2002 HR Aluma-Lite 33SKT (MAYBE?)

[wiredgeorge]

Have a chance to buy a 2002 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 33SKT REAL CHEAP. The camper surely needs new tires but also has a broken window. Supposed to be a small window and I have never repaired a window. Also has a slide that has to be cranked in and out manually as the electric doesn't work. Water heater doesn't work. Not sure what the issue is; guy never tried to fix. The floor will also need to be replaced as the PO put self stick tiles down and the slide rips them up when pulled it (guess the main slide isn't the issue). I would go linoleum through the trailer and have it installed.

How much would a slide cost to get repaired? I know HR is obsolete and parts may be an issue.

How do you replace a window. I can get the glass cut but not sure about how to get it into the frame.

I have used vinyl flooring in trailers before and know you need to put 1/8" plywood strips under the slide when it is retracted or the slide will scrape the vinyl.

Will probably install a tankless water heater anyway and make sure propane tanks are recertified, if needed.

Anyway adding cost of tires, window fix, slide fix and new floor will tell me if cheap means worthwhile

[JRTJH]

A new slide motor/ram assembly will run about $900. If the motor is the problem, many of that "era" could be rebuilt at automotive electrical repair (starter/alternator) shops. If rebuildable and the ram/gears are OK, probably less than $50 to rebuild the motor.

Flooring, if it's only vinyl (not the underlying wooden floor) that needs replaced, that's a fairly easy process.

Most window shops can replace the tempered glass in the window. Simply take the window out of the trailer, cover the hole with plastic while the window is being repaired. Take the window to the shop, they'll measure it, order the tempered glass and install it when it comes in. Then you just put new butyl putty on the flange and reinstall the window in the trailer sidewall...Probably $100 for their work and your cost for the butyl putty tape.

Most HR Alumalite/Alumascape trailers of that era had EPDM roofs, but some still had aluminum roofs, not EPDM/TPO, so if it's aluminum, make sure the roof isn't corroded and/or bent/buckled and is properly sealed. The aluminum roof is a different roof system and doesn't use DICOR or Alpha Systems sealant (although they would probably work). Corrosion on the aluminum roof is the biggest problem, so check it over closely.

[wiredgeorge]

Did not know about aluminum roofs. Many thanks! Assumed aluminum would never have any maintenance or even corrosion issues.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Did not know about aluminum roofs. Many thanks! Assumed aluminum would never have any maintenance or even corrosion issues.

Our 1993 HR Alumalite had "big time roof problems"... It was "all aluminum with an aluminum roof. Well, nobody told the acid rain in south Louisiana that it wasn't supposed to fall on (and eat away) the aluminum roof on our travel trailer. After about 5 or 6 years, we had more of a colander than a roof. We finally wound up spraying it with a topcoat that "weighed a ton" to keep it from leaking.