Advice on how to trade up on a Montana - Montana Owners Club

RKassl · 03-08-2015, 07:41 AM

I have purchased many vehicles with trades over the years, but this may be the first time trading up on an RV. I went to my dealer and the salesman who sold us our current 2005 is still there. When we negotiated prices he never once looked at our 2005 Montana which is in wonderful shape and loaded with many upgrades over the years. How do I know if I am getting a fair trade value? My trailer could be in horrible condition and he would never know it? I realize that there is a huge gray area for pricing a trailer but I am not satisfied that he is doing me any favors.

Any advice on what to do different if we restart negotiations or if I go to another dealer? How do you protect your current investment against a new Montana?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

richfaa · 03-08-2015, 07:58 AM

IN general you will not get any money back on the upgrades you put into the rig. We had the MOr Ryde IS system on our 06 3400 and it was a stroke of luck that a buyer wanted that very system on a Montana he was looking for so we were able to recoup our $$ on that.
Our dealer never saw our 06 3400 when we purchased the 13 Big Sky. He had sold us the 06 new and gave us above book sight unseen.

It was a good deal to us and within our budget

stillcampin · 03-08-2015, 08:11 AM

On my last two RVs my dealers offered much less than the book value for my trade, sight unseen, and essentially stated that the $$$$ I put in as upgrades were essentially worthless to them. I proceeded to remove most of them before they received the trade, going so far as removing a vent cover for use on the new rig.

TLightning · 03-08-2015, 08:18 AM

Normally, you are better off selling it yourself. That's pretty easy with a trailer or 5th wheel.

**DQDick** · 03-08-2015, 08:45 AM

You can also go on line and see what kind of a deal you can work out. That will tell you if your getting what you should from your dealer.

**Rondo** · 03-08-2015, 08:53 AM

We got a good deal on our trade-in when we purchased our current unit from Leach Camper Sales here in the Omaha,NE/ Council Bluffs,IA area. They gave us above market value for it and had it sold two days after we brought it in. As has been said here in previous posts, normally a dealer will offer you less for your trade in no matter what you have added to it. They go by book price and that's it. See what the dealer will give you and then check it out on the NADA pricing site. If it really low-balling your unit consider selling it yourself via Craigslist or listing it in the want-ads in your local paper. If you do sell it be cautious and request a cashiers check or cash for the payment. To many people now-a-days are just a little dishonest and write out checks that they do not have funds in the account for. Good luck and happy travels with that new unit!

rafael33155 · 03-08-2015, 09:06 AM

go to this http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs search your rv year model and input all option you have and will tell you what it's worth

RKassl · 03-08-2015, 09:53 AM

I guess what I am hearing is that you are lucky to get a great trade in from a dealer. Interesting. Maybe it is time to try and sell it myself? We had the trailer inspected last year during a warranty purchase. I can sell the unit with a 5 year transferable warranty to the right buyer.

1retired06 · 03-08-2015, 09:55 AM

You will always do better on the market than with a dealer. Never an investment buying an RV

WaltBennett · 03-08-2015, 12:11 PM

When we bought our Montana two years ago the salesman wanted me to remove all the upgrades I'd put in our old TT, including the Steady-Fast system. Told him it would leave holes and he finally relented. I honestly don't understand why they want trade-ins to be vanilla stock, but they do. Since I've added solar to the Montana, we'll HAVE to sell it ourselves since I really doubt any sales person could expand their brains enough to want it.

richfaa · 03-08-2015, 12:47 PM

It would be better to sell it outright IF it is in good condition and does not require fixing up' Our 06 3400 had bad decals and two leaking holding tanks when we traded it. The book was 26K .

rafael33155 · 03-08-2015, 01:14 PM

very simple walt the more vanilla the rv is the more they can charge the new owner for options and add on

jlb27537 · 03-08-2015, 01:24 PM

I would not too worked up on trade value. Decide in your mind what your trade is worth. No hassling with C list folks, the cost to list it on the internet, the PITA in general of dealing with tire kickers that can not buy a wheel barrow.

OK, we have a value in mind now.

Now, if this was a cash sale from the dealer, what would you be willing to pay? Subtract your value from the cash sale price. What is the difference?

If this difference is what the dealer is quoting, go for it.

It does not matter what the trade is, it does not matter what the new sales price is. It is the difference that is important.

The dealer has to make a profit, or else he would not be a dealer. However we do not want to make his monthly profit off our sale.

If you go the NADA value route, take low retail with no add's value, subtract 20% off that and that is current retail. Trade is back of that.

mhs4771 · 03-08-2015, 01:24 PM

There are many factors involved and no two deals are the same. Hard to sell it yourself if you're living in it, Also with some states you only pay sales tax on the actual cash transfer, not on the value of your trade. In the case of our new SOB on order it means we would have to get $5K more than the Dealer offers if we were to sell it ourselves.
So you really need to look at all the angles and see what works the best for you.

akf15e · 03-09-2015, 06:32 AM

Like jlb said, it's the difference that matters. While shopping for current rig, the dealer I eventually bought from offered me $5-7000 less for my 2009 3400RL than I believed it was worth. I told him not even close. In the mean time I began to negotiate with another dealer who offered me 1000 more than the other dealer BUT his rig was $2500 more than first dealer. The first dealer shortly came back with a $7000 bump up on my trade, plus a small cut in his already low price for the new rig and a couple of small add ons.. Deal was done. I knew I could sell for a bit more on my own, but like Rich I had terrible decal peeling going on which, no matter how immaculate our interior was, instantly kills the curb appeal. Given that I was happy with the difference between trade and sales price, plus some tax savings due to trading in as mhs pointed out.

RKassl · 03-09-2015, 12:40 PM

Spent a few hours at my Montana dealer today. Not to bore you with lots of numbers, my original choice was for a new Montana a 3160RL. We really loved this model. It would have been $45,000 with our trade. Looked at the New High Country today, this was the first time we saw this product line. Had a quote for the 343RL which would come in at $35,000 plus my trade in. The exterior of the HC was in everyway "Montana Quality." Just beautiful with the painted front cap. Then we went in and my wife was totally unimpressed. Cabinets were painted everything looked very basic and not durable. Then I went out and got under the HC to look at the suspension. I was shocked. If you older members remember in the 04 05 and 06 Montana's we had premature shackle failure because Keystone put thin spring shackles and NO wet bolts. Here is the same thing on a 2015 model. I thought it was cute that the spring hanger had the Morryde name on it but that's where it ended for me on the HC.

I guess I am very happy to keep my reliable trailer.

bethandkevin · 03-10-2015, 03:00 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by rafael33155

go to this http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs search your rv year model and input all option you have and will tell you what it's worth

In addition to NADA, do a Google search for your year, make and model. It should pull up comparable sales so you can see what your model is being priced at. Notice I said priced at and not sold at. I used these two pieces of information to sell our old unit prior to the new one coming in and gained $5500.00 selling it myself in three days. In my opinion, it was well worth my time and effort.

DarMar · 03-10-2015, 04:17 AM

Give us whatever you want for our trade, or charge whatever you like for the new, but if the difference isn't in the ballpark of what we feel we should have to pay no deal will be made.

HOOK · 03-10-2015, 05:25 PM

Dealer should complete a trade in appraisal sheet. There are lots of questions that require your signature. When you arrive with your unit , if it is not as you described it , he should point out the discrepancies and adjust accordingly.

dieselguy · 03-10-2015, 05:38 PM

Always trade on a "difference" as mentioned above. Once you state a figure you think your rigs worth ... you're stuck ... never answer the question "What do you think your rig is worth". You'll be simply amazed at the smoke and mirrors with "numbers on paper" that will follow. Their invoice figure goes down ... your trade value miraculously goes up ...

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