems information if the OP is unfamiliar with RVs.

 

[DogMan635]

Dogman, I doubt if anything on FR's websites, will have any documentation pertaining to a nearly 30 year old non-FR trailer. Not even component manuals.
The generic owners manuals will have basic RV systems information if the OP is unfamiliar with RVs.

Hey Bikendan,

True it is an old RV, and sometimes they will have that one same RV unit shown with specs or year prior or after or a part of another hit the match to help them over a hump. I have learned the hard way it's better to bring out the toolbox than to spend 45 mins or more looking for that one tool. I know in many cases they are not asking and or new to RVing and giving them the "toolbox" may be all they need at the moment. Today they seem to be in search of a clean identification. Which they seem to have all taken care of and now it's all about cleaning up, inspecting trouble spots and taking care of what they can before putting real money into the many repairs to follow. Homework always comes first. But you do make a good point but being that old an online manual may not be online. Good feedback thanks. The funny thing is it looks close to the one I had, but my trailer was smaller with only one side door. But unlike one photo shown my old trailer was not a 5th wheel.

 

[Iwritecode]

The funny thing is it looks close to the one I had, but my trailer was smaller with only one side door. But unlike one photo shown my old trailer was not a 5th wheel.

OP says they don't have a 5th wheel either.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

I'll be keeping a google drive of photos here, which right now includes a post clean up walkthrough, and another walkthrough after hitting it with some bleach and tearing out some carpet

Judging by your current pictures and video, that trailer is in excellent condition for its age. I don't see any signs of major water damage.
The first thing you need to do is get up on that roof and seal all cracks and seams to prevent damage.

You have all the major components (other than a refrigerator) in place which gives you the basic layout of the trailer.
For furniture, you don't need rv furniture. Many people replace rv furniture with store bought furniture for a home. You just need to watch the weight of the furniture. Since you need open floor space, convertible or collapsible furniture might be best.

As to the capacity of your fresh, black and grey water tanks, you may just need to measure the volume going in using something like this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NHS9M4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
With grey water, once it's full, it will bubble up in the shower. Usually, the grey and black water capacity is similar.
Usually water will flow from the overflow/vent at the bottom of the trailer when the fresh water tank is full.

Let us know if you have questions and keep posting pictures of your progress.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[DogMan635]

OP says they don't have a 5th wheel either.

Thanks, I see you read my post (referring only to length in post #3). My Trailer was not a 5th wheel. That may have been before you were born, and I never did an overhaul like they are doing, have you? I did try a van conversion back in 1976, but No plumping. Yup, lots of site team experts in this welcome thread. Kind of like SCUBA diving when you surface to find boats full of fishermen fishing for sharks over your divers flag.

 

[Iwritecode]

Thanks, I see you read my post (referring only to length in post #3). My Trailer was not a 5th wheel. That may have been before you were born, and I never did an overhaul like they are doing, have you? I did try a van conversion back in 1976, but No plumping. Yup, lots of site team experts in this welcome thread. Kind of like SCUBA diving when you surface to find boats full of fishermen fishing for sharks over your divers flag.

The OP posted a link with photos of their trailer. Post #3 was not the OP.

See here:

I'll be keeping a google drive of photos here, which right now includes a post clean up walkthrough, and another walkthrough after hitting it with some bleach and tearing out some carpet

So when you said: "But unlike one photo shown my old trailer was not a 5th wheel." it didn't make sense because the OP doesn't have a 5th wheel either.