Well this sounds like a nice little truck camper set-up.  It has the basics anyone could want in a camper, but let’s see if we can help Ramiro out a little bit by giving him a ballpark figure for his truck camper.  First off, I don’t see Wolverine listed on the Nada blue book values site, so we can’t get a quickie look.  A search did find it listed (a 1981 Wolverine Pickup Truck Camper) on a subscription site that was for Recreation Vehicle Blue Book Online, but I thought the subscription price was a bit pricey, although they did offer a single lookup recreational vehicle blue book value at about $10.00.  I’d maybe go for that if I needed to see if my insurance was up to date or some specific reason like that.  But it sounds like from Ramiro’s comment that he’s thinking of selling it.  So I’d steer more towards looking on eBay to see if any have sold that are about the same age.  (His truck bed camper is 34 years old.)  What he didn’t mention is whether it’s a foldout pickup camper, or one of the slide truck campers, so I’m going to have to assume it is not.  To look into his question of how much is my camper worth, we’ll go through the same steps just like selling or buying a small rv or used rv.

How Much is My Truck Camper Worth?  Find the Truck Camper Values on eBay Motors.

Here’s the current eBay listings in category 50061, which is the eBay Motors Truck Campers Category. Check out these truck campers for sale and then read some more at the bottom of the eBay listings and I’ll give you some tips to ssee what the value of a pickup truck camper could be:

Alright, if you’ve enjoyed eying the current listings for all sorts of truck campers for sale on eBay, you’re probably thinking – “How Much is my camper worth” like Ramiro. Well there’s a good way to test the market with eBay and what you do is click through any of the listings above, which are the ACTIVE listings. What does that mean? Well to determine the value of a pickup camper it is nice to know what they’re listed for, but it’s even better to know what they’ve actually SOLD for! So, like I was saying, go ahead and click thru the listings and you’ll be on the eBay Motors site for camper sales. Then what you want to do is look right at the page and find where eBay tells you how many listings you see for “truck campers”, which as I mentioned is the category I’ve pre-set for you to view on this page… (That’s another story how I figured out how to do that! 93 cups of coffee later… never mind – I’ll do it for you!) And just to the right of the “Number of Matches found for Truck Camper” you will see the “See Completed Listings” button. Click on that! This is a really great way to get a ballpark figure for the blue book value of a camper! Now before you get too excited about the truck campers for sale on eBay completed listings prices, you’ll need to look at the color of the prices displayed to really determine the value of a camper. Red means truck camper DID NOT sell, and green means THIS IS THE SALES PRICE, which is great! And you can see how many bids, 1 or a few mean that’s great, it sold… 35 or more means there was a bidding war! And these are pretty current sales prices too, so rather than going on Nada camper values or Kelley Blue Book Values, you can get a snapshot of today’s camper values online. (Nada may or may not have the values for campers you’re trying to find, but they are online and provide free information, so you can’t beat it. kelley Blue Book Values for Campers are quarterly booklets to subscribe to or buy a singe edition, and they’re great. Maybe your library can get them for you?)

Determine the Value of a Pickup Camper – Look up Camper Prices on eBay Motors.

So now, back to the reason for this post, to respond to a comment by Ramiro. What is the value of a 1978 pickup truck camper that’s in very nice condition and has the basic features that would be comfortable?  I found several SOLD listings on eBay motors for truck campers that are probably good comparable model pickup truck camper, so I’d say that if Ramiro did an excellent job describing his camper features, took at least 6 pictures, included information on the weight, what type of pickup it could used with, any damage or upgrades, he could probably get between $760. to $1200. on eBay.  So you’ll know where I got those figures, look at these sales from this month:

1. Pickup Truck Camper sold on eBay for $760.  :  1978 Fliteway Slide-In Truck Camper (1 bid)
2. Pickup Truck Camper sold on eBay for $619.57  :  1967 Avion Truck Bed Camper (4 bids)
3. Pickup Truck Camper sold on eBay for $1,725.  :  1987 Palomino Bronco Soft Side Slide-In Truck Camper (22 bids)
4. Pickup Truck Camper sold on eBay for $1,555.99  :  1987 Sunline Popup Camper will Fit Small Pickup Trucks (9 bids)
5. Classic / Vintage Pickup Truck Camper sold on eBay for $3,000.  :  1958 Sport King Camper (3 bids)

There were, of course, quite a few more that sold much higher, but they were significantly newer too, so not much good to compare to those.  And amazingly enough, (and maybe you should bookmark this page if you’re looking to buy a cheap pickup truck camper), there were two very nice looking newer (less than 8 years old) pickup truck campers being sold with no reserve, which didn’t sell at all.  And the opening bid for one was $100, and the other was $500.!!!  Amazing what you could have had for so little money if you’re in the market to buy a used pickup truck camper!  Now I’m not suggesting that anyone do this, because it’s a bit risky, but don’t you think the potential is there to make some money if you bought one and then sold it later on?  You could get a summer’s worth of use and then sell it at least for what you bought it for!  (So maybe you SHOULD bookmark this page!)

Anyway Ramiro, please let us know if your pickup truck camper is for sale, and we’d be glad to show a picture here and give a bit more of the specifics of your truck camper for sale.

List of 12 Things to Consider for Camper and Travel Trailer Values

1. If you’re going to purchase a camper or travel trailer, are you looking for new or used travel trailer values? Just like new and used car prices, there’s a difference in price for the trailer sitting on the new RV lot, and the same travel trailer once it’s been purchased and removed from the lot. It’s lots of fun to visit new RV lots, and really fun to look at the floor plans and order a new travel trailer.  On a budget?  If you’re looking to save some money on the purchase of your travel trailer, buying used may be a good choice.
2. Are you buying or selling a camper or travel trailer?  If you’re buying a camper or travel trailer, have you narrowed down the model you need?  When you visit a lot it’s exciting, and you may end up choosing a travel trailer that’s a bit more pricey than you need.  When you’re buying a travel trailer first make a checklist of what you really need, in the way of size and features.  And don’t forget to consider the weight and towing requirements that your tow vehicle will handle.  When you’re looking to buy a travel trailer please remember that when you tow it you will have your items stored inside, so consider this when selecting your travel trailer.
3. If you are trying to determine the travel trailer value for an rv you already own, a good starting point would be to make a complete appraisal checklist.  Your travel trailer value will consist of the model and year of the travel trailer, the year and overall condition, and any extra features you may have installed.  Take pictures inside and out, and note the condition of electrical, plumbing, storage, canvas, appliances, etc.  Be honest about any mold, mildew or other damage.
4. Ready to compare travel trailer values?  Some good places to look are Nada for some lookup tables of general info, Craigslist and eBay for actual sales.  Nada is a good starting point, it’s free, easy to use, and will help you to think about all the features of the travel trailer you’re trying to get the values for.  Craigslist is great for travel trailer values too, you can see listings that are today’s prices.  You won’t be able to get any historical data from Craigslist, just current info.  eBay is fantastic for both current and historical travel trailer values.  Just go to eBay Motors and you’ll be able to search travel trailer values, and if you click on the advanced search feature (you have to be logged in, and have an account to use this) you can see what the travel trailer values for closed listings are.




5. If you just need quick info for travel trailer values, and you know your model number, Google and other search engines are great for finding used travel trailer values.  It’s kind of the luck of the draw, but if you enter your exact camper name and model number in the search engine you’ll be amazed at what you can come up with in the way of info for travel trailer values.
6. What makes up travel trailer prices?  If you’re looking at new travel trailer prices, there is dealer overhead.  The dealer pays rent and utilities, and salaries or commissions to salespeople.  The dealer may own or might have financed the travel trailers on the lot.  The day of the month may be a factor in travel trailer prices – there’s always hope at the beginning of the month for the dealer, and by the time the end of the month is upon them, there may be room for negotiation for travel trailer prices!
7. When you buy a used travel trailer from a private party, you have to consider that what you see is what you get.  If something is wrong with the travel trailer, it’s generally your problem once you pay for the travel trailer and take it with you.  When you’re buying a used travel trailer first make sure the party selling it to you is really the owner.  If there is any doubt, walk away.  Make sure the ownership papers and registration is in order.  Check regulations of sale with your local Department of Motor Vehicles to see what you’ll need to do when you purchase a used travel trailer.  If this first priority checks out, then proceed to a complete inspection.  If you’re able to bring along someone with experience in this area, all the better.  Safety is a top priority, both with the towing of the used travel trailer and the use of the used travel trailer.  If it’s not safe, and you can’t fix it, walk away.  If the owner is telling you something about the used travel trailer that doesn’t make sense, or is pressuring you in any way, just walk away.  It’ not worth it to buy someone else’s problem when you buy a used travel trailer.  Once you’ve determined that the title and safety considerations are in order, then inspect the used travel trailer features.  If it’s what you need, and will satisfy your requirements today and for the next several years, you may have a good match for your needs in a used travel trailer.
8. How do you find a travel trailer for sale?  Once you’ve narrowed down your requirements to the type of travel trailer you need, what you can tow safely, and your price range, where can you look for a travel trailer for sale in your area?  Start with your local RV dealer.  They may take in used travel trailers on trade when they sell a new rv, camper or travel trailer.  Let them know what you’re looking for, and they can be on the lookout for it.  Next, you can find your travel trailer for sale on Craigslist or eBay.  There are also quite a few websites that have classified sales for rvs and travel trailers for sale.
9. What’s the best time to find used travel trailers for sale?  Probably the off season.  If someone has been considering putting their used travel trailer up for sale, that means they don’t need it anymore.  Nothing speaks louder for a lack of need for a travel trailer then a yard full of snow!  Use the winter months to your advantage when you’re looking for used travel trailers for sale!
10. How do you know if travel trailer pricing is good?  Before you buy, give yourself a few days to research the travel trailer pricing you’ve found.  Check the resources mentioned above, and do some comparisons.
11. Is the economy affecting travel trailer sales?  There are several different ways to look at this.  Yes, if you ask different rv dealers if their sales are up or down, you will get current info on travel trailer sales.  Look into this enough and you’ll probably find that there are still buyers, and there is travel trailer sales data to back this up.  The more interesting question is this;  which travel trailers have strong sales?  What are people buying, and why?  Value for the dollar is important, and travel trailers that provide enough features for comfort and safety, without going overboard in luxury, will be a good value, and probably reflect in the travel trailer sales data.
12. How do you know if you’ve found the right travel trailer at the best travel trailer price?  By the time you get to this question, you’ve no doubt done your research.  You know what you want and why, you know the pricerange you’re comfortable with, and what you can safely tow.  Once you’ve arrived a the travel trailer price question, give youself the time to document the details of the purchase, and take a few minutes to look on Nada, look at Craigslist and go to eBay Motors.  (Be sure to open an eBay account a few days before you need to look something up, and do a few practice searches to make sure you’ve got the hang of the advanced search feature.

Have we covered the bases for you on the topic of new and used travel trailer prices?  Hope so!  Please leave a comment to add to the conversation – what helped – or – what did we leave out?  Thanks!

*Please enjoy the 100 year Anniversary of RV’s video!

What are the features of the Gulfstream brand?  It’s a higher end coach, with the finer details for your comfort and convenience.  The Gulfstream RV name is synonymous with quality, comfort and luxury.  What you may not have know, however, is that they are surprisingly affordable.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that affordability and great resale value are also qualities of the Gulfstream RV! With over 26 brands and over 100 models to choose from, you’re sure to find the recreational vehicle that suits your needs and fulfills your dreams!  Here are some of the popular stars in the Gulfstream RV family of recreational vehicles:

• Tour Master – Luxury Diesel Motorhome, largest slide room in the industry, panoramic windows, work while you recreate with a centrally located computer workstation.  7’6″ interior, 6’4″ slide height.  The Tourmaster Gulfstream RV is great for the tall person in your family!Constellation – Why leave your luxury at home when you can take it on the road?  This beautiful Gulfstream RV features beautiful ceramic tile in the entry, bath and kitchen, european cabins, crown molding, and more.  A dream to drive with independent front suspension, smart wheel, and adjustable pedals.  Perfect for the fulltime rver!
• Caribbean – Diesel Pusher – Affordable Elegance.  This Gulfstream RV is a streamlined coach with beautiful simple lines, neutral interior, calming and relaxing.  Take your Caribbean Vacation on the road with you.  Three models from 38′ to 45′.
• Crescendo – Front End Diesel – Toy Hauler.  Perfect for the family that wants to enjoy the comforts of home and play too.  Take your Harley Davidson motorcycle with you and enjoy your ride at your destination.  Plenty of room for scooters, bicycles, quads and more.  This is also great for traveling construction workers that need plenty of custom tool and equipment storage for job duties.  Bringing your Gulfstream RV to your out of town job locations brings the comfort of home to the home away from home!
• Yellowstone – Class A Gas Motorhome.  Perfect for the family that loves to cook on the road – the ergonomic kitchen has plenty of storage and workspace.  Room for the family with a bunk bed built into the slider room.  Plush private master bedroom offers room to relax.
• Independence – Luxury Class A Gas Motorhome.  Cradle of Strength construction.  Sleek interior, affordable price.  Compare this Gulf Stream Rv to the competition and you’ll see where the blue book value of this RV is very competitive!
• Sun Voyager – Class A Gas Motorhome (diesel package available).  Solid Maple hardwood cabinets, spacious interior, full body paint, raised rail, upgraded dash, 24 hour roadside assistance.  You’ll tuly relax while enjoying the 37″ LCD TV in the living room or the 20″ TV in the bedroom!  Don’t miss your favorite shows while you’re on vacation.
• Sunsport – Class A Gas Motorhome – affordable luxury, simplicity and function combine to make this Gulfstream RV one of the most popular in its’ price break.  The beauty rivals your own luxury living room.  You’ll love the first in the industry slide out sunroom – take in the gorgeous view from the comfort of your own home – recreational vehicle home, that is!
• Bounty Hunter – Class A RV Toyhauler – Payload Capacity 2500 lbs, 5000 lb towing capacity, top of ramp to ceiling measures 9’3″.  Exclusive features – laminated roof, electric main awning, roof mounted luggage rack, luggage rack, 10 gallon water heater, convection microwave oven, 48″ loveseat and sofa, 32″ LCD TV, 8′ X 12′ Garage, King Size Bed, Galvanized Steel storage compartments, and more!  Function meets beauty in this Gulfstream RV toy hauler Class A RV!
• Gladiator – Four Toyhauler models to choose from, enjoy the function without sacrificing the comfort and convenience of your travelling home!

Buying and Selling 1 – 2 – 3′s…  Tips to buying the right Gulfstream RV for you:

1. What will you use your new (or used) Gulfstream RV for?  How many people will use it?  How may days per year will your recreational vehicle be used?
2. How long will you own your rv?  Plan to sell it before you plan to buy it!  Sound tricky?  It’s not!  Most people keep their rv for five years.  What will your needs be five years from today?  Will you be rving more than today, or less? What will the resale value of the rv be, and how easy will it be to sell it?
3. What’s your budget?  Plan to spend half on the rv, and the other half on upkeep, insurance, travel and gasoline.  If your budget is $1,800. per month, what portion of that will be spent on the vehicle, and what portion on insurance, maintenance, gasoline, and space rentals?
4. What will you use for your tow vehicle?  Here’s further reading for a great tow vehicle:  used volkswagen

If you’re looking to buy or sell an RV, please check out thi


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Read more here: Pop – Up Campers Blue Book Value

A quick search of eBay finds an amazing assortment of travel trailers!  eBay makes your search simple.  If you’re looking to establish travel trailer values, you’ve come to the right place!  To begin, visit eBay Motors – we’ll give you some eBay links to select from for your travel trailers on eBay.  Here’s what to do:  we’ve already dialed in the search options on the eBay site for campers in the general categories listed below.  These are some of the most popular searches for rv trailers and rv campers on eBay.  You can see the current listing prices, however you won’t see the historical data for the sold items.  There’s a little trick with eBay that you need to know about to get camper values – just sign in, or if you don’t have an eBay account – sign up for one.  It’s relatively easy – you’ll need an email address, but it’s worth it to do some research for used camper blue book values.

Click Here:  Travel Trailers eBay – Toy Haulers

Click Here: Travel Trailers eBay

Click Here: Travel Trailers eBay – Keystone

Click Here: Travel Trailers eBay – Pop-Ups (Folding Campers, Tent Trailers)

You can find a huge assortment of travel trailers eBay.  Please use the links above and modify your search to view the current eBay listings for these travel trailers values listed below.  In addition to these travel trailers on eBay, you’ll find even more brands.  Have fun shopping for your new and used travel trailers on eBay!  eBay is a great place to get more for your money, when you shop for your used travel trailer, you’ll find great travel trailer values!

Write down the brand names that follow in this bullet list to help you broaden your search for travel trailers on eBay.

Since different people write their eBay adds differently, you might find more listings by mentioning the brand name.  Also, some of these names are not too common, and you may not find them in your area, so keep in mind that you can ship your camper to it’s destination once the transaction is complete, if you are selling a travel trailer, and also the same is true if your are buying one.

• Airstream, Aline, Aljo Lite, Bambi, Casita, Coachmen, Coleman, Conway, Damon, Dutchmen, Expandable, Fifth Wheel, Fleetwood, Folding Campers; Travel Trailers eBay
• Forest River, Four Winds, Glendale, Gulf Stream, Holiday Rambler; Hybrid, Travel Trailers eBay
• Jamboree, Jayco, Jumping Jack, Keystone, Light Weight, Lite, Little Guy, Monaco, Motorcycle, Newmar, Nomad, Northwood, Outback;Travel Trailers eBay
• Palomino, Pilgrim International, Pop-Up Campers, Potomac, Prowler, Rapido, Retro, Rockwood, R-Vision;Travel Trailers eBay
• Safari, Salem, Scotty, Shasta, Silver Shadow, Skamp, Skamper, Skyline, Slide Campers, Sportsmen, Springdale, Sprinter, Starcraft;Travel Trailers eBay
• Sunline, Sunnybrook, Sunvalley, Tahoe, Tear Drop, Tent Trailers, Terry, Thor, Timberland, Trailmanor; Travel Trailers eBay
• Travel Supreme, Viking, Vintage, Weekend Warrior, Wildwood, Zeppelin; Travel Trailers eBay

Read more:

Travel Trailer Values – New and Used Travel Trailer Value

I had the good fortune to run into an interesting family, Lee and Judy Riley of Harrisburg PA, at the Russian River 1000 Trails RV Park, and they shared with me their experiences of traveling with a Fleetwood Southwind 36′ Slide Out RV.  Which is a full sized Class A rv.)  And, even more interesting, travelling with Nicky, their Royal Poodle.  (Visit their blog:  TravelsWithNicky)  Lee and Judy have been travelling and rving with a variety of rvs over the years, and have quite a bit of experience buying and trading in rvs.  They prefer trading in their older rv rather than selling it themselves.  In 2006 they purchased a 2003 Fleetwood Southwind 36′ Slide out rv, and traded in their fifth wheel at the same time.  They purchased their Fleetwood Southwind Slide Out Rv from Lazydays RV SuperCenter in Florida.  (Quite possibly the largest rv dealer in the US, or anywhere for that matter.)  I asked them what I usually ask folks that own an rv:  If you had it to do all over again, what would you have done differently, and do you wish you had bought something else instead?  Lee and Judy were happy with their purchase, and shared their experiences buying an rv, with a few suggestions for other prospective buyers to keep in mind when buying their new (or used) rv. 

Considerations when buying an rv:

• Consider what your driving experience will be like.  An rv is much easier to handle on the road and setting up than a fifth wheel camper.
• Know what your budget is ahead of time when shopping for an rv.  When you visit an rv lot, always walk away from your first visit – don’t make an emotional decision when buying your rv.
• Carefully make your list of desired features in your new rv.  If there’s something on your list that’s important to you, don’t settle for less.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking; “It’s not that bad, we’ll get used to it.”  Don’t compromise when you shouldn’t.  You don’t get used to “it”, it just leads to dissatisfaction down the road. 
  

When Judy and Lee went shopping for their new RV, they selected a 2003 36′ Southwind Fleetwood slide out motorhome.  This rv has three slide outs, one slide out in the kitchen, one slide out in the living room, and one slide out in the bedroom.  The slide outs are electric.  They found almost everything they were looking for in the Southwind 36′ Fleetwood slide out rv, and here are the items that were important to them.  (And you might consider these items when you shop for a new motorhome or camper also!)

• Slide campers give you more space for living quarters and storage, so consider a slide out rv.
• Given the choice over electric slide outs or hydraulic slideouts, Lee would prefer hydraulic slide outs, they’re smoother.  Their Southwind Fleetwood rv has electric slide outs, which work well, but Lee would have preferred hydraulic slide outs.
• Their Southwind Fleetwood has a Ford V10 Gas engine, which gets about 7mpg.  Their friend bought essentially the same identical motorhome, the one difference being the engine.  They got their rv with a Chevy 454 engine, which gets about 9mpg, and has better torque on the hills in the mountains.  So, Lee’s recommendation – if you have a choice go with the Chevy over the Ford engine. 
• Tires are important.  The 22″ wheels are better than the 19″ wheels.  Check the date on the tires.  If they’re approaching 5 years, regardless of tread, have the dealer put new tires on.  It’s tire rot, not tread wear that is a major problem.  Tires only last about 7 years, and if the motorhome has been sitting unused for awhile, rot may be an issue, and you’re not really going to see that on a visual inspection.  At $250. to $300. per tire, better be safe than sorry – get the new tires before you sign the deal!
• Some of the things to check when you’re comparing slide out campers – what is the floor plan?  Do you prefer your bathroom separate from your bedroom?  Lee and Judy have a floorplan where the shower is in a separate room from the toilet and sink, and everything is separate from the bedroom. This is a much better setup for two people, they can both use some of the facilities at the same time. 
• Look into the drawers to check that they’re full depth.  Some slide campers have half depth drawers. With rvs, storage is critical. 
• Judy stressed the importance for them of having clearance around three sides of the bed.  She absolutely did not want a bed flush with the wall, this was not negotiable.  She said you think you can get used to it and it won’t be a problem, but it really gets old having to crawl around trying to get out of bed at night!
• The refrigerator size is important, and this is another feature that is non-negotiable for Judy – don’t settle for the little refrigerator!  Theirs is a Norcold, and it’s beautiful.  There will be times when you’re dry camping, and the small size refrigerator just won’t do!
• Judy’s rv has a very nice built in washer/dryer combo, which is a plus.  Their slide out rv didn’t come with the built in washer/dryer, but there was a space that was plumbed for it.  They were able to locate the exact model they needed for only $100. and Lee installed it.  Judy loves it for washing small loads, but uses her custom built (by Lee!) clothes line instead of the dryer.
• If the awnings need updating but the hardware for the awnings is still good, try talking to your local upholstery shop that works on boats.  Canvas is canvas, and Lee recently saved over $100. by having new awnings made rather than purchasiing them from a camping supply supplier that required the purchase of new hardware with new awnings. 

Since Lee and Judy have purchased and traded in so many campers, fifth wheels over the years, I asked them how they go about determining the blue book value of a camper.  Do they use Kelly Blue Book or Nada Guides for checking the blue book value of an rv?  Or have they ever looked at the completed listings on eBay to check selling prices and blue book value of a camper?  They don’t!  They had a suggestion for me that makes so much sense, especially in today’s unusual economic times.  They check with their bank, to see what amount the bank would be willing to loan.  (Even if they’re paying cash.)  They said that when they ask the bank to determine the blue book value of the camper, they think the bank is actually quoting the wholesale bluebook, not the retail bluebook.  This makes sense when you consider that the bank may become the owner of a number of rvs down the road if the owners are unable to keep up the payments, and it’s in the bank’s interest to loan the lowest amount possible in case they need to take over ownership.  So Lee and Judy recommend talking to a bank (or several) about the bluebook value of the rv before purchasing it.  And be involved in the process of establishing the blue book value of the camper – carefully consider whether the dealer is stating a current market value for the bank evaluation. 

Judy and Nicky

Thanks Judy and Lee for allowing me to interview you, and for all your wonderful suggestions on how to get the slide camper of your dreams! 

Nicky, Lee and Judy

Keystone Challenger Slide Out Camper

The Keystone RV Slide out camper offers a tremendous amount of built in storage space, spacious living area, and fabulous kitchen setup.  This model slide out camper has 4 slide-outs.  I recently visited with Paul and Laura Hase who were camping with a large group with their 2007 Challenger Keystone RV Slide Out Camper.  They love their slide out camper and really put a lot of time and effort into researching the new campers for sale before deciding on the Keystone RV.  They had previously owned and outgrown a toy hauler and needed to upgrade to a camper with more living space and a better kitchen setup.  Paul and Laura own a group home for developmentally disabled adults, and they love to rv travel and camp with their clients.  They chose the Keystone RV slide out camper because it was the best option for them to be able to camp comfortably with a large group.  When they travel they prepare gourmet meals (not hotdogs – think chicken marsala!) and need to seat up to 14 people inside during periods of camping in foul weather. 

Keystone RV Slide Out Camper

Slide Out Camper 

Laura told me that the three most important items to them when researching a new slide out camper were storage, kitchen prep space, and seating available inside.  They were just packing up their rv to leave the Russian River 1000 Trails when I caught up with them and asked them how the liked their slide out camper.  Well, they love it!  The Keystone RV slide out camper has 4 slide outs, which gives them tremendous living area and an incredible amount of built in storage.  The kitchen area was fantastic, with lots of counter space and storage cabinets.  They were packed and ready to pull out when they gave me a tour, and I could see how they easily they packed and how quickly they were ready to go.  They had all their luggage stacked neatly along the sides of both sides of the slide out camper, and they also had a row of luggage down the middle.  They knew exactly how far in the slide outs for the camper came in, so they used every bit of storage for their luggage when they used the hydraulics to pull in the camper slide outs.  Paul was very pleased with the hydraulic camper slide outs, and also with the Sidewide hitch by Airborne.  (He prefers hydraulic slides over electric slides.)  Drawbacks to this model Keystone RV slideout camper?  Paul and Laura wish that the dining room table and chairs would have been a booth design with benches, instead of a table and chairs.  This would have given them additional sleeping area and a bit more storage in the benches.  You can never have too much storage in your camper!

This review gives a big thumbs up for the Keystone Challenger Slide Out Camper!  It’s beautiful, spacious, has lots of storage and cooking space, and with the 4 slide-outs, is a really nice setup for camping with groups.

Thanks Paul and Laura for the time and the tour!  And thank you Regan, John, Fred, Julie, Ashley, Katie, Goldie, Steve, Tim, Jacob, David, and Jarrett for allowing me to tour your slide out camper and take pictures!

We Love to Camp!

Do you have a slide out camper?  Are you considering the purchase of a slide out camper?  Which model have you considered, and why?  Do you prefer a motorhome slideout, a fifthwheel slideout or a toyhauler slideout?  If you have already purchased a slide out camper, are you happy with it, or do you wish you had gotten something different?

Please join the conversation about slide out campers!

The following Used Nada Guides are now available for purchase on the Nada website.  Unless noted, these Used Nada Guides are the 2009 versions.

1. 2009 Official Used Car Guide, Used Nada covering years 2009 through 2009 (some 2009, passenger, SUV and light duty trucks)
2. 2009 Official Older Used Car Guide, Used Nada covering years 1990 through 2001(passenger cars, SUV and light duty trucks)
3. 2009 Classic, Collectible, Exotic and Muscle Car Appraisal Guide & Directory, Used Nada covering model years 1926 through 2009 (passenger and light duty trucks model years 1926 – 1989, special interest vehicles and highline exotics from model years 1946 to 2009)
4. 2009 Recreation Vehicle Appraisal Guide, Used Nada covering model years 1995 through 2009 (Park Models, 5th Wheels, Travel Trailers, truck campers, motor homes, rvs, camping trailers – fold down, pop up campers)
5. 2009 Recreation Vehicle e‑Guidebook CD‑ROM, Used Nada covering model years 1975 through 2009 (truck campers, camping trailers, motor homes, park models, heavy duty tow vehicles, travel trailers, popups, folding campers)
6. 2009 Older Recreation Vehicle Appraisal Guide, Used Nada covering model years 1975 through 1994 (Truck Campers and Camping Trailers, Motor Homes, RV’s, Pop ups, Folding Camping Trailers, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels and Park Models)
7. 2009 Motorcycle, Snowmobile, ATV, Personal Watercraft Appraisal Guide, Used Nada covering model years 1905 through 1994 (motorcycles, sidecars, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, trailers)
8. 2009 Marine Appraisal Guide, Used Nada covering model years 1993 through 2009 (trailers, inboards, outboards, sailboats, jet and stern drives, yachts, etc.)
9. 2009 Marine e-Guidebook CD‑ROM, Used Nada covering years 1970 through 2009 (Printable window stickers)
10. 2009 Older Marine Appraisal Guide, Used Nada covering years 1970 through 1992 (All boats 7 to 75 feet in length)
11. 2009 Manufactured Housing Cost Guide, Used Nada covering years 1970 through 2009 (Average retail prices)
12. 2009 Manufactured Housing Cost CD‑ROM, Used Nada covering years 1970 through 2009 (single workstation license, not compatible with Macintosh)
13. Manufactured Housing National Appraisal System (NAS) (Approved HUD FHA Title 1)
14. 2009 Van/Truck Conversion and Limousine Appraisal Guide, Used Nada covering
    Van/Truck model years 1984 through 2009 and Limousine model years 1990 through 2009 (Updated 3 times a year, January, May and September)
15. 2009 Title & Registration Textbook (Includes all states dept of motor vehicle info, updated anually in January)
16. 2009 Title & Registration e‑Textbook CD‑ROM (single user license)
17. 2009 Official Commercial Truck Guide, Used Nada covering model years 2000 through 2009 (updated monthly, 12 month subscription)

 The Nada Bluebook is an industry standard of the National Automobile Dealers Association.  The telephone number for customer service is (714)556-8511 ext. “0″.  (Same number to order guides, or you may order your nada bluebook for nada pricing online at nada.com.)  When you need to establish used rv prices, the nada guide is very helpful.  Rv values can be determined with the nada rv price guide.  Nada pricing with the Used Nada is industry standard.

The Coleman camper has been a top US folding camper model since 1979.  The Coleman company has been manufacturing folding campers since the mid 1960′s, and is the only type of camping trailers it manufactures.  The Coleman camper trailer is an economical choice to purchase, maintain, and tow.  Coleman camper is distributed to camping enthusiasts around the world, and continues to increase in popularity.

The Coleman camper is an RV tent trailer which is set up to expand to provide comfortable living spaces.  The side and end walls of the camper are fabric, which is why the Coleman camper is referred to as a tent trailer.  The Coleman camper is towed to its’ desired location, and the roof is raised, and the end sections are pulled out to create the additional living space. 

When you’re thinking of purchasing a Coleman folding camper, consider the vehicle that will tow the folding camper first.  If you are going to utilize your current vehicle to tow the Coleman camper, find out the towing capacity of the vehicle.  You can find this out from your auto dealer or from the vehicle’s owners manual.  When you think about the camper weight, be sure to consider the fully loaded weight (all the items you stow aboard the camper when you tow it), and not the dry weight, which is just the camper itself.  Most Coleman campers fall within the range of slightly less than one ton to two tons.  (1,500 to 4000 lbs.)  You’ll need to verify that the weight of the tow vehicle plus the fully loaded camper trailer do not exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating of the tow vehicle.  This weight range indicates the Coleman camper can easily be towed by most family sized sedans, SUV’s, and mini vans, making it a very economical choice for family camping. 

Next consider the requirements of the Coleman camper – how many people will be using it, what do you consider necessary in the way of kitchen, dinette, bathroom, and storage.  And of course consider your price range.  Once you’ve established your Coleman camper price range and know the vehicle tow capacity, you can begin the process of narrowing down your choices of Coleman campers. 

If your camper budget runs to the modest investment, or if you will not expect to use your folding camper very often of for very long, you could consider purchasing a used Coleman camper.  You can find quite a good selection on eBay, running from several hundred dollars for an older model beginning in 1967 to upward of ten thousand dollars for a newer top of the line Coleman camper.  If you’d like to take a look at live auctions for Coleman folding campers now on eBay, please CLICK HERE: Coleman Camper on eBay. At the time this post was written there were 15 Coleman campers on eBay, ranging in price from $202. to $5,600. Most of these Coleman campers had quite a few bids. If you’d like to take a look at actual sales prices on eBay for Coleman campers, CLICK HERE: Coleman Camper on eBay – Sold Prices. Sold prices for Coleman campers on eBay ranged from a low of $1,625 for a 1993 Coleman camper to a high of $9,500. for a 2007 Coleman camper – Fleetwood Evolution – which includes a toy hauler space onboard the trailer. (A high end model that was practically brand new.)

When looking at a used Coleman camper bear in mind the age of the awning fabric, and how that tent camper has been maintained and stored. A major improvement in the Coleman camper line occured in 1992, when a better brand of fabric for the tent trailer was introduced, increasing the longevity of the camper. Coleman campers built prior to 1992 have the older type of fabric, so this year is significant when you’re looking at Coleman camper models.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a used Coleman camper:

• What is the condition of the awning fabric of the camper
• What is the condition of the tires of the camper
• What is the condition of the hitch, electrical system, and plumbing of the camper
• What is the overall condition of the body and frame, doors, and cabinets of the camper
• What is the condition of the flooring of the camper
• Is there any rust or evidence of water leaks
• Does the owner have the clear title to transfer the camper
• What is the condition of the mattresses and cushions
• What is the condition of the heater, AC, water heater, stove, sink
• Is there an awning attachment – if so the condition

Enjoy your new camping lifestyle with a Coleman camper – the leading folding tent camper manufacturer in the US!

CLICK HERE:  Fold Down Camper Trailers on eBay Now

You can see quite a few more searches on eBay for folding tent campers here: Folding Tent Campers on eBay.

When you’re looking into buying a folding camper you’ll need to know that there are many models to choose from. When you’re looking at a used folding camper take into consideration the overall condition of the trailer, wheels, towing mechanism and electrical system. Thoroughly check out the interior condition, and make note of anything that needs repair or replacement on the folding camper. Age and method of storage are critical when establishing the value of the folding camper. When you’re buying a new folding camper you’ll need to keep your price range in mind before you can begin to shop for folding campers. There are so many wonderful models to choose from you’ll have a tough time if you shop prior to establishing the budget for your new folding camper.

Consider how long you plan to keep the folding camper prior to shopping. If a year or two is all you need, you can really cut corners (don’t cut safety corners) when you buy your folding camper. If you plan to keep it five or more years take the extra time in the beginning to make a thoughtful assesment of your needs and wants, when making your decison of which folding camper to purchase.

Have a great time in the great outdoors with your new folding camper!

Read more here:  Folding Campers