How the Kelley Blue Book for Trailers, Motorhomes, and Vans Can Sell Your RV

Long ago there used to be a Kelley Blue Book for trailers, motorhomes, and vans. But not anymore. The good news is that you can still find RV values that help you when you’re ready to buy or sell a used RV.

In this article, you will learn:

• Why there is no Kelley Blue Book for Trailers and RVs
• Which websites have the best RV value guide information
• How to know what your RV is worth
• The best time to sell a used RV
• And who wants to buy used RVs

What Happened to the Kelley Blue Book for Trailers and Other RVs?

Before you post your RV or travel trailer for sale, determine how much money it is actually worth. Unfortunately, searching motorhome websites for hours may leave you with a bad information.

The Kelley Blue Book Guide used to publish an RV and travel trailer edition to help determine RV values. But now, they only publish an automobile value guide book. Luckily, you have other alternatives. Here’s what you can use to get RV and travel trailer values.

Websites that offer pricing guides and model comparisons include National Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA) RV Pricing guide and RVTrader.

Alternate Pricing and Value Guides

RV Pricing and Value Guide by NADA

When it comes to comparing alternate pricing guides to the Kelley Blue Book, I believe the NADA RV pricing and value guide is the most similar resource available. It is today’s Kelley Blue Book for trailers, motorhomes, truck campers, vans, and pop-up trailers.

I love The National Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA) RV Pricing Guide. It’s the easiest RV value guide to use. NADA also gives the most accurate RV and travel trailer prices.

1. Choose the kind of RV you are researching.
2. Specify the manufacturer of the unit.
3. Review the list of models, body styles, and years.
4. Check out their current price and value.

Most manufacturers RV value guide information is up to date on NADA. But some are not. For example, if you are looking for more information on a Coachmen model built after 2009, you will be referred back to the Forest River website for RV value information.

RV Price Checker by RVTrader

The RV Price Checker by RV Trader is simple to use. It allows you to get a value for all RV makes and models.

RV values are shared by disclosing the highest value, the lowest value, and the average value, according to RV Trader classified ads.

This website works if you are only searching for a general price. But if you want more specific RV value details and construction information, the NADA Pricing and Value Guide is better. It allows you to list extra features of your RV or travel trailer and current mileage. This gives a more accurate RV value.

When You Want to Sell a Used RV or Trailer

Now that you know the overall value of your RV or Trailer, here’s what you need to know to sell it for the highest price possible.

The bad news is that RV depreciation follows automobile depreciation. They depreciate as soon as they leave the dealer. Because of this, selling RVs for anything close to the original sales price is difficult.

Here’s 5 tips to sell a used RV for the best price.

1. Sell at the Right Time of Year

When you choose to sell your RV or travel trailer can make a big difference in how much people will pay.

While you may have just finished out the summer spending time camping in your unit, and feel as though you are ready to sell it right then and there, the smarter option is to wait awhile.

Unless you RV or travel trailer is specifically built or equipped for winter traveling, then you should wait until the next spring to post your RV or travel trailer.

It is at this time that people start thinking about purchasing an RV or trailer for their upcoming summer travel plans. Because of this, people are going to be more willing to pay a higher price so that they can get out and explore sooner!

2. Keep Your RV or Trailer in Good Condition

This goes without saying, but it is crucial to not only the price of your RV or travel trailer but also to the overall value of the unit.

Potential buyers of a used RV or travel trailer are going to be looking for any sign of potential problems in order to talk down the price.

Be sure that your RV or travel trailer does not show any signs of mold growth, water damage, dents, dings, or any other damages. Before you even consider putting your RV or travel trailer on the market, do a walk through imagining that you are the potential buyer and make a list of any problems you see.

If you saw these problems, the potential buyer will too and then they will either choose not to purchase your RV or trailer or they will try to get you to lower your price.

In the future, if you purchase another RV or Travel Trailer keep in mind that you may want to resell it one day and to try your best to keep the new RV or travel trailer in good condition.

3. Take the Time to Deep Clean

Alright, now I know that deep cleaning anything, especially the RV or travel trailer that you have been tracking dirt in and out of for months or even years, is not anyone’s favorite thing to do.

However, be sure to set plenty of time to thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of the RV or trailer. If you are hoping to get the best possible sale price, you should spend at least a full day or two cleanings.

As you are cleaning the RV or travel trailer, be sure to get in all of those tiny nooks and crannies that have secretly been storing dirt for all this time.

While you do the deep clean, this would be an appropriate time to make note of any little damages that need to be repaired before you are ready to sell your RV or travel trailer.

If it comes to the week before you want to sell your RV or travel trailer and you still have no desire to do the deep clean, it may be wise to hire a professional cleaner.

Just remember, that if you hire a professional cleaner, while the unit may look cleaner than you could have done yourself, it will be a cost added to the sale of your RV or travel trailer.

Since RVs and travel trailers already sell for much cheaper than their original purchase price, it is important to save as much money as possible when trying to sell.

4. Stage the RV or Travel Trailer

Have you ever wondered why when you visit an open house why all that beautiful furniture and decor are there?

Well, if you walk into an empty home, you may have some idea in your mind of how your furniture could POSSIBLY be placed. However, when there is furniture already staged in the home, you already feel at home before you have even moved in.

The same theory works with RVs and travel trailers!

So before you take pictures of your RV or travel trailer set the table neatly, make all the beds, and keep a few items neatly organized in the cupboards.

Chances are, people are going to be willing to pay more for your RV or travel trailer if it is staged simply because they can SEE what it could be like to live (or in this case camp) there.

5. Decide Who You are Selling to

Possibly the most important thing to consider when selling your RV or travel trailer is WHO you are going to sell the unit to.

While posting your RV or travel trailer online is likely to result in the higher purchase price, it is also likely to take longer to sell.

If you are looking to get your RV or travel trailer off of your hands quickly, consider visiting a dealership to see if they will purchase it from you.

Remember, while selling your RV or travel trailer to a dealership is going to be much faster than posting the unit online, you are going to receive much less than you were hoping for.

If neither option sounds like the right choice for you, then consider using an authentic “For Sale” sign in the window! Someone is sure to see it and be curious!