Canada or USA? ---- Best Place to Sell a used RV

[partyof5er]

Hi Gang!

First time caller, long time listener... love the show 🙂

We're selling a used 5th wheel and can chose to do so in Canada or the US as we're Canadians working in the US.

The big question is, where should we try hardest to sell? We can have the trailer in whichever place we determine is going to yield the best results.

The big obvious benefit is that since we bought in Canada, the exchange on a sale in the USA gets us an approx 30 percent lift if we were to assume the unit would be priced the same in both markets (which it likely would be).

So... thoughts on the following are appreciated:

1. Where is the used market strongest?

2. We've been told that selling a CDN trailer in the US is dead simple; Are we missing something?

3. Thoughts on selling to a dealership (we won't be trading in)?

4. Thoughts on brokers?

Anything else we're missing?

Insight and suggestions appreciated!

Many thanks,

Mike

[seaeagle2]

I imported a boat from Canada to the US. (bought it in Gibsons). Biggest thing is it needs to say "Meets US DOT Standards" on the VIN tag. Depending on manufacturer, it probably does. When I imported my boat, they never even looked at the boat at the border, they were only interested in the boat trailer. If you get the deal done before Trump repeals NAFTA, assuming it was made in US, Canada or Mexico, there's no duty. You need a letter stating that any recalls have been done. The state where its being licensed will run a VIN check to verify its not stolen.

[owenssailor]

I don't know about other provinces but in Ontario Canada we definitely have ownership papers for trailers. The are called Vehicle Permits. They ae on the same form as used for a car or truck and contain all the same information - except the engine info is blank.

[2lazy4U]

I'm sure that you're aware that if the rig is registered as Canadian, an American buyer will have to import it into the U.S., even if it's already physically here. Most people want simplicity and won't want to do this or use a broker to do it because of the cost and uncertainty. I've read a number of stories of how difficult it was to get such a vehicle registered, even after importing it, partly because Canada doesn't have titles like we do, but rather uses insurance papers. People here in the States want a title.

I've personally considered several Canadian rigs (Bigfoot) but decided to buy in the States for that very reason. I did once buy an Escape (made in Canada), but the company did all the import paperwork and paid for it and has a stellar reputation, and I had all my paperwork for registration done beforehand so there would be no surprises. You can read about some of the problems people have had over on the Escape forum.

Most U.S. buyers will be very aware of the exchange rate and will want an appropriate discount, especially if you're advertising it in both places at the same price. The internet makes it easy to see such things. I would sell your rig in Canada.