Restoring Damaged Brakes and Lights on 1984 Holiday Rambler Trailer Left Stationary for 15 Years

Updated 04/15/2014 | Published 04/14/2014

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Question:

Hello, I am looking at purchasing a Holiday Rambler that has been stationary for the last 15 or so years. The current owner says the brakes and bearings are seized and I believe him. However, I have to tow the trailer approx 3 hours from where it is to where I live. I have not a clue on the size of the brakes, but I can tell you its a 32foot Holiday Rambler thats all fibreglass. He also says that the taillights and running lights probably dont work. Any idea what would cause this? Thanks.

asked by: Anthony

Expert Reply:

It is not at all unreasonable that a travel trailer left idle for 15 years will need lots of TLC, including brake and lighting components, plus potentially others. Even in the best storage conditions, 15 years can wear heavily on things like wiring, lights, brake assemblies and other trailer systems like water and sewage.

My online research of 1984 Holiday Rambler 32-foot travel trailers reveals that several were offered in the 32-foot length, the Ambassador, Imperial and Presidential series. I was not able to find specs on the brakes installed on any particular version and it is always possible that such components varied across the series and/or across production years.

Most of these trailers have axle ratings between 5000-6000-lbs, and so the part you referenced, Titan Galphorite Free-Backing Hydraulic Trailer Brake # T4489500, might well be in the right ballpark in terms of weight capacity, but you will really need to use the trailer VIN (vehicle identification number) to contact Holiday Rambler to identify brake parts required. Their tech support and parts department can be reached toll-free at 877-466-6226.

Trailer lights can malfunction from a number of potential causes: bad bulbs or damaged light fixtures, deteriorated wiring within the trailer structure, or dirty/corroded trailer connectors (either on the trailer side or tow vehicle side). I have linked an article that covers trailer wiring and troubleshooting, and this may give you some help as you go through the trailer in person. I recommend a circuit tester like # PTW2993 be used as this will help speed up your troubleshooting efforts. A video link will show how to use the tester.

expert reply by: Adam R