Time to hang up the keys...(consignment ?)

I’m in about the same position. A year away from 80 and wondering how long I can or will want to keep traveling in it. Bought mine new. Talked to owner of the dealer where purchased and ask if they would buy back when I’m finished. He said he would try to talk me into consignment as that would get me “ more money” but would buy it if that’s what I really wanted. I’m thinking when I am ready to “get out” I want out and will take just about whatever offer I can get the fastest to get out. Don’t want to mess around with it.

If you have a place to park it where it will be seen I would rather try to sell it as a private party myself and keep control over the situation. I think you can sell it for very reasonable price and still come out ahead because you will keep nearly all of it. I've sold lots of items out of my front yard with a big sign with price and phone number. There's Craigslist, RVT.com and facebook marketplace. First, I would look up the "book value" in the NADA book or similar. Price it well under full retail and above but not much above trade-in value. You've got a nice unit there but it won't be worth what you think it should be. Check the discounted price on comparable new ones to see what you're up against.

Years ago I put a Trailer on a consignment lot in Salinas CA. A week went by and I had a friend go to the lot pretending to be interested in it.

They had raised the price we had agreed on by quite a bit and tried to sell my friend a brand new RV. They were a dealer and used the consignment RV's to draw people in as it made it look like they had a lot of RV's.

I went back to them and took my trailer home. Sold it myself.

My advice...if you go for consignment send somebody to check out what is actually going on.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to get a doctor's opinion of your limitations. With my pilots license I have to get a flight physical each year to see if I physically have the ability to fly an airplane safely. Maybe it would be a good idea to search for a flight surgeon, which are available in most areas, and get a complete physical.
Naturally there is the mental limitations that we each place on ourselves, like I did when I stopped racing motorcycles, but maybe you can still continue to RV but step down to a Class B, which is not much bigger than a van. When I think about it, maybe it was when "common sense" kicked in that I stopped racing motorcycles. It took a lot of broken bones for me to finally get some common sense. :B

ferndaleflyer wrote:
I am 78 and although no long trips this year we have been to Charleston, Pigeon Forge twice, Baltimore once and Blowing Rock, NC so far this year. Be leaving 24 Dec for West Palm Beach. I have lived my life on the dangerous edge and figure if I alter plans for what MIGHT happen I'll either miss a lot or never do anything. Did I mention that I still tow my race car which I also drive? But I am sure that the time will come when I have to start giving up some things, not soon I hope.

Good to hear! Hope you have many more years before your body/mind begins telling you it's time to slow down. At 79 my brain started telling me 'it's time'. I really hate this. We're on our 5th MH and just bought a new 17 a couple years ago. It has only 3K miles on the odometer.

I am 78 and although no long trips this year we have been to Charleston, Pigeon Forge twice, Baltimore once and Blowing Rock, NC so far this year. Be leaving 24 Dec for West Palm Beach. I have lived my life on the dangerous edge and figure if I alter plans for what MIGHT happen I'll either miss a lot or never do anything. Did I mention that I still tow my race car which I also drive? But I am sure that the time will come when I have to start giving up some things, not soon I hope.

olfarmer wrote:
This topic kind of makes me sad. I just turned 75 and although I still can drive the motor home fine, I don't seem to look forward to heading out like I used to. I worry more about problems on the road, finding a campsite and what could go wrong. I don't want to quit RVing as I don't like to fly and don't like hotels. This getting old sucks!

Ed, sorry to hear about your concerns regarding driving your motor home. But, somewhat glad you posted because the concerns you mentioned are exactly the ones I'm bothered by causing me to strongly consider 'hanging up the proverbial keys'. Over the past year, my wife and I have planned two trips from our home in Florida to our daughter's place in Eastern Tennessee. We've made that trip many times with no concern on my part even driving directly through Atlanta on I-75. However, we had to cancel both trips because I was experiencing the same problems you identified. I worried (fretted) about break downs, accidents, either my wife or I having serious health problems somewhere along the route, etc., etc. I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night almost in a cold sweat. I'm sure there are readers of this post that can't imagine that ever happening to them. I hope not.

RLS7201 wrote:
It is my understanding that you comp and liability insurance is no longer in effect when you leave a MH on a consignment lot. And consignment lots do not provide insurance. Check with you insurance agent before using a consignment lot.

Richard

I do plan to check with my insurance agent. If not covered...will not be left on consignment.

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This topic kind of makes me sad. I just turned 75 and although I still can drive the motor home fine, I don't seem to look forward to heading out like I used to. I worry more about problems on the road, finding a campsite and what could go wrong. I don't want to quit RVing as I don't like to fly and don't like hotels. This getting old sucks!