7 Secrets About the Used RV Market That Could Save You Thousands

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Have you ever wondered why some RV owners seem to get amazing deals while others lose thousands of dollars?

The used RV market is like a hidden treasure map, and most people don’t know where X marks the spot. In 2025, the RV industry is going through major changes, and understanding these shifts could be the difference between driving away happy or feeling completely ripped off. The RV Wingman recently sat down with Scott Stonehill, VP of Operations at PPL Motorhomes, to expose what dealers won’t tell you about buying and selling used RVs.

After 53 years in the consignment business, PPL knows every trick, every trap, and every secret shortcut. Whether you’re thinking about selling your current RV or hunting for your next adventure mobile, these insider tips will protect your wallet and give you the confidence to make smart decisions.

1. Dealers Are Making Double the Profit on Used RVs (And You’re Paying For It)

Here’s something that’ll make your jaw drop: traditional RV dealers are making 20% profit on used RVs compared to only 13% on new ones. That’s almost double! When you trade in your beloved RV at a regular dealership, they’re pocketing thousands more than you probably realize.

Scott Stonehill revealed that while consignment dealers like PPL take a flat 10% commission, traditional dealers are keeping a whopping 20% margin on used inventory. What does this mean for you? If you’re selling a $50,000 RV at a traditional dealer, they might be pocketing $10,000 while only giving you $40,000. At a transparent consignment dealer, you’d walk away with $45,000 for that same RV.

According to the RVDA (RV Dealers Association), dealers report margins on pre-owned inventory are approximately seven percentage points higher than new inventory. This explains why so many dealers are pushing their used inventory harder than ever before.

Here’s the kicker: You might think you’re getting a great “trade-in deal,” but you’re probably leaving serious cash on the table. If you’re selling, always ask dealers to provide written statements showing exactly what your RV sold for and what they’re keeping as commission.

The Reality Check:

You wouldn’t sell your house without knowing the sale price, right? Why would you do that with your RV? Some traditional dealers will call you after they’ve already sold your RV to ask you to lower your net amount. That means they already have a buyer, but they want to squeeze even more profit out of the deal. Talk about sneaky!

2. Travel Trailers with Bunks Are the Hottest Items Flying Off the Lot

If you’re selling a travel trailer or fifth wheel with bunk beds, congratulations—you’ve got gold! These RVs are selling faster than hotcakes at a pancake breakfast. Young families with kids are hunting for these units like treasure hunters, especially during the summer months.

Here’s what’s hot in the used RV market right now:

RV Type	Demand Level	Best Selling Season	Target Buyer
Travel Trailers with Bunks	🔥🔥🔥 Very High	Summer	Young families
Fifth Wheels with Bunks	🔥🔥 High	Summer	Families
Large Fifth Wheels (2-person)	🔥🔥 High	Fall/Winter	Retirees/Couples
Toy Haulers	🔥🔥🔥 Very High	Fall (Hunting Season)	Outdoor enthusiasts
Motorhomes	🔥 Moderate	Fall/Winter	Full-timers

Scott explained that toy hauler season kicks off in the fall when hunting season begins. Hunters love toy haulers because they can haul ATVs, golf carts, and gear to their deer camps. Beach lovers also snatch up toy haulers for hauling water toys and beach equipment.

Forest River leads the pack as the #1 manufacturer for both towable RVs and fifth wheels, with 37,961 towables sold in just the first six months of 2024 alone.

Why This Matters:

Timing is everything! If you’ve got a family-friendly RV with bunks, list it in late spring or early summer. If you’ve got a toy hauler, fall is your golden window. Understanding seasonal demand could add thousands to your sale price.

3. Right Now Is the BEST Time to Sell Your RV (Seriously, Don’t Wait!)

You know what happens every single day you wait to sell your RV? It loses value. That’s right—your RV is depreciating faster than ice cream melts in Texas summer heat. Scott Stonehill hammered this point home: delaying your decision only costs you money.

The harsh truth: RV values go down over time, not up. Market conditions change constantly, and the longer you wait, the more competition you’ll face from newer, shinier models. Even if you’re thinking, “I’ll wait until spring when the market is better,” you’re probably wrong.

Why? Because everybody thinks that way. Come spring, the market floods with RVs from people who had the same idea. More supply + same demand = lower prices. Economics 101, folks!

Scott’s data shows something fascinating: PPL Motor Homes keeps 94.2% of RVs that come in for listing appointments. That means only 5.8% of sellers walk away without consigning. The top two reasons they turn away RVs? Condition and unrealistic pricing.

The Bottom Line:

Stop overthinking it! Whether it’s January or July, if you’re thinking about selling, now is the time. Every month you wait, your RV is worth less. Period. End of story.

4. New RV Dealers Are Drowning in Inventory (And That’s Good News For You)

Here’s some insider intel that’ll blow your mind: 58% of RV dealers think they have too much motorhome inventory, according to recent RVDA surveys. On the towable side, 29% of dealers feel their inventory is too high. Translation? Dealers are desperate to move units.

What does this mean for smart buyers? Negotiating power! When dealers are sitting on piles of inventory they can’t sell, they become much more flexible on pricing. This is especially true for new RVs, which is pushing more smart shoppers into the used market.

Here’s the breakdown from the RVDA data:

Towable Inventory (Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels):

59% of dealers: “Our inventory is just right”
29% of dealers: “We have way too much inventory!”
12% of dealers: “We need more inventory”

Motorhome Inventory:

58% of dealers: “We have too many motorhomes!”
Only 8% of dealers: “We need more motorhomes”

The used market is thriving because margins are better and buyers are getting smarter. During May and June 2024, new RV sales actually outpaced factory shipments by 8,000-10,000 units. Dealers are selling off inventory faster than they’re ordering new stock.

Translation Time:

If you’re buying new, dealers need to move inventory—so negotiate hard! If you’re buying used, you’re in the sweet spot of the market where selection is great and prices are competitive.

5. Selling Your RV Yourself Is a Nightmare You Don’t Want to Experience

Picture this: You put your RV on Craigslist or RV Trader thinking you’ll save money by selling it yourself. Then the phone calls start. And start. And start.

“Can I just swing by and look?”
“What’s your lowest price?”
“I’ll be there in 20 minutes!” (They never show up)
“Can you finance it for me?”
“Will you take $10,000 less than asking?”

Scott Stonehill described the nightmare of private RV sales perfectly. People will ask endless questions, schedule appointments they don’t keep, show up without financing arranged, or try to lowball you into oblivion. You’ll waste weeks or months dealing with tire-kickers who have no intention of buying.

Meanwhile, dealerships handle all of this for you. They have:

Professional advertising across multiple platforms
Financing options for qualified buyers
Lead filtering to separate serious buyers from time-wasters
Inspection and prep services to make your RV show-ready
Legal paperwork handled correctly

Here’s the real cost: Sure, you might save a few percentage points selling privately, but is it worth the stress, time, and safety risks of letting strangers crawl through your RV?

Reality Bomb:

Your time is valuable. Would you rather spend 3-6 months fielding calls from weirdos and no-shows, or pay a professional 10% commission to handle everything while you relax? Most people who try to sell privately eventually give up and take their RV to a dealer anyway—after wasting months.

6. Maintenance Records Are Like Gold Bars (And Most People Don’t Have Them)

You wouldn’t believe how few RV owners keep maintenance records. According to Scott, the small percentage of sellers who provide detailed maintenance history have RVs that sell faster and for more money. It’s that simple.

Think about it: If you were buying a used car and the owner handed you a folder with every oil change receipt, every tire rotation, and every repair record, wouldn’t you trust that car more? RVs are the same way—maybe even more important since they’re complex machines with plumbing, electrical, propane, and chassis systems.

What maintenance records should you keep?

Oil change receipts
Roof maintenance and resealing work
Winterization services
Tire replacements and rotations
Appliance repairs or replacements
Generator servicing
Brake and chassis work
Any warranty repairs

PPL Motorhomes actually inputs all maintenance history into their system so salespeople can share it with potential buyers. Traditional dealers? Most don’t even ask for this information.

Fun fact: Scott mentioned that in the South, where the sun beats down relentlessly, roof maintenance is critical. Neglecting your roof seal inspections can lead to thousands in water damage. Yet most owners never climb up there to check!

Pro Tip:

Start a maintenance binder TODAY! Every time you service your RV, stick the receipt in there. When you sell, you’ll look like a rockstar owner, and buyers will trust you. This simple habit could add $2,000-$5,000 to your sale price.

7. Consignment Dealers Aren’t All Created Equal (Know the Difference!)

Here’s where things get tricky: not all consignment dealers operate the same way. Some are transparent with flat commission rates, while others play games with “net amount” deals that hide their real profit.

Scott broke down the shady practice some dealers use: They’ll tell you they’ll “net” you $40,000 on your RV listed at $50,000. Sounds good, right? But here’s the catch—they don’t tell you what it actually sells for.

They might sell your RV for $50,000 and pocket $10,000, or they could sell it for $45,000 and still only give you $40,000. Either way, you never see a statement showing the actual sale price. Even worse, some dealers will call you after the sale and ask you to accept less money—even though the deal is already done!

PPL’s transparent model:

Flat 10% commission on the sale price
Complete seller statement showing exact sale price
No hidden fees or surprise deductions
What you see is what you get

Traditional dealer consignment model:

“Net amount” deals with hidden profit margins
No transparency on actual sale price
Potential for post-sale negotiation (in their favor)
Can keep 20% or more

PPL has been using their simple, honest model for 53 years. If they sell your $50,000 RV, you get $45,000 and they keep $5,000. The math is crystal clear, and you receive documentation proving it.

The Takeaway:

Before consigning your RV anywhere, ask these questions:

“What percentage commission do you charge?”
“Will I receive a statement showing the actual sale price?”
“Are there any other fees I should know about?”
“Can I see examples of seller statements from past sales?”

If they can’t answer clearly, walk away. Your RV is probably worth $30,000-$100,000 or more. Don’t gamble with that kind of money on a dealer who won’t be upfront.

Conclusion: Your Move, RV Owner

The used RV market in 2025 isn’t rocket science—it’s about timing, transparency, and knowing what you’re worth. Whether you’re buying your first RV or selling your tenth, these seven secrets give you the power to make smart decisions.

Remember: Traditional dealers are making bank on used RVs, certain models sell like crazy during specific seasons, your RV loses value every day, dealer inventory problems work in your favor, selling privately is usually a headache, maintenance records are pure gold, and not all consignment dealers play fair.

Armed with this knowledge, you’re ready to navigate the RV market like a pro. Don’t let dealers take advantage of you, don’t wait too long to sell, and always—always—demand transparency.

Now get out there and make your best RV deal ever!