Hello from Maine

CRose51 · 09-05-2015, 06:25 AM

Hi all. I am going to go look at a 1986 Runabout truck camper. It looks to be in excellent condition for its age. Any suggestions what I should be on the lookout for? This model does not have a head which i think is ok for me. I plan to do the porta potty. I am a 65 year old wpman retiring next spting and planning on hitting the road.
Any advice is appreciated.
Charleen

mainah · 09-06-2015, 08:04 AM

The biggest issue would be water damage. There is nothing unusual as far as the rest of the stuff they are pretty much used by every manufacture if you need things like a fridge to work that can be an expensive, furnace etc. Make sure your truck is capable of carrying it they can be pretty heavy. Where in Maine are you I'm near Fryeburg.

CRose51 · 09-06-2015, 05:44 PM

Hi Mainah- I am in Bath. The inside seems to be in pretty good shape. The man who has it now replaced all the wood under the cab over bed. The refrig unit runs when plugged in but when I opened the external cabineg the parts looked pretty rusted. He thought the weight was around 1200 #. I want to find a camper I like and then look for the truck to go under it.
How about you?

mainah · 09-07-2015, 06:39 AM

Rusty fridge parts are pretty normal. It does take a good while for them to cool off but with in maybe 30 minutes the freezer compartment should feel cool to the touch. Yeah on the weight but don't forget the rated weight is dry weight no battery propane water and camping stuff. Frankly if you want to be comfortable with the handling a 3/4 ton truck is what you want. I'm near Fryeburg in Brownfield part of our land is on the Saco river (about 1800') I tow a T1700 with my Tacoma pickup. I was just up your way at the air show.

CRose51 · 09-07-2015, 04:30 PM

Hope you enjoyed the air show. Too bad they had to start charging admission.

I am still in the gathering information stage. I may end up going with a van and fixing it up.

Thanks for all your help.

mainah · 09-07-2015, 05:21 PM

By the time I got in had a couple bottles of water and some food I was down $50 The show was great but it started at 12:50! By 4 some thing I was ready to go some where and lay down and still had an 1 1/2 drive home. It is a toss up I had a motor home a truck a VW a Scion and when I retired I decided to reduce the fleet. I sold the motor home the old truck and the VW bought a new truck and a tow behind camper. I like the camper for the room and it really is not that big 17' 10" I can leave it some where and take the truck to go places that has a lot going for it