Buying a trailer or RV is a hefty investment, and you should do your due diligence before making a purchase. Similar to buying a car, information is everything.
It can be confusing when you set out to buy a travel trailer, whether it’s your first or your fourth. Regardless of how much experience you have purchasing recreational vehicles, we hope the information below will help you navigate the process!
Table of Contents
Step 1: Establish Your Price Range
If you’re just looking to buy a small pop up camper that is pre-owned, there isn’t much use in checking out brand new rigs with a price tag in the six figures. Window-shopping can be fun, but it’s important to know what you’re looking for.
Like any type of salesmen, RV salesmen will want to sell their most expensive model. You may have to stand firm in your price range, but it will save you and the salesman quite a bit of time.
Step 2: Explore Your Options
The easiest way to get sucked into a bad deal is to buy the first thing you see. When you walk into a dealership and say you’re “just looking,” you probably won’t make friends with the dealer. But, it’s essential in the buying process.
You may end up buying the first trailer you look at, but it’s better to know for certain it’s the best possible option.
Once you have established your price range, you will have a much better idea of what model of the trailer is going to work best for you. From there, you can browse online or check out brick and mortar stores.
Step 3: Do Your Research
Once you have a better idea of what brand and model you would like, it’s smart to get a better idea of what it’s like to own that trailer.
Watch a few videos on YouTube, read some customer reviews, or ask a friend who has owned it. This will give you some valuable insight into the product before you make the purchase!
Step 4: Seal the Deal
After you have established your budget, browsed models, and decided on which trailer you want, it’s time to make a purchase. You aren’t going to want to pay the sticker price, so you are going to have to break out your negotiation skills here.
Some people will tell you “get at least 20% off the MSRP” or 15% or 25%. The truth is, there is no set amount that you should get discounted. It’s all about how you approach the deal, and when you buy.
Best Time to Buy
So when is the best time to buy a travel trailer? Here, again, you are going to get some conflicting information. Intuitively, you would like to make a purchase when sales are slow so companies will be desperate to make some cash. But, that’s not always the best case.
You will also be told that it’s best to buy right before a new model is coming out, so dealers are going to want to get rid of all the old models. There is no perfect formula, but you will still be able to get a good deal with a little patience.
Our Recommendation
After a thorough investigation of other RV buyers’ experiences, it seems that the best way to buy is by combining everything we have mentioned above. No matter what time of year it is, you will almost always be able to find a good deal if you have followed the right steps before purchase.
Knowing what you want and doing some price shopping will save you thousands. Always make sure the dealer provides you with the MSRP from the manufacturer, and then work from there.
If you have done all of your research but still want to pick the optimal time to make your purchase, winter is probably going to be your best bet. October or November are prime months to purchase because old models will start to pile up and clog dealers’ inventory.
People will be selling their old campers in hope of buying new campers when the weather warms up. If you are in the market for a used RV, you will be in luck. But, if you are searching for a new trailer, you should be well off too.
Aside from the increased inventory, dealers will make you a good deal during new model clearance events. The new models will be coming out as the snow starts to melt, just reinforcing winter as the ideal time to buy.
Knowledge is Power
This adage holds especially true for purchasing a travel trailer. No salesman will be able to catch you off guard if you have done your research before making a purchase. Knowing your price range, then going from there, is the best way to start. You can start narrowing down brands and models and eventually find the perfect fit for your needs.
You should be able to get a good deal any time of year if you do this! But, all things considered, in terms of the best time to buy a travel trailer, you are better off purchasing in the winter months. Dealers will be desperate to move inventory and free up some space for new models.
Summary: Best Time to Buy a Travel Trailer
If we left out any tips that have saved you a fortune on a travel trailer purchase, contact us and let us know. We hope you can apply your knowledge and get a great deal on your next RV! Good luck!
We would like to thank you for reading this article. Find out more about the List of Travel Trailers.
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