When I traded in my trailer for a slightly larger one (used), I had done a lot of research online for brands, layouts, and reviews. Since I have no husband or offspring, I approached this purchase like I did in buying a sailboat. I had it surveyed by a trusted RV repair shop. For $150, they inspected the trailer and gave me a list of things that needed repairs(overall, the trailer was in good shape). This gave me bargaining power. In the end, the RV place made all the repairs I requested, mentioning that it was the first time a customer had done this. I gave my RV repair people homemade fudge for a thank you. Love them!