Used Travel Trailers Under $5000 Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

How much is an old travel trailer worth? ›

Useable, refurbished trailers can easily run from the $2,500 to the $10,000 range. If you have the means, beautifully restored trailers can be had in the teens to over $50,000. The good thing is that we all have just as much fun at the rallies!

If you do want to find out your RV's “blue book” value, you can use the NADA website. Fortunately, it's pretty straightforward and user-friendly. Navigate to NADA's RV value homepage, and choose the “type” of RV you have (or are looking at buying).

It's better to put your travel trailer up for sale at the beginning of RV season rather than at the end of summer. Always avoid selling around the holidays and if you have an RV show in the area, it may be a good time to put your RV on the market as your travel trailer will be priced more affordable than newer RVs.

Many RV parks have a rule that limits access to RVs older than 10 years. This helps to maintain a certain level of quality and appearance within the park. The rule is infamous among RV travelers, especially with the growth of van life and refurbishing vintage vehicles.

The Kelley Blue Book is a widely recognized and trusted resource for determining the value of cars. There is no specific Kelley Blue Book or RV Blue Book for the RV industry, but you can get a free RV Valuation here.

To calculate the trailer value, subtract the product of the depreciation rate and the age of the trailer from the purchase price. Then divide the result by the sum of the years of usage and 1.

Brand-new RVs start losing value as soon as they're driven off the lot and continue to lose value throughout the first year rapidly. The RV depreciation rate increases at a steady rate after that until your RV hits double digits in age. Once an RV is ten years old or older, its value drops more rapidly.

A quick overview of how RVs depreciate by type; class A RVs have an average depreciation of 36% after 5 years, class B (trailers and fifth wheels) RVs have an average depreciation of 37% after 5 years, while class c RVs have an average depreciation of 38% after 5 years.

RV Prices in 2024. In 2024, concerns over inflation have tempered, and rates are expected to be cut three times in 2024 (and more in 2025 and 2026). That's good news for everyone. It's also a fairly recent turn of events — one to monitor to see its effects on the RV industry as a whole.

The Average Lifespan

Most travel trailers are likely to last for around ten years at least. If you take care of your model regularly, it might even last for 20 years.

Do travel trailers break down a lot? ›

RVs vary in reliability depending on a variety of factors, including the make, model, and usage. Unfortunately, many are simply known for needing frequent and costly repairs. So frequent, in fact, that a shocking 3 in every 10 motorhomes will break down by their second year on the road.

Determining Value

Start by researching prices on comparable quality trailers of the same or similar age and use in classified ads. This will help you get an idea of the state of the market. Dealers typically knock off 10 to 20 percent of a trailer's resale value in exchange for assuming the risk of the selling process.

Even if they do, a junk RV may not be drivable, so getting it to a landfill can be complicated. If you want to know how to dispose of an RV, some options include paying to have it removed, finding an RV salvage or junkyard, or breaking it down into its component parts. You could also donate it to charity.

Just like any other vehicle, though, RVs run best when they're used often, well-maintained, and adequately protected from the elements. Proper care and attention can significantly impact how long your RV lasts. The average life of an RV can range from 10 to 30 years or 200,000-300,000 miles with proper maintenance.