Resale value

[funpilot]

I just did an extensive search on Craigslist nationwide on what used ones sell for. Also looked at NADA as well. Not sure I agree with the generally held consensus that they retain their value well. Any thoughts?

 

[Randm2005]

I think it has more to do with supply and demand. New TM are expensive and if you want to save money you by on open market at the offered price. People who buy TMs are looking for a specific product that very few trailers meet whin is a hard sided popup. People who want popup because it's cheap are probably not going to pay TM prices.

 

[Sterman]

Although the resale value for used TMs may be a little better than others, you still take a huge hit if you buy new and sell in a year or two.

 

[Redtail cruiser]

...and that isn't any different than any other rv, car, truck or boat. If you buy new you probably should hang on to it for a few years.

 

[funpilot]

I think you are all correct. I was just hoping it might be better based on the comments that it has one of the highest resale values. Now I need to get my price!!

 

[LoveToCamp-TMO]

I purchased one of the first 2417 Sports built, in Jan. 2012. I sold it in Jan. 2014, for $3,000 less than I paid (but, I put a solar panel on it). To me, that was very good resale value.

But, mine was the only used 2417 Sport on the market across the USA. I had the optimum selling situation. Also, I am in Colorado, which has a good TM market.

If you keep it in very good condition, and there are no others for sale in your area that are comparable, you could get a better price. It all depends on numerous conditions. List it for what you think is fair, and be ready to justify it to any lookers. If I were looking for a new unit, but I could save $5,000 by purchasing a pristine used unit, with everything I wanted, I would likely go used. It just takes one buyer.

 

[Bill]

To some extent, resale value depends on the options you chose when you bought the trailer. If you choose a limited set of options that meet your particular needs, but miss the needs of a lot of users, you have to expect fewer interested parties, and therefore a lower price.

I'm under the impression that most users expect to see:
Air conditioner
Awning
TV antenna
Stove/oven
and to some extent, a swing tongue

You might be willing to pay a lot for a rear hitch, alloy wheels, special graphics, a satellite dish, an outside gas connection for your grill, or an oversized fresh water tank - but I'm not sure you would recoup your investment.

Bill

 

[Icon-KEY]

You might be willing to pay a lot for a rear hitch, alloy wheels, special graphics, a satellite dish, an outside gas connection for your grill, or an oversized fresh water tank - but I'm not sure you would recoup your investment.

Bill

^^^^ X 2 on that ^^^^^^^

Very sound advice.

 

[Padgett]

Actually watching CL there does seem to be a slight upward trend but the sample is low.

I bought my 2006 2720SL, very clean with just about every option including swing hitch for a good price including tax and tag (from a behemouth dealer who took it in on trade & really did not want it), replaced the LRC 14s with LRD 15s, and even with an unexpected awning replacement am under $10k.

Plus was that it was only about an hour away and had been a central Floridian all its life. Had taken camping twice before the really hot weather set in had no surprises. Plan to go to Wales West in October.

So not sure if seeing a normal summer/winter swing or if the value of the dollar is dropping but used prices from this century seem to be edging upward.

Suspect this forum and all of the technical information here may be part of the reason.

 

[Padgett]

Just tossed some numbers in a spreadsheet and looked at a few sites. My impression of a general trend has asking prices by owners are around $14000 for a nice 2010 2720xx (seems to be the most popular model) and drops fairly linearly to about $10,000 for a 2006 & $6500 for a 2002 (location and condition are important). Normally selling price is 10%-15% lower depending on degree of motivation but then you have to add the 3Ts (tax, tag, title) plus some dealers add a "documentation fee" (extra profit).

And that is what it looks like in September of 2014. Have to figure there is a seasonal component as well, more in the North than the South.

But the byword is "condition is everything".

ps stopped with 2002 because earlier ones had wood frames so condition is even more a factor.

pps if anyone has a better guideline, am sure they will reply.

 

[moaboy]

It is all "relative." What I have seen is that due to a tighter supply/demand ratio TM's hold their value better than most, (but not all) other RV, especially in this price range. This means you still loose a bunch of money due to depreciation, but not as much as other RV brands.
When I bought mine, production was tight on the new, updated version I had, so I did not lose much in depreciation as it was in excellent condition and had little competition if I had chosen to sell it. Of course, that now has changed, and there will apparently be more demand for the new silver models which appear to be quite popular with potential buyers.
Nevertheless, I did not buy mine as an investment. It was purely to be my toy in retirement and I plan to keep it a long time....

 

[johntrob]

I think we need some expert advice on the start date for having all metal framing.
I am pretty sure that replacement of the wood framing with metal had started in the mid 90's.
Anyone "Know" for sure?

John

 

[Redtail cruiser]

Hi John,

Welcome to the TM Forum. Metal framing first introduced in 2003.

 

[Bill]

Metal framing first introduced in 2003.

Tim -

As has been mentioned before, almost nothing in the world of TM was introduced on model year boundaries. Relying on model year boundaries, as is done in the world of cars, is misleading at best, and I encourage people not to do it. In the current example, my very-early-build 2002 TM had all metal framing. So perhaps "approximately 2003" would be a better phrase.

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15361

Bill

 

[Redtail cruiser]

Bill,

I stand corrected. I had heard back when I was shopping for my TM that it was 2003, but I was misinformed. Thanks for the info.

 

[B_and_D]

Our 1997 has metal framing from where I can see it in the upper shell wall corners. It's a real PITA to try to drill into it to do repairs to the latches, etc. because of the small diameter of the aluminum tubing.

 

[Padgett]

Does anyone know if the metal framed TMs are [lighter|heavier|the same] weight as the earlier wood framed coaches ?

 

[Bill]

Padgett -

The term "frame" is a bit misleading. My understanding is that the floors are, and always have been, framed with wood. You can see it in one of the factory videos. That's where the weight is. When we talk about reframing, we are referring to the frame along the lower edge of the shells, and up around the perimeter of the shells. In the old days, all this was framed with 1x1 square hardwood sticks. In the early 2000's the hardwood sticks were replaced with 1x1 square aluminum tube. The difference, of course, is that if water gets inside the wall from a roof leak, the hardwood will soak it in and rot. The aluminum doesn't.

I can't imagine that there is much weight difference between a foot of hard wood and a foot of aluminum tube of the same dimernsions, so the overall impact of "reframing" is probably negligible in the grand scheme of things.

I may be wrong in some of the minor details of the above, but you get the picture.

Bill

 

[Padgett]

Have found that the key to "holding value" is to "buy right" in the first place. Of course when you tend to keep vehicles you like for decades then it almost becomes meaningless.

That said it is best to decide exactly what you want and then not settle for anything less.

When I bought the Vixen, my ideal was to have an economical RV and being "odd" was part of the equation and I found out two things
1) from an engineering standpoint, a turbo-diesel has a lot going for it.
2) from a TCOE standpoint the extra cost of diesel over 87 PON added to required maintence defeated a lot of it

So when I replaced my previous minivan with a more nimble and capable tow vehicle, a trailer made more sense. Started looking for a Hi-Lo but too heavy and no longer made. Then I found the TrailManor and the collapsible concept resonated with me. Add to the nearly double the living space of the Vixen was a plus.

So after about a month of looking found the TM and bought for a good price. Am now going through making the changes I feel is neccessary (adding outlets, replacing the awning (did not expect but the Fiamma plant is in Orlando), changing 14s for 15s with higher load rating (concern is the load on the single axle design, may replace the axle as well), replacement of external fasteners with stainless, that sort of thing.

Am finding that there have been many improvements in just about everything since the last century.

So suspect once I have a way to get it in the garage, I'll have a keeper (and now that cooler weather is here should move right along.

 

[moaboy]

To add to Bill's point take calendar year 2009 as an example. Early in the year TM's had the blueish based paint scheme and a number of items as they had in past years, clear windows, white 14 wheels etc. standard. Much of what I am talking about is cosmetic. I've penned a longer list somewhere on the forum, not sure where.
In the Fall of 2009, debuting at the Hershey Show, TM incorporated many of their upgrades, that had been on their 25 Anniversary Edition model and began to make them standard and or options. New brown based paint scheme, tinted windows, alloy 15 wheels, different interior color schemes/floor options and so on.
Two rather - at least from a cosmetic standpoint -different trailers, but on the registration title they both indicate 2009.
Now, once again the exterior color scheme has been changed and the progression continues, hopefully in a way that attracts even more fans.