The buying market has changed today from even a year ago, and a lot from a couple of years ago when demand was high for RVs, new and used. It was definitely a seller’s market. But things have changed
Trying to sell an RV today is difficult. Demand is way down. The prices we can hope to get today if we sell our RV is tough to swallow if we had been considering selling for a year or two! “Darn, we should have sold back then,” you might say.
So, if someone came along today and made you a generous offer to buy your RV, what would you do? That’s our question today. As always, please leave a comment, too, if you want to share your thoughts.
Our camper is a small 13′ fibreglass egg camper and these little gems have always
retained their value. No way will we sell it when we have a son waiting for it one day.
Ditto with a 17 ft one.
No because then we would need to find another. We did do some shopping this past few months and all we could find were poorly made and in need of so much to improve them to where it was not worth the trouble. A newer unit would be nice but none are as well made as what we already have. Instead we installed new shocks and Sumo springs on our 2006 MH and will keep it until we can’t go any more.
Maybe in 10 years or so, I might not be able to drive then due to medical problems and the wife doesn’t like to drive the motor home though she can if necessary.
dealers are offering more and more incentives and less used are selling. Prices are coming down…not up. Only going to get cheaper through end of 2024.
True…currently in FC Ia..drove by a large dealer with standing room only on his lot. Very heavy on inventory!
The only reason I would sell is that my wife suffered a stroke shortly after purchasing my 38 ft fifth wheel. It has sat since I bought it in November of 2021.
Neither our larger seasonal stay nor our little ‘weekender’ travel trailers are for sale. I have spent a lot of time to make them ‘just right’ with all the bits and pieces the manufacturers should have installed, but did not to save expense. I spent the time to fix all the factory defects we have found. I have read and performed all those maintenance tips Dave and Dustin have told us about. I really, really doubt “a good price” will reimburse me for my labor let alone the additions.
No, I wouldn’t because, 1) being 22 and 25 years old, we wouldn’t get enough for either of them to find a suitable replacement; 2) we have them just the way we want them; and 3) the way RVs are generally constructed today leaves too much to be desired.
I injured my back last year and have been in constant pain since. Surgery and therapy has helped, but due to the extent of damage to my lower spine, things are getting harder to do.
I have not mentioned to my wife that I am considering selling. We both enjoy traveling, but the day will come.
We are full-timers so selling our RV would be equivalent to selling our house. It’s possible we might want to do that but it would involve lots of planning: where would we live? Would we buy a house? Or buy another RV? For us, selling the RV has lots of implications.
Same.
For a good price – probably not. For an insanely good price? Sure!
Yep, but early 70’s still want to travel for a few years. As long as we can do it safely and healthy.
Yep. My thought too.
I only said yes because I want to downsize – but that would be the only reason.
No, although we are in our mid 70’s now we want to keep rving for at least a few more years. Of course that will depend on not having any serious health problems.
We definitely would! Our 2021 fifth wheel has been nothing but trouble. Had two years and could only use it twice. We were supposed to leave today on a two month trip and the hydraulic leveling went out! We are supposed to be up North by June 1 for grandsons graduation. We live in Fl so we need at least 3 days. May not happen now.
So sorry to hear that CathyW. Hoping you get on the road soon.
We have a new 5th wheel on order due for delivery late October. We’re selling our Micro Lite 25FKBS which has been a great couples TT.
Not yet, but maybe in couple of years.
Looked at going larger at RV show. Could have traded up as our trade was worth $12,000 more than we paid. BUT we have tricked it out with solar, suspension upgrades, batteries etc..so decided to keep her not wanting to go through the hassle of upgrading a new unit and going through the warranty BS again
As usual, we are an odd-out. Our coach is a classic, vintage and maybe antique. But, so am I. There are few I trust to do the regular required maintenance and I am getting to be too old to keep up with that. If some person was to show up that was very interested and had the resources to keep her up. We would have a very long discussion.
I would consider it. We love our 38 foot fifth wheel but have thought about downsizing to a smaller one.
Currently have 2. An ‘06 Monaco class A diesel pusher and new class B. Need to sell the class A. but would probably sell both if it came down to it.
Had this question been posed a year ago, then the answer probably would have been yes. We traded RVs (we ordered the new one) in early July of last year. As is, we are dialing-in our new one and plan to keep it until we are too infirm to RV any longer. So, current answer is no. 🙂 😎
Sold it but not for a good price. Had we sold it last year it would’ve been a good price. Story of my life, a day late and a dollar short. Lol
re:
“Demand is high for both new and used RVs. It’s so high, in fact, that many first-time RV buyers are waiting months for their new rig to be delivered.
Amazingly, some RVers report that they are seeing the value of their present RVs going up in price, not down, which has been the case pretty much forever.”
Was this written two years ago? I think the opposite is true now. Where I live in piedmont NC, there are a LOT of used RVs for sale. Many used car dealers have a few used RVs for sale. There’s even a clothing store with several parked out front.
My first thought exactly, Irv! Sales are WAY down and dealership lots absolutely packed with available rigs. A buyer is only waiting if they special ordered.
I agree with you and Spike. This is a buyers market currently. Inventories up, and with interest rates up as high as they are, a cash buyer is in the driver’s seat for any negotiation providing emotions stay subdued. Most private deals are cash so that is even better for the buyer when comparing lightly used v. new off the lot.
I think we would sell if offered good money. We lived in our 5th wheeler for 2 yrs during Covid and while we were building our house and it was great. Now, if we sold we could downsize a little and do more traveling. For now we will keep it.
Everything I own is “for sale”…..for the right price. We are thinking of upgrading to a newer class A, so yes I would take the reasonable offer. Reasonable in my mind, not necessarily the buyer.
our MH is up for sale right now. health issues for us both is why.
https://www.rvt.com/Itasca-Suncruiser-38QU1-2016-Carol-Stream-IL-ID10882580-UX81871
Luckily, we sold ours Sept. 2020 after 16 years of travelling, about the time Covid got a hold on things. We miss it but not the hassles we have seen since then. We had considered maybe getting another, but I had always done almost all of the maintenance myself. Physically I can’t do it anymore.
Yes & No.
2009 Forest River 29′ Wildcat TT. Yes
1998 RoadTrek D190P. No
FYI. Last week we sold our EZ-GO camp-cart for our full asking price.
We received a couple of insultingly low-ball offers, and one inquiry asking if the price was negotiable. To which I replied; “ABSOLUTELY! I’ll gladly take more!
🙂
Our 2014 Roadtrek is my daily driver, tour vehicle, vacation vehicle, escape vehicle and place to live when the power goes out vehicle. I will still have it even if the wheels fall off.
I can’t think of much we don’t have in our 2019, (pre-covid’s junk years), that I would want or need so nope, just a make work project and I don’t want or need the extra work.
I purchased a very nice used camper and pickup that I LOVE about 18 months ago so that I could travel with my friend who was very excited about going to Alaska, Yellowstone, pulling the boat to go fishing, etc. Unfortunately when the rubber hit the road (hah!) I could not get him to go anywhere other than where his friends were camping and partying. I cannot financially justify keeping the new rig and also the small travel trailer and older pickup that I use for my solo camping so the camper and pickup are now for sale.😥
When we use our 2006 travel trailer we both really enjoy it. WHEN WE USE IT! It seems we are using it less and less so I don’t think it would be a big deal to get rid of it.
The answer its No. She may be vintage, from ’96, but still runs like a top.
Couple to that the numerous upgrades we have performed, and the fact (this vintage of tech) I can repair easily-she’s a keeper.
We would only sell our class A if we could get a good deal on another unit. We’ve looked around some and so far haven’t found another that we like better than what we already have
Well, I would not sell it…now. It is a 2022 Rockwood. Contrary to the norm for COVID trailers our Rockwood seems to be very well constructed, proven after a year of mountain camping. I had to pull the 12 volt fridge out and put a propane/110v fridge in…long expensive story… and now the trailer is exactly what I wanted. So…no, we will keep this as our likely final trailer purchase until we, or it, expires!
Depends on your definition of a good price.
Everything is for sale if the price is right. If the question is to sell the RV for a good price and leave the lifestyle, “No”. If the price was sweet enough to make me upgrade, “Maybe”. I can’t envision a hard, “Yes” unless health or some other unyielding reason forced my hand.
We would not because we haven’t come across a layout that we like as well as the one we have.
ours is perfect for us. we are having fun rving with the grandkids and its easy to tow. in the back of my mind, its also a home if everything else goes to pot
Yes, but only because I want to downsize to an even smaller RV, not because I want to give up full timing.