In this blog post, we will answer the following question: How do I get the best deal on a travel trailer? We will share with you seven incredibly smart ways to get the best deal possible on buying a travel trailer (whether new or used).
How do I get the best deal on a travel trailer?
When buying a travel trailer, you have to take into account so many things that it is best to take your time and do your research on how to get the best deal. Primarily, you have to think of the following things:
- What use will be made of it?
- When will it be used?
- Who else will use it?
- Where will it be used?
After you answer all the above questions, it is time to polish your negotiation skills. Below you will find seven recommendations on how to get the best deal on a travel trailer.
Shop for your travel trailer in your region/state/country for the best price
The advice is really relevant if you are buying at a fair or trade show, where you can contract with a seller attached to a concession far from where you live. Obviously, for maintenance, you can always turn to a closer distributor, but do not wait for them to welcome you in the best possible conditions since they will not have made the sale.
The shipping cost is less with some dealers. Dealers located further from cities face more monetary costs for transporting their units, for example.
Shipping a travel trailer from abroad can be very expensive. So it can be very expensive to transport trailers depending on the dealership’s location.
Look for a second-hand travel trailer for a good deal
On average, people trade in or sell their recreational vehicles every three to 4 years. A large part of this is because people’s needs change over time, for example, the birth of another child means you will need another bunk, the kids are leaving the house and mom and dad want a Class C, people don’t go out as often as they thought so they sell etc.
This means that there is frequently a high volume of used travel trailers on the market. Before buying a new trailer, at least check with your local dealers to see what options are available.
Used trailers do not depreciate as much as some other recreational vehicles, such as teardrop trailers and motorhomes, but you can often save several thousand dollars by purchasing a trailer that is only 2-3 years old and which has hardly been used.
Learn to negotiate with the RV dealer
This is a must for getting the best deal on a travel trailer. Good negotiation skills will give you the leverage you need to lower the price of your desired travel trailer.
Negotiating is not rude. This is your position as a consumer. As long as you are being honest you have to work to get the best price. The dealers are big boys and girls. They won’t sell unless it’s a good deal for them. So you don’t have to feel guilty about working hard to get the best price for you.
You should never buy a travel trailer on your first visit to the dealership
Every salesperson knows that the first visit is the best time to persuade someone to buy because they can work on their impulses and emotions. Their goal is to match you with a trailer that sparks your tastes and interests, and then make you feel like you have to do whatever it takes to get it.
Make it clear to the seller up front that you are visiting all competing dealerships to compare prices. This helps sellers who are a little too keen on making a better commission to relax a bit and puts you in a better-negotiating position when it comes to price talking.
This is also important because you can change your mind about what you want as you watch more and more RVs.
Examine well the deal you get for your travel trailer
The pricing of trailers is often very misleading. Suppose you see a $20,000 trailer at one dealership and another $22,000 trailer at a different dealership. Obviously, you’ll think the $ 20,000 trailer is cheaper, but that might not be true.
Here are some features that may be missing from the deal:
- A dealership can offer you annual winter storage for as long as you own the trailer. It would save you $120 per year for many years.
- Another dealer has a warehouse and offers free storage for a year.
- A dealership has a freight charge of $400 and a handling charge of $350
- Most of the dealerships do not include sewer hoses for the trailer, so you would have to buy them at an additional cost.
- Only half of the dealers include the two batteries you needed for the trailer. Some come with a battery and some do not contain any.
- Sales tax is not included in the price. If your state applies 15% sales tax, you will pay an additional $3,000 on a $20,000 purchase. Some dealerships show the price with tax and some without tax. We must therefore be wary and inform ourselves.
- Dealer registration and title fees are also added to the price. The application fee is generally $250 and the title fee is generally less than $50.
- Many travel trailers don’t come with things you’d definitely want to buy right away, like a spare tire or an extra propane tank.
- You will also need to purchase a generator. You should budget between $1,000 and $2,500 for a good generator depending on your preferences.
Ask for a Gift Card when buying a new travel trailer
When you buy your new travel trailer, you will have a lot of additional expenses associated with it later on. From the little things like buying a sewer pipe to the bigger things like a generator.
If you’re buying your new trailer from a dealership that also has an accessories store (most dealerships do), once you feel like you’ve negotiated the price you wanted, ask for a gift card from $ 50 at their store to push the trading limit to the max!
A gift card is not as expensive for them to offer, as they obviously have the items in the store, and you will still have to purchase other things.
Discover the different travel trailer manufacturers and their prices
Some travel trailers are sold at an extremely high price simply because of the brand name. Airstream trailers, for example, are notorious for charging a big premium just because of their style and name.
Rent a travel trailer before you buy one
If you are thinking of purchasing a travel trailer or motorhome, we strongly suggest that you rent one first to make sure you really love the experience. Campers can turn out to be very big investments, and buying the wrong one can be a costly mistake.
Conclusions
Travel trailers are sold with much higher profit margins than regular vehicles. In large part, this is because RV retailers make the vast majority of their sales during the summer months and are much less in demand for the rest of the year. This is true, at least, for countries where there is a winter and a lot of snow showers.
Additionally, a travel trailer is a luxury item, so it is often purchased by people who can afford more. Before making a big investment in your own travel trailer, renting one is a great way to try it before you buy it!
We hope you find all the information you need in this article to save as much as possible on your next travel trailer or motorhome purchase. If you know you’ll have a hard time negotiating the price, follow these tips to make sure you get the best deal on a travel trailer!
FAQ on How do I get the best deal on a travel trailer?
How much can you negotiate on a used RV?
With most used RVs, you can negotiate a discount of 20% to 30%, depending on the circumstances: your negotiation skills, supply and demand, the RV type and whether you are buying from a dealership.
Should I buy a new or used RV?
Whether you should buy a new or used RV will depend on several factors, such as your budget and your main purpose. Price is the main advantage of buying a used unit. With a used RV, you get more for your money.
What do you have to take into account when buying a motorhome?
When buying a motorhome, you have to take into account so many things that it is best to involve each member of the family in the process. Give each person precise instructions. Do an eye check of the tires, electrical system, the condition of the furniture, etc.
How much does an RV cost?
An RV costs depend on whether they are pre-owned, new, large, luxurious, simple, etc. However, an estimate (from a used one to a new luxury one) is between $ 15,000 USD to $ 100,000 USD.
Other FAQs about Travel Trailers that you may be interested in.
How do I know the tongue weight of my trailer?
How do you add power to a cargo trailer?
How long do Scamp Trailers last?
