1982 13 foot Tag A Long-Need info

[papmom35]

I think my camper might have found me!! I have a line on a 1982 13' Tag a Long that seems to be in very good shape. I've spoken with the owner and I'm crossing my fingers that he's being honest about the condition. He says he is a carpenter and went through the whole trailer when he bought it a few years ago and although there was a small roof leak, he could find no evidence of dry rot any where. A friend of mine is going to look at it for me tomorrow as I'm 4 hours a way. Anyway, I'm very excited so I'm rambling. My real question is, does anyone know how much this baby weighs? I can't find any info on the web and the owner doesn't know. He says he can pick it up by the tongue and pivot or move it so he's guessing 600-700lbs. Could that be correct?
Here are some pics:

IMG]http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/pamh35/Play-Mor_1500/imagejpeg_2_3.jpg[/IMG]








If anyone has any info or can point me to a web site I would great appreciate it!!

Pam

[papmom35]

Here's the CL ad:

http://maine.craigslist.org/rvs/2348461882.html

[Gage]

It would be nice to know what the MAKE is. The name is on the front of the trailer above the window. Also, how long is it? To me it looks to be about 13 feet and more closer to a 1000bls than it does to 700lbs.

[papmom35]

the guy says its 13 feet by 7 feet wide. Is Playmore the make or the manufacturer? I can't read what it says above the window. I'll take 1000lbs of total towing weight as my TV is an Outback.

[papmom35]

Well, I am the proud owner of this little 15 foot camper! I'm taking a chance that the loaded weight will be ok. According to the literature that Playmor emailed me today the dry weight is 1490. There is no furnace, AC, Shower, toilet, stove/oven, hot water heater or propane tank. Just the gaucho, dinette, sink (with 20 gal holding tank which I probably won't use) cabinets and closet and of course the empty hitch weight at 150 which I'm not sure I understand. So hopefully I'm not even close to my 2000 lbs limit. The asking price was again $1400 and I got it for $1000 which gives me wiggle room in my budget for any repairs. The only thing I know for sure that needs to be repaired are the wheels and tires of which I'll need 2 new ones plus bearings. Everything else seems ok but I will have the local RV shop check it out. According to my friend it all looks great inside. I'm hoping to get up to Maine to bring her home beginning of June or very end of May. I need to come up with a name for her-something to do with my dogs (papillons) and maybe agility. I probably won't do anything right away with the decor inside(green plaid) but if I can add some pink accents I will be a happy camper!!! there is also no AC but I understand Home Depot now has small portable units under $300 so that might be an option.
If anyone has any suggestions as to what I should ask the RV place to look for or just words of wisdom for this newby in general, please feel free to expound. I can also email you the specs if you think that would be helpful.
Pam who is very very excited!!

[Gage]

Good for you Pam. I think besides the wheels and bearings have them check the wiring for the tail, stop & turn lights. Everything else can be checked out once you get it home. Oh you might ask them to give the frame an eye ball check just for the heck of it.

[papmom35]

thanks Gage-great advice! what do you think of getting that additional transmission cooling system installed on my car? Is it necessary at this weight? It's a 2001 outback. I'm not really planning on traversing any mountain ranges at this point-just going to agility trials around New England and of course TTT events!!

[rebapuck]

How low do they set the bar for those munchkin cuties?

[papmom35]

Sorry? Not sure what you mean?

[papmom35]

Oh! You meant the dogs! LOL! I run the black one at 12". The other
Two just watch

[wagondude]

thanks Gage-great advice! what do you think of getting that additional transmission cooling system installed on my car? Is it necessary at this weight? It's a 2001 outback. I'm not really planning on traversing any mountain ranges at this point-just going to agility trials around New England and of course TTT events!!

I would go for the trans cooler. The trailer by itself is close enough to your tow capacity to warrent it. Throw in the dog and human food plus clothes and whatever else you can't live without and that trans is going to get hot.

Bill

[papmom35]

Thanks Bill-great advice! Any idea what these coolers cost? Ballpark?

[wagondude]

About $30-70 for a DIY kit at your local auto parts store. If you need a shop to put it in, figure another $100 for labor.

Bill

[egjacks]

I have a tranny cooler on my truck, a 94 Mazda b-4000, (basically identical to a ford ranger) it is hard to quantify what the cooler really does for you, since if it is working right the tranny is happy and you never think about it. I will say that I load my truck right to the limit, and even overload it often enough to think that I can safely say that I would have had problems by now if I hadn't had it. Think of it as (relatively) cheap insurance.

Even if you are not going up and down mountains the temperatures really affect the life of your transmission. So if it were me, I would definitely buy one again.


I have seen them for sale at U haul shops as well, but I expect they would be more expensive there.

[bobhenry]

Actually U haul and Draw tite are in bed together and they (U haul) receive a fantastic wholesale price and it is passed on to the customer.

Installation cost was also fairly modest when I was there.