How reliable are NADA figures?

MookieKat wrote:
For used and new? Should we expect to pay the "low retail" on NADA or can we get it for less?

Personally, I think you can it for much less than low retail, though some private parties may hold out for more.

Used trailers are like used cars, in regard to pricing. There is the wholesale price (in autos, sometimes referred to "market value" or "trade-in value"), which is what the dealer paid for the unit. Than there is the retail price, which is what the dealer or private seller is hoping to get.

Both trailer retail and wholesale figures are listed by NADA in their "dealer only" books. This particular book costs money and is generally only available to dealers.

The retail figures you are referring to are listed in NADA's free, publicly published books. Wholesale figures are NOT listed in this version.

IMO, if you can find out the wholesale cost of a unit, you generally can offer 5-10% more than that figure, and expect to get a deal. The dealer might hem and haw a little bit, but if you let him know you know what he paid for the unit, and you are offering a fair profit....

Here is one site which helps, though it is far from comprehensive.

free site showing some values

There are a couple pay-for sites, which will work with you for a small fee (25 dollars), and tell you what any unit wholesales for, new or used.