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05-14-2019, 03:18 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Posts: 5,146
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I recommend purchase of a 1 to 3 year old TT. This strategy is a good one to start out. Most TT's under $25,000 come with a high risk of significant problems and added cost to make work properly. Odds are the one you get new will need corrections in the first two years. Warranties are weak. A good dealer can make all the difference in your experiences.
Quality Travel Trailer Brands
Winter of 2018 I joined the Dutchmen Owners forum and expressed my disappointment with my new Dutchmen Kodiak Cub. My opinion of Dutchmen travel trailers has not improved since then. Total cost of ownership has not been lower than much higher priced trailers.
Last year I found a thread on iRV2.com started by a new member who wanted advice on what to buy for his first travel trailer. What followed was a compilation of 1000’s of camper hours of experience and a list of brands from owners with firsthand experience. Needless to say Dutchmen and many other Thor companies were specifically not recommended. Their only advantage is low purchase price. Jayco is now a Thor company and the last 3? model years are also specifically not recommended. A short list of recommended brands and brief comments follow. I wish I had this information before buying.
Artic Fox
Difficult to find east of the Mississippi
$25k to $50k thermal pane windows
Hamersville Ohio (Cincinnati)
Outdoor RV
Difficult to find east of the Mississippi , $25k to $50k
Thermal pane windows, dealer in Denver.
Cooler in sun, Excellent support
Lance are $10-$25k more than the same length ORV Creekside or Timber Ridge.
2018 28'8" Timber Ridge was $34,700
Air Stream
Recent corrosion problem
Grand Design
Insulated well
Winnebago
Was Sunnybrook
Grand Design
One bad review
Elite Suites
Lance
Newell
TIFFIN
Excellent service
Nash
Oliver Travel Trailers
A company with a different business model.
New TT's are only available from the factory, no dealers. They have none in stock. They are only available by ordering. There are very few floor plans and sizes. Only the best components are used.
Easier to tow:
Air Stream, Oliver, and Escape are streamlined shaped trailers of high quality that are true cold and hot weather campers. They are easier to tow. They are heavier than many light weight and cost a lot. However, you get a lot more.
There are others that have curved leading and trailing roof edges. These also tow a little easier (see Forest River Rpod as an example). I have no first hand reviews of most other trailers.
__________________
Paul Bristol
Kodiak Cub 176RD
Nissan Pathfinder 2015
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05-14-2019, 03:41 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Southern California
Posts: 557
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Whatever you do, don't think of an RV as an "investment"!
__________________
2019 ORV Creekside 21DBS
2018 Ram 2500 Diesel Mega Cab 4x4, AEV Lift/Wheels, 37" Toyo RTs, ARB On-Board Air, Snugtop XV
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05-14-2019, 04:42 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Coast Florida
Posts: 12,995
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I think of it as an investment. A very very very bad investment that is.
My investments went like this:
Bought for 15k traded 3 years later for 10k
Bought for 50k sold 5 years later for 22k.
So it is easy to turn 50k into 22k.
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05-14-2019, 04:51 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Idaho Falls, ID, USA
Posts: 581
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There ARE SOME ways that you can eliminate SOME of the cheaper Mfg’s, brands and models!
Remove a couple of drawers, are the joints butted together then stapled, or are they tongue and groove and glued, or dove tailed and glued? Do the drawers have metal roller guides, what is their weight rating?
Look inside the cabinets, closets etc (the areas not normally visible) is it finished, plywood, particle board, random oriented chip board? Also look in the outside storage areas at the under side of the flooring for the same materials as above.
What is the carrying capacity? (water, clothes, food, toys, battery, Propane etc) If it is low is the suspension components and tires also marginal in load rating. Is the suspension, tires overrated for the GCWR and by how much? Is there a larger spring capacity, tire size available as a factory option?
Open the refer outside access, furnace cold air return inside access etc- did the manufacture/dealer bother to vacuum out the area of saw dust etc of the construction debris or is it still where if fell during construction? Pull the floor heat duct registers, is there construction debris in the ducts?
Inside, push on a divider wall, is it soft or some what firm? On a pantry door, a walk thru door or entry door when the striker plate is moving the latch does the stile/door frame deflect or is it firm when it latches?
Are the 120VAC/12VDC fuses and breakers CLEARLY labeled? Are ALL of the 12VDC fuses all located together or they spread out thru the whole RV on individual wires?
This is NOT all conclusive but what comes to mind now.
You give me a flat blade screwdriver. Phillips screwdriver or two, flashlight and without a salesman present in 10-15 minutes each unit, I can give you a pretty good estimate of the overall quality of 3-4 units that you are considering!
__________________
2017 GMC 3500 4x4 Denali Duramax
2019 Outdoor RV (ORV) Timber Ridge 24RKS
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05-14-2019, 09:36 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Mission BC
Posts: 739
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GoLeafsGo
Whatever you do, don't think of an RV as an "investment"!
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There’s many types of investments, not just monitory. Yes rv’s are crappy monitory investments...think about that...But still we all put out our hard earned money, so why not research and get the best bang for you needs or wants. It’s still an investment.
__________________
2018 Black Rock 24kts, 300 watts Solar, 4-230ah gc2’s
2008 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6.7, delete, LB, 6 spd man. Firestone bags.
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05-15-2019, 08:25 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Southern California
Posts: 557
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Wilf
There’s many types of investments, not just monitory. Yes rv’s are crappy monitory investments...think about that...But still we all put out our hard earned money, so why not research and get the best bang for you needs or wants. It’s still an investment.
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With all due respect, I disagree, and not to nit pick or be argumentative, but because I've talked to friends and colleagues with analysis-paralysis, and have originally gone through it myself, when purchasing RVs. If anyone is taking their time trying to decide which RV will pay the best dividends, well, they're just wasting their time instead of accepting that this is a money losing proposition.
It is absolutely not an investment, unless you are purchasing one to rent out as a business. Those of us who enjoy this lifestyle, instead of investing our money with the goal of generating income or calculated appreciation (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, land, real estate, artwork, old comic books, etc.), are instead spending that money on a depreciating item which will cause us to lose even more money in the future on general maintenance and repairs. We will create memories with an RV, but not wealth.
Having said that, I understand the spirit of your argument and wish you happy trails.
__________________
2019 ORV Creekside 21DBS
2018 Ram 2500 Diesel Mega Cab 4x4, AEV Lift/Wheels, 37" Toyo RTs, ARB On-Board Air, Snugtop XV
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05-15-2019, 08:30 AM
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 784
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go to a rv dealer ask SALESMAN they will know everything ! ….
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05-16-2019, 11:20 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: St. George, UT
Posts: 1,950
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Every trailer is built to meet the needs of a certain price point.
If you want quality your going to have to pay a higher price. It boils down to how much care is put into the construction and final product. Not plywood versus OSB. Some of the heavier ones that use plywood will throw in a bunch of cheap fiberglass batt insulation.
Only you can decide what your needs are based on tow vehicle requirements, floor plan, construction, and cost.
What is important that once you decide on a trailer is a detailed inspection, and I mean every system. It may take you most of an entire day. But this will pay huge dividends in the end. If your list of repairs gets too long or too major then walk away. Every manufacturer is capable of putting out both good and bad units.
__________________
Owners of a 2018 Lance 1995
St.George, UT
Former 02 Intrigue by Country Coach
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05-19-2019, 06:59 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 366
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Just a quick note: Airstream is *not* a four-season RV. We own one and we love it, but it's not a four-season RV, no matter what anybody tells you.
That said, I can't think of anything much worse than trying to live in an RV in the dead of winter in a cold location (e.g. snow, ice, and below freezing for an extended period). Just not a fun thing to do, overall. Be very thoughtful and aware before you commit yourself to living inside an RV through the "fourth season" anyplace with a seriously cold winter.
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05-19-2019, 08:08 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,846
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Cheap and quality don’t go together
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05-27-2019, 05:58 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Jayco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Weatherford, TX
Posts: 975
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Whatever you decide to buy... please know that these things are not made to sit outside for years, as some say. They are made to survive the warranty period with as little warranty money outlay as possible. Mine have lasted pretty well and don't fade and deteriorate nearly as fast as some... but then it's in covered storage when not being used... And it will bring a little more and sell a little faster when I get rid of it. At least when I sold the last two, that was my experience. Have fun!
__________________
Jack and Dee Dee Weatherford, Texas
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab 4X4 w/CTD 6.7
2016 Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH Travel Trailer
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08-28-2019, 09:05 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,893
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I've got to ask, why don't you want a slide they ad so much more room.
Jay D.
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08-29-2019, 04:40 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 558
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cumminsfan
Of the brands listed just pick the one that serves your needs the best. It'll be a crap shoot between all of them as far as quality goes.
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X10!
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09-16-2019, 03:54 PM
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#28
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tuffr2
Best bang for the buck will be a trailer you enjoy towing as well as staying in as well as being reliable.
Heavy trailers usually have better (more capacity) axles, and general better construction, better tires, better insulation and dual pane windows.
Top two heavy trailers:
Outdoor RV and Artic Fox
Best light weight trailer is Lance
...................
Good luck
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Why did you not mention Oliver or Bigfoot along with ORV and Arctic Fox?
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