11 Tips to Help You Price a Vintage Camper Trailer

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Let’s face it vintage trailers and campers are quite popular these days. They are so popular that it’s not unusual to see some that are over priced either by a little or a lot. We all know that supply and demand play a role in pricing for just about anything, however sometimes that doesn’t make it easy when deciding how to price a trailer.

Here are some considerations:

1. Is it in original condition?
If it’s not then you are focused on the buyers that don’t mind painted interior walls. Painted interior walls can have an impact on the selling price. It’s important that the paint is not hiding damage. If the interior was original when you got it and you opted to paint it, providing photos of the original condition can be helpful to show that it was in good shape before it was painted.

2. Has it been restored?
There is a difference between ground up restoration (tearing it down to the trailer frame) and renovating. If it’s a ground up restoration that is done well and made to look like the original, then it will command a higher price. Although it doesn’t have to be restored to sell for a great price as I’ve seen many trailers in original, unmolested condition that are in amazing condition fetch big bucks. However, many sellers use the word “restored” when the trailer was actual “renovated”. Renovated means the trailer has had some improvements made to it such as new flooring installed, new paint, perhaps a panel or two of rotted wood paneling replaced, etc., but it was not torn down to the frame and rebuilt from scratch. So be very mindful not to use the word “Restored” unless it actually was a ground up restoration.

3. How big is the trailer?
Smaller trailers command more money generally. A good majority of buyers these days want small, easy to tow trailers. Women in particular like small, cute trailers. That being said, there is a market for the larger trailers. Some people simply want more room. Or they have a growing family and need the extra space. However, you may have to be a bit more patient finding a buyer if you are selling a larger trailer. Larger trailers require different equipment to tow them as they are heavier and longer. Many require a anti-sway and weight distribution hitch. Here is my breakdown of trailer sizes:

SMALL: 7′-18′ {tiny teardrop trailers are included}
MEDIUM: 19′ – 25′
LARGE: 26′- 35′
EXTRA LARGE: 36′ and above

4. Is the exterior in good condition?
If the skin is significantly damaged then that will impact the price. If the roof has layers and layers of cracked sealer on it or even worse, black tar, then that will impact the price as well. Many times some minor imperfections such as a small ding or scrape can be overlooked as many of the old vintage campers and trailers have love bumps here and there.

5. What is the exterior paint like?
If you have a trailer that has a mural painted on the entire exterior or if you did your own designs on it, then you have to keep in mind that not everyone is going to have the same taste. A lot of “Glamping” trailers have exteriors that are painted in fun, whimsical and bold designs. There isn’t a thing wrong with that except it may shrink the number of potential buyers when it comes time to sell it simply because they may not have the same taste as you.

6. Does it have a title?
Vintage campers without titles can have an impact on the final selling price. Why? Well, because in some states it’s a real hassle to get a non-titled trailer titled and some would be buyers just don’t want the hassle. If your trailer does not have a title, I highly recommend you go through the process of obtaining one in your name before trying to sell the trailer.

7. How old is the trailer?
There are some cases where the older the trailer is, the more valuable it is. This isn’t always the case but there are buyers such as collectors that only seek out very old trailers. Vintage trailers from the 1930’s – 1960’s seems to the most popular as far as the era.

8. Is it a rare or a common trailer?
If a trailer is truly rare, meaning only a handful are actually still in existence then it may bring a higher price and sometimes regardless of the trailer’s overall condition. But this really comes down to the type of trailer it is. There are some where only a few exist and while they may be rare, they aren’t as desirable. This may be true for handmade or homemade trailers. On the other hand if it’s a fairly common trailer that you see come up for sale often that can also impact the price. Case in point, the sought after Holiday House trailer is considered rare. However, over the last year there have been 4-5 of them come up for sale. So while it’s still considered rare, I believe there are more out there in existence than people originally thought.

9. Where is the trailer located?
Believe it or not, where the trailer is located can impact the selling price. If it’s out in the boonies in Alaska then of course the buying market just shrunk significantly. If it’s close to a major metropolis then that makes it more accessible to buyers. However, don’t let the location discourage you because many buyers these days will use U-ship to have a trailer shipped to them. You can get a free bid quotes from U-ship and many times it’s cheaper to have the trailer shipped rather than drive such a long distance to pick it up.

10. What is the shape of the trailer? (ie; Canned Ham, Bread loaf, Square box)
From what I’ve seen, potential buyers are more drawn to the rounded canned ham shaped trailers. Of course there are specific groups that are dedicated to certain brands like Airstreams, Spartan Manor’s, etc., but we are just talking in general terms here. In my experience, the smaller, cute canned ham shaped trailers sell quicker and for more money than the square shaped trailers.

11. What time of year is it?
Vintage trailer prices will generally be higher early Spring before camping season begins and lower in the late Fall and Winter when camping season is done for the year (in some states). In cold winter states many sellers may be anxious to sell before the onset of winter so they don’t have to store the trailer until Spring. If you live in a state where the weather is mild all year then this won’t be as big of a factor and trailer prices will likely be much more consistent.

I hope this gives you some food for thought. Of course, nothing I’ve mentioned above is set in stone and I’m sure others will have varying opinions but these are things I’ve noticed based on my own experience and I’ve seen a lot of different types of trailers for sale, seen how long they were on the market and ultimately what they have sold for.

My best advice is consider the 11 points above and then be realistic in your pricing. You may have a wonderful little trailer that you’ve not only put your heart, sweat and tears into but also thousands of dollars too. Trust me, I have a couple of those myself! At the end of the day though when it comes time to sell the trailer you may not be able to get what you have invested in the trailer back out via the sale. So be realistic.

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