Used Campers: choose between motorhomes, RV, Vans.

Used Attic Camper on a river side in the wild nature

How to evaluate a motorhome?

Unlike the car sector which is regulated by a booklet called “EUROTAX”, in the RV sector there is nothing official for the public with which we can understand the value of our rental vehicle. If we want to have a general idea of the value, we can simply search the internet for a vehicle that is the same as ours by model, mechanics and age and that's it. But what if we want to have a more precise evaluation? There are many variables to calculate the value of your VR, Eurotax (reserved for dealerships) can give us a great help, but it doesn't always tell the truth.

To begin with, we can divide the value into different categories:

Purchase value: this is what the motorhome dealership or private individual offers for sale. In the case of the dealership it will include the cost of the guarantees, the management of transfers and changes of ownership, the earnings and a minimum for the negotiation and the discount.
Sentimental value: it is what we ourselves give to the object, for an affection that binds us to it (particularly beautiful holidays, travel with family and children, ...)
Insurance value: it is the value that the insurance asks you to insure the VR. In this case we recommend including the accessories installed on the camper.
Market value: it is the most accurate and truthful, but also the most difficult to calculate. It includes several variables, including the Eurotax Blu value, the brand, the mechanics and the mileage, the age, the interior layout, the maintenance done in the past years and finally the place of sale.

What is the most reliable campervan?

There are so many different factors to consider when starting your search for the best RV to buy. Whether you're new to the RV world, or you're an experienced camper, you'll know there's always a lot to learn.

Make a plan to get started. Start by making a list of your travel desires and the characteristics that a camper must have: in this way you will have clearer ideas to orient yourself among many models and you can narrow the choice to a small group.

To help you decide which RV to buy, the first thing to do is write down these questions:

What is the purpose of the camper?
Who is the camper intended for?
How often do you plan to use it?
What's your badget?

By answering these questions, you will be able to select some types of motorhomes and exclude others. This will save you a lot of time searching, also because you have to spend a lot of time viewing each camper in person - you can't just rely on the photos you see.

Think about whether you intend to take long trips with your camper, use it only for camping holidays, or if you want to use it also for daily commuting. For long journeys it is better to consider a motorhome, such as Hymer B-Klasse MC-I or Carthago C-Compactline.
If you are looking for a vehicle that you can also use to go to work, or for short trips out of town, the advice is to choose an converted van, like Hymer Van Grand Canyon S, or Hymer Van FREE.

Also think about how many people the camper will have to accommodate: if you have a large family you need a camper with 4-5 beds, in this case an attic could be for you. Excellent brands are Laika, Rimor, Arca, Adria Mobil, Roller Team.
If, on the other hand, only a couple of people will be using it, you could choose a semi-integrated or a van with 2-3 beds. In this regard, evaluates the new series of Hymer Vans Fiat, Hymer Van FREE Campus, Carado Camper Van, Burstner Campeo, Burstner Eliseo.

Finally, establish a reference budget and look for a vehicle that falls within that price range.

To learn more about the topic and find your way in choosing the best used camper to buy, you can consult the following pages where you can find exhaustive guides:

» Buying a Campervan: Guide to the Best Campers in 2021
» How to buy a used camper van
» Ultimate Guide to Buying a Used Campervan

How much are the accessories installed on a used camper worth?

The accessories installed by a specialized workshop - and not by the cheaper and less qualitative “do it yourself” - up to nine years of age have a value equal to 50% of the initial cost. Beyond that date they are incorporated into a general evaluation of the camper complete with instrumentation. Exceptions are the power generators and air conditioners, which lose their value completely after five years of life.

What is the good mileage for a used motorhome?

Considering the mileage before buying a used motorhome is very helpful in choosing well, but of course it's not the only thing to look at. A slightly dated RV that has driven many miles but has always been maintained and inspected may be a better deal than a newer, fewer mile camper that has not been properly maintained.

Carefully inspect the camper you are interested in buying and don't be afraid to ask questions or request to see the maintenance sheets. Better to waste time to check every detail and get advice from a consultant, because you may find a camper that is a bit old but at a great price.

How many miles can a motorhome last?

Generally, the average lifespan of an RV is around 20 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first. But the answer is not that smooth. The life of an RV can be longer or shorter depending on the class of the RV, how maintenance is done, and other factors.

Class A motorhomes are the largest vehicles, usually tour-bus style motorhomes - large and spacious motorhomes, which are great for both full-time life and camping. They are also the most expensive class of motorhomes. The average life of a Class A RV should be around 200,000 miles if you take good care of it and do regular maintenance.

Class B RVs are just a bit larger than a regular van (and sometimes the same length), are cheaper and easier to drive than a Class A RV. These too should last for at least twenty years or 200,000 miles, but many can go longer if they are taken care of. The difference with class A motorhomes lies in the price and in the beds: they are good for families or groups of up to 3-4 people, to accommodate more people you need a larger camper.

How to increase the life of your camper RV

A camper is half a vehicle, half a house, so both systems must be maintained to ensure a long life. As for the mechanics, routine maintenance must be carried out: regularly check the oil, tire pressure, brake pads, clean the engine, replace the tires when they are worn.

As for the living space, it is necessary to check for leaks from the roof, the tightness of the rubber seals, the power sockets. Remember to always empty the dark water tank when it is 3/4 full, clean and dry the shower area after use to prevent mold growth, use chemicals for the toilet of the camper every 1 or 2 weeks to break down the toilet paper and waste while minimizing odors. It is also a good idea to regularly wash the camper and wax it to protect the exterior.

Before storing it in the garage for a long time, it is good to empty all the tanks, to prevent the pipes from bursting with the cold. Disconnect the battery and store it in a warmer place to preserve its longevity. Finally inspect the camper for any holes, broken seals or water infiltrations, and seal them.

Following these precautions, and carrying out regular checks by the mechanic, is the right way to extend the life of your camper.

How to sell a used camper RV?

There are various possibilities to sell a used motorhome:

in 30% of cases the owner tries to sell it through specialized websites,
in the other 30% he takes it on consignment to a motorhome dealership,
and in the remaining 40% it is the motorhome dealership that buys it directly from the old owner.

How to sell a used motorhome at a dealership?

The owner should go with his camper RV to the dealership to which he will entrust the sale.
Together with the seller an evaluation is made; by mutual agreement they decide the amount with which to sell it, and the minimum amount below which it cannot be lowered.
The evaluation of a camper must consider the years of age, the mileage, the state of wear, the accessories installed, the damage and the interior layout.
The dealership commission can vary from 5% to 12% and will be deducted from the sale price. The dealership will be free to sell the used motorhome with or without guarantees and to include or not the transfer in the price.

Is it better to buy a motorhome from a private seller or from a dealership? What are the differences?

By purchasing a used camper from a private individual, in most cases, you can experience the vehicle in a more intense way. The private seller combines the technical side of the camper itself with an emotional side linked to the experiences of him and his family. In this condition, even small changes (the coat hanger installed in a certain position or of a certain color, the socket set up for a specific use) acquire value and importance. For the dealer of the dealership it is difficult to do the same since he has not experienced the camper firsthand, but can only report the experience of his camper customers.

Buying and selling between private individuals raises the problem of payment: do I pay the camper first and then the seller signs the cards at a later time? What if he doesn't sign? And who signs up why should they take the risk of not getting paid? This usually takes a few days to resolve. We make a deposit of about 50% hoping for the good faith of the seller, we go together to the bank for the balance of the camper in question and finally to the agency for signing the cards. However, this is a risky operation.

With the purchase in a dealership (and here we refer only to the serious and reliable ones !!) the balance must be paid by the customer 5 working days before delivery. It means that we pay our camper in full a week in advance, but to a company that has no interest in deceiving the end customer, if anything, to retain him and treat him in the right way. The camper is checked in every detail and overhauled and the "product conformity" is issued, that is the state of health of the camper at the time of delivery. In the case of the private individual, this operation cannot be certified, but one must rely on his word alone.

The payment methods are also different; in the case of private-private sale, payment can be made by cash, bank transfer, cashier's check, or by accessing a loan.

In the private-dealership case there is the maximum payment limit established by law, payment by bank transfer or cashier's check is always accepted and there is also the advantage of accessing a loan by leaning directly on the concessionaire, without having to waste time in phone calls or appointments between banks and financial companies.

Finally, we must mention the preparation of the vehicle by a dealership - this is the biggest difference. The concessionaire by law is obliged to give guarantees, the private individual is not.

Scroll down to see all our proposals of used camper RVs from the brands Hymer, Buerstner, Carado, Carthago, Laika, Adria, Rimor, Arca, McLouis, Roller Team, and other...
Click on the image to read the description and look at the interior's photos.

To see them up close, come and visit us at the showroom:

VR CAMPER
via Volta 29, Druento (To)
Turin - Italy

For any information write to andrea@vrcamper.it or call 011 9844520.

Written on December 30. 2020 by Elena Cressotti
Last review on September 21. 2022