Updating or fixing up your RV can be as simple as putting in colorful pictures and new upholstery to more complex renovations, such as installing a new refrigerator or furniture. For these simple DIY projects, there are many places to go to get the things needed. For instance, hardware stores and craft stores may offer the tools to spruce up your camper, but when it comes to more complex items, you have to find some specialty stores.
There are many surplus stores around the RV belt, such as Bontrager's in Michigan, that are especially helpful, but for finding specific parts of earlier model RVs, the options are surprisingly limited.
So the question is where can one go for the most unique of RV DIY projects?
"There are three main RV salvage yards in the United States. One in Arizona, one in Kentucky and us in Missouri," says Bill Colaw, former owner of Colaw RV in Carthage, Missouri, right of Interstate 44 between Joplin and Springfield. Colaw started the business in 1977 and kept it for 41 years before retiring. Retirement lasted "for about 3 weeks," he says and now he works as an employee at Colaw RV.
Colaw RV is the second largest RV dealer by volume in Missouri, selling between 600-800 units a year, but what makes them unique is their 60 acre salvage yard. They specialize in motorhomes and, at any given time, have about 300 units sitting in the yard.
"What you see out in the yard is just the body of the motorhome," says Colaw, "When a salvage comes in, we take it to the teardown shop and remove the motors, transmission, furniture and appliances then house them elsewhere."
An aerial shot of Colaw RV in Carthage, MO, the largest RV salvage yard in North America.
Colaw explains that all these parts are available for purchase, either on location or available to be shipped. "About 70 to 80 percent of our parts are shipped, while the rest is walk-in business," he explains.
So why are not many other salvage yards operating in the United States? It comes down to the expertise that is needed in having a good salvage yard. Colaw gives an example: "When you go into an auto parts store like O'Reilly's, they type in the year and make of your car into the computer and then all the parts that fit in the vehicle are displayed on the screen. That does not exist in the RV industry, so basically it comes down to a lot of experience with the motorhomes. Some of our employees have been here for over 30 years and that's what it takes to be in the salvage business."
Colaw says that a lot of the body parts change on a yearly basis, but the chassis and motors change less frequently. With all the parts, having experts in the field that know what would work in specific trailers is necessary, and Colaw RV is able to help with that, as attested by a recent review. "I drove 500 miles one way to pick up an entry door for my 1998 coachmen RV, and when I got home it fit perfectly. Easy install, too. Thanks to Josh helping me to make sure the measurements were correct. Thanks, Colaw," one customer summarized.
The people that come to salvage yards are pretty typical to people who buy RVs in general. The main difference is a lot of the business Colaw gets with salvage and parts is from RV repair technicians at other dealerships who need specific parts for certain motorhomes. They also have picked up surplus parts and new parts, so they have a pretty large and unique inventory, such as a large selection of obsolete Monaco Coach parts.
Why is it beneficial to get something from a surplus/salvage yard instead of straight from the manufacturer? As mentioned above, sometimes there is no other choice - the part isn't made anymore as the manufacturer went out of business or they started only making parts that fit newer models. The other reason is monetary. "For example, a lot of folks want to get a new side by side refrigerator that is featured in newer motorhomes. If you buy directly from the manufacturer, they are about $3,000. We sell them for $1,500," Colaw tells The Buzz.
Colaw notices that when people think of used or salvage parts, they often think that the parts are heavily used, however that isn't the case. "A lot of the used parts we have are almost indistinguishable from new," he says. Their yard is primarily occupied by motorhomes that are 20 years old or younger, and the stock is changing all the time. "We have about 10 acres of yard that contains motorhomes that are getting ready for scrap in order to make room for others to come in," Colaw notes.
Colaw RV is highly visible from I-44. Colaw notes they get a lot of snowbirds that come in during the spring and fall to pick up a part or two, or just look around at all they have to offer. Wheteher you are heading back north this spring along old Route 66 or just planning a direct trip to get your supplies, it's recommend to stop in ASAP to get the part you need before it's snatched.