1982 1500 Play-Mor questions

[papmom35]

thanks guys, you all are awesome! I don't have $4800 in cash to spend so I'm going to have to try to get financing for the new TV. Probably not going to be easy. I'm also going to either have to borrow a truck to go get the camper or pay to have it towed down to my house. I never heard back today from the RV place so I still don't have a final estimate on the costs.
I'll keep you all updated as I hear things and make decisions.
Thanks for all the links-they are mega helpful!!
Pam

[robertaw]

If you can't find a truck to borrow, rent a U-Haul for the day and go get it. Would me much cheaper than paying to have it towed that far.

[papmom35]

thanks Roberta-I'll definitely look into U-haul. Don't know why I forgot all about them
Pam

[Engineer Guy]

We had a Car put on a Car Hauler years ago to get it to Denver from Detroit at a price below the 'Transportation' Fee tacked on the Sticker by Dealers. Our Car was first on - last off.

1. Consider putting your TT on a larger Trailer and strapped down safely. W/o A/C on top, after careful measurement, it should sit below the typical limit of 13' 6" put on Semis and other loads. There are 'low boy' Trailers out there for hauling Construction Equipment. As the name implies, they sit low to the Road. Your TT could sit on small Wood Blocks w/the Wheels off to gain clearance.

2. Someone hauling, say, a load of Hay, etc., might have room for your TT at some reasonable, incremental cost if the Trucker is making his money on other parts of the load and has a lil space 'left over'. Dispatchers set up this hauling 'stuff', so perhaps someone here can chime in. Or, try a local Truck Stop; Truck Repair Shop, etc., for a Trucker referral. Today, a lot of loads are set up on line.

Think outside the box... Consider letting the pros do the hauling; likely for less money out of pocket.

[2bits]

So you don't over pay.

http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/Research-Center


Make sure you get something that has a factory tow package, that way you will know it has everything it needs as opposed to someone just throwing a hitch on it.

Our Jeep has around 150,000 miles on it and I honestly thought it would be valued under $1,000. I was suprised to look it up and see $2,975. Still cheaper than converting your current vehicle.

FYI NADA Guides are terrible... they always over value. They value my 1974 Monte Carlo in the poorest condition possible "Fair" at $4000 which is totally insane (I bought it for $400 and it's probably worth a grand). "Average" was $6000... I sold my other MINT condition 74 Monte Carlo on eBay a few years ago for $3000.

If you want to know what things are actually selling for, log into your eBay account and search for whatever vehicle you are thinking about, then on the left check the box for "Completed Listings". This show what buyers are PAYING for vehicles.

On another note.. "CRACKED HEAD"??? OK, I assume your car is running fine and you took it in to get it looked at to see what is needed to get it towable and they come back with a cracked head? I don't know about all the history stuff, but I would get a second opinion. Don't tell the new place what the old place said, or that will just give them an excuse to "find" the same problem. I am not saying that your original guys are steering you wrong, just like when your trusted doc says you have a rare fatal disease. You get a second opinion just in case

If it really is for real, remember you can always sell the Outback too, and also if it is running fine you can still drive it!

[Wimperdink]

FYI NADA Guides are terrible... they always over value. They value my 1974 Monte Carlo in the poorest condition possible "Fair" at $4000 which is totally insane (I bought it for $400 and it's probably worth a grand). "Average" was $6000... I sold my other MINT condition 74 Monte Carlo on eBay a few years ago for $3000.

If you want to know what things are actually selling for, log into your eBay account and search for whatever vehicle you are thinking about, then on the left check the box for "Completed Listings". This show what buyers are PAYING for vehicles.

On another note.. "CRACKED HEAD"??? OK, I assume your car is running fine and you took it in to get it looked at to see what is needed to get it towable and they come back with a cracked head? I don't know about all the history stuff, but I would get a second opinion. Don't tell the new place what the old place said, or that will just give them an excuse to "find" the same problem. I am not saying that your original guys are steering you wrong, just like when your trusted doc says you have a rare fatal disease. You get a second opinion just in case

If it really is for real, remember you can always sell the Outback too, and also if it is running fine you can still drive it!

+1 this. I rarely agree with every bit of advice in a post, but I think this is spot on.

[wagondude]

I agree with Thomas. Get a second opinion. I haven't heard of too many Subarus with cracked heads, but your year is known for an external headgasket leak. If its only minor seepage, it can be stopped with some stpo leak for a fair amount of time, but will need to be fixed sooner or later. You can find all you want to know about your car at subaruoutback.org. There are other members from there that are also members here. BTW, I have three outbacks.

Bill

[papmom35]

thanks you guys!! I'm really overwhelmed right now. It's been a very discouraging day and not only because of my poor 'roo so I'm not thinking to clearly. Heading to bed and hoping tomorrow looks better.
Bill, what do you pull with your OBs?
Pam

[frank_a]

Pam! Haven't heard from you in a while. How are you making out? I sure hope okay!

Frank

[papmom35]

Hi Frank,
The Play-Mor is being transported to me as we speak and should arrive in my driveway by 6pm! I'm very excited. I went through Uship.com and hooked up with a gentlemen in NH who had awesome ratings and came in with a reasonable quote. The RV place in Maine put in new tires for me and the total bill for that including about 2 hours of inspection came to $350. My dad is paying for the shipping (what a guy!) so I think my $350 was well spent. I still need a different TV and need to get the tow lights repaired (the shipper has a magnetic board he's using today) but at least I have some time to work on that. I also need to get at least one door window fixed but my friend in ME is on the lookout for me and I will be looking at Ebay as well as soon as I know what size. Can't wait to see my new Paphut!
How is the Sunspot coming along?
Pam

[frank_a]

Boy, that's great Pam. I bet you're excited! Speaking of tires, Spot has real good radials on, but no spare. I need to find a spare, I hate towing anything without a back up tire!

Spot's coming along. I wanted to rebuild the hubs, but to make a long story short, got caught up in spiffing them up. I am at the point of paint, so tonight or tomorrow I'll paint them, install bearings, grease and seals, and put the wheels/tires back on so Spot can move out of the pole barn. Tomorrow morning 1st thing I'm putting a new coat of paint on the deck of our classic speed boat, then will turn my attention to Spot. I may remove the axle this weekend (probably Sunday - it's supposed to NOT rain) and put the leaf springs back where they belong, under the axle. That is going to take a bit of work and a tad of welding, but I can do that. I also want to examine the wiring, consider a new junction box, and may rewire it for 4 pole flat (which it has now), while getting it ready for 7 pole RV connector that would match up to my GMC. I need the 4 pole flat for Gail's Outback until I can get an RV connector on her car. My GMC is set up for it from the factory. Subaru's are very difficult to wire for an RV plug, and I don't look forward to that. What sort of plug is on your Play-Mor?

Besides that, we have a good plan for a dinette table/seats that convert into a bed, and will start buying things for that. I ordered a couple OEM stop/tail/turn lights for it yesterday, and also want to pick up some backup lights and some 12V interior lights. I'm good with trailer wiring, but need to learn more about how to keep the lights on when we're camping!

By the way, I keep adding pics to our photo album as we go, so it's easy to check out. Looking forward to more pictures of the Play-Mor. Anything I can help with, let me know.

Frank

[papmom35]

Wow Frank-I'm so jealous of your knowledge! And your ability to be able to jack her up and get underneath to do all the stuff that needs to be done. I don't even know if my wheels got their bearings repacked and greased. I think all he did was mount the new tires. I don't think there is any plug on the Paphut!! Dave said the wiring underneath was cut for some bizarre reason and we just decided to skip that repair as the transporter had that bar he could stick on. I might have to get one of those just so I can get the rig to the local RV place to have that part repaired unless my brother can do it for me......
I am excited! I'm leaving work in 30 minutes to rush home so I am there well before he arrives. I'll definitely have my camera ready to go tonite and tomorrow!!
I'm looking forward to looking at your album again to see what you've added. I now know what leaf springs are thanks to you!! Don't know what they do but know what they look like!!

[frank_a]

Pam, didn't you say your dad was a handy guy and taught you how to do stuff? Wiring that old Play-Mor for lights is very simple and can be done very inexpensively if you're not paying for labor. Parts, i.e. lights and wire are cheap. If you're only worried about running lights (stop/tail/turn), it's only 4 wires and some connectors.

Rebuilding hubs only gets complicated if you need to replace the races (or cups - different folks call the same thing different names). It's just icky, but no more icky than playing with bread dough (for instance, as I do both). If the races are shiny and mirror smooth and you can't catch a finger nail on them, all you need to do is pack the new bearings with grease, and re-assemble.

If you want to give any of this stuff a try, feel free to ask questions. Youtube also has lots of videos on stuff like this. Here's a decent one that came up under repair trailer hubs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2T79nHXgw

Good luck!

Frank

[mary and bob]

Here's a comment on the "cracked head" . A coworker had a Subaru Outback about that year that had a head gasket leak about three times. Us being truck mechanics, he fixed it himself, but to do that job the engine had to be pulled out of the car which takes time and therefore ups the labor costs. Apparently Subaru had bad head gaskets for a couple years. My opinion that he had to do this job 3 different times is that he didn't have the head resurfaced and just caused himself extra work by being in a hurry. Another one of those jobs that the parts aren't too expensive, the cost is in the labor. I had to replace the head gasket on my 90 Toyota several years ago, my cost including resurfacing the head was $300, Toyota dealer wanted over $1000!

[papmom35]

hi Bob and Frank,
thanks for all the great tips and advice.
Yes my dad and my brother are very handy and I bet my brother could walk me through rewiring the tow lights. He's going to stop by tomorrow to see the paphut but I'm not sure he'll be able to get a good look underneath but maybe he'll tow it home one day and work on it!
Bob-my mechanic quoted $1200 for the cracked head and most of it is probaby labor just because of what you said-the engine block has to be hauled out there to repair it. Between the steering rack/pump, brakes and the cracked head I'm just not sure it's worth repairing just to be able to tow. I may not have a choice because I'm not sure I can find an SUV (Explorer, Blazer, Envoy, Grand Cherokee or Cherokee etc) that would be an even trade for my OB. I may end up renting a TV for the 3 or 4 times I want to tow this summer and then I can take all year to find a new car (and maybe my job situation will improve as well!!).

So, the Paphut is home!! The transport guy was a dream to work with and so nice, even with all the tattoos!! Kept calling me M'aam and my dad Sir! I'm betting ex military. Anyway, she needs a good cleaning inside and out and I have to find a 30-15 converter so I can hook up to my house power to test every thing inside. When I opened the driver's side front storage area under the dinette bench there was a strong musty/mildewy smell that wasn't evident at all just walking into the camper. I couldn't feel/see any evidence of moisture and I was told by the RV guy that that is the area where the floor was replaced recently. I'm hoping that airing it out tomorrow, weather permitting will take care of the smell. I'm also thinking the fridge will have to go-it's very old and pretty gross. Other than that and the tow lights, it's ready to go!! Can't wait to work on it next weekend and I'll also be taking the 2nd week in June off so I can really do some work with it. No veggie garden this year!!

I'm going to take as many pics as possible tomorrow and post them. Some will be very detailed like the hole in the siding and the rust on the tongue and wheels. I just want to be very thorough with the "before" documentation.