hi everyone. We are new to the fiberglass camper world. After much research, we have been looking for used 17' or 19' scamp. While looking, we have noticed that most of the campers are several thousands above NADA. Im sincerely not wanting to offend anyone, but I am wondering why they are higher? Is that just the asking price? Does NADA really not understand the value of these campers? How do you get a loan for more than the NADA?
If anyone could shed some light on this for us, we would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks so much.
Tara and Tim
Welcome to the clubhouse!
NADA is of some assistance on pricing autos, but is completely worthless on molded fiberglass trailers and boats from my experience. That is one of the big reasons we created the SOLD Archives at http://www.fiberglass-rv-4sale.com/fiberglass-rvs-sold many years ago. Prior to this, there wasn't a reliable or well-organized source to value these trailers, not only for sellers but for buyers as well. If you ever need to file an insurance claim for your trailer, they will try and use NADA and you will want to direct them to the above link and print out 2-4 comparable sold trailers from there for your agent so you'll get an accurate settlement.
When you're looking at these trailers if you make an offer to a seller based on NADA you most likely won't hear from the seller again.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
I think the Nada is going off a presumed cost of depreciation year after year just like many motor-vehicles with-out much research into particular demand for specific items especially fiberglass campers.
We just purchased a 13ft 1990 scamp for 5400$. I mean that is 25 years old. It is in good condition mind you however considering I got a quote for the same camper New at 14,000$ from Scamp most people would think we were crazy if their mindset is geared towards a used "vehicle". Also take into consideration that pop-up campers and other campers are thrown into the mix and you can see why it would be difficult to make an algorithm to quote for just fiberglass campers. You couldn't pay me to purchase a used pop-up camper.
I personally think 5400 is too much for a 25 year old scamp. But my wife on the other hand has strongly disagreed. For 3 years she has even go so far as to go door to door knocking on local houses to see if anyone wanted to sell their scamp and people are not interested. When you look on the forums and for what is on sale online its VERY rare for something to come on the market even remotely close to you..and this is after the past 3 years of us haphazardly scanning craigslist and rvfiberglass for sale.
Then recently one popped up just a few hours away and well...at the "going" rate. A decent condition scamp as old as 1990 or heck even 1980 is still going for ~5k. There have been some amazing deals posted however for them going for 2-3k...but most priced under 5k need something pretty major done.
So mostly people fall in love with the idea of a certain fiberglass RV and will pay what they will pay. The Demand is high and it is a sellers market. It sure isn't a buyers market.
Charles & Martha (1990 Scamp 13)
NADA stands for National Automobile Dealers Association, that is your first clue as to why they are inaccurate.
Secondly, Dealers rarely get used fiberglass RVs of any brand, much less Scamp.
Scamps and other Fiberglass RVs are sold privately so NADA does not have enough data to make informed pricing quotes.
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
Ditto on what has already been said. In addition, Scamps are made at only one factory and they are not into gearing up to meet increased demand. I'm not sure what the wait time is now, but last April when we picked up our new Scamp (ordered the previous December), any new Scamp ordered then would not be ready until October - 6 months! Also, the factory had NO Scamps for sale other than the custom ordered ones as they had no time to make any on spec. Scarcity always increases value, especially when the demand is high.
I really appreciate all of you helping us to understand. I kinda figured that the scarcity of those being sold contributed to the higher costs but I really didn't understand why NADA was so much lower. We are definetly going to get one and we are looking forward to our adventures. I want to pay a fair price, not being taken and not taking advantage of anyone.
Thank you all even more for allowing us to ask an uncomfortable question without being offended. We look forward to becoming part of this family. I'm even more certain this is a good choice for us and look forward to running into many of you on our future excursions!
tara and Tim
If buying new, regular Bank or Credit Union financing should be not be a problem. If buying used Home Equity or a Signature loan may be an option.
Eddie
i got real lucky and bought my 1996 13 ft in great shape for $1400 looked on craigs list for 2 years and it paid off just lucky i guess
Boy you did get lucky!
We are looking at three or four places that have used scamp's for sale. Hopefully we will find one sooner than two years but I do think they are worth the wait.
Thanks for the suggestion on a home equity loan. I hadn't thought of that, however, hubby said no to that.
If yall have any suggestions about where to look, I would appreciate it. We are looking on Craigslist, eBay, this site and fiberglass rv for sale.
Thanks.
Tara
You could let any dealers that might be local know what you are looking for as sometimes I do see them on rvt.com or rvtrader.com or pplmotorhomes.com but it isn't all that often that you would see one. Also, consignment shops that take vehicles, trailers and other odds and ends sometimes end up with units. As you are probably aware, you can also list the type unit that you are interested in buying on the fiberglass rv 4 sale site or even at the bottom of this forum in a section that I can't remember the name of.
Cathy
Thanks. I hadn't thought of that.
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