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Charities Won't Take Your Old RV? Here's What We Did
November 6, 2026
On November 5 we removed a 20-foot, 1980 RV for a customer who had already struck out with charities. Watch the video, then read what happened and what to do if your own RV is stuck in the same spot.
A customer's 20-foot 1980 RV going onto our flatbed in a Seattle-area alley, the day after we gave the customer a price.
Why the charities said no
The customer called several charities hoping one would pick up the RV. They got a runaround, and then an answer: the RV didn't have enough value for them to make the trip.
That happens a lot. Charities that take vehicles usually resell them, so an RV that is old, doesn't run, or has no title is a hard sell for them. It isn't a judgment on you. It's that a 1980 RV doesn't pay for the truck that has to move it.
What we did instead
The customer called us and sent photos, a description and the details of the RV. We told them what it would cost to get it out, and they said yes. The next day our crew showed up with a large flatbed tow truck.
The driver winched the RV slowly out into the alley. Then he repositioned the flatbed and winched the RV up onto the bed. The RV left whole on the flatbed, and nobody rushed it. Here is how the customer described it in a Google review:
"I called several different charities to have them pick up my 20 foot long 1980 RV. They shined me on, and then got back to me, letting me know my RV didn't have enough value for them to pick it up ! I called JunkBGone, provided them photos, description, and details, and they told me how much it would cost to tow it out of there. They showed up the next day with a large flat bed tow truck, The driver used a winch to slowly pull the RV out into the alley. Then he repositioned the flatbed and slowly winched it up the flatbed ! It was such a beautiful sight, to see that RV leave on the flatbed ! The driver knew exactly what to do ! What a PRO operation ! I highly recommend JunkBGone !"
Beverly K, 5-star Google review
Zelalem Meshesha, our General Manager, is in the video. "Junk B Gone can remove your RVs, motorhomes, fifth wheel trailers, campers, any type, just like this. We deal with this in a manner that's responsible and legal."
What to do if a charity turns down your RV
Start with the facts a hauler needs. This is what the customer sent us, and it's what we ask for when you text us about an RV:
- Photos from every side, plus the tires, the roof and the inside if you can.
- A short description. Year, length, whether it runs, and whether the tires hold air.
- How it sits. A driveway, a side yard, an alley, a fence in the way, a slope. Access decides how much crew and equipment the job takes.
- The title or registration, if you have it. If you don't, that is usually fixable. Washington has four legal paths, and we walk through them in our guide to RV removal without a title.
If your RV still runs and the title is clean, you may do better selling it. Our guide to getting rid of an old camper trailer compares selling, scrapping and donating. When all three have failed, that is where we come in.
We take motorhomes, campers, fifth wheels, travel trailers, pop-ups and toy haulers, running or not. If access is tight we'll look at it in person before we give you a firm number. The Washington paperwork and the disposal are our job, so the RV isn't your problem a year from now.
Old RV removal questions
Why do charities turn down old RVs?
Most charities that take vehicles resell them. An RV that is decades old, doesn't run, or has no title is hard to sell, and moving it costs them money. A no from a charity usually means the RV isn't worth their truck, not that it can't be removed.
Can you remove an RV that doesn't run?
Yes. A flatbed tow truck and a winch handle an RV that won't start or roll. In this job the driver winched it out into the alley, repositioned the flatbed, and winched it up onto the bed.
How much does it cost to remove an old RV?
It depends on the size, the condition, how the RV is parked and the title situation, so we don't publish a fixed price. Send photos and details, or call, and we'll tell you what it takes.
Do I need the title to have an RV removed?
Usually not a dealbreaker. Washington has four legal ways to clear the paperwork, and we explain each one in our guide to RV removal without a title.
Get a quote for your RV
Seattle and the Eastside. Send photos and details, or call, and we will tell you what it takes.
