Any Return on Investment?

[SpeakEasy]

I just replaced my 6-year-old original trailer tires with new Goodyear Endurance tires. As we are preparing for an upcoming 6-week, 4000-mile trip, I discovered that my trailer brakes are in need of replacing. Since I'll have the thing in pieces already, I am replacing the original bearings with new Timken bearings as well. So everything from the axles down (out?) will be new and high quality.

Here's my question: If I go to sell this thing in a year or so, will any potential buyers care that I invested $1000 on it? Will buyers care?

I'm not talking about adding $1000 or even $500 to whatever asking price I would normally start with. Mostly I'm thinking in marketing terms. Putting something in the advertising like: "new tires, brakes and bearings in 2020." Do you think buyers of used trailers would see how enhancing that is?

-Speak

[pitch]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Best you can hope for is it will make your trailer easier to sell. I really don't think it would add a material amount of money to the resale value. And you need to be careful in offering up too much information to a buyer. Present me with a laundry list of all the things you have had to repair and replace while you have owned the rig I might get the idea I am buying someone else's problems.

X2. every time I've seen an add touting repairs and replacements, my first thought is "He got tired of throwing money at it!"

It is definitely something to mention during your negotiation, but you aren't going to recoup any money

[westernrvparkow]

Best you can hope for is it will make your trailer easier to sell. I really don't think it would add a material amount of money to the resale value. And you need to be careful in offering up too much information to a buyer. Present me with a laundry list of all the things you have had to repair and replace while you have owned the rig I might get the idea I am buying someone else's problems.

[SpeakEasy]

Rbertalotto wrote:
Btw, I recently went to replace brakes on my motorcycle trailer. It turned out replacing the entire hub assembly was only a few dollars more than just the brakes. New brake pads, springs, adjusters, etc....much easier install also.
And Yes, doing this work would matter greatly if I was buying your trailer. But only if I felt a DIYer knew what they were doing.

Right. I discovered the same thing, and I'm replacing the whole unit. In fact, my brakes were basically inoperative - frozen. So I would have had to replace the entire unit anyway. Sure is a simple job that way!

-Speak

[wanderingaimles]

Having records of the repairs and maintenance puts the notion in a prospective buyers mind that you took care of it. That can't be a bad thing.

[schlep1967]

Will it make a difference in selling the unit, yes. Will it make it any more valuable? Probably not.
The problem we will all face eventually is the record numbers of RV's sold over the last few years. Many are kept less than 3 years and used very sparingly over that time.
Using a six year old trailer enough to wear out the brakes is great for you because you used your investment. But potential buyers are comparing your "well used" trailer with "new brakes"to those that got barely used and are 3 years newer.

[JIMNLIN]

Putting something in the advertising like: "new tires, brakes and bearings in 2020." Do you think buyers of used trailers would see how enhancing that is?

-Speak

Probably works for most prospective rv trailer buyers.

Generally I shy away from a used anything that the owner/dealer say he/she rebuilt. Regardless who said what on the subject the first thing I always do before putting a new or used trailer on the road is R/R behind the hubs.

Trailer brakes are simple to work on however after putting several new and used trailers in service when I hauled... many times I've found something even they forgot to install or install correctly.

[Crowe]

Yes-I would be far more inclined purchasing a used unit that I know has been maintained properly. I agree you probably won't get your investment back but that's secondary to selling a safe unit. You are also likely to lose money if the unit will require service shortly after purchase. Think about your own peace of mind as well.

[Rbertalotto]

Btw, I recently went to replace brakes on my motorcycle trailer. It turned out replacing the entire hub assembly was only a few dollars more than just the brakes. New brake pads, springs, adjusters, etc....much easier install also.
And Yes, doing this work would matter greatly if I was buying your trailer. But only if I felt a DIYer knew what they were doing.

[dpgllg]

SpeakEasy wrote:

cavie wrote:

Very helpful. keep all receipts as proof.

Good advice. Thanks! I wouldn't have thought of doing that.

-Speak

You could also take a few pictures before everything is back together to show along with the receipts as real proof. a good photo is worth a 1000 words!

Dave

[JimK-NY]

A buyer is going to expect working brakes, bearings and tires. I doubt you will get any more money for these items but without them the prices might drop or it might be difficult to sell the unit.

[SpeakEasy]

cavie wrote:

Very helpful. keep all receipts as proof.

Good advice. Thanks! I wouldn't have thought of doing that.

-Speak

[Devocamper]

Your repairs which are regular maintenance items may make a marketing difference but after trying to sell a mint condition 5th wheel a few years ago with all sorts of extras and maintenance records it did not seem to make much difference with potential buyers. The floor plan and the trailers weights had a larger impact . Just figure your investing in a safe trip for yourself and your family and hope for the best at resale.

[cavie]

SpeakEasy wrote:
I just replaced my 6-year-old original trailer tires with new Goodyear Endurance tires. As we are preparing for an upcoming 6-week, 4000-mile trip, I discovered that my trailer brakes are in need of replacing. Since I'll have the thing in pieces already, I am replacing the original bearings with new Timken bearings as well. So everything from the axles down (out?) will be new and high quality.

Here's my question: If I go to sell this thing in a year or so, will any potential buyers care that I invested $1000 on it? Will buyers care?

I'm not talking about adding $1000 or even $500 to whatever asking price I would normally start with. Mostly I'm thinking in marketing terms. Putting something in the advertising like: "new tires, brakes and bearings in 2020." Do you think buyers of used trailers would see how enhancing that is?

-Speak

Very helpful. keep all receipts as proof.

[mleekamp]

I know I would. Sure, some buyers won't seem to notice or care. But I'd guess that majority of lookers will see that it does enhance the unit. When we sold our TT with new bearings, brakes, etc, it was this that sold the buyer on the unit. He was looking at other units in the same price range (about $10k) but ours was only one that had new brakes, bearings, newer tires. Other units the owners could not say, or didn't know, or would say "it does not need it" when in reality they didn't know.

Do it for peace of mind for your remaining trips and for knowing you did the right thing. You can then sell knowing you have a complete package for the new owner.