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Published April 25, 2020 | Last updated September 2, 2026
If you are shopping for a new travel trailer, do not assume the MSRP is the price you should pay.
RV MSRPs can leave a lot of room for discounting, but there is no single percentage that works for every brand, dealer, model, or time of year.
As a rough benchmark, I would not be surprised to see a new travel trailer sell 20% to 30% below MSRP, and sometimes more on aging inventory or models with very inflated sticker prices. But I would never walk into a dealership assuming you are automatically entitled to 35% or 40% off.
The better question is: What are other dealers actually selling the same RV for?
That is the number I would negotiate from.
How Much Did I Negotiate Off My RV?
When Susan and I bought our new Class A, the MSRP was about $235,000.
We paid about $160,000.
That was roughly $75,000 off MSRP, or about 32%.
I knew going in that RV sticker prices could have a lot of room built into them, so I was not negotiating from the idea that MSRP was somehow the “real” price.
Travel trailers and motorhomes are different markets, but the lesson is the same: research the real selling price before you negotiate.
Do Not Negotiate From MSRP Alone
This is probably the biggest mistake a first-time RV buyer can make.
If an RV has a $50,000 MSRP and the dealer offers it to you for $40,000, that sounds like a $10,000 win.
But if three other dealers are advertising the same year, make, model, and floor plan for $35,000, then $40,000 is not a good deal at all.
I would search nationally, not just within 50 miles of home. RVs are expensive enough that traveling a few hours—or even farther—for the right deal can make sense.
We have a separate guide on how to know if you are paying the right price for an RV.
1. Get Real Competing Prices Before You Negotiate
I would get prices from several dealers on the exact same RV whenever possible.
Same model year. Same floor plan. Similar options.
Then you have something real to negotiate with.
I would rather say, “Dealer B has the same trailer for $3,500 less. Can you beat that?” than play games or make up a fake competing offer.
2. Negotiate the Out-the-Door Price, Not Just the RV Price
This is where buyers can think they negotiated a great deal and still overpay.
A dealer can discount the trailer and then add freight, prep, PDI, documentation fees, accessory packages, and other charges back onto the deal.
I want to know the out-the-door price before I agree to anything.
Our article on RV dealer fees explains which charges to look for.
3. Keep Financing Separate From the Sale Price
Do not negotiate from the monthly payment.
A dealer can make almost any RV look affordable by stretching the loan term.
Negotiate the actual purchase price first. Then look at financing.
I would also shop financing before going to the dealership so I know what rate and payment I can get elsewhere.
And I would not assume paying cash gets you a better price. Dealers can make money arranging financing, so cash does not automatically give you more negotiating power.
4. Be Careful With Trade-Ins
If you have an RV to trade, negotiate carefully.
A dealer can give you what looks like a huge trade allowance while quietly giving you less discount on the new trailer.
I want to understand both numbers separately: what I am paying for the new RV and what they are really giving me for the trade.
5. Older Inventory Can Give You More Leverage
A dealer may be more motivated to move a previous-model-year trailer that has been sitting on the lot.
That does not mean every leftover RV is automatically a bargain.
Check how long it has been sitting, inspect the roof and seals, check the tires, look for water intrusion, and make sure it has not been neglected just because it is technically “new.”
6. Be Willing to Leave
This is one of the strongest negotiating tools you have.
You do not need to threaten anyone or play games.
If the numbers do not make sense, leave.
There will be another travel trailer.
The worst time to negotiate is after you have convinced yourself that this is the only RV in the world you can possibly own.
7. Get the RV Inspected Before You Lose Your Leverage
If you are buying used, an independent inspection can give you real negotiating information.
Water damage, bad tires, appliance problems, roof issues, slide problems, and other defects can change what the RV is worth.
I would much rather negotiate from an inspection report than guess what repairs might cost.
If you cannot afford an inspector, at minimum use a detailed inspection checklist and slow down.
8. Negotiating a Used Travel Trailer Is Different
I would not use a fixed “10% off” or “25% off” rule for used trailers.
A used RV might already be priced correctly. Or it might be thousands too high.
Look at comparable listings, age, condition, options, tires, maintenance history, water damage, and what similar units are actually selling for.
Susan negotiated the purchase of a travel trailer years ago, but the market has changed enough that I would not use that old deal to tell you what percentage you should expect today.
9. Private Sellers Require a Different Strategy
With a private seller, there is no dealer margin, financing profit, or freight fee to negotiate around.
The negotiation is mostly about what the RV is actually worth and how motivated the seller is.
A seller asking $25,000 might happily take $23,000. Another seller may already be priced at $20,000 when comparable trailers are $23,000 and have no reason to move at all.
That is why I do not like blanket percentage rules for private sales either.
If you are considering one, read our guide on how to buy a used RV from a private seller.
10. Do Not Let Add-Ons Undo the Deal
You can negotiate a great price on the trailer and then give thousands back in the finance office.
Extended warranties, paint protection, tire packages, roadside plans, service contracts, and other add-ons should all be evaluated separately.
I am not against every add-on. We have personally had good results with an RV extended warranty.
But I would never buy one just because the finance manager rolled it into the payment and made it look inexpensive.
So What Discount Should You Aim For on a New Travel Trailer?
If I were shopping for a new travel trailer today, I would use 20% to 30% off MSRP as a starting benchmark—not a guarantee.
Then I would throw that percentage away as soon as I had real competing prices.
If five dealers are selling the same trailer 27% below MSRP, that tells me far more than an internet rule saying I should get 35% off.
And if a dealer is already advertising it 32% below MSRP, I would not assume there is another 10% hiding behind the curtain.
Compare real prices. Negotiate the out-the-door number. Be willing to walk.
One Resource I Think Is Worth Considering
If you are a first-time RV buyer and want more help with the whole buying process—not just negotiating—I like the RV Education 101 course How to Buy the Right RV & Save Thousands.
I would rather mention it once here than plaster the article with ads. The value is learning the entire buying process so you do not save $3,000 in negotiation and then make a $20,000 mistake buying the wrong RV.
My Bottom Line
Yes, you should negotiate the price of a travel trailer.
Just do not get obsessed with hitting a magic percentage.
Our own Class A purchase came in about 32% below MSRP, but that does not mean every RV buyer should demand 32% off.
The goal is to know the real market price of the RV you want, get multiple quotes, understand every fee, and negotiate the entire deal—not just the number on the windshield.
If the deal does not make sense, walk away.
That is a much stronger negotiating position than any trick I can teach you.
Related Reading
How to Know If You’re Paying the Right Price for an RV
How to Buy a Used RV From a Private Seller
Mike Scarpignato – Bio
Mike Scarpignato founded RVBlogger.com with his wife, Susan, in 2018 to help new and experienced RVers make better decisions about buying, owning, and traveling in an RV.
Mike has decades of camping experience and has traveled extensively in both a Gulf Stream Conquest Class C and a Thor Challenger Class A motorhome. He and Susan spend much of the year on the road, attend RV shows, visit dealerships, and tour RVs across the country.
Through RVBlogger.com and the RVBlogger YouTube channel, Mike shares practical, first-hand advice about RV buying, floor plans, ownership, maintenance, gear, campgrounds, and the RV lifestyle.
