Buying our first Travel trailer

[ScarlettO]

HELP!!!

Our next trip to WDW will (hopefully) be in a Travel Trailer. Have been to a couple of RV shows and have narrowed our layout preferences(Living in back with big window, door in bedroom area)

However, I always buy a vehicle using Consumer's Reports. Does the RV industry have something comperable? How can you tell if Brand A is made as well as Brand B??

Thanks

 

[house_of_princesses]

Scarletto, first of all, Good Luck!! It's not an easy decision, that's for sure!

I went to www.rv.org. It is a non-profit rv consumer watch dog group that, imhumbleo, has very good information.

You could also try some of the forums out there, ask around. I like to go to www.GoodSamClub.com and ask questions. There are plenty of others, that's just the one I hang out on.

Hope you make it to FW!!

 

[Hpyhiker]

Definitely try www.rv.net. They have a selection of forums available with one specifically for travel trailers. Check back often as questions/replies are posted frequently.

Hpyhiker

 

[dtum]

Have to agree with RV.net. Great people, great conversation. You can post any questions you have about brand, dealership, etc. and you'll get all kinds of replys. I suggest hanging around asking questions for a while before you purchase, read all the post that might pertain to you and you will learn tons! My husband and I got advise on what to pack, how much weight we can tow safely, what brands have bad customer service, etc. Unfortunatly, RVs don't have a consumer protection agency and ratings like cars (not that they shouldn't). A lot of the time, it's doing your homework and really learning what to look for as far as quality in a TT. They actually have a list on the site that you can take to the dealer to use in the walk through that is very thorough and there's a list on what to look for as far as fit and finish inside your TT. We have learned so much from them. Good luck!

 

[bserenpreiss]

We just purchased our first travel trailer. We had a pop-up for 10 years until we out grew it. We looked forever. We did get some very good advise from a gentleman in Indiana. He said that there are lots and lots of camper companies right now because the market for campers has rocketed in the past five years. He advised us to stick with a tried and true name brand camper. In looking at all the campers, after a while you could start to see where some were made much better than others. We ended up with a 32' Jayco with a super slide. Front bedroom, middle living and rear bath and bunks. Jayco has been around forever and they are moving into the motor home business as well. When you are looking at campers check out the walls. They should be sturdy and not much give. We saw some that it felt like if you lsot your balance you would fall right through the wall. Also, the galley is on the opposite side of passing traffic so if a big truck passes you the pilot on your fridge doesn't go out. Of all the campers we looked at as soon as we saw the Jayco we were sold. After we found what we wanted we called dealers and asked them if they had the model we wanted and their rock bottom price. We bought ours for several thousand less then what the local dealer was wanting but we had to drive an hour to buy it. Check around. Good Luck.

 

[auntie]

We also own a Jayco... a 266Eagle slide out. Bought it 2000 this will be our 5th season with the unit. We have had NO problems what so ever. (I should knock on wood!..okay..) Anyway, this was our first unit also..and did lots of research..to the point that...well how does the hubby put it..."You are sucking the fun out of it!". So I guess you could say..I put some time into it. We are actually now thinking of moving up to a slightly bigger unit..no more than 30 ft. Would like to stick with the Jayco because of the good forturne we have had with the current one. We live on Long Island(NY)..and there really aren't many RV dealers here to begin with..and even most manufactures don't like delivering here. So our selection has been limited. We plan to travel to upstate NY later this month..and plan to check out a Jayco dealer there. But back to the Jayco...I would just like to agree with the previous post that was also happy with their unit. Definetly check out the Jayco's if you have a dealer near you.
The only thing that I've found that is the many of the amenities we have in our current unit..are now in the more expensive Designer line..and are options in the Eagle line. I have wondered if they are focusing more on the upscale Designer and the lighter Jayflights as opposed to the Eagles. Anyone else run into this?

 

[PhotobearSam]

My dad just bought a 32 foot Ceadar Creek with 2 slide outs...

I know nothing about 5th wheels but this is the one my Dad did choose. It's a 2004.

We will only get it 6 weeks...Any comments on this one??? We are allowed to borrow it to go to WDW...

What do you think?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Just wanted to throw in my vote for Jayco, too. We have a Jayco KIWI 21C (hybrid). It has been fantastic. I like the cabinets in the Jayco - very well built and not the plastic covered particle board doors like a lot of units. It runs a bit heavier than comparable RV's from other manufacturers, but I can put up with a little more weight for quality.

 

[ScarlettO]

I do like the Jayflight. One thing I haven't figured out as I peruse the various web sites of trailer manufacturers-there apparently is a "Top of the Line", middle and bargain. Guess more research will figure that out for me.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Another thumbs up for Jayco products. I have the Kiwi 23B. If you click the link to my hompage in my signature you can see pictures of it. We love our and will have it at FW when the coundown in my sig reaches 0.

Jayco makes a great product. The Kiwi hybrids are now called the Jay Feather EXP's. You can see the product line at www.jayco.com.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Just out of curiosity, JCJRSmith, did you get your Kiwi at Fretz?

 

[Disney Campers]

Our first new trailer was a Jayco, we loved it, although between 12 & 18 months into ownership the floor near the door and leading to the front of the trailer was discoloring badly, while we thought it might be a leak we never noticed water, Jayco shipped the trailer from Florida back to the factory, they replaced the entire floor, we traded up to a bigger trailer shortly after that, point is they do stand behind their product and i believe they have a better warranty than many manufacturer's 2 + 1 warranty while most only have 2 year warranty, we did not get another Jayco mainly because we could not get the deal we wanted so we went with the Fleetwood Prowler, have not had any problems with this trailer.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Originally posted by ftwildernessguy
Just out of curiosity, JCJRSmith, did you get your Kiwi at Fretz?

No, we bought ours at Gayle Kline RV in Mountville, PA, near Lancaster (about 40 miles from here)