The Pros And Cons Of Buying Used Fifth Wheels

1 February 2017
 Categories: Automotive, Blog


There are a number of reasons why you may be looking to buy a fifth wheel, otherwise known as a towable RV or travel trailer. These are the RVs that you attach to the back of your truck and haul yourself, which is how they got the fifth wheel name. You may be looking to use one on your vacations or you may be looking to sell your home and travel the country in one. Regardless, when it comes time to buy, you have one big decision to make. You have to decide whether to buy a brand new one or purchase a used one. There are pros and cons to both decisions and taking the time to learn about these pros and cons will help you make the right decision for you. Here are some of the pros and cons of buying used fifth wheels.

Cons of Buying Used Fifth Wheels

  • You Can't Pick the Elements Inside the RV

One of the biggest downsides to buying a used fifth wheel is that you can't pick your interior options yourself. When you buy a new RV, you can pick the color of the cabinets, flooring and furniture options. When you buy a used RV, you are buying the RV with the elements and design style that someone else has selected. If you have a specific vision for how you want the inside of your fifth wheel to look, you may be better off buying new.

  • You Don't Know the Full Vehicle History

The other disadvantage to buying a used fifth wheel is that you don't know the full history of the used vehicle. While you can run vehicle history reports on RVs, just like with cars, not everything will show up. There may be accidents that were not reported. And you do not always know if the owner kept up with maintenance or made repairs that were shoddy. When you buy new, you know the full history of the vehicle, as you are the only owner. You don't have this when you buy used.

Pros of Buying Used Fifth Wheels

  • Someone Else Took the Depreciation Hit

The biggest benefit to buying a used fifth wheel is that someone else took the depreciation hit. It is estimated that RVs depreciate 30 percent from the MSRP as soon as the RV is bought and driven off the lot and then an additional 10 percent in the first year. This is a huge loss compared to what someone paid. As such, you can get an RV that is only a couple years old at a huge savings, without taking a huge depreciation hit.

  • You Can Decide if the RV Lifestyle Is Right For You

The other advantage to buying a used fifth wheel is that it allows you to affordably decide if the RV lifestyle or RV size is right for you. Some people are on the fence about what size RV they need or if they will realistically use an RV as much as they anticipate. Buying a used RV at a discounted price allows them to decide this before investing the money in a brand new RV.

Deciding whether to buy a new or used fifth wheel is a big decision. Taking the time to learn about the pros and cons of both will help you make an informed decision as to which is ideal for your family. Check out companies like Brad's Trailer Supply to get started.


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