If you’re looking to sell your RV privately and you want to sell it faster—or you just don’t know where to start—this video is for you.
Hi guys, my name is Cole Johnson. I’m the founder of Auto Nation Canada. We’re a pre-owned RV dealership just west of Edmonton, and we specialize in selling pre-owned RVs. I’ve been in the industry for just over five years.
Today I wanted to put together a video on how to sell your RV privately and get the most out of it. We hear a lot of horror stories in the marketplace, and we look at ads daily. So these are my top five tips to help you sell your RV faster and for the most money.
Let’s jump in.
The first thing you’re going to want to do is declutter your RV. Take out all the old camping gear, cutlery, and personal belongings. You have to commit to the sale—that’s step one—and it leads into everything else.
If you have any minor repairs you feel capable of doing—loose screws, small items—tighten things up. When someone comes to look at the RV, you want it ready to go. Time kills deals. You don’t want someone to show up and then you’re still pulling your stuff out or it doesn’t feel like they can actually own it.
Some people think leaving a bunch of extras is a value add, but most buyers want to put their own stuff in. Things like propane tanks and batteries that make it camp-ready are good. But as a rule of thumb, I recommend removing everything.
Then clean it. Give it a deep clean. First impressions matter, just like selling a house. You want it to smell good—not moist, moldy, or mildewy. If carpets are dirty, clean them. The more you clean it, the more value you’ll get, and the faster it will sell.
You want the RV ready so when somebody comes to see it, they can fall in love with it, run to the bank, get a draft, and take it home.
So step one: declutter and deep clean.
Step two is overlooked by most people, and I see it all the time on Marketplace: take good photos.
Now that it’s decluttered and clean, make sure photos are taken on a sunny day. Don’t take them in the evening. Avoid crazy shadows. I’m not a professional photographer—we use pros at the dealership—but the first thing people notice is the photos.
If you can get a clean exterior photo, that’s your hero shot. Then take photos of all areas—sleeping areas, key features, and anything unique. On the left side of the door you’ll have the model number—take a photo of that. If it has an outdoor kitchen, separate entrance to the bathroom, anything like that, capture it.
Photos are directly tied to how fast your RV sells. If photos are bad, people just move on—there are tons of options out there.
Step three is the description. Your title should include year, make, and model so people can look up the floor plan and do their own research.
You have about three seconds to hook someone when they read the ad, so lead with high-value extras—like a hitch, solar, power jacks, or even something simple like it being camp-ready with propane tanks and a battery.
Then include the essentials: weight, how many it sleeps, and what the floor plan is. I also like to add a little storytelling—how long you owned it, why you’re selling, and what makes it great.
Keep it clear and not too long. And I recommend being upfront about minor deficiencies. It builds trust, and most issues will be found when someone comes to inspect it anyway. Being transparent helps the sale go smoother and faster.
Step four is pricing. The internet makes this easier now. Do a quick Google search—year, make, model, floor plan—and compare listings.
Be careful with RV pricing because some comparisons might be in U.S. dollars, so make sure you convert to Canadian. Then decide whether you’re going to be firm on price or leave room to negotiate. Either way, have your number in mind so you don’t feel stressed in the moment.
And the fifth—and arguably most important—where do you post your RV?
Exposure is the secret sauce. In Alberta, the top three platforms are AutoTrader, Kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace. Post on all three. Many listings are free, so take advantage of that.
On Facebook Marketplace, include a short video walkaround—the algorithm tends to like video. If you’re good at editing, add some music. The goal is maximum exposure across all platforms.
Quick recap: declutter and clean, take great photos, write a strong description, price it properly, and post it on AutoTrader, Kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace. Then let’s send this RV home.
I hope you found this educational. If you liked the video, please like, comment, and subscribe. If you want more videos like this, leave a comment below, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.