Do you Know What Your Vintage Trailer Is Worth?

What is your trailer worth? The easy answer is “what someone is willing to pay for it.”
​The other part of the equation is “what would it take for you to part with it?” If you are concerned with the value of your trailer, you may be wanting to sell it, or insure it. If you are insuring your trailer you will probably need a professional appraisal to meet the needs of the insurer. If we are selling a trailer for ourselves or on consignment, here are things we consider to assist us in coming up with an asking price...

Trailers sold on the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine online classifieds.

“I have this really RARE trailer, so it’s worth a lot!”
We collect pre-1969 trailers. They are all over 50 years old and most all of the manufacturers are long out of business. They are ALL rare. They all have value, but rarity does not automatically make something more valuable. More important that a coach be desirable year, make, model, style etc., that many people want. A “rare”, one-of-a-kind trailer, has much less value if no one wants it. (Museum pieces that are not really useable have such a limited market that they sometimes do not bring as much as you would think they may.)

Supply and Demand
Definition: the amount of goods and services that are available for people to buy compared to the amount of goods and services that people want to buy. If less of a product than the public wants is produced, more can be charged for the product.

More than any other factor, the market dictates the price. With a limited supply, and a growing demand, vintage trailer values have risen. There is no trailer “bluebook” to reference for vintage trailer values. Social media can lead you astray if you read the comments by opinionated but uneducated commentators that think they know the value of someone else's trailer having only seen a few photos and reading a brief description. If you want to know the value, get an appraisel.​

Buyers tend to be attracted to shiny aluminum, light blue and pink trailers.

2 important factors that determine a trailer's value:

1. CONDITION: Restored, refurbished and even just campable or “useable” trailers can have considerably more value than a trailer needing a lot of work. Restoring trailers can be expensive and time consuming. Buyers are more willing to pay for something that needs less work or that they can use "as-is" and personalize it.

​2. LOCATION: Where the trailer is located can affect the value. If you are in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas or Florida your trailer may have more value than if your are located remotely or in areas where there are not as many people in the hobby.

​10 Things That Impact the Value of a Vintage Trailer:

1. Most buyers are looking for smaller trailers under 16’. Larger trailers, over 28’ have a more limited pool of buyers.
2. A bathroom (toilet/shower) add a great deal of value for most buyers.
3. Recognized brands like Airstream, Shasta and Spartan can be more valuable because they are names that even first-time buyers know.
4. A “stylized” or “themed” trailer will appeal to fewer potential buyers and may reduce the selling price. Traditional or original style builds tend to appeal to more people.
5. Buyers tend to be attracted to shiny aluminum, light blue and pink trailers.
6. The original look of amber wood interiors is a big draw for buyers.  A painted interior can brighten the space and be a good solution for a quick fix, but may not appeal to some potential buyers. 
7. Rounder, (canned ham) styles tend to be more popular than “boxier” models. 
8. More windows, more value. Holiday Houses and Trolley Tops are good examples.
9. Newer trailers (1970 and later) are worth less than the earlier models. These trailers can be a great option for those new to the hobby and can be a good value with more amenities like AC. 
10. Title status impacts the value of a trailer if the registration is delinquent and there are back-fees. If there is no title, the number of potential buyers, that are willing to take care of that paperwork on their own, will be smaller.

Buying or Selling? click here

If you are selling a trailer, and trying to come up with an asking price, start with what would you like to get for it? What do you have invested in time and materials? How quickly do you want (or need) to sell it? Look on-line and see what similar trailers are listed for in your area. The price you will see posted on-line is the asking price, not necessarily the selling price. Trailers posted for sale for a long time, or repeatedly on Craigslist, are likely overpriced (or they would have sold).  If your trailer is in great condition, start at a higher price and see what kind of response you get. If it doesn’t move, you can always lower your asking price. Be careful not to price it so high that you get no calls because buyers think the price is ridiculous. My goal is NOT to price a trailer so the phone rings off the hook. I want to get calls from a handful of qualified buyers (that appreciate the value) and sell it to one of them. If I can do that, I know I have sold it for what I wanted to get, and the buyer got it for what they were willing to pay. 

An added note: A picture is worth a thousand dollars (and maybe more.) Clear, bright photos that show the trailer from all corners and "open up" the interior can make or break the sale of a trailer. They can  be the difference in how quickly, and for how much, a trailer sells for. This is the subject of another blog, stay tuned.

Enlighten me with your thoughts in the comments below.

By Paul Lacitinola
​Publisher of the VCT Magazine and the VCT Online Classifieds