Camper blue book is established by evaluating the current condition of the camper, and comparing that condition to the camper blue book of other similar campers that have recently sold in the same geographical area.  Feeling overwhelmed with the process of establishing blue book for your camper?  Let’s break down the steps to better understand the camper blue book process.

1. Make a detailed list of the condition of the interior and exterior of the camper to establish the the camper blue book.  Do this whether you’re buying or selling a new or used camper.  (Obviously this step will be easier with a brand new camper on the sales lot, but take the time to do this step anyway.)  Keep yourself organized and on track with an expert kit of checklists for inspecting campers, trailers, 5th wheels, and RV’s.  Use these checklists for inspecting both the exterior and interior of the camper.  Click Here!  CHECKLIST FOR CAMPER BLUE BOOK
2. The camper book value is an estimate of the value the camper would sell for in the current market at the time of the sale.  It’s good to look up the current camper blue book with the Nada online site.  (This is useful for setting camper blue book for newer models only, not older or vintage camper blue book.)  This is an estimate only, but it’s a really good starting point.  Kelly blue book is helpful also, it’s just not as easy to access.  You can purchase the kelly blue book manuals quarterly, or ask your local librarian to see if a copy is available locally or if the library can borrow a copy.  (They’re moderately expensive.) You can also ask your motorhome or camper dealer to show you their copy, they need it too to help set the camper blue book.
3. A test drive for a motorhome is recommended. It can be a challenge when you’re buying a motorhome to look objectively at the motorhome when you evaluate the book value. Here again is where it’s handy to have an impartial checklist to use. Imagine yourself as a professional inspector with clipboard and list handy! This will help you to see things clearly as they are, not as you would have them! Interested in more info about camper inspection checklists? Click Here!.
4. Check the camper blue book on eBay.  By researching eBay Motors for sales of similar campers you can get a good idea of the blue book.  Here’s the trick with eBay Motors – don’t search the current listings!  The current eBay Motors current listings for campers show the seller’s desired sales price, which isn’t necessarily the benchmark for blue book for campers!  To get current realistic market camper blue book from eBay Mortors, look at the upper right hand corner of the screen for eBay Motors and click on “Advanced Search.” You’ll be able to fill in the boxes for the type of camper you need to evaluate the blue book for. And – very important! – select “completed listings” only. This is the gold nugget of information you’re looking for – how much have they actually sold for? Here’s a link to eBay Motors, and the page for “completed listings” is already selected for you. Just fill in the information from the menus and you’ll see the searches of the completed listings.

eBay Motors Screen for Camper Blue Book

Need camper value?  When searching for your new or used camper value take into consideration these important points!  Camper value consists of age, brand, condition, location and economy.

1. The year of manufacture plays a large part in determining camper value.  Unless you’re evaluating a vintage camper, the newer the better is generally true.  Safety features of current models are probably better than previous models.  Experience in manufacturing generally leads to better styles and workmanship, positively affecting the camper value.
2. The camper brand and its’ popularity are key to camper value.  Although one camper might be manufactured exactly the same as another brand, brand is important in camper value.
3. It goes without saying that the condition is vitally important in determing camper value.  A well maintained camper will very obviously be of a higher value than a camper poorly maintained.
4. Recent sales data will support your estimate of camper value.  You can check eBay motors, Nada guides, Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds for info.  Craigslist is becoming increasingly popular also for checking camper value.  eBay Motors is easy to check live auctions for the geographical area you are looking to establish the camper value.
5. The overall economy will affect your camper value.  When people have excess money to purchase items, it drives inflation.  When excess cash is not readily available, inflation will drop, and prices will go down.  The definition of inflation is too many dollars chasing too few products.  Depending on whether you’re buying or selling, you’ll like this factor of camper value.  At the time of this post we’re in a period of next to zero inflation, which will keep the value of a camper very low.  There is an excess of inventory on the market currently, so this is a buyers market.
6. Geographic area plays a part in camper value.  Some areas have milder climates, supporting camping for more days per year.  Also consider how the camper has been stored, inside out of the weather, or outside to brave it alone.  You might also look into whether the camper has been driven much on winter roads that have been icy and salted down.  The salt will age the underbelly of the camper, and that will pull down the camper value.

Have we left out anything you think about when it comes to camper value?  Please join the conversation and let us know what you secret is to establishing camper value!

Read More:

Travel Trailer Values – New and Used Travel Trailer Value

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.

• Age of the pop up camper affects the blue book
• Brand of the pop up camper affects the market desirability
• Condition of the pop up camper affects the blue book
• Location Location Location!  Just like in real estate, where the pop up camper is located will definately affect the pop up camper blue book
• Features of the pop up camper are going to be very important for the blue book

We’ve already covered in detail how to determine the actual recent sales prices of pop up campers on eBay. 

Please review this post for all you need to know about the pop up camper (folding camper) on eBay.  Click Here:  Pop Up Campers on eBay

This is a good marketplace to check because they have a huge variety of styles and ages of pop up campers, and you can really get a feel for what yours would go for, or shop for the purchase of one.  If you do buy a pop up camper please familiarize yourself with the fabulous eBay Motors buyer protection policies, and we’ll provide the link to that info on eBay here: eBay Purchase Protection Policy

Kelly Blue Book offers very well made guides that are published quarterly, and you can subscribe to the service or purchase one individually. On their website you can contact their area sales rep, and they will get back to you about your inquiry. I don’t know why they don’t have a shopping cart on their website. So if you’re looking for the Kelly Blue Book Value right now, you’ll probably need to call your local library or camper dealer to look at their Kelly Blue Book. That’s why I like to check online with Nada guides, where you can easily look up the blue book value info if it’s a camper less than 20 years old. For older, vintage camper models I prefer to look it up on eBay, by going to eBay motors, and searching the completed listings. CLICK HERE: eBay Motors for campers and RVs.

Related Reading:

• Coleman Pop Up Campers

Are you working on a vintage trailer restoration project?  How is it going for you?  Did you know that there’s an entire website for Vintage Trailer Supply?  It’s easy to locate those hard to find vintage trailer parts!!! Trailer awnings really make a vintage trailer look sharp, so why not find the lovely trailer awning you need?

If you need ideas and supplies for restoring your vintage camper trailer, you’ll love the Vintage Trailer Supply website!
Click Here: Vintage Trailer Supply

What type of vintage trailer do you have, and what projects are you working on?  Is this what you’re looking for?  What do you need for your vintage trailer restoration project?  Here are some of the items you can find on the Vintage Trailer Supply site:

• Vintage Trailer Windows, Doors, Vents Restoration
• Vintage Trailer Chassis Restoration
• Table Parts, Curtain Hardware, Interior Lighting, Cabinet Hardware
• Vintage Trailer Moulding and Trim for Restoration Projects
• Vintage Trailer Baggage Compartments and Front Doors – Replacements and Upgrades
• Electrical, Plumbing, Propane, Appliances for your Vintage Camper Trailer Restoration Work
• Polishing Aluminum, Caulks and Sealants, Rust Preventers, Cleaners for your Vintage Campers
• Vintage Awnings, Rivets and Fasteners For Exterior Restoration Projects

Please leave a comment and share with us about the vintage camper trailer restoration project you’re working on, and if you’d like to show of some pictures we’d love to post them!

tags:vintage trailer restoration related posts: Vintage Trailer Slideshow,  Vintage Camper Trailer Rentals  Vintage Trailers Sales Prices

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There are so many interesting vintage camper and trailer websites! You can also check out the blogroll on this site. Do you have a website or blog about vintage campers? Let’s exchange links! Just leave a comment and get the ball rolling!

Read some more: Vintage Campers on eBay

Technorati Tags: teardrop trailers, teardrop trailers DMV, teardrop trailers blue book, teardrop trailer hobby

They had over a 100 different used Nada Guides for sale recently at very reasonable prices. Why not order the new Nada Recreation Vehicle Guide? It takes the guesswork out of establishing the blue book value of a camper, RV, etc. The new Nada 2009 Recreation Vehicle Appraisal Guide January 2009 issue ships December 17, 2009! The single issue price is $66., or the 1 year subscription (3 issues) costs $132. The new Nada 2009 Recreation Vehicle covers 15 Years of Used Wholesale, Retail, and Suggested List Prices from 1995 – 2009. The Nada Recreation Vehicle Guide covers Truck Campers, Camping Trailers, Motor Homes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Park Models and Heavy-Duty Tow Vehicles. This edition of the Nada Guide for Recreation Vehicles includes easy-to-use mileage tables, optional equipment sections, freight chart schedules and more! Updated 3 Times per Year (Jan. – May – Sept.) These references are very handy, and even a copy that is a few months out of date is very useful.

Another way to locate a copy of the Nada Guide to Recreational Vehicles is to check on eBay. There are two ways to search for Nada Guides on eBay. The first is to search the books category on eBay itself, and I have done that and saved the search: CLICK HERE: Check eBay for Nada Guides The second, and probably better of the to methods to locate a Nada Recreational Guide on eBay is to search eBay’s Half.com website. I’ve done that also, and saved the search: CLICK HERE: Check eBay Half.com for Nada Guides

Have you used the Nada Guide for Recreational Vehicles? Was it helpful to determine the actual blue book value of a camper? Please leave a comment and share your experiences. Thanks!

Please Read the 2009 Used Nada Post:  Used Nada

Technorati Tags: Nada Recreation Guide, Camper Blue Book Value, RV Blue Book Value, Nada 2009 Recreation Vehicle Appraisal Guide