Buying a used trailer, toterhome, or motorhome instead of buying new can be appealing to the price-conscious. Our industry sources offer their best advice about when to buy used over new, and what to look for.

Form a mental image of organizing a race team and paying for it. The team owner or racer is going to have to shell out serious money for a range of needed equipment. First, the team’s going to need a shop, which may turn into a prefabricated building. Next are the tools and other gear needed to build and maintain the race car. Of course, there’s the car itself, plus an inventory of engines, and then racks of tires and wheels.
That’s just for openers, because after all of it, the team still has to make it to the track, which can be just down the road or several states distant. Or the team may be part of a touring series that’s on the road more than it’s at home. The hauling equipment in which a team invests is one of the most consequential, and costly, purchases it will make. Just as an example, a tractor converted into a toterhome or RV-type rig for towing can easily run to $500,000, depending on equipment. And if the race car won’t fit inside, there’s still the trailer to buy.
The good news here is that over more than a generation, an entire industry has arisen that focuses on manufacturing and retailing hauling rigs that are specialized for motorsports use. Many, but not all, are based in and around Elkhart, Indiana, which is the base of operations for much of the US trailer, RV, and private motorcoach industry. While the bulk of their operations is understandably concentrated on the sale of new units, the people who build these rigs agree that buying used can be an attractive alternative for budget-minded race teams that do their homework when selecting a used trailer or hauler.

First, some nomenclature clarifications: “Trailer” refers to exactly that, the wheeled box that carries the team’s equipment and is pulled behind a tow vehicle. “Toterhome” can refer to an RV-converted truck with ramped storage at the rear for a car—or two if they’re vertically stacked. The same name can apply to a tractor, with living quarters arranged in an extended custom cab, which pulls a multi-deck trailer. And for those teams with huge sponsorship or wealthy owners, trailers can be built to 53-foot lengths, with full machine-shop equipment aboard them for the most serious touring competitors.

Tips For Buying Used

Certainly, not every racer is going to be looking at the kind of custom 53-footer that a NASCAR Cup or IndyCar operation will specify. A used buyer is looking for some savings on a rig that’s a good fit for the team’s needs. Many manufacturers have a department for pre-owned sales. One manufacturer of such equipment is inTech in Nappanee, Indiana, which offers a line of all-aluminum trailers from its new inventory, including gooseneck and box trailers with two or three axles. Understandably, inTech prefers its customers buy new, but Doug Moats, and other sources that spoke to PRI, have solid tips for buyers looking to save money via a used purchase. One consideration is the effect of depreciation on the sale.
“New trailers depreciate when you leave the lot, just like new cars,” Moats said. “By purchasing a used trailer, you avoid the steepest part of the depreciation curve. This means that if you decide to sell the trailer later, you may not lose as much as you do with a new trailer.”
Moats further advised that people buying used stick to trailers from known, respected manufacturers, including his own company. Buyers should examine the trailer for overall wear and tear and any obvious structural issues. A buyer should also, always, request maintenance records from the trailer or coach’s previous owner, noting that “regular maintenance is a good indicator that the trailer has been well cared for.”
Moats also advised that a buyer assess whether the trailer or coach’s previous modifications will dovetail with the new owner’s intended use. If the buyer finds evidence of rust, water leaks, or electrical problems, shop elsewhere.
Flying A Motorsports is based in Scott City, Missouri, and specializes in Renegade-built trailers, motorhomes, and toterhomes. The firm also offers a strong selection of pre-owned trailers and vehicles. Christine Boespflug said that one major advantage of buying new is that the product will come with a factory warranty, and racers can still shop based on pricing point. Buyers seeking used equipment usually have additional motivations, she explained.

“Consumers may choose to buy pre-owned due to availability and lead times for new builds if they are in need now and cannot wait,” she said. “Price point can dictate whether new or pre-owned is their best route for their budget. As both trailers and motorcoaches continue to evolve with new features, technology, and options, prices will continue to increase, thus leaving pre-owned the best route for some budgets. Things to consider when buying a pre-owned unit are mileage, age of tires, generator hours, and overall maintenance of the trailer or coach.”
Capitol Renegade in Beltsville, Maryland, sells a full line of equipment that includes pre-owned vehicles, some with custom interiors specified by their original owners. Wayne Quackenbush said that when properly executed, a used purchase can be advantageous for a team with limited funds.
“If you can find a good, clean, used unit, it makes sense to buy it,” Quackenbush said. “The reality is that the demand for good, clean units is so high that it’s clearly a seller’s market. This holds especially true for used trailers. I have seen customers selling a three-year-old trailer for almost what they paid new for it. That’s great for them, but for the person who’s buying it, sooner or later that initial depreciation is going to hit. So when you look at the total expense for the new versus used buyer, they end up at the same expense, or close to it, but the new buyer got to use it as new.”
In any case, Capitol Renegade does have guidelines for “Saturday-night racers” looking to save some cash. Quackenbush said that any used trailer should be examined closely—in person—before a purchasing decision is made. “If you aren’t confident about what you’re looking at, take someone with you,” he said. “If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, so be careful. If, after you’ve done all this, and you like the trailer, and it fits your budget, buy it. Good-quality used trailers sell and sell fast.”
One manufacturer located in the heart of northern Indiana’s trailer belt is United Trailers of Bristol, which specializes in enclosed trailers only, 12 to 53 feet. Jason Dietsch estimated that about 20% of United’s sales represent pre-owned equipment. “New customers often come in and are very specific about how they want it,” he said. “These people [used customers] will take one that’s used, close to what they need, and make it work so they can save some money. On a trailer two years old, you’ll probably save 20% over new. Eight or 10 years old, it’s probably around 50%.”
Inspection of used equipment is critical, Dietsch said, especially the trailer’s underlying structure. “The biggest thing is to look at the frames on them. A lot of frames are built out of tubing, and if the tube gets moisture inside, it will want to rot from the inside out. So make sure there are no soft spots in the tubing. Look underneath and see on the underside if you’ve got rust or undercoating. Then look at the skins on the outside, whether you have corrosion coming through it. Look at the roof and its seals. Most trailers and coaches have aluminum roofs now, and they may just need resealing. If you go inside and see water stains on walls, make sure it’s a leak, or if the roof needs resealing or there’s another problem. We can do it, take care of about anything that’s wrong with it. It happens all the time.”
As a general rule, Dietsch also suggested making sure that the team’s truck is powerful enough to pull the trailer the team’s considering, and that the trailer is up to the load capacity. “Make sure the trailer axles are capable of carrying the weight they’re going to put in them. Usually a three-axle trailer capacity is 21,000 pounds.” When asked for a practical example of this sort of weight consideration, he replied immediately, “Tractor pullers. The tractor probably weighs about 7,000 pounds. They always try to get them through the back door, which puts weight on the back of the trailer, and on the axles. We sell more used than new for this because [buyers] typically have to do a retrofit. We do these custom installations on a regular basis on our sales lot.”

Perhaps the broadest range of trailer brands is manufactured by Novae, whose main base of operations is in Markle, Indiana. John Smith said the firm produces 13 trailer makes including Formula Trailers, Compass, Pace American, Cargo Express, Mirage, Look Trailers, and Impact Trailers, among others. The firm, which sells direct to trailer retailers, offers units for racers that include goosenecks, boxes, and stackers, plus smaller trailers usable by ATV and snowmobile racers. Paying attention to maintenance, and money, is essential for shoppers, Smith said.
“I would say 99% of dealers take trailers in on trade. Used trailers hold their resale very well. If you’re thinking about buying used, depending on the type of trailer, you should compare the price of a new trailer to see if you’re saving a sufficient amount of money to justify buying a used one.
“For any trailer, you need to see if the ramp hinges need to be greased,” Smith said. “If the trailer hasn’t been operated in a long time, maybe put up on blocks with the tires removed, the axles must be properly greased. You need to inspect the undercarriage. Road and de-icing chemicals are really hard on any trailer—aluminum or steel—so you have to make sure it’s not rusted out.”

Configuring To Your Needs

Featherlite Trailers in Cresco, Iowa, boasts of 50 years of trailering experience, and Tim Masud estimated that used sales average 10% of Featherlite’s business. He said that in general, both new and used sales have their places in the industry.
“There are advantages to both. One of the biggest misconceptions that happens in used trailers is, don’t price against a new trailer. There’s no [Kelley] Blue Book for used trailers, so the price of used can be like the Wild West. I’ve seen used trailers sell for more than a person who recently bought it new from us. The first thing, make sure of its new value, because that’s how to establish the value of a used trailer. Second is, there’s a big difference if you’re financing the trailer. The bottom line is, what do you get for your money? New trailer financing will be less, with better terms, than what you’d get on a used trailer.”
Masud particularly recommends that buyers check a used vehicle’s tires for uneven wear, which could be an indicator of structural issues that can be expensive to fix. “Make sure the lights work, and look for leaks,” he said. “To do a brake job, that’s going to cost you $1,000 to $2,000 right there.”
ATC Trailers of Nappanee, Indiana, builds everything from 6-by-10-foot cargo trailers to toters and toyboxes, along with car haulers aimed specifically at racers. Kaylie Miller noted that ATC Trailers are exclusively fabricated from aluminum, with welded frames, which can help allay corrosion fears.
ATC is a manufacturing-only operation but also has a dealer body that offers used trailers. One advantage ATC enjoys in that market, according to Miller, is its proprietary LifeTrac system, which allows a buyer to configure the trailer’s interior for his or her own specific use and is especially adaptable to used equipment. “LifeTrac allows buyers to rearrange the trailer as they need,” Miller said. “We sell both race car and show car packages, which allow you to add cabinets, coat hooks, and whatever else is needed to screw into the trailer. You can install what you need with LifeTrac and make the trailer totally your own even if it’s a used trailer.”
It’s not a manufacturer, but Eldorado Trailer Sales of Eldorado, Wisconsin, is a family-owned retailer whose brands include Renegade, Show Hauler motorhomes, and Bolt Custom truck conversions, plus a variety of trailers. Abby Kopf, whose family owns Eldorado, said that strong, post-pandemic supplies of new equipment have modified the equations for buying used. “It can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. When we take a used coach in trade, we look at generator hours, date codes on the tires, the condition of the roof. Those are all things that make the value of a unit. Replacing the generator and tires on a unit right now can cost you 20 grand.”

As with other retailers, Eldorado emphasizes that a pre-purchase inspection for any piece of towing or hauling equipment is critical. “The flooring, furniture, that stuff can be changed,” she said. “We’re looking more at the overall condition of the shell itself, and then the bigger ticket items, which are going to be your generator, batteries, and all of that stuff right off the bat. Be sure the A/C is functioning. Mileage, from a dealer perspective, doesn’t play a huge factor. Most of these chassis are meant to go 600,000 or 700,000 miles, and for a high-mileage unit in our market, most of them are barely hitting 200,000 miles. We’re not too overly concerned on the motor or transmission. Sometimes it’s actually more concerning when you see somebody that has a 2006 model and it has 29,000 miles on it, because then you’re more worried about, has it just been sitting, is everything dry rotted and cracked, or has it been wrecked.”
Kopf noted that at Eldorado, current market trends mean that a rig that sold new for $170,000 in 2004 can still command $170,000 today. With used coaches or toterhomes, Eldorado insists that the steering tires be no more than three years old, and five years at the rear. On Renegade rigs, the forward bunk area is always inspected for leaks. “The last thing you want to do is spend $200,000 on a used unit and then have to spend another $50,000 when you get home to bring it up to where it should have been to begin with.
“It all depends on how used they’re willing to go,” Kopf added. “What’s kind of unique about the toterhome market specifically is that the units we sold new in 2004, for $170,000, in good condition, well taken care of, those are still $170,000 units today. The cost to replace them, say with a 45-foot Renegade, you’re over $500,000 now.”
One guideline that the sources agree on is that new or used, sticking with a unit from an established, well-regarded manufacturer or retailer will pay dividends for buyers.
“Be really cautious,” advised Dietsch of United Trailers. “There’s a lot of junk out there. One of the biggest calls we get at our dealership is that someone has a unit that’s one year old and they want to trade it in because it’s cheap and not holding up. Some of these things are like toilet-paper holders.”

SOURCES

ATC Trailers
atctrailers.com
Capitol Renegade
capitolrenegade.com
Eldorado Trailer Sales
eldoradotrailersales.com
Featherlite Trailers
fthr.com
Flying A Motorsports
flyingamotorsports.com
inTech Trailers
intechtrailers.com
Novae
novae.com
United Trailers
united-trailers.com