[A/S] Re:Subject: Best Years to buy?

["Viking" <drighten@xxxxxxxxx>]

The best years to buy for weight (lighter) with still having amenities (grey 
and black) is probably the mid to late 70's.  If you shop well and 
carefully, then you can find one that needs very little in remodeling, 
repair or maintenance.  My last was a 1978 31' and the only things I have 
had to do were 1) replace the tank in the hot water heater upon purchase, 
and 2) this year, replace the control on the hot water heater.  I now have a 
virtually brand new hot water heater and the cost over the two repairs is 
still under $200.  I also put the valving system for winter prep in, which 
had not been done prior to my ownership.  I will be candid.  I paid $6400 US 
for this trailer, and went a thousand miles to get it.  For value for your 
dollar, I would also have to recommend the mid to late 70's IF you get a 
good one.  They aren't in the area of the really vintage trailers for 
gaining value through collectability, and they are still less to purchase 
than 1980's up.  If you get one that needs very little, then additional 
expense over and above the purchase price is limited to probably tires and 
brake and bearing work in the immediate arena.  And I do mean immediate.  As 
in prior to taking it home even.  The seller of my latest acquisition even 
bought me brand new tires and had them installed prior to my picking up the 
trailer, and I still spent most of a day repacking the bearings (which had 
been done in a rather slipshod manner by the tire installing RV dealership) 
and replacing two brake magnets along with rewiring the umbilical so that 
everything worked.  They had been pulling the Airstream with a five wire 
umbilical, and the brakes were not even in the equation.  I got a hunk of 
cable (seven wire) and the necessary plugs from the closest 18 wheeler 
supply and built myself a removable that used all the wires, and crossed 
from new wiring standard to old.  I find this stuff fun to do, whereas some 
don't, so for me it was an enjoyable experience rather than the limit of 
frustration it could have been.  All told, 1000 miles down, a day of repair 
and 1000 miles back = five days, and I enjoyed the solitude of the trip. 
Probably way too much information here, but maybe somebody can use some of 
it.

Tom