Best Time to Trade In 5th Wheel

[msabel]

I currently have a 2016 Bighorn 3585, we absolutely love it, Question, is on depreciation, at what year is the best to trade before it depreciates too much. Obviously the biggest year is the first year, the minute you drive it off the lot. We have two awnings, 2 AC's, the outside entertainment center, and the coiffered Ceilings probably went too fancy, and loose value more. Appreciate any insight.

[packnrat]

most here say 10 years.
i am a bit past that time frame. bought new in 2001. so it is now 17 years old. and going strong.

[msabel]

Thanks for all the feedback, some keys learned purchase price up to 35% off list, or buy used, and depreciation is always going to happen and there is no best time to trade, and if you do, sell it yourself, which I have had little success doing when units are newer, everyone wants a deal. Waiting 10 years to sell, seems like you would have a hard time selling it.

Maybe year 5, is the best?

[ol_Bombero-JC]

msabel wrote:
I currently have a 2016 Bighorn 3585, we absolutely love it,

Question, is on depreciation, at what year is the best to trade......."

Ans: There is NO best to *TRADE*!!..:S

Sell it yourself - no matter how old it is.

:C

[WeBeFulltimers]

MURPHY55347 wrote:
The "best" time is never.

Correct answer! Sell it.

[MURPHY55347]

The "best" time is never.

[ScottG]

Definitely before it hits ten year old for finance reasons.

[IdaD]

If you're worried about depreciation on a camper your only choice is to take advantage of it and buy used. You will lose your tail on any new camper purchase outside of maybe an Airstream - they seem to hold their value fairly well.

[Splashers3]

Hey, if you REALLY love it, why do you want to get rid of it?

Have you found a better floor plan? A 2016 is pretty new in my book. What upgrades are you looking for that a 2016 doesn't have?

We loved the floor plan of our 2009 but traded it for a 2019....it was still in very good shape. We wanted some of the new bells, whistles, and technology advances that were not available 10 yrs prior....and yes, the cost delta between the 2 was getting wider.

[B_O__Plenty]

If you bought it right you don't get hit quite so hard. You should be buying for 35% off list. Even then you won't get much. I traded after 5 years and did O.K. but just that. What they "give" you is meaningless. All that matters is the difference you pay. Spring is probably the worst time because dealers aren't willing to come down on their prices as much.

B.O.

[azdryheat]

Check the NADA value and divide in half - that's your trade in value.

[4x4ord]

My parents bought their RV new in 2003. They have had much use out of it and spent very little on maintenance. I think they paid about 55,000 back then and could likely get 10k out of it now. That's $3000 per year. I think it's pretty tough to do much better than that.

[BB_TX]

The value is going to drop most the first year, but is going to continue to drop each year by lesser amounts. So the longer you wait, the less the value. Just a matter of how long you want to wait to get that new one. It's a losing proposition no matter when you do it.

[TXiceman]

They take a real nose dive the first year on value. These are a depreciating asset and to fully get the value, you use it until it is used up.

Ken

[Randu]

After rig turns 10 years old then financing for the buyer sometimes gets tricky. No real data to go on but 6 years appears to be a sweet spot for some value remaining before repair and maintenance costs start to climb.