How to Price a Trailer on Kelley Blue Book
by Editorial TeamIt's not unusual to see vehicles pulling trailers on the highways. Trailers designed for camping or for transporting items are convenient to have and easy to use. If you're in the market for a used one and want to know what the typical price for a particular make and model would be, the Kelley Blue Book makes it easy to find out.
Check out Trailer Values
Step 1
Determine that the vehicle you want to price is actually considered a trailer by Kelley Blue Book standards. Trailers, in general, are vehicles designed to be hitched to and towed behind another vehicle. However, the Kelley Blue Book only provides prices for travel trailers (including pop-up campers), fifth wheels (towable RVs) and folding trailers.
Step 2
Decide which type of trailer you want to price. For transporting small goods and light vehicles, a folding trailer is needed. Fifth wheels and travel trailers are intended for recreational use, and many of them are actually fully equipped recreational vehicles.
Step 3
Gather pertinent information about the trailer you wish to price. This includes knowing the number of axles as well as the length, width and weight.
Step 4
Locate the correct section of the Kelley Blue Book in which to price the trailer. The sections are delineated by type of trailer. Use the tabs on the sides of the pages to locate the beginning of each section.
Step 5
Use the model/make cross-reference section in the back of the Kelley Blue Book to find the correct manufacturer of a particular model.
Step 6
Search for the correct make of trailer. The Kelley Blue Book alphabetizes listings by make and then sorts the results by year (oldest to newest). The available models for each year are displayed under the heading.
Step 7
Note if there are any special notations above the listing. Kelley Blue Book includes comments about particular models if there's information that is relevant to the sale or purchase. For example, if a particular model is no longer manufactured, this will be noted.
Step 8
Review the information in the identifying columns to make sure the trailer options are an exact match. Many makes of trailers have similar models that vary only slightly from one another.
Step 9
Look at the trade-in, private party and suggested retail values. The trade-in value is what your trailer is worth to a dealer when you're trading it in. The private party value is a reasonable estimation of what the trailer is worth if you sell or buy it privately, while the retail value is the amount you should expect to pay on a dealer's lot.
Step 10
Use the Optional Equipment section to see if the trailer has additional features that would increase its value. Likewise, use the provided Mileage Schedules to see if the trailer is within the expected range for its age.
Tips
- A folding trailer will often have collapsible sides and is used for light transportation of items including, but not limited to, ATVs and motorcycles.
- While you can price most types of vehicles on Kelley Blue Book online, trailers values can only be found in the print edition of the Kelley Blue Book, which is published twice a year. Your local library or bookstore is likely to carry the most recent copy of the guide or you can order it at Kelley Blue Book online.
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