Prices seem to be up lately

[perryg114]

I have been checking local adds like craigs list and ebay prices and they seem to be a lot higher than they were a couple months ago and there seem to be less of them. I would think that approaching winter that RV prices would tank. Maybe it is because of hunting season increasing demand. So would the best time to look for used trailers be in Jan-Feb time frame when folks are needing cash to recover from Christmas spending?

Perry

[Florida 55]

When searching for my used Airstream I found that sellers were very negotiable on price points. It seems the philosophy is to price high and be prepared to discount. I suggest offering what the trailer is worth to you, even if you perceive the seller might be offended. I found in many cases the seller calls back a few days after rejecting the initial offer. Some sellers will quickly come down 25% to 30%. Others are relatively firm but most will discount at least 10% for a serious cash buyer.

If you can't negotiate the price you want for the trailer you want, wait a few weeks. New trailers come on the market every week. Many of us looked for over a year before buying our used vehicle. If you are patient and persistent you will find a great trailer at a good price. In this depressed economy there is no reason to overpay. No matter the price, make sure you inspect it well before buying. A 20% discount is no bargain if you have to put thousands of dollars into it before it is usable.

[Bill M.]

I do not think the Airstream market is driven by seasonal needs all that much.

[FreshAir]

Our Trade Wind cost us more than it should, 'If I only knew what to look for....' but I too had looked for a long time and I knew that perhaps I was paying a little more than necessary. That was over 5 years ago and now it's 'priceless'. No major structual problems other than a small amount of floor rot and a cracked black tank was soon apparent. All the other replacements were expected for a 45 year old unit. It's a keeper.
Neil

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Our Trade Wind cost us more than it should, 'If I only knew what to look for....' but I too had looked for a long time and I knew that perhaps I was paying a little more than necessary. That was over 5 years ago and now it's 'priceless'. No major structual problems other than a small amount of floor rot and a cracked black tank was soon apparent. All the other replacements were expected for a 45 year old unit. It's a keeper.
Neil

Good looking rig.

Plastic holding tanks, both black and fresh water, of yesteryear, are showing a noticeable failure rate due to cracking.

Fortunately, plastic and sometimes fiberglass replacements, are available most of the time, from various sources.

Andy

[Lothlorian]

I have been checking the prices on craiglist here in Georgia and yep they are up. I checked in Phoenix and noticed they had some good deals on Airstreams and old Spartans.

After this 1960 is finished I will probably go for a third but I will be possibly looking in the 1980's

Brian

[Lothlorian]

Fresh Air:

Your trailer from the rear looks like my 1960. I am so ready to get it finished. I like the tow vehicle. It looks like a buick. I have been looking for car similar for a second tow vehicle. I really like the car.

Brian

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Good looking rig.

Plastic holding tanks, both black and fresh water, of yesteryear, are showing a noticeable failure rate due to cracking.

Fortunately, plastic and sometimes fiberglass replacements, are available most of the time, from various sources.

Andy

Andy, our new black tank came from you....
Neil

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Lothlorian

Fresh Air:

Your trailer from the rear looks like my 1960. I am so ready to get it finished. I like the tow vehicle. It looks like a buick. I have been looking for car similar for a second tow vehicle. I really like the car.

Brian

Yup, it's a Buick....1971 Centurion. It's 455 tows like there's nothing attached to it.
Neil

[slowmover]

Many units seem to take from months to years to sell (and I don't search for Airstreams, but Avion, Streamline & Silver Streak) and some folks pull their units off market till next season (April - September). Others, who are not in a hurry, can hold out for the price they think fair. There are a couple of examples I've seen that have been for sale for more than three years.

All in all these trailers are worth more than they were 10-years ago as Craigslist and other Net sources deliver a much larger audience. And, good comparisons for the seller to price his unit against.

When it comes to Airstream (dime-a-dozen in quantity) it comes to model popularity [size] according to some other threads on this subject.

And vintage vintage, pre-1970, is in a world of it's own. Then rarity factors in as one backs towards 1960 and earlier.