All good things come to an end. You may have thought of that one before, especially while looking at the camper trailer that’s been sitting in your yard for the last couple of years.
Maybe the walls are coming apart, the engine won’t start, or you just want the extra space. In all cases, you’re going to have to say goodbye to your old adventure buddy.
Then you realize, you’re not sure how to scrap a camper trailer. What are the options? Is it a hectic process? Will I get any money out of it?
To answer all your questions, we’ve listed four ways you can scrap your camper trailer, some of which you can make money from!
Things to do Before Scrapping Your Camper Trailer (Optional)
Before scrapping your trailer, you can dismantle it and sell the parts yourself. Although this is entirely optional, it’s a great way to ensure you get every penny out of your RV.
Below are some brief steps you may take before scrapping your camper trailer.
1. Disconnect the Battery
Before jumpstarting to any of the other steps, it’s important to disconnect your battery first.
This is to ensure you’re safe from any live wires when detaching any appliances or electronics.
2. Remove Personal Belongings
After switching your battery off, the first thing you should do is remove any personal belongings inside your camper trailer.
This includes appliances, furniture, electronics, and anything else that will be destroyed in the scrapping process. These can be sold for a great deal of money, especially if they’re in good condition!
3. Detach All Hookups
Next up, disconnect all utility lines and plumbing systems. This includes electricity, water pumps, and the sewer drain. This also includes TVs and Wi-Fi, depending on how fancy your RV is!
4. Disconnect the Propane Tank
Finally, disconnect your RV’s propane tanks. These can eventually be sold as scrap metal or to people interested in transforming them into items such as barbecue grills or air tanks!
How to Scrap a Camper Trailer
There are several ways to scrap your camper trailer. Choosing one of these methods will depend on whether you want to profit off of it or just get rid of it.
Here are four different ways you can scrap your camper trailer!
1. Sell Your Camper Trailer to a Junkyard
The easiest way to scrap your old camper trailer is to sell it to a local junkyard. That is if your camper is beyond repair.
If you don’t know where to find one, you can just google “RV junk yards near me”. This will tell you the closest junk yards are to drop your camper off.
You can also just call them up and ask them to come to pick up your RV. This is a relatively simple process since you won’t be exerting any effort.
You may be required to fill out a couple of forms regarding the RV model and other minor details. Overall, it’s a time-saving process and you get paid almost on the spot.
It’s worth noting that junkyards frequently purchase RVs because the majority of them include valuable parts. Most people believe that if their motorhome is no longer useful, it has little to no value. However, this isn’t always the case.
The trick is to understand how much your RV is worth. For example, if you believe your trailer still has valuable parts, bargain with the salvage yard about the price. Depending on the value of your RV components, you could get more money.
Overall, this is an easy method to scrap your trailer while also profiting from it. Just keep in mind that no matter how hard you negotiate, you’re probably not going to get a lot of money out of it.
2. Sell Your Camper Trailer Online
Nowadays, people pretty much sell everything online, so why not RVs? You can sell your camper by listing it on websites such as eBay or Craigslist.
In some cases, to attract potential buyers, your trailer must be in reasonable shape. As a result, you may have to spend money yourself on your RV to repair any non-functioning parts. This is so you can make some good money off of it online.
Pro tip: When submitting the ad, make sure you specify the RV’s condition, what is and isn’t included, and so on.
3. Look for DIY Enthusiasts
Even if your trailer is in pretty bad shape, you’d be surprised at how many DIYers would love to get their hands on it. From tiny homes, and mini-shops, to food trucks, RVs can be transformed into pretty much anything!
Sometimes, DIYers show interest in buying an old trailer solely to dismantle its parts for their other projects.
Whatever they decide to do with the camper, it’s a good idea to look for DIYers as potential buyers. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?
4. Donate your Camper Trailer
If you’re not aiming to make money off of your RV, you can donate it to a local charity! Again, this depends on your trailer’s condition.
Although donating to non-profit organizations obviously won’t earn you any money, you can still get a tax reduction, and in some cases, a vacation voucher!
The best part is that most organizations can pick up your RV from your location without you having to move a muscle.
Not only by donating your RV will you get rid of it with no cost, but you’ll also be helping someone in need. To put the cherry on top, you may also be eligible for tax reduction!
Final Thoughts
To recap, if you’re looking to profit from scrapping your trailer, you may sell it to a junkyard, online, or DIY enthusiasts for their next project
You might also choose to dismantle your RV and sell the pieces yourself. This method ensures that you earn as much money as possible from scrapping your RV.
If money isn’t the goal and you just want to get rid of your camper trailer, you can donate it to a local charity.
Good luck!