Looking at a used travel trailer

[Uberquilt]

I'm in the tire kicking stage, and am going to check out a used travel trailer tomorrow. The pictures, brand and floor plan look good to me, but it's at a dealer and the asking price is higher than I want. How much negotiation is likely to be available, like 10%, or 25%? Somewhere in between? Other than looking at everything, is there a way to check the Vin number to see if there's an issue I should be aware of? Does Kelley Blue Book rate trailers? Thanks in advance!

[morleyz]

I don't believe there is any type of VIN checking service for RVs. You can get a rough price from the NADA RV guide. If you make a reasonable offer based on market prices (do some research on rv trader, craigslist, etc.), you'll probably be able to talk them into it. It's hard to bank on a specific percentage, but IMO, 10% is probably a little low and 25% is a stretch on a reasonable used price, but all dealers have different pricing/negotiation models.

[Gavenger]

Find a local RV inspector (independent RV repair places can possibly help, or recommend) and have the unit gone through. If the dealer balks at letting someone inspect it, walk away. A nice looking RV is not worth the headaches of water intrusion or many other various, hidden, maladies.


I recently went through this process for a private party purchase. Local RV repair shop came by after hours and spent a couple hours going through the RV. Paid a competitive price for the service and we were informed of all the issues with the trailer, a major one that the owner claimed to not know of, bad fridge, not working. Negotiated the cost of a new fridge into the purchase price and paid the man. Would not have purchased trailer without the inspection, and without it, I could have been out an additional $1200 for a new fridge.