To support the need for immediate housing after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, FEMA purchased upwards around 100,000 travel trailers, park models, and mobile homes.  Most were rented for a short period of time by displaced evacuees and then returned to FEMA.  Many thousand were not ever deployed and were left at the airport in Hope, Arkansas.

Whereas many of these trailers are in acceptable 2nd hand condition, many are not.  Some units may be in esthetically pleasing condition but due to harsh storage conditions could contain damage not readily noticed.  Many of these units are being auctioned by FEMA and resold without advising the consumer.

In addition, due to the time crunch to manufacture the units, many were built using non-standard methods by subcontractors to the major RV Manufacturers.

Here are some things to be aware of and to watch for when purchasing ANY travel trailer built in 2004-2006:

1) Look for a 7-digit code on reflective tape on the front and rear of the RV.  These are the tell-tale FEMA inventory stickers.

2) Do a throrough inspection of the unit, especially in areas behind panel covers and around slides.  Ensure ALL appliances, electronics, slides, etc. are functional.

3) Look for water damage and any signs of prolonged, unprotected storage (ie: excessive bugs, etc).  Water damage can cause rotted wood around slides if the slides were extended and left out for long periods of time.

4) See if you can get some sort of quality guarantee when purchasing from a Dealership.

For the most part, even ex-FEMA units can be a great value and a pleasure to own.  These few simple reminders could make or break a deal.  Remember - better your deal busted than your wallet.