Best time to buy?

[Classof83]

Which is a better time to buy? We want to upgrade from our pop-up. We're looking for a used travel trailer. In your opinion, do you think the "deals" would be better now, or in the spring?

Caroline

 

[ftwildernessguy]

The last 3 trailers I have purchased new were leftovers bought in the fall. Now is an excellent time to make a deal with a dealer with 2010's on his lot that he wants to dump before the 2011 models come in. The only problem is the selection is limited, but I have saved thousands this way.

 

[Disneylitch]

I see that you are from Maryland, so that being said, now is the best time to buy. People have used them for the summer and are now looking to sell. If you lived in an area that had great weather year round, it would be a different story.

 

[5stljayhawks]

I say anytime you think you are getting a deal. Many times after RV shows dealers will have a number of used. I bought used through Craigslist. Unless cash is not an issues, I have a really hard time to buy new big ticket items, Houses, Cars, RVs. The later are deprecating assets, why not let someone else take the major financial bath the first couple if years.



Others can chime in on this theory, but I think the best way to know if you are getting a deal is to research craigslist, ebay and NADA/blue book, and RV dealers. You should be able to get a rough idea, maybe even find a few no haggle dealers with rock bottom pricing.

 

[becky1960]

The market is getting flooded with thousands of Fema trailers and the prices are coming down because of the winter is coming up also. Now is a good time to look/buy..

 

[ftwildernessrick]

For used, fall is usually a buyer's market, in spring it is a seller's market.

For new it can be either way. In the fall the dealers are trying to get rid of their 2010's to make room for the 2011's; but during the spring RV shows, you can get special deals with special financing not available the rest of the year.

Also during the spring RV shows you can even do a pre-build contract/buy, if the manufacturer reps & dealership agree to it. This works great if you are looking at a particular brand/model they don't have; or, if you want on that model has a different interior/design or add on options you want than what they have. They are usually happy to build what you what, since they know it is 'sold' already. You won't save as much as buying one they already have, but you will save off the regular showroom sale price.

 

[flamingogal]

I have bought campers in the fall and the spring. I think it really depends on you as a buyer for what you get. I learned, sometimes the hard way, to research, research, research before buying. Go online, see whats out there, decide what is really important to you, then go see some campers. There is so much selection that you can become overwhelmed, but once you see something you like you'll quickly decide.

Jeanne

PS... pm me - I have a 31ft travel trailer for sale

 

[thegoofyfamily]

Stay away from FEMA trailers. They are all over Craigslist and the easy way you can tell they are FEMA trailers are most of them have full size refrigerators.

I guess it depends on what you're looking for, but these trailers get used full-time and get abused for the most part.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

FEMA trailers are built quickly and cheaply. For a while, they were coming with no appliances, which can cancel out any savings you would get. Anything the government is trying to get rid of, run like the wind from. This comes from somebody who has worked for the feds in one form or another for over 30 years.

 

[retired and happy]

The Katrina FEMA trailers are full of formaldehyde. Most are supposed to be marked with an external sticker, but sellers are ripping off the stickers...and maybe the buyers.