Used Travel Trailers/Consumer Guide or Ratings?

[Away we go]

So, once we know the towing weight for our truck and begin looking at Craigslist and other sites for used trailers for sale, how does one find out about the consumer ratings or quality of specific brands? Reading this website and others does gives some good information on brands some have found great and some brands others have had lots of trouble with. We are using NADA to get a general guide for the selling price. We also hit the local RV show over the weekend and learned some about quality with different makes there.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[LindaH]

RV Consumers Group, RV Ratings for motorhomes, fifth wheels, trailers, toy haulers..

[450Donn]

In reality you don't! Your best chance is to LOOK!!!
When you go looking at a trailer, look very closely at the fit and finish. Look for signs of leaks, look for soft spots in the floors, look for bowed side walls, look at the overall condition. Even one of the worst trailer manufacturers can produce some very good trailers. And the real only way to know is to look very closely at any trailer you are considering. If you are not comfortable yourself, take along a disinterested friend, someone who does know about RV's in general and can show you what you need to be looking for.

[Superslif]

Now old of a unit are you looking for? Or what price range?

[Away we go]

We are looking at the 25-28' (maybe up to 30') range, somewhere between a 2002-2007. Right now we plan to use the trailer for 2-3 week long trips around the western National Parks and other regions in the west for hiking/camping/sightseeing. In the past we've tent camped, so life with a trailer will be a great way to travel, especially in the spring and fall. We did own an older 5th wheel, primarily for sleeping at the race track on weekends.

We will be looking carefully at used ones, especially for water damage. Do the fiberglass shells tend to be more leak proof?

Thanks,