Selling our trailer?

[kb0zke]

Just out of curiousity, I looked for our trailer on rvtrader.com this evening. I looked only at dealers with trailers the same year as ours with prices listed. There were eleven. Of those, five were listed between $50 and $60,000. Four more were between $49 and $50,000. One was $47,000 and one was just under $41,000. None were as nice as ours. None had slide toppers, for instance, and one was missing the dinette.

JDPower says our trailer is worth just over $38,000 as a trade-in, and should retail for $51,000. There doesn't seem to be any way to figure in the solar and batteries that we have. Bill Thomas RV didn't want our trailer, partly because they had two new ones on their lot and partly (I think) because they didn't want to have anything to do with solar.

Questions: IS solar actually a deduction, does it add, or does it not make any difference for the price? What might be a good price for a quick sale?

I'm NOT listing our trailer for sale - yet - but the possibility exists that we may sell it privately at some point in the next couple of months. That kind of depends on what we find.

 

[triplethreat]

In my opinion, anything that was added on after the trailer was built could go either way, depending on who might be buying it. Take the solar and let's say you added LiFePO batteries to the tune of 200AH worth. If you find a potential buy that likes to boondock instead of going to a campground with FHUs, the solar and LFP batteries would be a selling point and probably add a bit of value. On the other hand, if the potential buyer was someone that never boondocks and goes to FHU sites exclusively, the solar and batteries were probably not be something that would entice them let's say. For most people, myself included, when we do modifications to the trailer it is done for US to enjoy and not as a value added project. So the bottom line is that it will depend on what the potential buyer is looking for.

 

[bridgway]

Regarding solar, it is not a deterrent for your sale but you should not expect a big return on your solar investment. Same with your Slide topper, I know they are nice but not a deal breaker for buyers. Best advice is price it to sell!

 

[ajg617]

I also think that it depends on whether you have factory solar or have added on in terms of trade-ins. Not that we are selling, but one of the reasons I've only upgraded to two lithiums and Coleman soft starts is to stay as close to stock as possible. Everything else is stock (except the Goosebox but I have the original unused MORryde pin box). That said, I think some of the options we ordered may not be wanted by some - factory generator for one, W/D for another, residential refrig, and maybe even factory solar. Those were options we decided to get during Covid travel and for potential extended stay which might push some potential buyers away that don't need/want them.

 

[NB Canada]

Solar for me would be a deduction in value. Have no need for it
As far as what price to ask well…. If you see one that is 41000 and no one has bought it , assuming it doesn’t have issues, then slightly less than that
You may get a higher price based on your location if you are outside of the Indiana area

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

In my opinion, anything that was added on after the trailer was built could go either way, depending on who might be buying it. Take the solar and let's say you added LiFePO batteries to the tune of 200AH worth. If you find a potential buy that likes to boondock instead of going to a campground with FHUs, the solar and LFP batteries would be a selling point and probably add a bit of value. On the other hand, if the potential buyer was someone that never boondocks and goes to FHU sites exclusively, the solar and batteries were probably not be something that would entice them let's say. For most people, myself included, when we do modifications to the trailer it is done for US to enjoy and not as a value added project. So the bottom line is that it will depend on what the potential buyer is looking for.

Yup, pretty much sums it up. If I was in the market, a solar equipped trailer would be nice. But...I would want to really go over it to see how it was done..but I'm qualified to inspect that kind of stuff. A lot of people can't do that so would be afraid of non-factory wiring because if there was a problem or fault, a factory dealer would likely say something like "not our equipment".

 

[huntr70]

Current (as of this morning) JD Power values are $36,500 trade/wholesale and $49,000 retail.

That said, (I think we discussed this in your previous posts) true market value depends on your buyer, which is why a dealer doesn't really care about your add ons.

If you are thinking of getting something different, or getting out of RV'ing all together, clean it up , take good pictures, and start listing it to sell privately. List your add on's, they may appeal to a buyer, but be prepared to have them not add value.

Whatever you spent for the additions, add half to the retail JD Power value to start.

If you get no calls or takers after 2-3 weeks, then rethink your pricing strategy.

 

[ajg617]

@huntr70 When you say add half to retail JD Power for additions, does that include factory equipment that the rig comes with (slide outs, awnings, furnace, ACs) and options we added (such as generator, dual panes, etc. and I notice there is no place to add 8K with discs) which you can check off on JD Power's web site? When I check those options off, the average retail seems kind of high. Just out of curiosity I checked on RVTrader and the three or so listed were about $15K under low retail and they had to come with the same basic packages GD installs on all Solitudes. Maybe the trick on JD power is to not check off some of what they call options which are standard equipment (like slide outs).

 

[huntr70]

@huntr70 When you say add half to retail JD Power for additions, does that include factory equipment that the rig comes with (slide outs, awnings, furnace, ACs) and options we added (such as generator, dual panes, etc. and I notice there is no place to add 8K with discs) which you can check off on JD Power's web site? When I check those options off, the average retail seems kind of high. Just out of curiosity I checked on RVTrader and the three or so listed were about $15K under low retail and they had to come with the same basic packages GD installs on all Solitudes. Maybe the trick on JD power is to not check off some of what they call options which are standard equipment (like slide outs).

We, along with lenders, do not check off any of the "clickable" options on JD Power. Most of those items are already standard equipment.

When I said half, I meant of what they cost to add on, such as the total for solar and lithium. Trade in, we don't add for any of that stuff.

Some of the factory options we do allow for are full body paint, independent suspension, disc brakes, dual pane windows. We know what they cost as a factory option, so a percentage of the cost is what gets added.

To get the most realistic numbers from JD Power (or any other evaluator) is to pick the manf, year, make and model and then "get value".

Where most people go wrong is clicking all the "things" that their unit has (refridge, slides, a/c units, microwave, tv, etc) and then get some crazy inflated numbers when every unit made in that model has that equipment on it.

 

[el Rojo]

When we traded in our 2015 momentum that was loaded up with solar, I considered removing it. The dealer said the solar is what would sell that age of trailer and to leave it on the RV. Of course they might have been worried about holes on the roof and a hasty re-wiring of the RV if the solar was removed. When you said the dealer didn't want your RV that was totally loaded up with solar, I was thinking about the weight added to the RV. The 315RLTS has only apprx. 1300 lbs of carrying capacity and you may have used all that up...just a thought.

 

[traveldawg]

a few thoughts....

• If a dealer didn't want to take my trade-in I would be very inclined to just find another dealer - there are a lot of them.
• My experience is that most "add-ons" do not add nearly the value of what they originally cost and a lot of times, don't add any value. As pointed out, some items like disc brakes or upgraded suspension may/should increase the value. Originally installed options do contribute to the value as also pointed out earlier (double pane windows, washer/dryer, extra AC, etc.).
• The best way to determine a fair price for a sale-by-owner, and the one I've done at least 3 times, is to research RV Trader for as close to an exact match to what one is selling and find a good point midway between the second from lowest and second from highest. You have to find the middle ground to be competitive with others; and you have to price in some negotiation room.
• Very clean, well cared for, and well maintained RVs sell easier. Stating the obvious here only because what some consider clean and cared for are from that in a buyer's eyes.
• Solar for me, as one other poster, would be a deal breaker; don't need it, don't want it. And I doubt it will bring in anywhere near the dollars it cost to purchase and install.

just my 2 cents.....

 

[kb0zke]

We have made an offer on an Airstream, and the deal includes trading in our Reflection. The initial offer was almost exactly what we were hoping to end up at, so we accepted it pending our inspection of the trailer. The plan is to leave right after church Sunday, and be up in Salt Lake City Tuesday afternoon. Assuming that all goes well, we'll head back to The Ranch Thursday morning. Of course, this is December and there are mountains, so plans may be modified.

 

[el Rojo]

Safe travels and good luck on your deal.

 

[WhittleBurner]

We have made an offer on an Airstream, and the deal includes trading in our Reflection. The initial offer was almost exactly what we were hoping to end up at, so we accepted it pending our inspection of the trailer. The plan is to leave right after church Sunday, and be up in Salt Lake City Tuesday afternoon. Assuming that all goes well, we'll head back to The Ranch Thursday morning. Of course, this is December and there are mountains, so plans may be modified.

I hope the Airstream is good to you, enjoy it! Don't forget about us though, you are still welcome to stop by .

 

[kb0zke]

Thanks, all. Once the deal is completely done I'll let everyone know where it is. Yes, I'll still pop in once in a while. I still check in on foreforums, and we haven't had the Foretravel for nearly two years.