|
03-21-2011, 04:53 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Spring Lake, Michigan
Posts: 301
|
2005 37' Tradewinds
Good morning,
I've found a 2005 37' Tradewinds with around 65,000 miles on a 350 Cat Diesel. I have no idea what quality area the Nationals are in. Are they comparable to Coachmen's Cross Country, Fleetwood's Discovery, Newmar, Holiday Rambler, Monaco ?? They look really nice in pictures,but how well are they put together ?
Don (Michguy)
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
03-21-2011, 05:11 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 860
|
IMO,if you read the post on this site long enough you will find all RV's have problems. Luck of the draw thing. Buy floor plan and engine that fits your needs.
__________________
Mike, Janet & Duchess (cavalier King Charles)
2008 35B windsport, Brazel's rear TracBar, Koni shocks & Safe T plus steering
|
|
|
03-21-2011, 05:18 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,618
|
We own a 1999 Tradewinds and although it would be a distant comparison to a 2005 I find the construction of the coach is very good. Tradewinds was always at or near the top of the National lineup and as a result the OEM products were a cut above the average.
In 2005 National wasn't in trouble yet so the unit you’re looking at wasn't rushed through the production line like some of the 2008 models were.
So you need to exercise the normal cautions that you would buying any used RV. Just be assured that National made a good product with some of the leading OEM suppliers.
The Cat Engine and Freightliner chassis isn't necessarily a cut above Cummins or other chassis manufactures but there not a second rate foundation for any Motor Home.
That all being said the mikron is totally correct. Find a coach that just feels right and then have it checked out for soundness. It's real easy to get hung up on the technical details and give up the things you would live with every time you use the unit. Just remember you will spend a lot more time in the coach than under it if you exercise a little caution and a good portion of emotion. In the end who really needs one of these things, get one you like. No matter what your gonna spend some money and time maintaining and improving your new toy.
Good luck in your search.
Dick
__________________
1999 Tradewinds 7372 Cat 3126
Albuquerque, NM
|
|
|
03-22-2011, 07:51 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 2,160
|
We chose our 2001 39' Tradewinds because of the layout. Our friends have a 2005 Beaver and they like our layout better. We've had no problems with ours other then the normal, replacing tires, leaking levelors and regular maintenence. Look over the maint. records, check the tire dates. Also, check out this forum and you won't see many unhappy National folks. I'd buy another in a heartbeat if they were still around. Money management took them out, not Quality.
Bottom line, like the others say, get a layout you're happy with.
__________________
Joe & Angie
Shih Tzu's Cookie & Rocky
2001 Tradewinds 7390 2011 CRV EX-L Navi w/ RoadMaster FuseMaster
|
|
|
03-23-2011, 01:13 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pasadena,CA
Posts: 221
|
michguy,
I don't believe that National RV built Tradewinds in 2005, as they stopped production on them for almost 2 years until 2006 model. Is the chassis a Spartan or Dynamax. Need more information. National RVs are great MH for the money.
Ed
__________________
2005 National RV, 36' Dolphin 5355, W22 - Front & Rear trac bars, IPD rear anti-sway bar, Koni FSD Shocks, UltraPower programming.
2000 Jeep Wrangler, Brake Buddy
|
|
|
03-24-2011, 02:57 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Spring Lake, Michigan
Posts: 301
|
Jeepster, Thanks for your comments. My mistake. The Coach is a Tropical, not a Tradewinds, and it's on a Freightliner Chassis with a 350 Cat. I'm really close to buying it. Why else would I be up at 4:30 in the morning checking IRV2 ??
Thanks,
Michguy
|
|
|
03-24-2011, 11:24 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,875
|
As you can tell, we National owners are just a little fanatic about them. We really like our Tradewinds and the build quality was better than some of those you posted and equal to the rest (I won't say which is which so I don't have people slamming me for my opinions).
__________________
2001 National Tradewinds 7370 300 Cat
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Officially fulltiming. The Journey Begins
|
|
|
04-05-2011, 07:43 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Spring Lake, Michigan
Posts: 301
|
Well, I bought it !
Yup. I bought the 2005 TropiCal. Best Preowned RV in Houston made it happen with the greatest of ease. I don't mean to turn this into a commercial, but if you want to hear about a phenomenal experience, drop me a private message.
Michguy
|
|
|
04-06-2011, 10:06 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,875
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by michguy
Yup. I bought the 2005 TropiCal. Best Preowned RV in Houston made it happen with the greatest of ease. I don't mean to turn this into a commercial, but if you want to hear about a phenomenal experience, drop me a private message.
Michguy
|
Congrats and enjoy.
__________________
2001 National Tradewinds 7370 300 Cat
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport
Officially fulltiming. The Journey Begins
|
|
|
04-06-2011, 03:26 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 426
|
congratulations, I hope you have as much enjoyment out of your National as we have had with ours .... it has been a good coach to drive on the xc chassis and we havn't had any issues to speak of thus far, I think you will be happy. keep your filters clean!
__________________
2001 National Tradewinds 7372
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|