RV Mods - RV Guides - RV Tips | DoItYourselfRV

  • Builds
  • Guides
  • Gear
  • Mods
  • Travel
  • Vintage
  • Shop
  • More
    • About Us
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Submit Content
    • Rent an RV
    • Disclosure
    • DMCA
    • Privacy Policy
  • Videos
  • Search
Living in a van full-time

Full-Time Van Dweller Shares His Stories Of Interactions With The Police

1990 Thomas School Bus Tiny House With Wood Burning Stove

4 Free (Or Cheap) Ways To Find Books When You’re On The Road

Honeymoon tiny house

Trekker Trailers Made This Trailer Based Tiny House With A Bathtub Inside

Young Couple Destroy & Rebuild A Serro Scotty Sportsman Camper

Discover The Best Way To Dump Your RV Tanks With The Sewer Solution

Indexed: new RVs, RV, RV value, tips, used RVs, value of RV

5 Things Making Your RV Lose Value

Nikki Cleveland

By Nikki Cleveland Quick Tips, RV Repairs

You spent a lot on your motorhome or trailer, so why not make sure it stays in good shape? These are the things that depreciate RV value the most.
216
SHARES
23593
VIEWS
ShareTweet

Just like with any vehicle, RVs lose value over time. There are, however, some factors that are more controllable than others that will keep your rig from depreciating in value as quickly.

RV value

1992 Dodge Ram 350 LE. Photo by RL GNZLZ/Flickr

1. Your RV’s age

Older motorhomes and trailers just aren’t worth as much as the sparkly new 2018 and 2019 models. According to Camper Report, 5 years is the plateau point at which the steep depreciation of the first few years levels off significantly.

Sadly, age isn’t something you can do much about, but you can do regular preventative maintenance to keep your rig in as good of shape as possible.

2. All those miles

An RV with only 20,000 miles on it will usually have a higher value than one of the same year with 200,000 miles.

On the other hand, mileage only plays a small part in depreciating RV value because so many other things can go wrong with it. The RV with only 20,000 miles may have been on the road less, but it could also have some major water damage.

RV

Mileage can take its toll on your rig. Photo taken in Iceland by Luc Coekaerts/Flickr

If you do want to cut down on miles, consider staying in each location you visit for longer. Many RV parks offer weekly and even monthly rates, giving you more time to get comfortable and fully explore everything in the area. You could also look out for workkamping opportunities if you plan on staying put for a little while.

3. Being brand new

They say that you lose about 21% of your new RV’s value as soon as you drive it off the lot.  A used RV will also lose value with age and mileage, but not nearly as drastically as a new rig. Check out this post for more insight on why you should never buy an RV brand new.

You lose value on your RV as soon as you drive it off the lot. Photo via Coates RV Center on Twitter

You lose value on your RV as soon as you drive it off the lot. Photo via Coates RV Center on Twitter

4. Leaks & water damage

Leaks can be detrimental to your RV and its value. They’ll cause stains, delamination, dark colored wood, and bumps or bubbles in the paneling. The good news is that with a bit of maintenance, you can prevent leaks and the potentially expensive damage.

It’s a great idea to seal all of your RV’s seals with Dicor RV Lap Sealant. This sealant is longer lasting than silicone caulk for your exterior seams and can be used on windows, the roof, walls, trim, vent, and light fixtures.

Take a look over this post from RV LIFE for more tips on how to find and prevent leaks.

Water damage caused by an emergency seal leak. Photo by Waiter21 on iRV2 Forums

Water damage caused by an emergency seal leak. Photo by Waiter21 on iRV2 Forums

5. Improper storage

Don’t let your RV rot away over the winter! If you’re not a full-timer, make sure you store your RV properly during the off-season to keep it in good condition. Leaving your RV outside will expose it to damaging UV rays, bad weather, and critters may even find their way in.

It’s a good idea to cover your RV, keep it under an RV port or garage, or pay for it to stay in storage over the winter. Keep in mind that a regular blue tarp should never be used on RVs as they cannot breathe properly and they allow moisture to build up in your rig.

1969 Trotwood Travel Trailer. Photo by sub35089 on Wikipedia

A vintage 1969 Trotwood Travel Trailer. Photo by sub35089 on Wikipedia

See also: What To Look For When Buying A Used RV

216
SHARES
23593
VIEWS
ShareTweet

Comments

  1. AvatarKeith Pickering says

    3 January, 2019 at 8:30 PM

    My wife and I are considering selling our 37 foot Neptune Diesel pusher either on line ourselves or through a consignment. we have enjoyed it about 80,00 miles worth and would like to see it go to a good home.

    Thoughts?

  2. AvatarCharles T Johnson says

    3 January, 2019 at 5:20 PM

    Donna I agree with you. I have bad knees and my wife has a fear of heights making climbing a thing of great concern. Why don’t someone open RV storage nits and on that note have RV wash/wax services.

  3. AvatarBob Maison says

    24 December, 2018 at 8:03 AM

    Do you know why I can’t open the small articles with my iPad? When I click on the words they get underlined but that’s all. They don’t even attempt to open.

Search

This Couple Sold Everything And Found Happiness In A Converted Utility Trailer

This Lightweight Trailer Was Built With Free Salvaged Parts

Wine-glass1

Classy Wine Glass Lamps Made From Vellum Or Tracing Paper

e reader for rvs

Top 12 Gadgets for Fun and Functional Full-Time RVing

RVing UFC fighter

This Ferocious UFC Fighter Lives In A 44 Foot Motorhome

This Luxuriously High-Tech RV Will Blow Your Mind

4 Must-See Sights of Jasper National Park In Alberta, Canada

lost-coast-road-2

Find Peace & Quiet On California’s Lost Coast

RSS RV Mods – RV Guides – RV Tips | DoItYourselfRV

  • DIY Solar Power: How Much Do You Need?
  • What You Need To Know About Visiting Disney World
  • Search Online for RV-Friendly Rural Lots

RSS Boating Information and Entertainment | BoatBible

  • This Crazy Fast Homemade Speed Boat Will Astonish You
  • This Aging And Poorly-Kept Pontoon Boat Got A Fabulous DIY Upgrade
  • Pond King Mini Pontoon Boat Fits In The Back Of A Pickup Truck

RSS CampZing

  • Here’s How You Can Safely Change The Color of Your Campfire
  • 7 Simple Camping Hacks That Might Just Save Your Life
  • This Inflatable Solar Powered Camping Lantern Takes Up Almost Zero Space

RSS Unpack | DoItYourselfRV

  • Magnetic 100 Minute Timer For Easy RV Cooking
  • Manual Solar Panel Positioner
  • Custom Made Tent For Prius Car

RSS Small Homes | Simple Living | SnugShack

  • This Hobbit Hole Tiny House Will Make You Want To Squeeze Right In
  • Charming Cottage Built By Couple With Own Hands Over 6 Years
  • This Tiny Chapel Puts A Whole New Spin On Small Weddings

Copyright © 2019 · DIYRV on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Logo Mobile Logo
216
SHARES
23593
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterGooglePinterest