2021 RV Models with Great Resale Values
What are the RVs that hold their value the best? If you’re looking at five-year-old RVs, which ones are going to keep their value and which are not? We looked through the listings at RV Trader to see which RVs from model year 2021 still had great resale value.
In addition to searching marketplaces like RV Trader, you can consult NADA Guides, which provide industry-standard RV valuations. Travel trailers typically depreciate 10 to 20 percent in the first year, with total depreciation averaging 36 to 38 percent after five years. But you can get travel trailers in all ranges of quality and, therefore, in resale value.
Airstream
You will see several times where a brand’s cachet and iconic status really does make a difference in the overall value their models keep. Nowhere is this more evident than with Airstream, whose value can hold up to 50 percent of original price even after a decade.
Part of this is the reputation for quality the company has, but there is no denying that you can recognize an Airstream the moment you see one. There are many passionate fans of the brand, which means new owners are joining a large community of support.
Another interesting thing about Airstream products is that the longevity of the shell on the trailers, along with the well-established owner base, means parts are readily available to keep the trailers going for a very long time.
Jayco
Jayco has done very well with resale value, according to insurance company Roamly – which may come as a surprise. In their report, Jayco RVs consistently rank number one for resale value, with RV Pro voting them the leader in quality, warranty, and resale value categories. Here’s why that matters to your wallet: when a company offers a three-year limited structural warranty (longer than anyone else), they’re putting their money where their mouth is.
A while back we got to tour Jayco’s facilities and saw that they had invested very heavily into a number of pre-delivery inspection (PDI) facilities to ensure that every Jayco that leaves the factory is given a full and comprehensive inspection to check that all systems are working properly before they are delivered to dealers.
Grand Design
Grand Design has built a very loyal fan base over the years and their ongoing commitment to building a quality product rewards those who consider resale value when shopping for – or selling – an RV. With Grand Design being a Winnebago product since 2016, the company has done a very good job of remaining in the forefront in terms of resale value.
Tiffin
Once again, having a strong brand awareness is a major factor in resale value. Tiffin was still an independent company when it produced the 2021 model year with the Tiffin family at the helm headed by Bob Tiffin. (Thor purchased Tiffin at the end of 2020.) With the consistent brand reputation comes a strong owner support community, both of which help these 2021 offerings keep their value.
Winnebago
Some companies require no introduction: Winnebago is such a recognized brand that some folks refer to RVs as Winnebagos. This is particularly true in the Class B market where Winnebago continues to lead. With recognized leadership comes improved resale value, according to Roamly.
Lazy Daze
Unfortunately, by 2021 Lazy Daze was winding down; but if you can find one, it’s likely going to be a gem. The company built a very high quality Class C RV using an aluminum skin. Lazy Daze RVs were sold factory-direct, with a lot of them being custom-built for the owners.
The aluminum skin still tends to look great today, but finding an owner who is willing to part with theirs isn’t an easy task – and their rarity on the marketplace translates to resale value. If you’re on the hunt for one, there are groups of enthusiastic owners and that could be a good place to start.
Factors That Do (and Don’t) Affect RV Resale Value
Fiberglass Fantastic
One of the biggest factors affecting how an RV keeps its value is how it was originally built: fiberglass-bodied RVs are champions in this regard. Companies like Casita, Escape and Oliver build all-fiberglass-bodied trailers that tend not to leak or deteriorate over time. They also maintain their appearance over time, which is another factor in determining resale value. If you don’t know that something is five years old because it looks like a brand-new example, that helps with long-term value.
Class B RVs
Class B RVs start life as commercial vans and then become RVs at the hands of companies that upfit interiors to them. That means their exteriors are largely unchanged and, since they’re built of metal and painted by a vehicle manufacturer, they tend to hold their value very well.
Further, many of the companies that do build Class B RVs do little to decorate them, unlike most RVs. As with fiberglass egg trailers, the latest model from this year won’t look significantly different from one that was built five years ago, which helps with resale value.
Interestingly, Class B RVs are really hot in today’s market, which is another factor boosting their value in the used market. It’s no secret that the price of everything, including RVs, has gone up dramatically recently, so even a five-year-old Class B RV that hasn’t seen much depreciation will still seem like a bargain today.
How to Keep Any RV’s Resale Value Higher:
- Keep detailed maintenance records – buyers love documentation
- Store it properly – covered storage adds thousands to resale value
- Address issues immediately – small problems become expensive dealbreakers
- Keep all systems functioning as new – and be ready to demonstrate those features
- Minimize significant changes to the function or appearance of the RV – buyers like a “stock” experience
What Hurts Resale Value Most:
- Water damage – the kiss of death for any RV
- Deferred maintenance – buyers don’t want additional work or any surprises
- Modifications that can’t be easily reversed – buyers want to make their RV their own
- Missing original equipment or manuals – parts and documentation can be difficult to source
- Smoking or pet damage – the lingering effects can be expensive and time-consuming to address
Marketplace Inventory
Tony Barthel
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