Pre-owned RV pricing (2025)

[Neal]

So as I scroll through social media avoiding the work I should be doing, I come across a 2017 4018 Dutch Star listing which I think was listed around 215K. I'm shocked that people selling their coaches are listing so low compared to what new coaches cost today. As I've said before, it seems the pre-owned market has not trailed the price increases of the new market. It's baffling. While I'll certainly be looking for pre-owned next time around, I would just offer the sellers out there, stop giving away your coaches! Yeah, I realize the pre-owned market is flooded, but realize when you have something valuable. It's like having a nice house of a nice value and your neighbor is desperate and gives theirs away at a very low price, as actually my neighbor did years ago as they were a military couple relocating that should have never bought in the first place.

Great deals to be had out there, I just wish people would price their RV's better.

 

[Scooterfan]

To add to your observations, I've noticed that those same ads are reflecting price drops. Seems the market for used RV is soft (in my humble opinion). At least that's the trend in our neck of the woods. Blessings

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Agree, Neal! I have some thoughts, too.

I can't give much detail, but I recently had a call from a friend who was extremely upset after a "wholesaler" offered him 30% less than what he paid for his used coach, not even a year ago!

There are a couple high volume dealerships that are commanding the used market prices. They are low-balling, claiming "the market has tanked", only to list them for a "Reduced price"...all the while MAKING A KILLING!

Maybe around 2022, I was really concerned about this "pull up" from the top/"push up" from the bottom effect that started to take place. Newmar started it with the King-Aire for 1.2M, which caused Liberty to jump to 3M, which...dare I say "forced" Newell to reposition in the middle at 2M+.

And, here we are a couple years later, post-COVID hysteria is gone and now the dealers are claiming the USED market it soft. The problem is...guess what? The new market just keeps going up and up.

So, for those who don't want to put themselves into a huge depreciation risk, I know a handful who've said they won't buy new.

One recent example is a friend who bought an incredible 2019 KA for the Mid-$400k!!!! His coach, as he feels, is nearly no different than the newer 1.2M, and now 1.6M KA. And, he tells me that even the newest KA is immediately starting at a 30% off MSRP!

HOWEVER, you are seeing the custom coaches being discounted. So, that leaves a HUGE gap, making the used coach a heckuva lot more attractive, in my humble opinion. Sad to be caught in this tornado that seems out of balance.

 

[Neal]

Took a glance at RVTrader. Within 30 seconds of searching on "Essex" I see:

• 2017 Essex for 305K
• 2009 Marathan H3-45 for 599K
• 2019 Essex 329K
• 2017 Newell 799K

Great deals but also disgusting!

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Crazy prices on new units should be propping up prices on used. We had our coach for sale for a bit, but too many people just want to feel like they can offer 30% less on the used., since they can get 30% off on new.
We don’t play that game, so we decided we are keeping it. New units cost way too much and really don’t want a whole new set of idiosyncrasies to learn and debug.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Crazy prices on new units should be propping up prices on used. We had our coach for sale for a bit, but too many people just want to feel like they can offer 30% less on the used., since they can get 30% off on new.
We don’t play that game, so we decided we are keeping it. New units cost way too much and really don’t want a whole new set of idiosyncrasies to learn and debug.

GOOD FOR YOU!!!
I did the same and, although I probably could have garned a lot more than now, I would have "bitten off" a significantly higher expense to get into a newer coach.

And...folks...let us not forget the bigger elephant in the room...INSURANCE!!!! By jacking these prices up to the stratosphere, insurance companies have doubled or even tripled some rates, or simply tapped out altogether! Some are paying over $20k to insurance their coaches now.

Sure, if you've got funds dripping out of your pockets, you won't care at all. But, man...the industry needs a reality-check!