An RV usually becomes junk slowly. A roof seam lets in water for a few winters, the floor goes soft, the generator stops, and then the registration lapses because nobody’s taking it anywhere. By the time the owner calls, it’s taking up the driveway, the side yard of a bungalow in Morgan Park, or a storage space that costs money every month.
What counts as an RV here
We buy all of these, running or not:
- Motorhomes, from Class C units on a van chassis to larger Class A coaches.
- Travel trailers and fifth wheels, with or without the truck that used to pull them.
- Pop-up campers with torn canvas or a broken lift system.
- Truck campers that slide into a pickup bed, and camper vans built on cargo vans.
Papers to have ready
Motorhomes and trailers are titled vehicles in Illinois. The Vehicle Code says every vehicle in the state needs an Illinois certificate of title unless it falls under one of the listed exceptions (625 ILCS 5/3-101 and 5/3-102), and campers aren’t on that list. So the title is the paper that makes the sale simple.
- The title in your name. If the RV was financed, bring the lien release too.
- A photo ID that matches the title.
- Keys for the door and the ignition, if you have them.
Many campers are bought out of state or at auction. If your title comes from another state or carries a salvage brand, read our guide to out-of-state and salvage titles before you call.
Getting it out of the driveway or the lot
Size is the main thing we plan around. Before the pickup:
- Measure or estimate the length, and tell us about anything overhead: tree limbs, a carport roof, power lines over the side yard.
- Retract the slide-outs and close the awning, if they still work. If a slide is stuck out, say so.
- Tell us about the propane tanks and whether they’re still on board.
- Take out what’s yours. Bedding, dishes, tools and anything in the outside storage bays goes with you, not with the camper.
- For a storage lot, arrange gate access with the office and tell them a tow is coming.
The price depends on the type, the size, the chassis and engine on a motorhome, how much is missing and the papers. Our page on what sets a junk offer explains each factor. We’ll never quote a number before we know what the unit is.
Other big vehicles
Selling a box truck or a semi at the same time? See our page on box trucks and semi trucks. For a pickup or a van, see trucks, vans and SUVs. We cover the ridge communities west of our base, such as Washington Heights, and the blocks toward the lake, including Calumet Heights.
The tow is free and you’re paid before the RV leaves. Tell us what you have.