Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite – "FROM OLD FORUM"

Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby C&J » 26 Aug 2015 17:40

The wife and I bought this trailer about 3 years ago. I used my brother in laws farm truck to move it into the back yard where it became another room for when the kids wanted to come and stay overnight. We have been camping in a tent trailer we pulled behind the motorcycle. We decided it was time to get a truck to pull the trailer with so at the end of July 2015 we got a used 2006 2500 4×4 Dodge 5.9 Diesel quad cab. After removing the gooseneck conversion on the trailer and having a Demco Slider hitch instilled we started making the trailer road worthy again. 5 new tires and a power wash later we took it for it’s maiden voyage. There were a few hiccups on our three day trip but we made it back safe. Now we shall continue to bring the trailer back while thinking of upgrades.
She is a 20+ year medical transcriptionist and I’m a field service engineer employed at Ft Sill Okla.
Her main hobby is quilting with other related side hobbies. I took my Amateur Radio Technician test July 2014 and passed my General in March of 2015. I’m presently studying for my Extra so I can test and Pass before June 2016. We figure both are good portable hobbies as long as she can store enough material.

So far I’ve had to repair and clean the AC and replace the hot water heater and Thetford toilet. I noticed last night that the “nose” of the trailer had separated on the top and left side. While putting it back in place I was somewhat dismayed when I noticed none of the screws actually kept the nose on the trailer. I’ll have to look into that. I think the roof needs refurbished and need to find the best way to do that. Also some of the white paint has come out of the freezer. I need to see if it a special type of paint before making that repair. All minor things which won’t keep us from camping!
C&J
Rookie
Rookie

Posts: 8
Joined: 25 Aug 2015 21:15
Has thanked: 1 time
Have thanks: 1 time
Mfg Of RV: Carriage
Model Of RV: Carri-Lite
Model Number of RV: 530RK
RV Build Date: 7/24/96
Top
Re: Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby papacliff » 26 Aug 2015 20:34

Welcome to the forum. You’ll find that the folks on here are both knowledgeable and helpful.

If you run into a problem, either someone else has seen it, or we’ll figure it out as a group.

Cliff
2013 Lifestyle LS37IK
2011 Dodge 3500 DRW diesel
User avatar
papacliff
Gold Level Member
Gold Level Member

Posts: 538
Joined: 09 Dec 2012 11:52
Location: Here, there, and everywhere.
Has thanked: 36 time
Have thanks: 140 time
Mfg Of RV: Lifestyle
Model Of RV: Lifestyle
Model Number of RV: LS37IK
RV Build Date: 5/2/2012
Top
Re: Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby Traveler » 26 Aug 2015 20:37

Welcome to the forum, it sounds like you are moving right along on repairs and things to do on the road. You will get a lot of help from others members; in fact we have one member “Di and Dutch” that have a rig about your same vintage that they have been full-timing in for many years.
Jim and Jane
2014 Ford 350 King Ranch, Trailer Saver BD3 Air Hitch, IS Suspension, Disk Brakes
Nights Camped in 2013-186
Nights Camped in 2014-185
Nights Camped in 2015-232
Nights Camped in 2016-101

Forum Get-Togethers Attended – 2
User avatar
Traveler
Gold Level Member
Gold Level Member

Posts: 1505
Joined: 09 Dec 2012 10:48
Location: Minnesota
Has thanked: 540 time
Have thanks: 331 time
Mfg Of RV: Carriage
Model Of RV: Cameo
Model Number of RV: 34SB3
RV Build Date: May 11 2011
Top
Re: Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby Comeupwithsomething » 26 Aug 2015 21:50

C&J,

Can you elaborate on the ‘white paint’ in the freezer? Not sure we can assist much with the other, but that’s just got me curious!

And, welcome!
2008 F31KS3
2008 3500HD Chevy Dually
Comeupwithsomething
Bronze
Bronze

Posts: 710
Joined: 14 Jan 2013 16:02
Has thanked: 215 time
Have thanks: 148 time
Top
Re: Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby C&J » 27 Aug 2015 08:14

Comeupwithsomething wrote:
C&J,

Can you elaborate on the ‘white paint’ in the freezer? Not sure we can assist much with the other, but that’s just got me curious!

And, welcome!

It looks like the factory lining. It’s a then white paint, don’t think it’s plastic or rubber, over what looks to be aluminum. It’s only on the deck of the freezer, the sides being plastic. It put me in mind of pool paint. The type of paint you would use to seal a concrete pool, but thin.
C&J
Rookie
Rookie

Posts: 8
Joined: 25 Aug 2015 21:15
Has thanked: 1 time
Have thanks: 1 time
Mfg Of RV: Carriage
Model Of RV: Carri-Lite
Model Number of RV: 530RK
RV Build Date: 7/24/96
Top
Re: Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby dutchanddi » 27 Aug 2015 14:58

Welcome to the forum. We wish you good luck in changing/adding things on your Carriage. We have been fulltiming in ours for 19 years since purchasing it brand new. I have to say that so far we have only had to replace the air conditioner and the washing machine due to failure and the dishwasher because I just wore her out. Of course, we could add, change or fix things as we went along during those years but in your case, you will have to address “issues”as you find them.
As for the nose being held together with screws. Way back then they used a putty type of sealer and put screws in every 4” or so. Ours has held up well but I’m not taking it apart to check it out for you :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
I can’t help you with the roof question as we upgraded to a fiberglass roof when we ordered it.As far as upgrades, it would really depend on what type of camping you are doing. Are you going to be weekend warriors, part timers {a few weeks or months at a time}, sometimer’s more like 3 to 6 months a year or fulltime? That would depend on upgrades you might want to have.
We knew we were going fulltime before we bought it and my comment was “if I have it in my home now, I want it in my “new” home. I’m sure you’ll get loads of opinions here and if we can be of any help, let me know. Hugs, Di

C&J wrote:
The wife and I bought this trailer about 3 years ago. I used my brother in laws farm truck to move it into the back yard where it became another room for when the kids wanted to come and stay overnight. We have been camping in a tent trailer we pulled behind the motorcycle. We decided it was time to get a truck to pull the trailer with so at the end of July 2015 we got a used 2006 2500 4×4 Dodge 5.9 Diesel quad cab. After remo ving the gooseneck conversion on the trailer and having a Demco Slider hitch instilled we started making the trailer road worthy again. 5 new tires and a power wash later we took it for it’s maiden voyage. There were a few hiccups on our three day trip but we made it back safe. Now we shall continue to bring the trailer back while thinking of upgrades.

She is a 20+ year medical transcriptionist and I’m a field service engineer employed at Ft Sill Okla.
Her main hobby is quilting with other related side hobbies. I took my Amateur Radio Technician test July 2014 and passed my General in March of 2015. I’m presently studying for my Extra so I can test and Pass before June 2016. We figure both are good portable hobbies as long as she can store enough material.

So far I’ve had to repair and clean the AC and replace the hot water heater and Thetford toilet. I noticed last night that the “nose” of the trailer had separated on the top and left side. While putting it back in place I was somewhat dismayed when I noticed none of the screws actually kept the nose on the trailer. I’ll have to look into that. I think the roof needs refurbished and need to find the best way to do that. Also some of the white paint has come out of the freezer. I need to see if it a special type of paint before making that repair. All minor things which won’t keep us from camping!
Last edited by dutchanddi on 28 Aug 2015 20:37, edited 1 time in total.
2015 Western Pearl Brown Ram 3500-Pace rolltop-AMP side steps-DeBo slide step
1996/2010 Carriage-Mor/Ryde Susp-Kodiak-Disc Brakes-BF Leveling TST TPMS-Plug It Right Stabilizers-http://www.plugitright.com/5thwheelREDO.html
dutchanddi has been thanked by:
C&J
dutchanddi
Gold Level Member
Gold Level Member

Posts: 514
Joined: 10 Dec 2012 01:11
Location: Everywhere USA
Has thanked: 14 time
Have thanks: 128 time
Mfg Of RV: Carriage
Model Of RV: Conestoga
Model Number of RV: 3708
RV Build Date: 06/20/1996
Top
Re: Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby C&J » 27 Aug 2015 22:34

I googled that model and found your pictures of the renovation. It’s beautiful!
Ours lived a hard life. Was owned by a pipefitter and I suspect the owner before it was one too.
I’d like to bring it back to new condition over time. It’s a toss up between putting money in this one
or trading it in. It lacks space for a laundry area and full time living is not in our scope for at least the
next four years. While the company I work for has a very liberal vacation policy, all the days off without pay
that I want, hers is not as forgiving and I like to eat. I expect we will be only able to do three day and at the most one week trips at a time. And that one week is once a year! Lol.

So far we’ve invested about $2000 above what we purchased it for. Hot water tank, Toilet, repaired the AC and replaced all 5 tires. So far I’ve done all the work myself to save labor costs and hope the other repairs can be done the same way. I just need to know what’s out there and how it’s used. I expect to be buying putty, and the seal that goes in the channel over the screws to replace it all. A 31 foot x 8 foot piece of rubber tape would be nice too.
I appreciate any and all input and information you, and anyone else, might share on this.
C&J
Rookie
Rookie

Posts: 8
Joined: 25 Aug 2015 21:15
Has thanked: 1 time
Have thanks: 1 time
Mfg Of RV: Carriage
Model Of RV: Carri-Lite
Model Number of RV: 530RK
RV Build Date: 7/24/96
Top
Re: Owners of a 1997 Carri-lite
Postby C&J » 27 Aug 2015 22:39

papacliff wrote:
Welcome to the forum. You’ll find that the folks on here are both knowledgeable and helpful.

If you run into a problem, either someone else has seen it, or we’ll figure it out as a group.

Cliff

Not to be remiss but I’d like to thank you and Traveler for the welcome to the forum.
I hope to gain knowledge from the group. In something like this self earned knowledge can be painful at times.
Dont ask. :o

Chuck
C&J has been thanked by:
Traveler

Topic