How to buy a used toy hauler

socaladam wrote:
The problem I have with the NADA guide is they only let you pick from the outdated list of items. For instance, have two or three AC units all 15k BTU? you can only pick one. Have a patio kit on the back? Not an option. Have two or three televisions, all the same size? You get to pick one. Have an electric awning longer than 21 feet? Too bad, 21 is the max. The list goes on and on...

Not only that, but the prices are a joke. I mean really? $490 for an electric awning? $500 doesn't even cover the cost of the awning material and $630 for a fuel station? Give me a break.

I don't trust anyone that can't spell DUAL PANE WINDOWS...

Duel Pane Windows
$705
$850

A lot of the options you're mentioning actually aren't "options" on most toy haulers. If I noticed something when I was shopping, it was that most toy haulers, especially new ones, come with A/C, awnings, and sometimes even fuel stations and generators standard. As such, those things do not affect the value of a used unit, since all of the used units have them.

I did end up paying a little more than NADA for my trailer, for which I'm not thrilled, but it was the right unit for me and I don't plan to sell anytime soon. The nice thing about an 18 year old unit is that it's pretty much done depreciating if it is kept in good condition; there are no toy haulers of really any shape or size that sell for less than $5000 if everything works.

The marginal cost of additional options isn't designed to compensate the seller for the market value of a new awning. A new awning is not worth the same as a used one to anyone. The marginal addition in cost of a unit with a particular option is designed to recognize what a buyer and seller might negotiate for additional $$$ on the sale because the option is there. Power door locks might only be a $60 option, but if a seller is willing to pay $200 more for the same car with power door locks, then that is what it adds to the value of the car. If the same buyer doesn't like a sunroof, that might subtract from what he is willing to pay. Most complex durable goods like trailers and cars are worth more as a sum of their parts than as a complete unit. If you want to deal with the hassle of taking them apart and parting them out, you can make a handy profit selling used parts by buying functional units and parting them out. I'm sure you've seen junkyards in your life; those businesses aren't in the business of losing money.