Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 23

Advice on how to scrap my mobile home

| Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
  1. #1
    floridagirl started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    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!



  2. #2
    gustavus is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
    gustavus's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,209
    Thanks
    1,351
    Thanked 920 Times in 425 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by floridagirl View Post
    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

  3. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by gustavus:


  4. #3
    Dumpster-Dee's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Location
    SW Georgia
    Posts
    1,775
    Thanks
    2,286
    Thanked 838 Times in 457 Posts
    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.

  5. #4
    Hypoman's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    1,268
    Thanks
    2,772
    Thanked 1,331 Times in 512 Posts
    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.
    Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
    Thomas Jefferson

  6. #5
    Mick's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Palermo, Me
    Posts
    3,405
    Thanks
    363
    Thanked 3,086 Times in 1,326 Posts
    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.
    People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.

  7. #6
    floridagirl started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Dumpster Dee View Post
    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.


    Quote Originally Posted by Hypoman View Post
    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.


    Quote Originally Posted by Mick View Post
    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.

  8. #7
    hobo finds's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    tucson, az
    Posts
    4,746
    Thanks
    6,035
    Thanked 5,906 Times in 2,555 Posts
    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...

  9. #8
    Dumpster-Dee's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Location
    SW Georgia
    Posts
    1,775
    Thanks
    2,286
    Thanked 838 Times in 457 Posts
    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 !!

  10. #9
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    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.
    George Beale - Founder & President - info@viprecyclingjunkremoval.com
    VIP Recycling Junk Removal LLC - Premier Scrap Metal, Junk, & Electronic Recyclers!
    http://www.viprecyclingjunkremoval.com

  11. #10
    newattitude's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hinckley Ohio, home of the buzzards
    Posts
    2,163
    Thanks
    1,431
    Thanked 2,497 Times in 904 Posts
    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.

  12. #11
    KzScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Denver Metro, CO
    Posts
    4,841
    Thanks
    7,019
    Thanked 5,792 Times in 2,417 Posts
    A lot of work involved...probably too much for it being your first time. If you need it off your property in a timely manner try to give it away but personally I would charge you to take it.
    Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler
    Certified Zip-Tie Mechanic
    "Give them enough so they can do something with it, but not too much that they won't do nothing."

  13. #12
    floridagirl started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by hobo finds View Post
    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.

  14. #13
    Dumpster-Dee's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2011
    Location
    SW Georgia
    Posts
    1,775
    Thanks
    2,286
    Thanked 838 Times in 457 Posts
    take pictures !! it's not in the everglades is it ??? jk !!

  15. #14
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Boise, ID
    Posts
    2,702
    Thanks
    2,237
    Thanked 2,352 Times in 1,014 Posts
    Whoever buys the property might want it?

  16. #15
    gustavus is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
    gustavus's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,209
    Thanks
    1,351
    Thanked 920 Times in 425 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by GeorgeB View Post
    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

  17. #16
    gustavus is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
    gustavus's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,209
    Thanks
    1,351
    Thanked 920 Times in 425 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by floridagirl View Post
    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.

  18. #17
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by gustavus View Post
    You guys always see the gold before cracking the egg, what if the trailer has aluminum wiring. ROLFLMYAO
    No, I am just stating what typically will come from a trailer is all. I personally have never messed with one.

  19. #18
    gustavus is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
    gustavus's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,209
    Thanks
    1,351
    Thanked 920 Times in 425 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Dumpster Dee View Post
    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 !!
    I agree with you Dee. let the boys from the fire department have a play. Not sure about mouse poop and hantavirus in Florida, nasty stuff, burning the trailer would be safe without fear of catching the virus.
    Last edited by gustavus; 09-13-2011 at 10:45 PM.

  20. #19
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Good idea, but it's in a wooded area surrounded by trees. It is in the forest away from neighbors, but sounds like an even more complicated solution.
    In this situation I don't think a fire is a good idea,,,
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  21. #20
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    6
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    dont forget all the 2by10's under the floor may be worth a couple bucks


  22. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. mobile home
      By carolinajunkman in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 05-10-2012, 10:34 AM
    2. Virginia | General - Mobile Home Trailer ( LONG) for scrap steel
      By GeorgeB in forum Scrappers Classifieds
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 05-06-2012, 08:20 AM
    3. Mobile Home
      By WMSTR in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 02-06-2012, 07:38 AM
    4. Mobile home in Canton, KS for scrap
      By KerryP in forum Scrap Metal Spots
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 11-09-2011, 05:24 AM
    5. mobile home
      By jpizar83 in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 09-03-2011, 12:02 AM

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook