Wife's new wheels

[djh3]

I keep looking at toy haulers. Best of both worlds, extra beds and seating in back area and room to take the bike if you want. Indoor plumbin too.

[Freebird]

I don't plan to buy a travel trailer until the spring at the very earliest but have been trying to do some research about the quality of the various brands. Learning that many are made by the same companies. What I've found so far is that they all seem to be hit or miss. I've read reports that the exact same units, parked side by side, can exhibit huge differences in quality.

 

Every brand I look at, I read horror stories. I guess that Coleman is made by Dutchmen? I see a lot of favorable reports but also the same horror stories that I've mentioned. Same thing with Forest River and most of the others.

 

I suppose Airstream is touted as one of the best but I'm not spending that kind of money when I buy one. Haven't really found a good comprehensive rating site.

 

When I purchase one, it will likely be a late model used one so that I can get the highest end unit for the money that I want to spend. Of course, that leads to more issues that will require a detailed inspection for any water damage, past leaks, etc.

[Marcarl]

For my money I would go used, and choose to look at Titanium, made by Glendale in Ontario. They are no longer in business, but their Titanium units are the best, not complaint free, but dependable.

[videoarizona]

I don't plan to buy a travel trailer until the spring at the very earliest but have been trying to do some research about the quality of the various brands. Learning that many are made by the same companies. What I've found so far is that they all seem to be hit or miss. I've read reports that the exact same units, parked side by side, can exhibit huge differences in quality.

 

Every brand I look at, I read horror stories. I guess that Coleman is made by Dutchmen? I see a lot of favorable reports but also the same horror stories that I've mentioned. Same thing with Forest River and most of the others.

 

I suppose Airstream is touted as one of the best but I'm not spending that kind of money when I buy one. Haven't really found a good comprehensive rating site.

 

When I purchase one, it will likely be a late model used one so that I can get the highest end unit for the money that I want to spend. Of course, that leads to more issues that will require a detailed inspection for any water damage, past leaks, etc.

 

 

Don, you are 100% correct. Most units are very similar in build and quality can be hit or miss. After a few years of learning, I went with the best "value" for the $$ I wanted to spend. By "value", I mean...what fit my wants and needs the closest. I found that a 3 to 4 year old unit would still be in good shape and the P.O. would have had time to make any changes they needed to make the unit more liveable to them. So I got extras from the P.O., like a remote control for the awning, lights and slide out. important if you are in a tree area ...to be outside and watch the slide out deploy so I wouldn't hit anything. He made some sliding doors for the overhead, put clear silicone around all the glass cabinet doors to keep the glass from rattling, added coat hooks and such that do come in handy. And more....

 

When you buy, the dealer usually gives you a 2 hr orientation. I said no...I was going to be there all day and we were going to go from the roof to the undercarriage....every single item on my list was going to be addressed. I EVEN SENT THEM MY LIST. They agreed. I got there at 9am and left at 4pm. We went through everything....

 

So my advice, for what it's worth, is to choose the trailer that fits your lifestyle within your budget. Then look at the different manufacturers, since most of them have very similar floor plans. For instance, one company has a space at the end of the counter with nothing there, where another company with same floor plan put two shelves in that same empty area! Also, try to get a plan that has more waste tankage than fresh water. I carry 60 gallons fresh, and have 28 gallons black and 39 gallons gray. This minimizes your ability to run out of waste space, although gray tanks can get easily full in a short time if you aren't frugal with your showers and sink usage. I don't run with full water, but nice to know I can.

 

Enough...you will find what you like...

[videoarizona]

I keep looking at toy haulers. Best of both worlds, extra beds and seating in back area and room to take the bike if you want. Indoor plumbin too.

 

 

I don't like sleeping where the bike is. Putting it out every night. My wife doesn't like the smell of fuel/rubber/etc., while she sleeps....so the toy hauler concept didn't even get off the ground at my home!

[videoarizona]

David: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-2007-GMC-SIERRA-1500-YUKON-16-6-LUG-WHEEL-HUB-CENTER-CAP-BOLT-COVER-NEW/231100873723?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D54338%26meid%3D841fb36e0ddc409f95a2b75f175b6d75%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D231100873723&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

 

That is the perfect size for 1/2 ton

 

Ordered! Thanks!

 

ps, GOOD EYES!

[SpencerPJ]

I don't plan to buy a travel trailer until the spring at the very earliest but have been trying to do some research about the quality of the various brands. Learning that many are made by the same companies. What I've found so far is that they all seem to be hit or miss. I've read reports that the exact same units, parked side by side, can exhibit huge differences in quality.

 

Every brand I look at, I read horror stories. I guess that Coleman is made by Dutchmen? I see a lot of favorable reports but also the same horror stories that I've mentioned. Same thing with Forest River and most of the others.

 

I suppose Airstream is touted as one of the best but I'm not spending that kind of money when I buy one. Haven't really found a good comprehensive rating site.

 

When I purchase one, it will likely be a late model used one so that I can get the highest end unit for the money that I want to spend. Of course, that leads to more issues that will require a detailed inspection for any water damage, past leaks, etc.

 

Don, good man, do your homework. Go to a RV show over the winter, just for ideas and floorplans that work for you guys. Floorplan is the number one thing, you will pull it for hours, but stay in it for days.

I'm also on rvforum.net, great place for recommendations and advise, free to belong too. Quality is all over the place, and new trailers are certain to have an issue that needs fixed, big or small, and RV dealers are not held to same standards as auto dealers, so can be a pain to get fixed. Everyone on the RV forum, including myself will encourage you to get slightly used, and stay far away from Camping World. I'm all for buying slightly used off the elder couple that hardly used it, stored inside. Those deals are actually very common, just most people need to finance with a dealer, and fall into that trap. Jayco is still a good brand, I'm totally happy with my Forest River, Puma TT. I went this route because I'm a tall guy, Jayco and Puma are taller interior ceilings for a TT. Nash makes a good trailer, Airstream of course. What you will find is don't get all worked up over 'Forest River' and tag them as not good, they will have a decent line, and lower line. I say this tongue and cheek, because most all TT now days conform to terrible build quality, they just don't build them like they use to. The RV industry is busting at the seams trying to keep up, up 17% from 2016 to 2017.

 

The biggest issue we see, is everyone thinks they can come close to maxing their 1500 or 150, and they are miserable towing it. Here is a great video explaining other things to consider

I have seen many people argue and debate that their truck meets the specs, only to buy a 2500 or 250 a year later, including a neighbor of mine.

 

Good luck

[videoarizona]

Well said.

 

My Yukon XL tows 8400lbs with class 3 or 4 hitch. 12Klbs with WDH.

I would never come close to either of those numbers....nope.

 

I tow:

 

4200 pounds of sailboat.

 

6500 lbs of trailer (if fully loaded) Doubt that will happen. Empty weight is 5100lbs.

With a capacity of 1750lbs on the truck...that's max for me. I would not put that much in truck either.

 

So wife and I and clothes and tools plus tongue weight of 605lbs...I'm at around 1100lbs capacity..leaving 600 lbs reserve.

[BlueSky]

I bought a used Layton 25' travel trailer in 89 and kept it for 4 years, until the kids got too old to be interested in camping with the old man. I was divorced at the time. Anyway, a week after buying it, I towed it 600 miles to Disney World with a WDH but no sway control with a SWB 86 F150. I was a road hazard without sway control. After I got back home, I added a Reese dual cam sway control to my Reese WDH that had 1,000 lb bars. It was very stable after that. Anyway, a couple of tips I'd like to pass on. One is to disinfect the potable water system periodically. Another is to not leave the awning up in a rain storm unless it is tilted down a lot so water will not build up on the awning becuz if it does the weight of the water can bend the awning aluminum roll tube or whatever the proper name is. I bought it for $5300 and sold it 4 yrs later for $3300 with the bent tube. It was a lot of fun but I'm not too keen on towing a TT.

[djh3]

Yea same here on seperate room for bike. Thats why you have to go big enough that the garage area is actually a separate room. I think around 35ft get that separation depending on what manufacturer. So like this is a 35' with a slide. For us would be nice because if kids came they can actually have their own room.

[SpencerPJ]

Yea same here on seperate room for bike. Thats why you have to go big enough that the garage area is actually a separate room. I think around 35ft get that separation depending on what manufacturer. So like this is a 35' with a slide. For us would be nice because if kids came they can actually have their own room.

 

Plan on a 1 ton diesel dually to pull it

[videoarizona]

Like the layout! But that's a heavy unit. Needs 3/4ton diesel to tow. I also don't like that with the slide in, the person sleeping on the right side can't get out easily. But that's just like mine. So if we stop at Walmart for the night, not putting out the slide means I have to crawl over the wife to get out. The TV may not be watchable as well with slide in. But that's minor.

 

BUT, all said and done...this is the first unit I've seen that fits both of our desires. I like the separation of toys to living.