So a couple years back on our first big trip we encountered a nasty storm in Colorado that dinged up the front panels on our Coleman. I never filed to have them fixed because, well, they are cosmetic. I figured why damage the factory seal between the front corners and roof for some dings. Well now I am thinking of selling to move up to a larger trailer and wonder if not having the panels replaced will be an issue. Like I said they are cosmetic only and all the original seals are fully intact. I have kept the trailer very clean and well maintained, especially the roof and all seals, so the trailer is as good as it was the day I bought it, better in some instances with some upgrades such as LED interior lights, power jack, and a surge/voltage protector.

Acdii wrote:Well now I am thinking of selling to move up to a larger trailer and wonder if not having the panels replaced will be an issue. Like I said they are cosmetic only and all the original seals are fully intact.The answer seems obvious to me - would you not be cautious in buying a trailer with obvious damage to it? :R Also can't imagine why you'd give away additional improvements such as the surge protector when you can use them with your next rig or sell them. :h

I would suggest that you tell the purchaser what you said in your post. Why you chose not to replace the panels makes some sense to me. No leaks is an important factor.

Some people will have a problem with it. Others will recognize the dings are not a real issue and will look more at the overall condition of the trailer. Just hope you get more of the second type and less of the first.

I should post a picture of it. It's a Coleman with the aluminum siding. It happened in 2016, so if it were going to leak it would have by now. I understand that Fiberglass and plastic covered trailers are susceptible to cracking, in which case I would have filed right away, but since it just looks dinged, I didn't even give it a second thought. I'll go ahead and get it listed, though it can't be moved until the weather warms up and I can get the barn doors opened, along with the ice on the drive to the barn eliminated. I have it stored in the barn during the off season, so it is also well protected. As far as the surge protector its the hard wired model that is buried under the reefer, and I paid $135 for it on clearance. My next trailer may have a 50 amp input so wont be able to reuse it either. Only reason we are looking to sell is we would like something a little larger, and found a similar model with a slide, the Arctic Wolf. If it sells, great, we go get the larger trailer, if not, just keep on camping with it. Been a good trailer so far, got it spring of 16 and have had several good outings.

How dinged up is it? Minor dings wouldn’t bother me if they are cosmetic and the rest of the trailer was clearly well maintained. Take a couple of hundred bucks off and everyone will be happy.

Hail Dings on front | Good Sam Community

SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 05, 2019
Acdii wrote:
Well now I am thinking of selling to move up to a larger trailer and wonder if not having the panels replaced will be an issue. Like I said they are cosmetic only and all the original seals are fully intact.

The answer seems obvious to me - would you not be cautious in buying a trailer with obvious damage to it? :R Also can't imagine why you'd give away additional improvements such as the surge protector when you can use them with your next rig or sell them. :h
aftermath
Explorer III
Mar 05, 2019
I would suggest that you tell the purchaser what you said in your post. Why you chose not to replace the panels makes some sense to me. No leaks is an important factor.
BB_TX
Nomad
Mar 06, 2019
Some people will have a problem with it. Others will recognize the dings are not a real issue and will look more at the overall condition of the trailer. Just hope you get more of the second type and less of the first.
Acdii
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
I should post a picture of it. It's a Coleman with the aluminum siding. It happened in 2016, so if it were going to leak it would have by now. I understand that Fiberglass and plastic covered trailers are susceptible to cracking, in which case I would have filed right away, but since it just looks dinged, I didn't even give it a second thought. I'll go ahead and get it listed, though it can't be moved until the weather warms up and I can get the barn doors opened, along with the ice on the drive to the barn eliminated. I have it stored in the barn during the off season, so it is also well protected.

As far as the surge protector its the hard wired model that is buried under the reefer, and I paid $135 for it on clearance. My next trailer may have a 50 amp input so wont be able to reuse it either. Only reason we are looking to sell is we would like something a little larger, and found a similar model with a slide, the Arctic Wolf. If it sells, great, we go get the larger trailer, if not, just keep on camping with it. Been a good trailer so far, got it spring of 16 and have had several good outings.
jfkmk
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
How dinged up is it? Minor dings wouldn’t bother me if they are cosmetic and the rest of the trailer was clearly well maintained. Take a couple of hundred bucks off and everyone will be happy.
Acdii
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
jfkmk wrote:
How dinged up is it? Minor dings wouldn’t bother me if they are cosmetic and the rest of the trailer was clearly well maintained. Take a couple of hundred bucks off and everyone will be happy.

Have to see it at just the right angle and since it has a nice layer of barn dust on it, they stand out more.
Tyler0215
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
Tell prospective buyers what happened if they ask, otherwise don't bring it up. It does look that bad at all. Some buyers won't even notice the dings.
Acdii
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
Tyler0215 wrote:
Tell prospective buyers what happened if they ask, otherwise don't bring it up. It does look that bad at all. Some buyers won't even notice the dings.

Thats what I'm thinking. They notice I could just say oh, never noticed, must have happened back in 16 in Colorado in the storm that cracked my windshield. Guess its still tight, haven't had any leaks! :) Thats the only area on the entire trailer that is dinged, all the rest of it is pristine.

I'm going to an RV show this weekend, I can always ask what the dealer would do on it in trade, though I have no plans to trade and lose 2-5K.
jfkmk
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
I don’t think those dings would stop me from buying the trailer, but I would want a few bucks off. I’d be honest about why you didn’t replace the panels and punt them out. If I was buying a trailer with obvious dings on it (even though they’re cosmetic) and the seller said they never noticed them, especially on a maticulously maintained trailer, I would walk because I’d assume they’re lying.

When we upgraded, we traded in the old trailer. Ours was also maticulously maintained and I could get top dollar for what it was. The dealer offered a very fair price. The upside was we were never without a trailer. The new tt was ordered (not by us, pre-ordered by the dealer) and we had to wait a couple of months for it. We didn’t want to sell ours and be without a tt, and we certainly didn’t want to have two trailers!

Have fun shopping.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
Tyler0215 wrote:
Tell prospective buyers what happened if they ask, otherwise don't bring it up. It does look that bad at all. Some buyers won't even notice the dings.

Acdii wrote:
Thats what I'm thinking. They notice I could just say oh, never noticed, must have happened back in 16 in Colorado in the storm that cracked my windshield. Guess its still tight, haven't had any leaks! :) Thats the only area on the entire trailer that is dinged, all the rest of it is pristine.

Why lie about it, or even embellish the story? Just don't bring it up at all but if a prospective buyer does, just agree saying it's only cosmetic, and remind them it is a used trailer they're buying, not a new one, and the asking price reflects that.