Donate Motorhome

[bhivetravels]

Has anyone tried or know of others who have tried to donate their motorhome to a charity? My wife's medical condition is such that continued travel after this season looks extremely doubtful. We still have a loan attached to the Class A and was considering a go-fund-me approach to paying off the balance and then donating the motorhome to a charity that can actually use it. Any thoughts? What charity?

[bhivetravels]

Tinstar wrote:
I had no idea Go-Fund-Me would do that.

Not sure that is the correct organization, it is one of those type sites. I've found my donation organization, the local NPR organization. Thanks all.

[Tinstar]

I had no idea Go-Fund-Me would do that.

[mowermech]

My local amateur Radio Club recently became a legal, non-profit, 501(c)3 or whatever. I think they would be quite interested in a donated Class C or small Class A to be used as a mobile radio communications command post.
Then all they would need would be a small trailer with a 40 foot telescoping tower on it!
Look around. There may be several non-profits that could use a donated RV. It doesn't HAVE to be a charity to be tax deductible!

[bhivetravels]

TomB. wrote:

RoyB wrote:
Don't rule out the RESCUE SQUADs or LOCAL SHERIFF OFFICE. They sometimes might want to use something like this for some of their mobile setups for emergencies...

Roy Ken

Not to mention the crash truck crews could use it for training purposes. Back in the day, when I was running with our local rescue squad I taught our volunteers how to drive an emergency vehicle I would bring my class A out & boondock on a part of the parking lot & use the coach to keep bottled water cold & give the squad members some shade to take a break in.

OP - Had not thought of these organizations. Gives me a great place to start! Thanks for everyone's thoughts!

[TomB_]

RoyB wrote:
Don't rule out the RESCUE SQUADs or LOCAL SHERIFF OFFICE. They sometimes might want to use something like this for some of their mobile setups for emergencies...

Roy Ken

Not to mention the crash truck crews could use it for training purposes. Back in the day, when I was running with our local rescue squad I taught our volunteers how to drive an emergency vehicle I would bring my class A out & boondock on a part of the parking lot & use the coach to keep bottled water cold & give the squad members some shade to take a break in.

[J-Rooster]

wnytaxman wrote:
The tax law changed a few years ago about what may be deducted for a donation of a vehicle. It used to be the value the donor attached to the vehicle and now it is what the charity receives from the vehicle when it is sold. If the total is over $5,000 then you have additional rules to comply with to take the deduction.

As has been suggested earlier, it may be easier and less time consuming to sell the unit outright and donate the proceeds. From a tax perspective that is a much cleaner approach.

I agree with the taxman! Be aware of the IRS! If they feel the value is not right be prepared for a audit! I did like the post of donating the RV to search and rescue units.

[wnytaxman]

The tax law changed a few years ago about what may be deducted for a donation of a vehicle. It used to be the value the donor attached to the vehicle and now it is what the charity receives from the vehicle when it is sold. If the total is over $5,000 then you have additional rules to comply with to take the deduction.

As has been suggested earlier, it may be easier and less time consuming to sell the unit outright and donate the proceeds. From a tax perspective that is a much cleaner approach.

[bsinmich]

There is also the possibility the OP is underwater on his loan. That creates a bigger problem. The best bet is to try to sell it for as much as he can get and have a little less to pay off the loan. That is the common problem on long term RV loans. They depreciate faster than the loan amortization. When he bought it in 2007 the economy was better than now and that hurts resale values.

[vermilye]

Out local NPR station takes them, (as well as boats, motorcycles, and, of course, cars & trucks) although it is through a recycler; they never actually see the vehicle. They get a large enough per cent of the actual sale price that they feel it is worth it. They do require a clear title...

[kcmoedoe]

If you have equity, just sell the motorhome, payoff the loan and donate the remainder. The "Go fund Me" notation seems to imply you owe more than the rig is worth and want strangers to pay off the loan to get you out of debt. Then you are tossing in the donate part to make it seem like it is a charitable endeavor. But the fact is you need people to donate S10,000 (or whatever the payoff is) so you can donate a $5,000 (or whatever the value is ) motorhome. The people who donate would get a much better charitable bang for their buck just donating directly to the charity. Under that scenario you are really just trying to get other people to pay off your negative equity, not really a cool thing to do.

[RoyB]

Don't rule out the RESCUE SQUADs or LOCAL SHERIFF OFFICE. They sometimes might want to use something like this for some of their mobile setups for emergencies...

Roy Ken

[old_guy]

you are better off and the charity is better off if you sell it out right pay off the loan and then donate what is left to a GOOD charity. some who will use all the money for what it is intended and not for CEO salary or advertising. to me that is local charities like salvation army or little league teams. the local school band is another one.

[msturtz]

bhivetravels wrote:
Hmmm ... I didn't realize the promotion/auction company got so much and the charity so little! What about an organization that can actually use the vehicle -- not sell it but use it for their work?

That is extremely rare to have a charity actually use an RV. Most charities are not set up to handle motorhomes. Depending on the motorhome and state it may even require a CDL to drive. This doesn't even count the commercial liability insurance required to operate it.

[bhivetravels]

Hmmm ... I didn't realize the promotion/auction company got so much and the charity so little! What about an organization that can actually use the vehicle -- not sell it but use it for their work?