Selling Privately vs Trading

[Mikesr]

After only a year with our 2017 Outback 325BH we are thinking about downsizing to a smaller bunkhouse model. No problems or issues just want smaller. We have no lien on the title so selling outright is not an issue. Looking for suggestions on trading down vs private sale then buying cash outright on the next one. We have one dealers quote so far and we’re not liking the numbers. They will do the deal on a 2019 Jayco but of course they want some out money. We know we lost money but we also feel the Outback has move value selling privately then trading. Which raises more questions of how many people sell and or buy private? We’ve purchased several campers over the past 20 years but all through a dealer. As a buyer I would be skeptical of a private sale on a 1 year only model even if the price was good. We welcome any suggestions or personal experience you may have.
TIA

[el_jefe1]

It might depend on where you are located, but used campers seem to be selling very quickly. I had our Jayco for 7 years, sold it less than 48 hours after posting it. My friend who works at a dealership says the used market is pretty great for sellers

[rbpru]

For the dealer or a private seller, the problem is the same; their money is tied up until they sell the unit.

The dealer want to buying low enough for a quick markup and sale. It costs the dealer to have the TT sit in inventory.

The private seller usually can wait, there is no immediate pressure to "turn over the product" it is paid for and is not costing much to keep.

The dealer has overhead and profit to cover, the private seller does not. The dealer is not bothered by strange people coming over to take a look, or no shows or haggling over the price, some folks are.

Personally, if the dealer can sell me the TT I want at the price I want it, I do not care how much or how little he can get for my old TT. If he cannot I keep looking.

Good Luck

[stein4]

ksbowman wrote:
We just sold our Keystone Outback 5th wheel on Craigslist. We had it for 5 years and bought it used. The dealer we bought our newer 5th from would only give a trade in of $3,000 less than we wanted. Had it on Craigslist for 2 hours and sold it for $1500 less than we paid for it 5 years earlier. Must have not asked enough for it. Cash sale and easy transaction.

I had the same results on Craigslist -sold in one day. It’s worth a shot to sell on your own and if it doesn’t sell than work with the dealer. Don’t be to aggressive on the price and it should sale quick and for more than you would get from a dealer.

[FloridaTime]

I worked in RV sales for a long time so here it is from an "insider".

Trading is fast and convenient but you will either pay too much for the new camper or take wholesale actual cash value (acv) for you current camper if you don’t approach the deal correctly. The dealership will either take money they would have otherwise used for discounting the sale price and use it to give you an over inflated trade figure or they will discount their sale price steeply and only want to give you bare wholesale.
Keeping in mind in most states you get a tax credit for your trade in and it is not free to advertise your camper for sale (other than craigslist and Facebook which isn't full of big money buyers). So as long as you’re netting out ahead taking into consideration tax credit and advertising cost you will come out better selling the camper on your own at least from having to spend a bunch of time negotiating at a dealership. With it sold you will be in a better position to negotiate a much better selling price on the new camper with less hassle.
If you do decide to trade do not tell the dealership about your trade, they will try to trick you into admitting you currently own a camper asking questions in small talk like "what do you camp in now" or “what is your favorite park to visit” most people slip up and tell them what they have currently. It is in the training taught at almost every RV dealership in America. Wait till after you have negotiated a selling price on the new camper your happy with then put the trade on them. This is called a “trade bogie” and they will hate it but it allows you to have the upper hand in negotiating. You’re going to have to negotiate all over again except this time it’s on the value of your trailer not the sale price you guys have already agreed on. Typically they want to give you 60-70% of wholesale as actual cash value. They need to make a fair profit on your camper after reconditioning cost but you can still get as much as possible for yours. Also do not hesitate to price shop online just make sure you know what fees that they are adding to their advertised price. Also paying cash isnt a neigotating tool like people think as the dealer makes money if you finance with them. If you are financing let them know upfront and let them know you will give them a shot at your financing if they can match/beat your local credit unions. This is a great tool to get a more aggressive selling price as they will hope to make up some lost profit in the back end (financing and warranties).

If you decide to sell it yourself here are some helpful hints:
• Clean everything out of the camper of all personal items, camping equipment, cooking items and nick knacks. Make it look new as possible.
• Take good photos with all of the interior lights on, awing out, empty cabinets and wheels/tires shined up.
• Do not list it anywhere by email because all you will get is flooded with scammers. Only post a phone number and deal in person. If they won’t call you they aren’t a serious prospect. You’re wasting your money paying for an ad that is reply by email only unless you like talking to Nigerian Princes!
• Never meet at your home, always meet at like a Walmart or Home Depot that is big, open and well lighted.
• Remember NADA options is just that, for true options not equipment that come standard on your camper like slide outs, stove, hot water heater, ect…
Good Luck!

[LVJJJ]

We've found that the key to selling a used TT is to keep it clean, or make sure to clean it up, inside and out before showing it. For years we didn't want to go thru the hassle of a private sale and did the trade-in thing. We did it so often that we screwed ourselves and got into deep debt. Once we climbed out of that, we started buying used TT's and fixing them up and using them. I love fixing things and am pretty good at it. Our first used purchase in 2011 was an '85 Wilderness that needed the bathroom floor rebuilt. After a while the DW decided she didn't like making up the bed every nite on the pull out couch so we looked for a TT with a separate bed. So we had to sell the Wilderness. Luckily it was in really good shape externally and internally and almost looked like new. So we shined it up, scrubbed the interior and put it on the market. The first person to look at it was so impressed with how clean it was he bought it. Being sort of the honest type, I tried to tell him what I had to do to it and a couple of little problems it had and he didn't care cause it was so clean. They were going to take it to Florida to a seasonal lot. I pointed out it didn't have an air conditioner, but they didn't care. The next two TT's we fixed and sold, sold quickly for the same reason, also our price was reasonable, usually breaking even or making a little.

[Bob_Sue]

When trading in my Outback, we were at a camper show. We seen a 5th we liked, made a deal on purchase price, then negotiated trade in. Co. started at a $ figure, and after all was said and done, the trade in price went up $4000. At the time the Outback was only 2 years old. A few weeks later I seen my Outback on their lot for only $2000. more than they gave me. I was happy with the ease of the whole thing, and still use the dealer for parts etc., and I think they keep that in mind also.

[westernrvparkow]

How much value do you place in your time and privacy? That is what trading will save and protect. You might get lucky and the first guy buys at your price. However you may have to wade through dozens of tire kickers, people who cannot get the funds, offers thousands below the dealer's offer, no shows for appointments and so on before a real offer even matches the deal you can get trading.

[ksbowman]

We just sold our Keystone Outback 5th wheel on Craigslist. We had it for 5 years and bought it used. The dealer we bought our newer 5th from would only give a trade in of $3,000 less than we wanted. Had it on Craigslist for 2 hours and sold it for $1500 less than we paid for it 5 years earlier. Must have not asked enough for it. Cash sale and easy transaction.

[J_R2]

NADA 32,000+ average retail, 27,000 low retail. Dealer probably trade in value 22,000 aprox wholesale. That's horrible!

[DutchmenSport]

Sell to dealer: Immediate and done with, but will sell at a lower price.
Sell privately: Can be time consuming, but can get a higher selling price.

Sell privately has one other risk: the longer your camper sits for sale, the less in value it becomes. When selling privately, you really are gambling on time.

If you are not in a hurry to purchase that new camper, then start listing it privately now. If it sells quickly, you have all to gain. If it doesn't sell quick, and you are not in a hurry, then you have the luxury of time, but also a depreciation in value the longer you wait.

And then, if you reach the end of your expected time (say 1 year wait) and you still have no private sale, the camper is now even a year older. Take it to the dealership for a trade now, and you'll get even less.

Personally, if the goal is to get a different camper, do the dealer trade, eat the loss and move on. You're done with the frustration and you can get on and enjoy camping.

Too bad about that Outback. You're giving up a darn good trailer!

[donn0128]

Its almost too late in the season to get any results on a private party sale. If you can hold out till spring, then sell it yourself. But expect to loose at least a third of your original price. Hard negotwting a savy buyer can usually get 30% off of a new one. And that is what your fighting against.

[neschultz]

I don’t know how you get taxed in PA but here in MD we pay 6% title tax on the amount paid when we go to get our tags. So if I sold my car or TT privately it would have to be for at least 6% more than the dealer is offering you. If the dealer is offering me $20,000 on a trade, I need to get $21,200 to break even. Just something to keep in mind if it applies to you.

[Lynnmor]

Car, truck or trailer, it is nearly always advantageous to sell privately.

[K-9_HANDLER]

I have sold my previous campers privately.If you can stand the wait to find a buyer you will get more money privately. The dealer wants you to trade up not down. If you would rather get your new unit quicker, trade.
We are in a similar situation. We will be selling our trailer when it comes off the seasonal site in November and down sizing. We will try to sell it privately in the spring and are in no hurry to buy the new smaller unit.