Buying a used travel trailer can save you a lot of money. New travel trailers generally go for many times the price of a used one. The average new trailer might be $25-50K… a used one can be under $15K. That’s a lot of savings, but you will have to work to get it. Buying a used trailer means doing your research, looking for a good deal, but also looking for a trailer that’s right for you. There are tons of used trailers for sale, but very few will be perfect for your specific style of traveling.
If you have decided to buy a used trailer, there are lots of checks you must do to make sure it works correctly and as advertised. You don’t want to get ripped off. Instead of just looking through the trailer, ask the owner to run the appliances for a whole night so you can see how it will be when you’re actually traveling.
1) Check for water leaks. The last thing you want to do is buy a leaky trailer. And water leaks are easy to cover up. Make sure to check all possible places for a leak – the cabinets, walls, outside, etc. Also, test the black, gray, and fresh water systems to make sure they work perfectly. A trailer with water damage is worth much less, and can lead to problems with the trailer. Definitely make sure the trailer has no water damage.
2) Wheels and tires. Make sure the tires are new and in working condition. Also make sure the wheels and the whole system works. Test drive the trailer before you buy it. Make sure it runs properly, all the lights work, etc.
3) Appliances and interior. Test all the appliances and use them like you actually will. If the trailer has carpet, check the condition of that, and consider whether you’ll replace it. If it’s flooring, make sure that’s in good order too.
4) Weight and towing. Be absolutely sure that your tow vehicle can tow the trailer comfortably. I recommend test driving the trailer with your tow vehicle. It’s not enough to just see if the trailer weighs less than your towing capacity. You have to account for the hitch, which weighs a significant amount, and the things inside the trailer, which also add a lot of weight. Also check the hitch and see if it’s reliable and working – a hitch is one of the most important elements of a trailer. If you don’t have a good one, it can be very dangerous. Read online about hitch requirements and weight limits – don’t just ask the person selling it to you. Make sure it’s a safe rig.
5) Furniture. Tables and chairs, beds, and couches – make sure everything is in good condition. This is pretty simple, but you’ll be spending a lot of time sleeping and eating, so you want to have a good place to do it.
6) Electrical. Make sure all the wiring is safe and working, and all the lights and electrical stuff works.
Buying a used travel trailer can save you money, but you have to make sure it’s a good purchase. If you do find a good used travel trailer, great! For more tips, check Best Travel Trailers.
