Decorating Travel Trailer Ideas With Christmas

Travel Trailer Buying and Selling Guide

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A travel trailer is a wonderful option for those who want to use their vehicles while on vacation. Perfectly designed to park at the camping site and disengage from your car or truck, these trailers give vacationers the best of both owning an RV, and renting a room without the expense. Whether a PUMA luxury model or a Mallard travel trailer, buying, owning, and selling these vehicles does come with extra considerations. Let's take a look at what to know.

Decide What You Need in a Travel Trailer

Before you buy a travel trailer, it is important to decide what you need in one. Travel trailers are available in many sizes and styles to suit everyone from solo travelers to families. You can pick out a fifth wheel with a large kitchen area, a roomy bathroom, or just lots of bunk beds. Make a list of desired features in your travel trailer to rely on when looking at models. Your list may include:

Trailer Size & Weight
Number of Beds
Bathroom or Not
Bathroom Size
Electric Generator or Electrical Hookup
Kitchen Area or Not
Slideouts or Not
Awnings

Check Your Vehicle Towing Capacity

It's also important to find out the towing capacity of your vehicle, so you can pick out a travel trailer that is small enough to tow without blowing your transmission. For instance, if your truck has a maximum tow capacity of 5,000 lbs, it can only carry up to that amount of weight. This includes the combined weight of passengers inside the truck, any luggage and extra household items in the trailer, and the trailer.

A good rule of thumb for estimating how big a trailer your vehicle can manage is to look at the vehicle tow capacity and subtract 1,000 lbs. leeway for traveling up or down hill, and 500 lbs. per person traveling in the vehicle. The remainder is how much travel trailer weight you can tow safely.

Buying from the Owner or the Dealer

You can find a travel trailer in many different ways, from visiting an RV dealer to buying used through a Craigslist ad. Get started with your search for the perfect travel trailer early. Don't just buy the first trailer you see that is in the right price range and size. Look at different models, visit dealers, and check online to find old travel trailers for sale.

Bear in mind, that when you buy from a dealer, there may be a bigger price markup. You are paying for the salesperson's percentage, as well as, any profits the dealer thinks they can reasonably obtain from the trailer. When you buy from a private owner, the price is a lot more affordable. However, the fifth wheel may have some damage or might not have as much maintenance completed. You'll also have an easier time finding a brand new travel trailer through a dealer.

Tips for Buying and Owning a Travel Trailer

Sign up for a roadside assistance program that includes towing for travel trailers. If your vehicle breaks down, the added coverage for your trailer means that both will get towed to a convenient garage.
Don't forget to get added vehicle insurance to cover any damage to your trailer while traveling or parked in the driveway.
Tow your travel trailer to a weigh station to make sure that the combined weight of both vehicles is just as you estimated.
Visit an RV show to walk through several models and also get an idea of quality travel trailer construction.
If you can get a trailer with tandem wheels it is safer, as this design distributes weight more evenly across more wheels. You'll also have less trouble controlling the trailer if you experience a tire blowout.
Extend the life of your vehicle brakes and drive more comfortably by choosing a trailer with electric brakes and in-vehicle controls.

Selling Your Travel Trailer

It's easy to sell your travel trailer when you no longer want to spend time on the road or are planning to upgrade to a newer model. Many owners can trade in their travel trailer at the dealership or sell them to a dealer when in good condition. If you want to make more on the sale of your trailer, then sell it privately.
- Start by looking up prices of other similar brands. J.D. Powers offers the NADA Guides online, so you can find travel trailer ratings by brand, suggested list prices, low sale prices, and average prices for a wide variety of RVs and travel trailers. You can also do the same at Blue Book for travel trailers.
- Take the time to clean up your trailer and make any small repairs needed. Then, take the photographs for your classified ad.
- When potential customers reach out, respond quickly to avoid losing their interest in the trailer. You might also need to arrange a time with them to look at the travel trailer. Have the title, any repair receipts, and any other paperwork collected and ready for review.
- If the customer wants to buy, you can accept payment in your preferred method. Be ready to sign over the title and make up a bill of sale to show that the buyer paid so much money to you for the vehicle.