Is better to have cash or trade in?

Camper76 wrote:
When purchasing a new trailer is it better to have some cash to put down or have a trade in?

Ralph Cramden wrote:
Cash..........without a doubt.

If you have a current one you're considering trading sell it yourself. You'll do much better.

"Better" being a relative term as selling it yourself by definition also means having to prep it for sale yourself then having to put up with the endless inquiries, endless stupid questions, endless aggravation with potential buyers saying they're interested but later not showing up ... endless. :M And the reason many opt to trade instead, reasoning that their time and mental health is worth more than the aggravation private selling brings with it. ;)

jplante4 wrote:
If you have a trade-in, the price of the new trailer will probably be higher. The dealer will have to take into account the cost to the dealership to store, cleanup and sell your old unit during the price negotiations.

Which is why you never tell them upfront you have a trade. Negotiate the price on the new first. Then throw the trade into the mix.

At the end of the day they either want to make a sale or they don't. The only thing a buyer needs is the ability to walk out.

If you have a trade-in, the price of the new trailer will probably be higher. The dealer will have to take into account the cost to the dealership to store, cleanup and sell your old unit during the price negotiations.

Camper76 wrote:
When purchasing a new trailer is it better to have some cash to put down or have a trade in?
Thank you
Happy Camping

Cash..........without a doubt.

If you have a current one you're considering trading sell it yourself. You'll do much better.

From our experience when we bought our new 40 footer last year it was much better paying cash than financing.
It gave us the advantage to walk out the door when we negotiated.
We ended up paying 30 percent less than their first price.

Then I sold our older trailer on Craigs list

JackL