Creative Ideas?

Trailer Newbie wrote:
We want a good trailer for a single, 6-month trip. We won't need it after that. I can't afford to spend $20k - $30k without the ability to get most of it back at the end.

Welcome to the Forum...I'll be blunt (It's a failing of mine.)
Not going to happen. Most all of us that have been RV'ing for a long time have come to realize that it is not a way to save money.

Biggest depreciation is when buying new....so all I can suggest is to fine a good shape USED trailer to minimize your loss when you sell it.

Also, you will need to consider what you are going to tow it with. Normally, the family mini van won't do it. That may be another expense.

Hopefully others will chime in with a more, "creative," solution.
Good luck with it.

Find a OLD CHEAP trailer that comes close to the size you want..

Or FORGET about camping.

Buying or even leasing a trailer for a "one off" short term use is a sure fire way to lose one heck of a lot of money.

You will never, ever get anything close to what you paid for it back when you attempt to sell it after only 6 months. You will be way, way upside down on the loan then take a bath on depreciation.

You could easily be several thousand in interest PLUS four thousand - six thousand dollars in depreciation ON TOP OF THE INTEREST OWED.

Do yourself a huge favor, walk.. No make that RUN FAR, FAR AWAY FROM RVs.

You are better off using Motels/Hotels.

Buy a nice 3 year old unit.

Look for a good used TT. If you buy new, you will take a hit on depreciation.
Do your homework, there at plenty of units available at a reasonable price.

Is the trip to site see the country? To live in one place for a job?

I would buy the cheapest used trailer that fit our needs after seeing what does and doesn't work. Put some new tires on it and take off.

Sell it when you get home.

I think downtheroad said it all.

I may add, the older the trailer is, the less it will cost, the closer to resale you'll get back. But, there is a trade off that downtheroad already mentined ... your tow vehicle. Older campers (10 years or more, that would return a closer to resale amount) were manufactured much heavier than today's versions. So the trailer weight is a big factor when you get older. Another thing, older trailers may have hidden problems that won't unearth themselves until after you start using it. Repairs (even short term repairs) could end up costing more than expected, and, if on the road, could cause a considerable inconvenience.

On the other hand, a brand new one could have warranty issues too, still taking it out of service when on the road.

But ... if looking at it from strictly a resale value ... used .. and older will yield a closer resale value. Buy new or nearly new, and it's a loosing proposition.

If you have an adequate tow vehicle, then the weight will be no issue. Considering your needs, I'd look at campers around 10 years old and go BACK from there.

EDIT: And when you resell your camper.... regardless of age ... you will never get 100% back out of it, what you put into it. You always put more into it ... always ...

korbe wrote:
Is the trip to site see the country? To live in one place for a job?

I would buy the cheapest used trailer that fit our needs after seeing what does and doesn't work. Put some new tires on it and take off.

Sell it when you get home.

x2.

You can find an inexpensive used trailer well below your $20-30K max. I would recommend the new tires and an initial recaulking of all seams/windows/vents.

Thanks for all the input. I think I need to explain my situation better. The trip is a bucket list trip for my wife and I. We want to see the country, visit friends, and explore for a new place to live.

I'm not opposed to depreciation. I fully expect to lose money on the deal. My concern was how much would I lose and how long and difficult will the resale process be. If I buy a trailer for 25k and then, after the trip I can sell if for 20k in 4 - 6 weeks, that would be fine. However, if it takes a year to sell if for 12k, that would be a problem.

So, I guess what I should have asked is, what might I expect to get for a 6-month-old trailer that cost me 25k, and how long would it typically take to find a buyer.

Thanks again for your time and expertise!!!

toedtoes wrote:

korbe wrote:
Is the trip to site see the country? To live in one place for a job?

I would buy the cheapest used trailer that fit our needs after seeing what does and doesn't work. Put some new tires on it and take off.

Sell it when you get home.

x2.

You can find an inexpensive used trailer well below your $20-30K max. I would recommend the new tires and an initial recaulking of all seams/windows/vents.

Buying a old trailer PLUS putting time and parts like tires into it IS going to be very costly.

Then the OP would most likely NEED to buy a WD hitch (typically those do not come with even a used trailer).. Then the OP will need to outfit the trailer..

By the time they get done for a 6 month trip they will have spent more money than if they RENTED a trailer.

Then on top of that attempt to resell the trailer.. Market is flooded with used units, most likely will take a lot of time and effort to unload it and even then they will most likely sell it for a heck of a lot less than all the money they put into it.

Gdetrailer wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

korbe wrote:
Is the trip to site see the country? To live in one place for a job?

I would buy the cheapest used trailer that fit our needs after seeing what does and doesn't work. Put some new tires on it and take off.

Sell it when you get home.

x2.

You can find an inexpensive used trailer well below your $20-30K max. I would recommend the new tires and an initial recaulking of all seams/windows/vents.

Buying a old trailer PLUS putting time and parts like tires into it IS going to be very costly.

Then the OP would most likely NEED to buy a WD hitch (typically those do not come with even a used trailer).. Then the OP will need to outfit the trailer..

By the time they get done for a 6 month trip they will have spent more money than if they RENTED a trailer.

Then on top of that attempt to resell the trailer.. Market is flooded with used units, most likely will take a lot of time and effort to unload it and even then they will most likely sell it for a heck of a lot less than all the money they put into it.

The OP's question isn't "should we get a trailer", it is "how can we minimize the loss of money when we buy a trailer for a single 6-month trip". For that answer, buying used, putting some cash into it, and then selling it for near what they paid is the better option than buying new.

The OP has already indicated that renting a trailer is not a viable option for them.

While it may not be YOUR choice (to buy a trailer for a single trip), it can be done without losing a whole lot of money.