What to Look Out for When Buying a Vintage Trailer
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
Buying a vintage trailer or
RV
can be a tricky process. For one, it's a large investment of your time and money. You also have to make sure you inspect the vehicle properly so you don't overlook any major issues that can be costly to repair. Finally, you have to get car insurance
for the trailer or RV as you would with any vehicle. If you're planning to buy a vintage trailer or RV, here’s what to keep in mind when you’re shopping around.
Major red flags to look out for when buying a trailer
Buying any kind of used car can be risky if you don’t know what problems to look out for. This can be even more risky if you’re dealing with unverified sellers through sites like Craigslist or eBay.
According to
USA Today
, a reconditioned trailer can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $25,000. This isn’t including any maintenance costs that come with owning an older vehicle, so be sure to choose the vehicle carefully. One major red flag to look out for when you’re shopping for a trailer is water damage. You can expect any small amount of water damage you find to be more significant throughout the trailer. USA Today said that a good rule of thumb is to multiply any damage you can find by 10.
You’ll want to look out for any structural issues like extensive dents or bends throughout the cabin. Many of those in the business of reconditioning trailers are good at covering up problems with wallpaper or paint.
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Make sure to conduct a thorough inspection
No matter where you decide to buy your trailer, make sure you understand how to properly inspect the vehicle. If you're looking to buy a vintage trailer, you can shop on sites such as:
- Craigslist
- Facebook Marketplace
- eBay
- Your local newspaper's classified ads
There are some tips you'll want to keep in mind when you’re inspecting a vehicle. For one, if you know someone who knows trailers or cars, bring them along as a second pair of eyes. Also, remember to bring a flashlight so you can look carefully underneath and throughout the trailer.
If you notice any signs of damage that may be potentially costly to repair, you might want to move on to another vehicle. Overall, you just want to be sure you know what to expect when you factor in any maintenance and repair costs for your trailer.
The type of insurance coverage you need for a trailer
Once you've purchased your thoroughly inspected trailer, you'll have to get trailer insurance for it. This works the same way as car insurance. You can get
liability
, comprehensive
, or collision
coverage. Your trailer might already be covered under your insurance policy, so be sure to double-check before you get additional trailer coverage.In short, if you want an RV or vintage trailer that lasts, make sure to inspect them thoroughly before you buy them. A cheap initial price may seem attractive, but you could be looking at huge repair expenses and time investments to rebuild the vehicle.
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can help you get the best price possible on your trailer or RV insurance. The free AI-powered app helps you compare rates from top insurance companies. Use Jerry to find savings without losing coverage.
