How To Scrap A Camper Trailer (8 Best Ways)

If you have an old or broken down camper trailer that you just don’t really have use for anymore and is becoming a bit of an eyesore then it might be time to consider scrapping it.

But what is the best way of getting rid of an old trailer? Can you make some money in the process?

Here are the 8 best ways to scrap your camper trailer when the time is right.

How Much Can You Get From Scrapping A Camper?

When it comes to scrapping a camper, the amount you can make depends on a variety of factors.

Your location, the condition of your camper, and the current market value of scrap metal all have an influence on how much money you can get for scrapping your camper.

Generally speaking, you can expect anywhere from $50 to $1,000 or more for scrapping a camper.

Another factor that affects the amount of money you can get from scrapping your camper is the type of scrap metal it contains.

For example, aluminum components may have a higher market value than steel parts. Additionally, larger and heavier campers tend to be worth more when compared to smaller and lighter ones.

The best way to get an accurate estimate of how much money you can make from scrapping your camper is to contact a local scrap metal yard.

They will be able to give you a more specific price for your camper, depending on its condition, size, and materials.

You may also want to look into the current prices for scrap metal in your area. This will give you a better idea of how much cash you can expect to make from scrapping your camper.

8 Best Ways To Scrap A Camper Trailer

how to scrap a camper trailer

1. Sell It To A Scrap Yard

It’s not like a camper trailer has all that much material on it, but you can still sell it to a scrap yard. A scrap yard is going to pay you for the weight of the camper trailer based on how much metal it has on it, aka the RV scrap price.

Just keep in mind that you’ll probably only get like $500 or $600 at the very most, as it is based on the weight. you’re not going to get anything for any of the materials that are not metal, but a bit of money is still better than nothing.

2. Break It Down And Sell The Components

If you don’t want to bring the camper to a scrap yard, you can always break it down yourself and sell the various components. People are often on the hunt for a variety of camper friendly components.

This can include burner stoves and ovens, refrigerators, water pumps, and other such things. You’re probably not going to get much money for any of these things, but it’s still better than nothing.

Then, once you have sold the individual components, you can take the rest of it back to the scrap yard to sell the rest of the metal.

3. Donate It

Another option you have is to donate your camper. There are various nonprofit organizations, technical colleges, and other such locations that will accept donations of old camper trailers.

They could repurpose it, use it for education, or scrap it themselves. Keep in mind here that you’re probably not going to see any cash whatsoever.

However, the benefit is that you can often write off these kinds of donations as tax write offs. This could therefore help you save some money on your taxes come tax season next year.

Here are a few examples of charities that you can donate your camper trailer too, it’s of course dependent on what cause most appeals to you;

  1. WheelsForWishes
  2. VehiclesForVeterans
  3. CarsToCharities

4. Sell It

Of course, if your camper trailer is still in decent condition, you could try selling it. There is a huge used RV and motorhome market out there (such as RVtrader.com).

There are RV and camper dealerships where you can sell your old model, or you can use a variety of online sites. Places such as Kijiji, Craigslist, eBay, and other such online retail sites will work just fine.

You can even put an advertisement in your local newspaper, use Facebook marketplace, or even use your local grocery store’s advertising board. How much money you are going to get will depend on its age and condition.

If you have a lien on your trailer then there are a number of other things to keep in mind.

5. Convert It

Yet another thing you can do with your old motorhome is to convert it. If the interior still looks nice, you could put the camper down somewhere and use it as a small cottage or cabin.

You could use it for your own camping or sleeping purposes, or you can even rent it out to potential campers. This way, you can actually keep your old camper trailer and maybe get some steady income from it too.

6. Trade It

Another option you have at your disposal is to trade in your old camper trailer and get some cash towards a new one.

If it’s still in decent condition, some RV and trailer dealerships might provide you with some cash value that you can use towards a new one. That being said, it does of course need to be in good condition, mainly still roadworthy.

7. Go To A Junk Dealer

There are plenty of junk dealers out there, which are similar to scrap yards. However, a junk dealer may very well just take the whole RV and give you a small sum for it.

They’re going to tear it down themselves and sell various components, and probably bring a good part of it to the scrap yard themselves. 

8. Just Give it Away

If the old camper trailer is still in reasonable condition, if you want to be nice about it, you can always just give it away.

Put some postings in various online RV communities and see if somebody wants it. Maybe somebody is willing to give you some cash or maybe trade for something.

Madeline Cooper