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Old 07-30-2007 | 05:19 PM
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supr's Avatar
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From: Houston
FEMA Trailers

Has anybody bought any of the Hurricane trailers? I understand they are cheap, but there may be issues.
Where do you buy them?
Costs?
How many of you have done this?
Old 07-30-2007 | 05:34 PM
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Only thing I've heard is that there are a number of health issues with people who lived in them because of high levels of formaldehyde used in the wood that they're constructed of. Seems there was a shortage of good quality American lumber so they imported stuff from over seas that was made with high levels of that stuff. IMHO I wouldn't buy one. Just my .02 worth.
Old 07-30-2007 | 08:34 PM
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From: South West VA
Smile

I got a 32 footer for resale but am starting to like it so much I may keep it, has lots of good features and room. A co-worker and I both purchased one and neither had been used! I'm not worried about the formaldehyde issue as I know what that smells like and can't detect any... also I will keep it ventilated well just in case. I can post picts if anybody would like to see the layout. You could buy them @ http://gsaauctions.gov but all trailer sales have been suspended for 30 days according to the site.
Old 07-30-2007 | 08:40 PM
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I think the formaldehyde is coming from the spray-foam insulation, not the wood.
Old 07-31-2007 | 03:35 AM
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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...ck=1&cset=true
I only heard of problems with trailers made by Gulfstream . Fleetwood also made thousands on trailers with identical specs . Watch the auctions closely . Before manufacturers got production geared up FEMA bought some really nice trailers off dealers' lots . One of these would be a good buy .
Old 07-31-2007 | 05:43 AM
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I need a cheap one for my hunting camper in NC.
Old 07-31-2007 | 09:05 AM
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Having transported quite a few of them, from 3 different manufacturers, just remember this. They were built for temporary housing - meaning permanently parked, NOT for traveling around camping. Therefore, alot of things involved with traveling were "cheaped out." Such as the front jack/hitch locking mech., safety chains, cheap tires, smaller wheels, brakes & axles for a 30' plus unit. Lost a few "wheels" with one manuf. as they used different axles/bearings than their normal production models. Heck, the first bunch of FEMA "specials" were so bad that the manuf. wouldn't even put their name on them!!
Old 08-01-2007 | 08:01 AM
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From what I have heard a lot of the "FEMA" are not set up as travel trailers. No water tanks, no holding tanks, no 12 volt things. Built like a mini "MObile" home.
Bob H
Old 08-01-2007 | 02:50 PM
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yeah they'd be a sweet deal to have on a deer lease or piece of land you own for weekend use. Cheap and easy to remove.

And as someone said above they are suspending sells. I just saw that on the gsaauction govt website.
Old 08-02-2007 | 09:42 AM
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Now FEMA won't even let people use the ones that are "available". Buyer beware.

http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=132891
Old 08-02-2007 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe T
yeah they'd be a sweet deal to have on a deer lease or piece of land you own for weekend use. Cheap and easy to remove.

And as someone said above they are suspending sells. I just saw that on the gsaauction govt website.
The smell would probably drive off any deer within 10 miles
Old 08-03-2007 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by RickG
The smell would probably drive off any deer within 10 miles
Dang, they stink that bad? I mean once you kick the vagrants out and clean them they shouldn't stink right?
Old 08-05-2007 | 09:04 PM
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I delivered a load up in Hattisburg MS and on the way back, south of Hattisburg, I seen hundreds and hundreds of these units on the south bound side of I59.
Old 08-06-2007 | 02:41 PM
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I hauled a bunch down in n.o. I would stay away, the quality was terrible. I was ashamed to haul and set them up for those people.
Old 08-07-2007 | 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by cromulius
I hauled a bunch down in n.o. I would stay away, the quality was terrible. I was ashamed to haul and set them up for those people.
From what I heard from the locals, the FEMA units, despite their inferior quality, was the best housing some of those folks had ever had in their life!! Can you imagine living full-time in a 32' single bedroom camper!! Yeah, I guess it beats cardboard boxes. Sure wouldn't want to be in that position, but if necessary I would hope that I would be a bit more grateful than some of those people in LA.


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