Craigslist Used Trailers (2024)

FAQs

How do I find the value of a trailer? ›

Get an Appraisal of Your Trailer's Value

Find a dealer, manufacturer, or mechanic near you who is willing to do appraisals. Have this person evaluate your trailer and break down why they came to the conclusion they did. If you're satisfied with their reasoning, start with that as an asking price.

You can use your utility trailer to transport goods and cargo ranging from power equipment and camping supplies to antiques and furniture. This means that you can use your rig to carry bulky materials at your worksite and even haul your belongings from one place to another.

Kelley Blue Book Travel Trailer/RV Valuation

Kelley Blue Book is a trusted resource for determining the value of traditional automotive vehicles. However, unfortunately, they do not offer a dedicated valuation service for RVs on their website or in their printed guides.

NADA, or the National Automobile Dealers' Association, provides values for used RVs. They list prices and values for motorhomes, travel trailers, and even truck campers and park models.

Flatbed Utility trailers are the most common of the different types of trailers. You have probably seen this trailer around your local town or city. They are small enough to move about without much frustration but can be big enough for large quantities of materials.

While inspecting, check the leaf springs and spring hangers. Any cracks or repairs indicate that the trailer has been overloaded in the past. They could also signal a shift in the axles due to a sudden impact with something on the ground. Purchasing a trailer with uneven axles is risky as it causes tire wear.

While it's true that it's impossible to sell your RV for its original purchase price when in good condition, its resale value can be almost just as good. However, if the exterior of a travel trailer is significantly damaged, you might sell it for less than half its real value.

The first and most obvious benefit of buying used is the reduced price tag. Due to depreciation, even trailers that are still in relatively good condition cost much less than a very similar new model.

Mobile Homes Tend to Drop in Value

Mobile homes placed in mobile home parks typically decrease in value over time. On the other hand, land normally appreciates over time. So, if you own land and build a traditional home or, in some cases even place a mobile home on the land, the value will normally appreciate.

How to check the value of a travel trailer? ›

Ask the Experts

Similar to the Kelly Blue Book for cars, the Dealer NADA RV price book is often consulted by dealers looking at purchasing your RV. Search units by year, make and model to find trade-in and retail value.

The value for resale will depend on how well it's maintained, not to mention the specific equipment you have on the trailer. While depreciation greatly depends on condition, a well-maintained dump trailer many retain 50%-60% of its original value after five years.

Using a trailer VIN lookup tells you important specs like the length of the trailer, as well as the number of axles. The last few digits of the VIN is a serial number. While serial numbers repeat, no other vehicle or trailer on the road has the same serial number, manufacturing and equipment digits.