News - Local

Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

RV park operators warned of defective trailers

Used trailers may have water, mold damage

The Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association, which has 250 member groups, is warning campground and RV park operators to think twice before investing in used FEMA park trailers being auctioned by the General Services Administration.

“It may look like a bargain, but it might be a short-lived bargain,” said William Garpow, RPTIA’s executive director. “If you put it in and it makes your customers sick, that’s not a bargain, that’s a liability lawsuit.”

RPTIA estimates about 2,000 park trailers, previously used as temporary disaster housing, are being auctioned on the government’s General Services Administration Internet site, gsaauctions.gov.

Bids are as low as $100. The units do not have an RPTIA inspection seal and could pose various liability risks to park operators, RPTIA warns. The GSA Web site acknowledges that not all deficiencies are known, The trailers are not warranted and formaldehyde levels may not have been tested.

Some of the trailers have had water damage and mold, not all of it visible, RPTIA warns. Garpow acknowledges the auction of inexpensive, used trailers could cut into sales by RPTIA members, but says the industry’s reputation is a bigger concern.

If a trailer makes someone sick, Garpow said, fault is immaterial in the consumer’s eyes.

“We’ve got some units coming from the federal government that should not be sold,” he said. “Maybe they should be put in a corner and torched. If they wanted to certify them — that they are acceptable and can be used for the intention this product was built — and take on this responsibility, that would be fine. But they’re not.”

Garpow added: “The rental business is a big part of the campground industry that is growing, Park operators should think twice before purchasing these used FEMA units. It may not be in their best interest to purchase these units with the idea of using them as a rental product.”