We are Europeans and bought last year a brand new Montana Mountaineer 5th Wheel and a used Ford F-250 truck to travel the US as full timers. Now we have to go back to Europe and wonder what the best way might be to sell both.
Thanks to the Internet, a lot of information can be found on the web, but what I would like to ask you experienced RVers is, how this all works in “real lifeâ€, what to expect, practical advices, etc. Some questions are:
Private buyers and/or dealerships?
I would prefer to close the deal with a private buyer before we leave, but can one find dealerships which would buy used RVs or at least sell them on commission? My (extremely limited) experience with dealers showed me that they usually have one or two brands and want to push sales of their new coaches by all means, and that all the used ones were only accepted as trade-ins when selling a new one to somebody? So they do not focus on used ones parked at the very end of their lots and if they only want to get rid of the used ones for the lowest prices – especially if it is on commission.
Time Frame
We would like to leave in November, so I don’t know if 1 and ½ month is not already way to less time to sell a 5th wheel and a truck (to a private buyer)? What is your practical experience, also taking the formalities into account (see below)?
Formalities
As Europeans a lot of things (like checks, DMV stuff, etc.) are very uncommon to us, so how to sell a coach and making sure to get the money raises some questions. Is a check the common way of getting paid for things like that, I mean for something in the range of 50.000 (coach + truck), and how can I make sure that it will not bounce? Also, I have still a loan on the RV and I assume a buyer would also like to apply for one, how will this complicate and delay things? Will most buyers need a loan, i.e. a loan approval, and how often could this kill a deal or delay things? Should I pay back my loan right now to have the title all in my possession for a smoother take over?
Package deal or not?
Is it easier to sell the 5th wheel and the truck individually or together? Or in other words, if I would have a buyer for my truck, might this jeopardize the sale of the 5th wheel?
Achievable Prices
Coaches vary a lot, and so do their prices when new, and even more when selling used. Mine is a 2007 Montana Mountaineer with 3 slide outs in perfect condition (I mean it). Is there a rule of thumb to say x % off the first year of ownership, or any market prices, etc.?
And will Internet classifieds do it or are there certain printed papers I should go for. How about putting a “for sale†sign on the coach? Anybody positive experience with Ebay?
Alternative solutions
My concern is what if we are leaving and still own the RV and/or the truck. If I would have to put it in a storage, would that not complicate things, like interested people could not see it with the slides out or check and see that everything is working perfectly (air/co, heating, generator, ...)?
Area
We are currently in the Philadelphia, PA, area. Are there places (or dealerships, or campgrounds, or storages) which would make a sale easier, or should we go someplace else (which I definitely would like to avoid)?
Other things to consider?
Any advice is very welcome!
Thank you!
Harry
Thanks to the Internet, a lot of information can be found on the web, but what I would like to ask you experienced RVers is, how this all works in “real lifeâ€, what to expect, practical advices, etc. Some questions are:
Private buyers and/or dealerships?
I would prefer to close the deal with a private buyer before we leave, but can one find dealerships which would buy used RVs or at least sell them on commission? My (extremely limited) experience with dealers showed me that they usually have one or two brands and want to push sales of their new coaches by all means, and that all the used ones were only accepted as trade-ins when selling a new one to somebody? So they do not focus on used ones parked at the very end of their lots and if they only want to get rid of the used ones for the lowest prices – especially if it is on commission.
Time Frame
We would like to leave in November, so I don’t know if 1 and ½ month is not already way to less time to sell a 5th wheel and a truck (to a private buyer)? What is your practical experience, also taking the formalities into account (see below)?
Formalities
As Europeans a lot of things (like checks, DMV stuff, etc.) are very uncommon to us, so how to sell a coach and making sure to get the money raises some questions. Is a check the common way of getting paid for things like that, I mean for something in the range of 50.000 (coach + truck), and how can I make sure that it will not bounce? Also, I have still a loan on the RV and I assume a buyer would also like to apply for one, how will this complicate and delay things? Will most buyers need a loan, i.e. a loan approval, and how often could this kill a deal or delay things? Should I pay back my loan right now to have the title all in my possession for a smoother take over?
Package deal or not?
Is it easier to sell the 5th wheel and the truck individually or together? Or in other words, if I would have a buyer for my truck, might this jeopardize the sale of the 5th wheel?
Achievable Prices
Coaches vary a lot, and so do their prices when new, and even more when selling used. Mine is a 2007 Montana Mountaineer with 3 slide outs in perfect condition (I mean it). Is there a rule of thumb to say x % off the first year of ownership, or any market prices, etc.?
And will Internet classifieds do it or are there certain printed papers I should go for. How about putting a “for sale†sign on the coach? Anybody positive experience with Ebay?
Alternative solutions
My concern is what if we are leaving and still own the RV and/or the truck. If I would have to put it in a storage, would that not complicate things, like interested people could not see it with the slides out or check and see that everything is working perfectly (air/co, heating, generator, ...)?
Area
We are currently in the Philadelphia, PA, area. Are there places (or dealerships, or campgrounds, or storages) which would make a sale easier, or should we go someplace else (which I definitely would like to avoid)?
Other things to consider?
Any advice is very welcome!
Thank you!
Harry
