Community Forums

ndamico · 08-31-2014, 06:17 PM

hi,

i've never owned a travel trailer, but have plenty of experience towing big trailers. i ahve a 40' triple axle race car trailer and a 3500 duramax with B&W GN, air bas, and exhaust brake.

this weekend our family (just 3 of us) rented a cheap travel trailer and we really like the idea. i don't care much for the bumper pull and i love the turning of my GN trailer. this is a new unit but its cheap (been a rental for 3 months and many things are either falling apart or soon to).

we are considering buying a used unit that will probably be used 5-10 times a year. i may store it at our cabin which is at 5200' feet and gets snow in the winter. i'm not looking for ultimate luxury, just something quality that will last and be reliable. ideally with decent sized tanks and storage. don't care about fancy cabinets or countertops, etc. i just can't stand things that fall apart because they were built on the cheap.

i know, cost dictates most everything. the unit we have here is a 29' bumper pull. i would think 34' would be more than adequate for our small family (me, wife, and a toddler).

what should i expect to pay used for something i'm describing? 20k, 30k? more? i've only been reading for a few days so i'm quite new to this.

thanks in advance

Nick

DieselTech39 · 08-31-2014, 06:35 PM

Glad you're aboard Nick. Best of luck in your search and decision. Enjoy your adventures and be safe.

RickO · 08-31-2014, 06:48 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I'm not a trailer expert but I'm sure some will chime in with advice soon. PPL in Texas is a MAJOR dealer in used RVs and can give you a realistic sense of what different kinds are selling for.

5th Wheel Trailers for Sale - PPL Motor Homes

IMHO (at least for diesel pushers), they provide a good look at the actual value of used RVs. You may not want to travel to Texas, but their prices are a pretty good benchmark to start with when looking more in your local area.

Best of luck

Rick

jim81147 · 08-31-2014, 06:51 PM

That can be a tough one to answer . Not fancy yet quality , the price can be all over the place but I can tell you , in my neck of the woods , you can get a decent 5er in the 28 to 32 foot range used for less than 22 K , sometime a lot less , depending on circumstance . I would suggest you start studying brand and possible models you like . At the end of the season there are some good deals to be had for the person that is ready to pull the trigger.

Mekanic · 08-31-2014, 07:09 PM

Since you are into racing, Have you thought about converting a enclosed trailer? The quality of enclosed trailers are I think MUCH higher than travel trailers.
They make great (Larger) toy haulers.
Get one with the axles toward the back and you could take a Jeep or a couple of SxSs.
all kinds of threads on this at pirate4x4 off road forum.

ndamico · 08-31-2014, 08:27 PM

I thought about it and if free time were something I had I would be all over that. That being said I have more than enough hobbies according to my better half so it will have to be an outright purchase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mekanic

Since you are into racing, Have you thought about converting a enclosed trailer? The quality of enclosed trailers are I think MUCH higher than travel trailers.
They make great (Larger) toy haulers.
Get one with the axles toward the back and you could take a Jeep or a couple of SxSs.
all kinds of threads on this at pirate4x4 off road forum.