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.

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!

• 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

Folding Campers offer a great into to campers with a budget, and folding campers also solve the problem of having too much gear to fit in your car.  To get you started and to see the variety of folding campers, you’ll find here the links to eBay to see actual folding campers for sale.  Different people call folding campers by different names, so I’ve listed several of the search term names you might try to make sure you’re getting the best searches.  If you’re looking for a folding camper for sale, just click on the links below.  If you’re trying to establish the blue book value of a folding camper, you’ll want to take one extra step once you’re on the eBay site with the searches below.  On the upper right hand corner of the page, click on the upper right on the word “advanced” and then select “RVs and Campers” from the drop down box, and then “folding camper” from the drop down box labeled “type”. (I’ll do it for you, please CLICK HERE: Fold Down Campers on eBay – “Completed Listings”) You’ll need to sign in to your account. If you don’t have one take a few minutes to register with eBay, it’s free. When I checked at the time of this listing there were 228 matches for completed listings on eBay for folding camping trailers. Basically the folding camper is a trailer that has portions that pull out or fold up or down.  Depending on where you’re from, and also the manufacturer, they’re called folding, fold down, or pop up campers. Some are hard sided, some have canvas tent sides. Some have a flat roof, some are in the shape of a A-line. There are even some models of pop-up campers that are designed to fit in the bed of a pick up truck! There are a variety of styles, so get creative with your eBay searches for folding campers!

• Folding Trailers on eBay
• Fold Down Campers on eBay
• Pop Up Campers Used on eBay
• Jayco Pop Up Campers on eBay
• Coleman Pop Up Camper

Whether you’re buying or selling a folding camping trailer, you’re sure to enjoy browsing on eBay!

For more reading about folding campers, visit:  Folding Campers

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

Coleman Pop Up Campers are a great way to get your feet wet in the outdoors!  If you’ve been pitching a tent when you camp and would like to move up a notch or two on the comfort scale, you can’t go wrong with one of the best pop up campers on the market:  Coleman pop up campers. 

If you’re thinking of purchasing a Coleman pop up camper, and wondering what steps to take, here are some suggestions to help you avoid analysis paralysis!  First, before you set foot outside your front door, determine your camping budget.  Things to consider include the number of times per year you’ll use your new (or new to you!) Coleman pop up camper, and how many years you plan to keep it.  You’ll want to make sure that buying a pop up camper makes more sense for you than an occasional camper rental.  Then take a look at your annual camping budget overall.  How much do you spend for gas to get to your location?  Do you pay extra for recreational needs when you get to your camping location, such as boat rental?  What are campground fees and other expenses?  Will you need to purchase or modify a vehicle to tow your new Coleman pup up camper?  What is the tow rating for your vehicle?  That part is super important as it will limit your tow capacity.  Next, determine what portion of this budget is for the new Coleman pop up camper itself.  Does this portion include insurance for the new camper?  Once you’ve factored in all the details, you should be left with the dollar amount you can spend on a pop up camper.  Write this number down!  Consider this number carefully.  When you’re confident with this number, and ONLY then, have some fun shopping for your new pop up coleman camper! 

Take a general look at Craigslist and in your local newspapers to see what is available, to get an idea of the Coleman popup model you like.  Do you need the bare bones basics or do you prefer all the creature comforts?  Will you be camping in summer warmth only, or need winter warmth?  As you narrow down your needs and look at available models, you’ll be making a list of the models you see, the prices, and you’ll naturally be drawn more in one direction more than others.  If you can afford  a new,Coleman camper,  you might want to visit some dealers, clutching tightly the piece of paper with your budgeted figure!  It can get pretty overwhelming there on the showroom floor as you look at all the Coleman pop up campers options!

Here are a few suggestions for additional reading:

Click Here:  Pop Up Camper Blue Book Values
Click Here:  Pop Up Camper Values

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

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