Kosoku
Member
Ok, so I bought a shadow cruiser 279dbs that was a repo. I checked it over, top to bottom first so I knew what I was roughly getting into. I bought a moisture meter and tested the walls, roof and floors. All good but here is what I am currently working on or have worked on.
- Outside kitchen. - Mouse poop. Cleaned it all up and spray foamed where the propane lines come up through body. Also stuffed steel wool down holes where ABS pipes run.
- Compartmentalized outdoor kitchen from rest of trailer so they cannot get into that area. Used plywood to do so with cutouts for pipes and wires.
- Inside, I had to remove all duct work as that is where they were running from. I reinstalled the rigid metal ducting. Not chewing through that.
- Mouse poop under cabinets, - Removed what I could and javex'd the area. Wore gloves and respirator. Also vacuumed up hard to reach areas and the sawdust.
- Ice damage. Found that trailer was not winterized by previous owner or when it was repo'd. Flush does not work, shower knobs leak and spray port connector broke. Found this out when I went to winterize it. Boy was there a lot of antifreeze around. Great time to install residential taps and oxygenic shower head.
- Grey tank - Tank has a leak and the waste valve pipe is split. Will replace or fix in the spring.
- General plumbing. - I think every connection was loose. Easy enough to tighten all of them properly. I capped lines off and pressure tested and no PEX leaks.
- Slide out lights don't work. - Have yet to track the source of this but I think it is going to be a bad ground or broken wire in the belly somewhere. Fuses are good as are power outlets
- Running light. One running light does not work due to corroded connection. Will replace in spring.
- Roof - one panel is lifting. Looks like it popped its screw or staple. Membrane is still intact. I negotiated 3G's off price to cover this repair and any others so I am going to get a trailer repair place to deal with the roof.
- Power awning speaker - Has a short so it comes on and off. Found that out when I walked into awning arm and speaker turned on. I can see chaffing on wire so will rewire speaker in spring. Might be a good time to upgrade both inside and outside ones with better quality speakers.
- Broken dinette bench - Cheap stapled wood holding it together. Will re-frame with thicker wood and will use screws. Will be much more solid afterwards.
- wasted space above TV. The glass front was stapled to unit but it was empty behind it. Removed it and am installing hidden hinges and magnetic latches and maybe a support shock. More storage is more storage.
- Installed 2 MaxxairII vent covers which were a must.
- Added dicor to spots on roof that needed it. Will get trailer repair place to also eternabond seams on roof, or I will do it in the spring as I have a roll from my last trailer.
- Bought sealant for screws to prevent them from rusting and leaking.
- Bought a reese dual cam setup that I will install next spring.
- The only real concern I have now is that I will be dammed if I can find a marine grade 30 amp connector for this trailer. Will contact Cruiser RV for one I guess.
- Only pet peeve is that when making trailers, can't they cut out the holes nicely instead of making it look like they put their foot through the wall to make a hole, and how hard it is to vacuum up sawdust and remove wood plugs. A little bit of pride in your work would go a long way.
Overall I am quite happy with the repo risk I took as you never know what you are getting. Trailer seems to be built well and a lot of nice upgrades like LED lighting, slam latches, huge pass through, etc. that make it seem like a much more expensive unit. Inside is beautiful and spacious.
I firmly believe you have to be fairly handy to own a RV. I am so anything short of structural or water damage does not concern me too much.
Multi-color LED lights, Power jack, double batteries and perhaps A-Frame box and probably a whole lot more yet to come. I can't leave well enough alone.
- Outside kitchen. - Mouse poop. Cleaned it all up and spray foamed where the propane lines come up through body. Also stuffed steel wool down holes where ABS pipes run.
- Compartmentalized outdoor kitchen from rest of trailer so they cannot get into that area. Used plywood to do so with cutouts for pipes and wires.
- Inside, I had to remove all duct work as that is where they were running from. I reinstalled the rigid metal ducting. Not chewing through that.
- Mouse poop under cabinets, - Removed what I could and javex'd the area. Wore gloves and respirator. Also vacuumed up hard to reach areas and the sawdust.
- Ice damage. Found that trailer was not winterized by previous owner or when it was repo'd. Flush does not work, shower knobs leak and spray port connector broke. Found this out when I went to winterize it. Boy was there a lot of antifreeze around. Great time to install residential taps and oxygenic shower head.
- Grey tank - Tank has a leak and the waste valve pipe is split. Will replace or fix in the spring.
- General plumbing. - I think every connection was loose. Easy enough to tighten all of them properly. I capped lines off and pressure tested and no PEX leaks.
- Slide out lights don't work. - Have yet to track the source of this but I think it is going to be a bad ground or broken wire in the belly somewhere. Fuses are good as are power outlets
- Running light. One running light does not work due to corroded connection. Will replace in spring.
- Roof - one panel is lifting. Looks like it popped its screw or staple. Membrane is still intact. I negotiated 3G's off price to cover this repair and any others so I am going to get a trailer repair place to deal with the roof.
- Power awning speaker - Has a short so it comes on and off. Found that out when I walked into awning arm and speaker turned on. I can see chaffing on wire so will rewire speaker in spring. Might be a good time to upgrade both inside and outside ones with better quality speakers.
- Broken dinette bench - Cheap stapled wood holding it together. Will re-frame with thicker wood and will use screws. Will be much more solid afterwards.
- wasted space above TV. The glass front was stapled to unit but it was empty behind it. Removed it and am installing hidden hinges and magnetic latches and maybe a support shock. More storage is more storage.
- Installed 2 MaxxairII vent covers which were a must.
- Added dicor to spots on roof that needed it. Will get trailer repair place to also eternabond seams on roof, or I will do it in the spring as I have a roll from my last trailer.
- Bought sealant for screws to prevent them from rusting and leaking.
- Bought a reese dual cam setup that I will install next spring.
- The only real concern I have now is that I will be dammed if I can find a marine grade 30 amp connector for this trailer. Will contact Cruiser RV for one I guess.
- Only pet peeve is that when making trailers, can't they cut out the holes nicely instead of making it look like they put their foot through the wall to make a hole, and how hard it is to vacuum up sawdust and remove wood plugs. A little bit of pride in your work would go a long way.
Overall I am quite happy with the repo risk I took as you never know what you are getting. Trailer seems to be built well and a lot of nice upgrades like LED lighting, slam latches, huge pass through, etc. that make it seem like a much more expensive unit. Inside is beautiful and spacious.
I firmly believe you have to be fairly handy to own a RV. I am so anything short of structural or water damage does not concern me too much.
Multi-color LED lights, Power jack, double batteries and perhaps A-Frame box and probably a whole lot more yet to come. I can't leave well enough alone.
