How to determine value?

[BambiBirder]

Due to husband’s health issues I need to sell my 2005 16ft Bambi CCD. It was well loved and has the wear and tear you would expect for a 20 year old trailer although no major issues. It has the wrap around back window and electric jack that came with that model.

My question is how to go about determining value? Prices vary based on condition but can someone help me at least get a ballpark idea so I don’t get completely ripped off?

My husband did take it in to a dealership in May and got several things repaired and I asked them to do a 200 point inspection so I do have that.

What would you yourself pay?

[AlbertF]

Originally Posted by BambiBirder

Due to husband’s health issues I need to sell my 2005 16ft Bambi CCD. It was well loved and has the wear and tear you would expect for a 20 year old trailer although no major issues. It has the wrap around back window and electric jack that came with that model.

My question is how to go about determining value? Prices vary based on condition but can someone help me at least get a ballpark idea so I don’t get completely ripped off?

My husband did take it in to a dealership in May and got several things repaired and I asked them to do a 200 point inspection so I do have that.

What would you yourself pay?

Here's one guide:https://www.jdpower.com/rvs/2005/air...4081866/values. It shows a retail value of $17.7k for an International 16, which I believe is the same as the CCD.

There are very few 16s in this age range for sale. I found one (a CCD like
yours) that had been advertised as "well-loved" for $20,000 in 20023.

8 to 10 year old 16s are going for about $30k. These are not CCDs, so they are more basic, but it's like selling a used luxury car; the buyer of an older trailer is not as focused on bells and whistles but overall utility and comfort.

Of course, the final price depends very much on condition, time of year, and finding the right buyer.

[Hans627]

I would use the Classified section on this forum or other RV websites to see what like models are selling for. Of course it depends on how motivated you are to sell.

Here is a 2008 16' model from the classified section. It might give some information for comparison.
https://www.airstreamclassifieds.com...16-ohio-372207

[BambiBirder]

Thank you all for the advice. I’m pretty motivated to sell since I’m paying storage fees and insurance. I do love this little trailer but it’s time to say goodbye.

Maybe I’ll just throw out a number and see if I get any bites.

[kb0zke]

Take a look at Airstream marketplace and rvtrader. Between those two you ought to find at least a couple or three that come close to yours. Remember that most buyers will expect you to come down a bit, so don't start too low.

[JeffKim]

Bummer, sorry you have to sell. We had a 16' Bambi before our 25' GT and she was very special, alas we had to move on. We sold her a couple years ago starting about this time of year. It took a few months.

I think the valuation advice given here is sound. You'll need to verse yourself in the tips for selling a used trailer, but mostly it's a lot of common sense. Empty everything out and get rid of any extra decorations, etc. that you have. Most people want to make it their own and the less clutter the better. Make sure it's clean from top to bottom and get as many blemishes out as possible.

Take a ton of pictures and post them. Our eventual buyers were from one state away and we did a remote video tour with them so they were sure they knew what they were getting before committing.

We listed for free here and for a fee in Airstream Marketplace, and in Facebook (it was cheap). In the end it was the Facebook listing that our buyers saw. So, try to get as much exposure as possible. However, RV Trader is expensive and I think it gets lost with all the other RVs - we didn't list there. You're on the cusp of the spring buying season, but it might take a couple months. We talked to an Airstream dealer and they were ridiculously low on their offer. I guess they have to make money but it was sort of an insult.

Best of luck and keep in mind there's a lot of people here to help if you have any questions or maybe get a critique of an advertisement.

[field & stream]

Without knowing the condition it is only possible to speak in generalities. I own a 2007 version of the same trailer, and have paid attention to pricing over the last several years.

First: do not be influenced by the price of other 16’ Airstreams that are NOT the International CCD version with the double panoramic windows. They might be half the value. (Also, the 2008 that is currently on Airstream Classifieds has been extensively and, in my opinion, badly modified inside which should really hurt its value.)

My opinion: In the buying frenzy a few years ago if it was in very good condition you might have gotten $35K. Now it’s a selling frenzy and prices have dropped significantly. If it is in very good condition, I think a fair selling price this Spring is in the high 20’s.

[rodsterinfl]

I believe it is quite difficult to compare trailers for value. I know that I have watched over the years on my own model and even looked at the ads for 2005-2007 ones like mine. The pics almost always show a never updated or upgraded model with original older everything and they were asking a particular price.

Some have looked like new and others, not so much. It is true that a "such and such year model" will fetch a similar ballpark price but then, there are other factors to consider. I spent as much upgrading my Airstream as I did buying it. I do not expect to recover all of that but I do believe it will help it to retain value. The features and limited age of the appliances alone make it a worthy challenger to other used models. Hey, my custom "classic model" ultra leather couch is really comfortable- nothing like the OEM springs in your rear sofa!

Like others have pointed out. There are the generic 16' models and then there is yours, a CCD.

[trailerKat]

Search for "Airstream appraisal" and you should be able to find some suggestions for qualified people in your area.

[Bubba L]

We had both our Airstreams appraised by Jim Polk of Polk Associates in California. We contacted him and he told us what he needed in the way of documentation to receive an accurate appraisal. We paid a small fee for the appraisal, but it was worth it. Good luck

[BambiBirder]

Thank you all so much! Of course I think this little trailer is special and I have an irrational emotional attachment to it because we had the best times of our life traveling to 43 national parks with it, but it’s also 20 years old so I’m not blind to that fact. My non-Airstream friends are like “just get over it, it’s an old trailer”. Ugh.

I want whoever gets it to love it and keep using it, not turn it into a food trailer. I know I shouldn’t care but I do.

[overlander64]

Greetings BambiBirder!

Originally Posted by BambiBirder

Thank you all so much! Of course I think this little trailer is special and I have an irrational emotional attachment to it because we had the best times of our life traveling to 43 national parks with it, but it’s also 20 years old so I’m not blind to that fact. My non-Airstream friends are like “just get over it, it’s an old trailer”. Ugh.

I want whoever gets it to love it and keep using it, not turn it into a food trailer. I know I shouldn’t care but I do.

Don't rush to diminish the value of your loved, well-maintained, 20-year old Airstream Bambi CCD. As others have said, research values, then price with an eye toward being able to adjust in negotiations when you find a serious buyer. Also keep in mind that your Bambi is approaching that magic age where its torsion axle will need replacement due to age if not wear so prospective customers may very well bring that up as a negotiating point so you may want to be prepared for that -- I don't know whether Dexter considers 20 or 25 years to be the average life expectancy for its torsion axles.


I purchased my 1964 Overlander Land Yacht Overlander International as a 31 Year old trailer in 1995. It was in excellent overall condition in the hands of its second owners with the knowledge that both its first and second owners had used it regularly and maintained it regularly. It was camp ready and I had few repairs to make over the first three years as its Henschen axles had been rebuilt at the Henschen factory a few years before I purchased it. I paid within a few hundred dollars of what the original purchasers paid when it was brand new in 1964, but at 31 years of age it had already become eligible for membership in the Vintage Airstream Club; and it had a floor plan that Airstream no longer offered in its new 25' to 27' trailers in 1995 as that was what I had intended to purchase.


Good luck with your sale!


Kevin

[BambiBirder]

Originally Posted by overlander64

Greetings BambiBirder!





Don't rush to diminish the value of your loved, well-maintained, 20-year old Airstream Bambi CCD. As others have said, research values, then price with an eye toward being able to adjust in negotiations when you find a serious buyer. Also keep in mind that your Bambi is approaching that magic age where its torsion axle will need replacement due to age if not wear so prospective customers may very well bring that up as a negotiating point so you may want to be prepared for that -- I don't know whether Dexter considers 20 or 25 years to be the average life expectancy for its torsion axles.


I purchased my 1964 Overlander Land Yacht Overlander International as a 31 Year old trailer in 1995. It was in excellent overall condition in the hands of its second owners with the knowledge that both its first and second owners had used it regularly and maintained it regularly. It was camp ready and I had few repairs to make over the first three years as its Henschen axles had been rebuilt at the Henschen factory a few years before I purchased it. I paid within a few hundred dollars of what the original purchasers paid when it was brand new in 1964, but at 31 years of age it had already become eligible for membership in the Vintage Airstream Club; and it had a floor plan that Airstream no longer offered in its new 25' to 27' trailers in 1995 as that was what I had intended to purchase.


Good luck with your sale!


Kevin

You are spot on about the axle. It actually broke a few years ago outside Sequoia NP. No warning just a grinding noise and the sound of me yelling “we lost a wheel!!!” as I watched it sail towards a house. Luckily the wheel was stopped by a row of tall shrubs otherwise it would have been even more of a nightmare than it was.

After waiting 9 hours on the side of the road and paying the only towing company that would come near us $2,000 the trailer was taken to a town where the axle was eventually replaced. It took 3 months. We had to leave our truck at a friend’s house several hours away and fly home.

I have to hand it to the two guys who showed up and loaded the Bambi onto a very long flatbed trailer. It was pitch black no lights around, the road was very windy so they had trouble turning around and there was traffic. They used a forklift and got it loaded with no additional damage.

The guy who’s house almost got smashed by the wheel actually came out and gave us a bottle of wine because he felt sorry for us.

[mb-austin]

I am searching for a relatively new Globetrotter 27 FBQ and noted that the JD Powers is showing lower than expected ‘average retail’ as compared to other models and other years. The Globetrotter was also showing average retail less than the International. Ignoring hatch models, the Globetrotter has a higher suggested list, but a lower average retail. In 2021, the balance appears to be restored.

The Globetrotter model was reintroduced in 2018 after a gap of many years. Can someone help me understand what may explain the differences in the lower retails for the 2018 thru 2020 years? My information is based on Central Texas zip code.

I am comparing Suggested list with the average retail as a percentage and noted the following (rounded off decimals) when compared to International (Serenity except for 2021).
2018: 28% vs 16% hmmm...
2019: 26% vs 14%
2020: 23% vs 8% (? Seems low for the International serenity)
2021: 18% vs 18% <- This seems reasonable comparison between models.
2022 and above showing similar comparisons.

Thanks,
Mike

Sample link for 2019: https://www.jdpower.com/rvs/2019/air...-queen/6583215

[mb-austin]

Originally Posted by mb-austin

I am searching for a relatively new Globetrotter 27 FBQ and noted that the JD Powers is showing lower than expected ‘average retail’ as compared to other models and other years. The Globetrotter was also showing average retail less than the International. Ignoring hatch models, the Globetrotter has a higher suggested list, but a lower average retail. In 2021, the balance appears to be restored.

The Globetrotter model was reintroduced in 2018 after a gap of many years. Can someone help me understand what may explain the differences in the lower retails for the 2018 thru 2020 years? My information is based on Central Texas zip code.

I am comparing Suggested list with the average retail as a percentage and noted the following (rounded off decimals) when compared to International (Serenity except for 2021).
2018: 28% vs 16% hmmm...
2019: 26% vs 14%
2020: 23% vs 8% (? Seems low for the International serenity)
2021: 18% vs 18% <- This seems reasonable comparison between models.
2022 and above showing similar comparisons.

Thanks,
Mike

Sample link for 2019: https://www.jdpower.com/rvs/2019/air...-queen/6583215

Oops, did not mean to post as reply, and have yet to figure out how to delete. Please ignore post.

[JeffKim]

Originally Posted by mb-austin

I am searching for a relatively new Globetrotter 27 FBQ and noted that the JD Powers is showing lower than expected ‘average retail’ as compared to other models and other years. The Globetrotter was also showing average retail less than the International. Ignoring hatch models, the Globetrotter has a higher suggested list, but a lower average retail. In 2021, the balance appears to be restored.

The Globetrotter model was reintroduced in 2018 after a gap of many years. Can someone help me understand what may explain the differences in the lower retails for the 2018 thru 2020 years? My information is based on Central Texas zip code.

I am comparing Suggested list with the average retail as a percentage and noted the following (rounded off decimals) when compared to International (Serenity except for 2021).
2018: 28% vs 16% hmmm...
2019: 26% vs 14%
2020: 23% vs 8% (? Seems low for the International serenity)
2021: 18% vs 18% <- This seems reasonable comparison between models.
2022 and above showing similar comparisons.

Thanks,
Mike

Sample link for 2019: https://www.jdpower.com/rvs/2019/air...-queen/6583215

Just speculation, but the 23' Globetrotter was dropped in 2023, maybe it was a less desirable model and it pulls down the averages compared to the International.

We have a 2023 25FBT and looked at the International, but preferred the cabinets and the other upgrades with the GT. It doesn't come with a rear hatch option, if that is important. We also love the twins.

We ended up buying new, but looked at used. The composite floor was introduced in all 2021 models, so that year and newer was all we looked at. Maybe not a big deal but floor rot is one less thing to worry about.

[Daquenzer]

If you are looking for a quick sale I suggest selling it directly to a dealer or possibly putting it on consignment.