From Dream to Nightmare: When Your Junk RV Becomes a Financial Burden

The dream of many with an adventurous spirit is to own their own RV. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a hardcore boondocker, there are plenty of joys to owning your own rig. For as much fun as they are to own, RVs can be hard on the wallet, especially once they have some years and miles under their belts.

Those who are calling it quits and going back to a full-time life in their bricks and sticks can sell their junk motorhome for cash in Virginia. Specialized junk RV dealers buy them all, regardless of age, mileage, or costly but needed repairs. But what do you do when your RV dream turns into a financial nightmare? This article will help guide you through the chaos.

How To Know When You’re Spending Too Much on Your RV

All types of vehicles will require periodic maintenance and the occasional repair now and then, and RVs are no different. However, older ones tend to have more frequent and costly repairs due to how they’re used. Every bump on a campground’s road adds to the wear and tear of a heavy vehicle that already takes a beating. Before you can determine if your rig’s repair expenses aren’t financially the best idea, you’ll need to have an idea of what its current value is.

There are two easy methods to figuring out what your RV is worth. Take a look at the popular online used RV selling platforms and see if you can locate one for sale that’s similar to yours. You’ll want to find those of similar make, model, mileage, and condition. Although you’ll only see asking prices, it’ll give you a good indication of what ballpark figure they’re worth.

With that number in mind, now use an online recreational vehicle value calculator. Simply pop in some details and you’ll be given an estimated value of what it’s worth. Armed with the knowledge of what your rig’s resale value is, you can begin to see if yours is worth keeping or if it is simply a financial burden.

Cost of Repairs

Older rigs, especially those with more than six digits on their odometers are ripe for necessary but costly repairs. While things like tires, brakes, and batteries are expected to eventually be replaced, other much more expensive repairs are bound to happen. If the cost of one or two necessary repairs is equal to half or more of your RV’s resale value, this could put yours into the unkind category of being a junk RV.

Common, costly repairs to older RVs can include:

• Broken or stuck slide-outs
• Transmission and suspicion issues
• Blown auxiliary generator
• Blown engine head gaskets
• Roof-mounted air conditioner failure
• Wastewater plumbing failure

Frequency of Repairs

It’s not just one or two costly repairs that can cause an RV to become a financial burden. How frequently it needs minor repairs can turn an old RV into a junk RV. If repairing your rig seems almost constant, it’s time to consider if it’s worth the time, effort, and money to continue to do so.

Tally up your rig’s repair bills for the last 8 months, no matter how small, and see if it’s nickel and diming you to death. If some of these repairs have left you stranded, factor in towing costs. Once your RV becomes a questionable risk of breaking down while on the road, it could be a big red flag that it’s time to sell it to a junk RV dealer.

The 10-Year Rule

Something worth mentioning is the RV 10-year rule. Some campgrounds around the country will refuse reservations or entry if an RV is over a decade old. Older motorhomes typically show their age by their cosmetic damage, and some campgrounds don’t want less-than-shiny ones gracing their property. Owners of older RVs that are showing their age and also have costly repairs could be reason enough to make the decision that it’s time to unload them.

When Your Junk RV Becomes a Financial Burden: The Bottom Line

Determining if and when your dream of RV ownership has plunged from dream to nightmare can cause worry and trepidation for some. Unfortunately, older rigs will eventually become a hole in the wallet. As necessary repairs keep piling up, there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough. Unless your rig has extreme sentimental value, once its costs outweigh its worth, it’s time to throw in the towel.

Fortunately, you can easily unload a junk RV for cash by contacting a junk RV dealership. They’ll come to you, two it away, and leave you with cash, a check, or a payment to your favorite cash app. Don’t keep throwing good money after bad. Give a junk RV dealership a call today.