Advice on how to scrap my mobile home

I have this problem that I need to attend to. Hopefully this is the right category.

Let me explain the background story: My dad left me his property when he died, and there's this old dingy trailer on it, probably 30+ years in age, that I wouldn't consider livable. I want to sell the property, but I need to get the trailer off of it first. My mom is telling me to scrap it for cash, but I have no idea where to get started with that. Which is why I came to you for advice.

I live about five hours away from the property, so it's not something that can be done on the side. It needs to be done relatively quickly, so I don't have to make very many trips up there.

My mom expects me to strip it myself, but I have no idea how to do that and neither does my boyfriend. There seem to be some great tips on this site, but it doesn't seem like a job we could do very quickly given the circumstances. He was an electrician for a few years, so he'd know how to get the copper out of the place, but that is the extent of his knowledge. Other than that, we're completely lost.

Are there companies that strip it themselves? If they did, would I have to haul off the excess, non-scrapable waste?

How exactly would the price I'd get for scrap differ if a scrap company did it as opposed to me stripping it myself, then having someone pick up the metal? I have no truck or trailer, very little tools, and to be honest, a very limited budget.

Do you think I should try to do it myself? And do you think it's a job that could be done within the span of two weeks? Would the price we got from the scrap be worth the gas, food, and temporary living expenses it would cost us to stay there until the trailer was done being scrapped?

These are all questions that I have. I feel completely lost while being faced with this. I have the numbers of some local scrap companies, but I was wanting some advice and to be a little more informed before I called them.



Thanks!

Originally Posted by floridagirl

I have this problem that I need to attend to. Hopefully this is the right category.

Let me explain the background story: My dad left me his property when he died, and there's this old dingy trailer on it, probably 30+ years in age, that I wouldn't consider livable. I want to sell the property, but I need to get the trailer off of it first. My mom is telling me to scrap it for cash, but I have no idea where to get started with that. Which is why I came to you for advice.

I live about five hours away from the property, so it's not something that can be done on the side. It needs to be done relatively quickly, so I don't have to make very many trips up there.

My mom expects me to strip it myself, but I have no idea how to do that and neither does my boyfriend. There seem to be some great tips on this site, but it doesn't seem like a job we could do very quickly given the circumstances. He was an electrician for a few years, so he'd know how to get the copper out of the place, but that is the extent of his knowledge. Other than that, we're completely lost.

Are there companies that strip it themselves? If they did, would I have to haul off the excess, non-scrapable waste?

How exactly would the price I'd get for scrap differ if a scrap company did it as opposed to me stripping it myself, then having someone pick up the metal? I have no truck or trailer, very little tools, and to be honest, a very limited budget.

Do you think I should try to do it myself? And do you think it's a job that could be done within the span of two weeks? Would the price we got from the scrap be worth the gas, food, and temporary living expenses it would cost us to stay there until the trailer was done being scrapped?

These are all questions that I have. I feel completely lost while being faced with this. I have the numbers of some local scrap companies, but I was wanting some advice and to be a little more informed before I called them.

Thanks!

Is your mother available, she sounds like my kind of woman.

Regards
Gus

Take the wiring out then burn it and scrap what's left over ! That's what I'd do but we have a volunteer fire dept and they like things like that to practice on. There are several threads about this. Just type in trailer or mobile home until you find them in the search feature. You'll get lot's of help here , too. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Dumpster Dee

Take the wiring out then burn it and scrap what's left over ! That's what I'd do but we have a volunteer fire dept and they like things like that to practice on. There are several threads about this. Just type in trailer or mobile home until you find them in the search feature. You'll get lot's of help here , too. Good luck.

Good idea, but it's in a wooded area surrounded by trees. I'm not sure if you were serious or not. It is in the forest away from neighbors, but sounds like an even more complicated solution haha.

I checked out the first page of a few categories and didn't see any thread similar to my problem. But I'll use the search feature and see if there's any good advice there.

Originally Posted by Hypoman

You'd probably have a hard time selling it for scrap. If you are pressed for time and low on funds, your best bet would be to just give it away to a scrap company with the stipulation that it has to be gone in x amount of time. Good luck.

I was wanting to get some money from it. My mom expects me to get a lot out of it by doing it myself, but that just doesn't seem feasible to me.

I have family about an hour or two away that I could stay with if I were to scrap it on my own, but that'd be without my boyfriend since he couldn't stay away long because of his job. I also remembered that my parents have a trailer that I could possibly borrow to haul stuff.

Personally, I'd like to get some money from it, but I'm more concerned with selling the property than getting every penny from scrapping it.

Originally Posted by Mick

Or put on Craig's List free for storage. I really wouldn't advise trying to scrap it without a solid plan. Too much wood and you really need a plan to attack it systematically. I think there are a couple of videos on here about scrapping a mobile home.

It needs to be off the property so it wouldn't work to advertise for storage on the lot.



Also, a side note, my dad built some room onto the side of it, so it's not exactly easy to haul off. I think he tore out a wall to add on the extra room, but it's pretty much planted to the ground. Not sure what to do about that.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/showt...ce!-(With-Pics)

One of many. Read all that were posted by him. He broke down several trailers and posted videos and pics as well...

I wasn't kidding....but that's why I went on to say I could get help from my fire dept....didn't know (or missed) that you had no truck or trailor. You didn't address Gus' question......if she's available you might be able to get his help !! This time I was kidding...sort of !!

If that were me and I didn't have many tools, time, experience, etc, I would just see if someone else wanted to buy it and let them haul it away. Or second choice like Dee said, offer it to the fire dept and when it cools you or someone could haul away the frame.

Originally Posted by hobo finds

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/showt...ce!-(With-Pics)

One of many. Read all that were posted by him. He broke down several trailers and posted videos and pics as well...

I read about half of that thread before I posted.

I plan on making a trip up there soon to assess the situation and plan what to do next. I haven't been to the place in over 2 years, and I'm unsure of what it looks like, if it's even still standing, or if someone hasn't trespassed on the property and already stripped it.

Thank you all for the tips! I'll keep checking back to see if anyone else has any input.

take pictures !! it's not in the everglades is it ??? jk !!

Whoever buys the property might want it?

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

You will get sheet metal, wire, copper, and brass. How much depends on the size of the trailer, etc.

You can do it yourself, but unless you have someone close by to do it, tools, and a trailer, I wouldn't advise it all that much, but that is just me.

If nothing else, put an ad on craigslist.org. Offer it up for some cash.

You guys always see the gold before cracking the egg, what if the trailer has aluminum wiring. ROLFLMYAO

Originally Posted by floridagirl

I read about half of that thread before I posted.

I plan on making a trip up there soon to assess the situation and plan what to do next. I haven't been to the place in over 2 years, and I'm unsure of what it looks like, if it's even still standing, or if someone hasn't trespassed on the property and already stripped it.

Thank you all for the tips! I'll keep checking back to see if anyone else has any input.

Two years, with copper prices being what they are, unattended property.

Maybe some enterprising soul has not already relieved you of your treasures. Keep us posted.