RV Prices in 2026 Fell on Motorhomes, Not on Trailers

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What the Price Data Says by RV Type

J.D. Power tracks the average retail value of RVs from the last 10 model years. The table puts the same two months side by side, so the summer bump in prices does not skew it.

$117,545. That is what a used Class C motorhome averaged in May and June 2026, per J.D. Power's RV report for the second quarter. The same months in 2025 averaged $130,521. So the motorhome you would rent for a family trip lost about $13,000 of value in one year.

Trailers tell a different story. The average used travel trailer was $27,164 in May and June 2026. A year before, it was $27,100. Two years before, it was $24,911. So a used trailer costs about 9% more than it did in 2024, not less.

So are RV prices dropping in 2026? For motorhomes, yes. For trailers, no. A small pop up camper is worth more than it was a year ago.

Season matters too. In both 2024 and 2025, used trailer values peaked in July and August and fell after. A trailer bought in winter tends to cost less than the same one in summer.

New RVs Are Where the Deals Are

New motorhomes are a different deal. Thor said its net price per motorhome went up 2.7% in that same quarter. So if you want a big discount on new, look at trailers.

Fewer new RVs are leaving the factory. The RV Industry Association's August report counted 23,599 RVs shipped in August 2026, down 16.4% from August 2025. For the year through August, towable shipments were down 16.2%. Motorhome shipments were up 2.8%.

Buyers pulled back first. New RV sales were down 19.04% in May 2026 compared with May 2025, per Statistical Surveys data reported by RV PRO. New towables were down 19.61%. Used RV sales fell only 2.41%.

The two biggest builders say the same thing. Thor Industries shipped 19.7% fewer towables in the quarter that ended July 31, 2026, and named more promotions as one reason its trailer margins fell. Winnebago said higher discounts and allowances cut its trailer profits in the quarter that ended August 29, 2026.

We did the math on what they sold. Thor took in about $33,340 per towable it shipped that quarter, down from about $34,606 a year before. Winnebago took in about $36,809 per towable, down from about $39,104. That is a drop of about 4% and 6%. These are wholesale numbers, what dealers pay, so they are a clue and not a sticker price.

What People Get Backwards

The loud claim in 2026 is that the RV market crashed and everything is 30% off. Two things are wrong with that.

First, the big cuts are off MSRP. MSRP is the sticker, and few people ever paid it. A 30% cut off a padded sticker can still be a normal price. Ask for the out the door number and compare that.

Second, the crash talk lumps every RV together. The J.D. Power data says used trailers held. If you wait on a used travel trailer for a price crash, the data says you may wait a long time.

The window on new trailers may also be closing. Dealers are holding less stock. Thor said dealer inventory of its towables was down 16.0% on July 31, 2026, compared with a year before. Fewer leftover units means fewer reasons to slash them.

Motorhomes are the soft spot. Fuel is one reason the industry gives. RVIA's CEO named fuel prices, inflation and high interest rates in its fall forecast. The Energy Information Administration had diesel at $6.276 a gallon for the week of October 19, 2026, up $2.656 from a year before. A big rig that drinks diesel is a harder sell at that price.

If you are worried about which brands to trust once you find a deal, our guide on RVs to stay away from covers that.

What the Sticker Leaves Out in California

Then there is the loan. A lower price can be wiped out by a long term. Our math below uses a $40,000 loan at 8%, a rate we picked for the example. Your rate will depend on your credit and the lender.

Sales tax comes on top. Rates from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, as of October 2026, run 7.875% in the unincorporated parts of Mendocino County, 8.875% in Ukiah and 9.25% in Fort Bragg. In Hemet it is 8.75%. On a $40,000 trailer that is $3,150 to $3,700 before you tow it home.

Fuel costs more here too. California regular gas averaged $6.031 a gallon the week of October 19, 2026, per the EIA. That is $1.605 more than a year before.

Stretching to 15 years saves about $103 a month. It also costs about $10,570 more in interest. That is more than most 2026 discounts on a trailer this size.

When to Buy and When to Wait

Nobody is calling a fast rebound. The industry forecast puts 2027 shipments at about 285,000, close to flat. Thor said it expects a relatively flat retail market in its 2027 fiscal year. So there is no rush, and no reason to expect a fire sale either.

• Buying a used Class C or Class A? You have room to bargain. Values fell 9.9% and 4.4% in a year.
• Buying a used travel trailer? Do not wait for a crash. Shop in the off season instead.
• Buying a new trailer? Ask about leftover 2026 units before 2027 models fill the lot.
• Financing? Get a rate from your own bank or credit union before you talk to the dealer.
• Not sure you will use it? Rent one like it for a weekend first.

Age matters as much as price. Some private parks turn away rigs over 10 years old, so a cheap older unit can cost you campsites. Our guide to the 10 year rule for RVs covers what parks check.

Size matters too. If you plan to visit national parks, check what size RV fits in the parks before you buy a big one.

What Folks Ask

Backing for the Numbers

Written by The yard team. Call or text (909) 259-7837 if you want us to book a rig for a real trip before you buy one.