Salvage title

While you're awaiting personal replies, here are 5 pages of posts with salvage and title in them. They're not all tt's, but the circumstances are likely similar.

Unless you really know what to look for and are ready to do a lot of repairs, I'd stay away as you will likely not be money ahead in the long run. Keep in mind that some of these with salvage titles could be from something like this: Flood :E

Nearly impossible to impossible to get insurance with a salvage title...

I'd be careful. Many RVs with salvage titles came from areas hit by flooding over the past few years. Some damage (rust & wood rot)may not show up right a way after an RV has sat in water.

It was a salvage because of some scrapes on the side??? Doubtful.

A lot of trailers are in floods.

Most lake side camping spots ARE camping spots because they are in flood planes and an house could not be built.

Link to TT

I would contact your insurance agent and see if they will cover a salvage title.

I am going to bet the dealer is telling the truth. Travel trailers that are a few years old aren't worth that much to begin with. It wouldn't take much damage for the repairs to run over the 50% threshold many insurance companies use to total a vehicle. The insurance company would much rather write the check to the owner and sell the carcass at salvage and wash their hands of the thing instead of getting involved in a repair that very well might mushroom as the repair company starts it work. Unlike a car or truck, there is literally no telling what runs where in many travel trailers. A bent bumper might also destroy the water and waste system. A smack in the side might have fried all the wiring in the rig and no one would be the wiser until they got deep into the repair. Therefore, it is likely there are lightly damaged rigs available at salvage, all it takes is someone willing to take a chance that it will cost S1,000, not $10,000 to fix it.
Also, buying a rig and reconditioning it to sell allows the dealer to use salvage parts, parts that were not standard on the original rig and use their imagination to possibly change the configuration to something more economical to repair. If it was being repaired to go back to the original owner, different style and color interiors, exteriors, furniture, fixtures, appliances and the like would not be acceptable.

M GO BLUE wrote:
Nearly impossible to impossible to get insurance with a salvage title...

:R

Why the OBSESSION with "insurance"...

If you get a trailer CHEAP enough and it is used and you didn't get a loan you DON'T NEED a separate insurance policy.

Buying a "salvaged" anything typically means you are buying it for scrap or near scrap pricing.

You auto policy WILL cover your trailer WHILE you are TOWING which is what you "need".

You auto policy will not cover anything when your trailer is not connected to your vehicle BUT, if the trailer is sitting in your back yard your HOME OWNERS POLICY will typically cover the trailer.

The only time your trailer is not "covered" is when you are setup in a park camping..

So to put that into perspective, what IS the odds of your trailer burning down, being stolen, broke into "theft", a tree falling on it, a vehicle plowing into it, direct lightning strike, hurricane, tornado and so on WHILE CAMPED..

I myself have a 30+ yr old TT, there is NO INSURANCE CO which would ever write a policy for such an old TT which would be #1 reasonably priced and #2 payout any "value" in case of any of the above "calamities".

My "caution" to the OP is not about insurance but more about titling issues. Under no circumstances ever buy a trailer WITHOUT A CLEAR LEGIT TITLE.

Your "buddy" is lucky or is "washing" titles, not a good thing to be doing. Many states now days have pretty tough requirements on titles and it would stink to pay for a trailer only to find out you got a boat anchor due to a bad title or even a stolen trailer.

In my state, no title is a death sentence for the trailer. Even trying to get a replacement title for one that was lost can be a long and frustrating ordeal..

Do yourself a favor and forget about salvage, lost or no titled trailers, you will thank yourself every day..

Many recovered stolen RV are classed as salvage, because the insurance company has paid it off and that meets the requirements for the salvage title. Most states have a safeguard in place for prospective purchasers on salvage titles with a reason for the salvage title, ie flood, stolen, accident, etc. Yes, a salvage title can be legally washed in most states, but each state is different, so make sure you have in writing, what your state policy is for cleaning a salvage title.