I have enjoyed learning so much from this forum, but now I would like some advice. We have a Keystone Springdale travel trailer/toy hauler (2014 but purchased in 2015). It is not your typical toy hauler in that we have a platform on the front to haul ATV's etc with living space separate. My husband and I have been recently thinking of selling our current trailer for one with a slide and sleeps at least 5 people. I know our trailers value dropped significantly once we drove it off the lot. My question is how do we find out what our trailer is really worth? I went to NADA but couldn't even locate our trailer's model number or anything close. We would really love to upgrade, but we are afraid we will end up losing too much. TIA for all the advice.

Usually 1/2 of what you paid for it. Or less. You're always better off selling it yourself.

Maybe $13k sold privately. What is the model number? https://www.rvtrader.com/New-and-Used-Keystone-Springdale-Toy-Hauler-For-Sale-On-RV-Trader/rvs-for-sale?type=Toy%20Hauler%7C139350904&make=Keystone%7C2273942&model=Springdale%7C764843333&sort=distance%3Aasc&

Can't help you with a value, but if you have a outstanding loan, it is most likely worth less than the payoff amount.Check with your bank and see if they would be able to tell you the current value, they should have a way to find out..Barring that, ask a couple of RV dealers what the trade in value is, they will most likely give you wholesale value and that will be about what it is worth to them. They have to resale and in order to resale they must buy low..

What do you think it's worth? If you are serious about selling it throw it on Craigslist priced high and then start dropping the price every week or two. If you don't get any interest and approach you bottom line just cancel the ad and carry on. The buyers will determine the price.

trading in is always to the benefit of the dealer, your loss. Private sale, might take some time lends to your credibility. A buyer of what you have, is not likely searching dealers lots

Travel Trailer trade-in value | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Apr 18, 2018
Ok guys, thanks for all the trade in value input!!!!
otrfun
Explorer II
Apr 18, 2018
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Opinion is to each posters experience and knowledge. I am dismayed whenever a poster is attacked for sharing their opinion, particularly when that opinion apperars based in fact and experience. Attack tends to give credence to the opinion of the first person rather than to the second when expressed as defamatory of that opinion.

An early lesson in Debate Class was to keep an open mind, listen, learn, never defame those you do not agree with. You demean yourself, loose validation of your argument when you reduce your opinion into attack of anothers position. The purpose of debate is to inform, speak to those who listen cajole the others into opening their closed minds to other possibilities. Hey, the world was once flat?

A poster in this thread to my belief has been subject to invalid attacks on his opinion that he has validated with experience
Unfortunately, you didn't address an extremely important component of the debate/communication process: Delivery.

You can be experienced, knowledgeable, and factual; however, if your delivery tends to lack a certain finesse (especially when it occurs repeatedly), the focus can easily become more about the delivery, than the message itself.

It's an innate part of human nature to want things delivered in a reasonably attractive wrapper.
SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Apr 17, 2018
Opinion is to each posters experience and knowledge. I am dismayed whenever a poster is attacked for sharing their opinion, particularly when that opinion apperars based in fact and experience. Attack tends to give credence to the opinion of the first person rather than to the second when expressed as defamatory of that opinion.

An early lesson in Debate Class was to keep an open mind, listen, learn, never defame those you do not agree with. You demean yourself, loose validation of your argument when you reduce your opinion into attack of anothers position. The purpose of debate is to inform, speak to those who listen cajole the others into opening their closed minds to other possibilities. Hey, the world was once flat?

A poster in this thread to my belief has been subject to invalid attacks on his opinion that he has validated with experience
ssthrd
Explorer
Apr 16, 2018
SoundGuy wrote:
myredracer wrote:
We tried to trade in a TT we previously owned. The dealer simply pulled out the ol' Blue Book and offered us whatever it said for the year it was produced, which was peanuts. Didn't matter that we had spent a few thousand on mods and upgrades or that we had only used it for one season and was in top condition. It was also a previous year's model at the time we bought it at a dealer and we lost one year's value out of the Blue Book numbers (ie., was valued as a 2 year old TT).

SoundGuy wrote:
Of course, why would you or anyone else (the OP included) expect anything else? No dealer is going to eat the difference just because you tried to save $$$$$ on the original purchase by buying a year old new trailer. Mods and upgrades may have had value for you but are of little interest to anyone else, especially a dealer, particularly if they have to remove some of those mods to even attract a buyer. The reality is that most of us place great value on what we own but are the first to complain those selling are asking way too much. It's no different that whining about RV "lack of quality" but then refusing to pay more for a better quality product. :S

myredracer wrote:
Do you ever have anything pleasant to say to anyone or helpful to add or do you always have to be the one and only expert out there with the loudest voice? It's getting so old...

Why so upset, I'm only pointing out on a public forum what should be obvious to you but may not be so obvious to others like the OP who clearly has unrealistic expectations as to what their used trailer is really worth, and why.

Your opinion is held by many others as well, myredracer. I sure wish that I had SoundGuy's knowledge and implied experience to back up each and every statement he makes. It would be awesome to know absolutely everything about everything. He must be a very popular person who is in much demand.

It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't make everyone he replies to feel like an idiot who can do nothing right. I don't know what makes him think that the OP "clearly has unrealistic expectations as to what their used trailer is really worth, and why." In fact, unless I missed it, the OP has not responded at all.

Sorry to jump in and sidetrack this thread, OP. SG brings out the worst in me.
Huntindog
Explorer
Apr 16, 2018
dodge guy wrote:
When I traded our 05 in for our 07 at the same dealer, they gave us $1500 less than what we paid. And we didn't over pay for the 07 as it was priced the same all over the country. A good dealer will not try and take advantage of its customer. Because of that, its why we will go back to them when we buy our next RV.

The only way this makes sense is if the dealer already had a buyer lined up for your trade, or perhaps wanted it for his personal unit.

Dealers have a LOT of overhead that MUST be paid for somehow... Giving out deals like you describe won't get it done.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 16, 2018
myredracer wrote:
We tried to trade in a TT we previously owned. The dealer simply pulled out the ol' Blue Book and offered us whatever it said for the year it was produced, which was peanuts. Didn't matter that we had spent a few thousand on mods and upgrades or that we had only used it for one season and was in top condition. It was also a previous year's model at the time we bought it at a dealer and we lost one year's value out of the Blue Book numbers (ie., was valued as a 2 year old TT).

SoundGuy wrote:
Of course, why would you or anyone else (the OP included) expect anything else? No dealer is going to eat the difference just because you tried to save $$$$$ on the original purchase by buying a year old new trailer. Mods and upgrades may have had value for you but are of little interest to anyone else, especially a dealer, particularly if they have to remove some of those mods to even attract a buyer. The reality is that most of us place great value on what we own but are the first to complain those selling are asking way too much. It's no different that whining about RV "lack of quality" but then refusing to pay more for a better quality product. :S

myredracer wrote:
Do you ever have anything pleasant to say to anyone or helpful to add or do you always have to be the one and only expert out there with the loudest voice? It's getting so old...

Why so upset, I'm only pointing out on a public forum what should be obvious to you but may not be so obvious to others like the OP who clearly has unrealistic expectations as to what their used trailer is really worth, and why.
otrfun
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2018
SoundGuy wrote:
. . . It's no different that whining about RV "lack of quality" but then refusing to pay more for a better quality product. :S
Agree, for many products there is generally a relationship between price and quality.

Unfortunately, there is no, clear-cut, obvious, "pay more for a better quality product" option for the mainstream RV buyer. Consumer complaints (about the RV industry's inconsistent quality control) are common, and widespread, across an extremely wide spectrum of price-points.

This is in absolute stark contrast to the auto industry where, thankfully, manufacturers offer, and deliver, the same, consistent quality control at all pricepoints . . . where a budget-themed $20k Corolla can be just as reliable as an option-laden $80k Lexus.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 16, 2018
Dealer offered $2,000 trade in for my old pop-up. Listed on ebay $2,000 no reserve. Nothing to lose right? In a week it sold for $5,600. $300 immediate paypal deposit and balance in a cashiers' check. I had it open to show on a Saturday, auction closed on Sunday. Was sight unseen for actual buyer. Very easy, good luck.
myredracer
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2018
Do you ever have anything pleasant to say to anyone or helpful to add or do you always have to be the one and only expert out there with the loudest voice? It's getting so old...

SoundGuy wrote:
myredracer wrote:
We tried to trade in a TT we previously owned. The dealer simply pulled out the ol' Blue Book and offered us whatever it said for the year it was produced, which was peanuts. Didn't matter that we had spent a few thousand on mods and upgrades or that we had only used it for one season and was in top condition. It was also a previous year's model at the time we bought it at a dealer and we lost one year's value out of the Blue Book numbers (ie., was valued as a 2 year old TT).

Of course, why would you or anyone else (the OP included) expect anything else? No dealer is going to eat the difference just because you tried to save $$$$$ on the original purchase by buying a year old new trailer. Mods and upgrades may have had value for you but are of little interest to anyone else, especially a dealer, particularly if they have to remove some of those mods to even attract a buyer. The reality is that most of us place great value on what we own but are the first to complain those selling are asking way too much. It's no different that whining about RV "lack of quality" but then refusing to pay more for a better quality product. :S
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 16, 2018
myredracer wrote:
We tried to trade in a TT we previously owned. The dealer simply pulled out the ol' Blue Book and offered us whatever it said for the year it was produced, which was peanuts. Didn't matter that we had spent a few thousand on mods and upgrades or that we had only used it for one season and was in top condition. It was also a previous year's model at the time we bought it at a dealer and we lost one year's value out of the Blue Book numbers (ie., was valued as a 2 year old TT).

Of course, why would you or anyone else (the OP included) expect anything else? No dealer is going to eat the difference just because you tried to save $$$$$ on the original purchase by buying a year old new trailer. Mods and upgrades may have had value for you but are of little interest to anyone else, especially a dealer, particularly if they have to remove some of those mods to even attract a buyer. The reality is that most of us place great value on what we own but are the first to complain those selling are asking way too much. It's no different that whining about RV "lack of quality" but then refusing to pay more for a better quality product. :S