Need Help, please, on Selecting a Travel Trailer

[TwoAtDisney]

I'm baaack! Couple of months ago you guys gave me some great info & I was and still am very thankful. Your info helped us to make some decisions. We've also done some more research since then. Went to Disney & checked out RV parks & looked at TTs. Went to dealer near us (Indianapolis). Made some decisions - thank goodness! Widdled us down to:

As before, only want TT for wintering in Florida (3 months).
Will not haul between Indiana; will store in Disney area.
Since not hauling, don't need a hard-sided fold-down TT, as wanted before.
Going to local RV Show on Sunday.

Now my questions are about quality. We know there are a lot of ways TTs are manufactured. What are the key quality issues we should assess? For instance, some roofs are rubber/some vinyl; some frames are alum/some wood (weight is not an issue); some floors are marine-grade/some aren't; some floors are screwed down/some glued, stapled, nailed; some exteriors are ribbed/some smooth, some alum/some not; and I'm sure there are a lot more issues we don't even know about (?).

So, please advise me about which manufacturers/brands are better (& worse) than others regarding how manufactured - the quality of the unit. What qualities are of upmost importance besides the ones I have mentioned? Of the qualities I mentioned, which choice is the best and/or the difference between those choices?

Obviously the floor plan & price are very important. However, we don't want to select a poor quality unit based on those 2 factors & end up with a nightmare, or at least problems that would not be encountered with a higher quality unit.

Julie

 

[mnsprk]

We're very prejudiced to Jayco & Starcraft. Both are quality products but Jayco gives you a 2 year warranty...They are sister companies, Jayco is the "big sister". Totally family owned..They will not be the cheapest.

You can find all the floor plans on these two web sites.

http://www.jayco.com/

http://www.starcraftrv.com/

 

[JCJRSmith]

And since you are in Indiana, you could take a day-trip to the Jayco plant to see how they are made. We have owned two Jaycos - our first was a Jayco Kiwi 23B (now called the Jay Feather 23B) which towed very easily behind a Ford F150 Supercrew pickup. We traded the trailer in for a used motorhome, a Jayco Greyhawk 26SS class C, the same day we traded the truck for a new Saturn Ion, which we tow behind the motorhome when we travel.

Hmmm - first time around we bought a new trailer and pulled it with a used truck. Second time we bought a used motorhome to pull a new car...go figure.

We have been very pleased with the quality, fit and finish of both. Jayco makes a great product.

Right now, we are in the market to trade in the Class C on a Class A. We found a great deal, not a Jayco, but a terrific coach nonetheless. We are testing it out next Tuesday.

 

[2goofycampers]

We're very prejudiced to Jayco & Starcraft. Both are quality products but Jayco gives you a 2 year warranty...They are sister companies, Jayco is the "big sister". Totally family owned..They will not be the cheapest.

You can find all the floor plans on these two web sites.

http://www.jayco.com/

http://www.starcraftrv.com/

Ditto, 3 Jayco TT's here.

 

[Teamubr]

For instance, some roofs are rubber/some vinyl; some frames are alum/some wood (weight is not an issue); some floors are marine-grade/some aren't; some floors are screwed down/some glued, stapled, nailed; some exteriors are ribbed/some smooth, some alum/some not; and I'm sure there are a lot more issues we don't even know about (?).

Julie,

There are a lot of good manufacturers out. All make "similar" trailers within a given price range. The answers to your questions are generally the same for a given price range.

I was the factory rally master for the owners group of my trailer's manufaturer (CrossRoads) for several years. I was very close to the factory and learned a lot about the industry. I've also owned 2 Starcrafts before my CrossRoads Cruiser.

To find the "best" trailer, determine how much you want to spend. This will usually set the type of construction and siding type. Interior appointments fill out the rest of the pricing.

A general rule is: wood framed ("stick built" industry term) and ribbed aluminum sides are "entry level" trailers. Mid-range typically have aluminum frames and fiberglass (Filon) smooth sides. I've had both. Prefer smooth sides. Upper mid and high end trailers usually have gel coat fiberglass. Looks great but is heavy and expensive.
Screwed and glued vs rivoted is specific to each manufacurer. Both are fine for your type of use. Each have advantages.
Roofs are generally rubber membrane and have 20-25 year warrantys.

Jayco makes great trailers. Their Eagle line is comparable to my Cruiser but like the other poster said, they are expensive for what you get. Meaning, you can find similar or equal trailers for better money. My Starcrafts were "stick built" and entry level. I wanted to move up a bit to get more features and found my Cruiser. CrossRoads products have a 2-5 year warranty too. (2 year standard- extended to 5 if you have your dealer do an annual look over to find/fix little things before they become big things.)

If I was buying for your needs, I would determine my price point, then focus on insulation (Florida is hot) My trailer can be ordered with extra insulation and an over sized A/C unit. Then look at "have to have" options. Entry level trailers have less available options and/or lower cost (quality) standard features. As you move up in price you get more storage and nicer appointments and appliances.
Take lots of time looking at different manufacturers. It doesn't take long before you can start to see where one brand saves money vs another brand. Poor quality doesn't jump out at you initially. The more you look, the more you start to see things. There usually is 1 or 2 brands that seem to have what you like. Then it's finding the right model and the right price.

Hope this helps. You're at the exciting part. I still love my Cruiser (after 7 years) but new always seems nice.

 

[3gr8kids]

I agree with PP's.......we love our Starcraft Hybrid!

 

[disney4dan]

I would agree, Jayco and Starcraft really seem to have a quality build but the price is higher. We had a used Jayco that was built well with quality interior parts. Great for younger kids who can be rough on things. Unfortunately, it had water damage in it's history that we did not discover for two years. The roof had new sealant over the leak and there were rusted deck screws under the sealant (and rotten wood down the entire back wall).

We traded in for an Outback Passport Ultralite. It has a great floor plan, smooth fiberglass exterior, aluminum frame, two slideouts and tows great. But the hardware and some of the interior items are of lower quality. The fresh water tank did not fit our needs well; we visit state parks frequently and dry camp. This means that 24 gallons of fresh water in the tank needs frequent filling and was a hassle until my brother found us a hand carry 7 gallon "jerry can" specifically built for water.

Another item I did not think about - our trailer waste pipe is very low to the ground and I have broken one of the handles already by backing into a site that was only a little out of level. I am saving $$ to have the trailer axles flipped to gain a few more inches of clearance.

 

[CCIntrigue]

Having previously owned an Airstream for over 20 years, I'd buy a used Airstream over anything else new. Not the cheaper Bambi, etc., but a Classic, Excella, or Limited. You can't beat them.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Thank you so much everyone for such great info. We are off to the RV show tomorrow. We'll keep all of your info in mind & have a good look & collect lots of brochures!

Julie

 

[rebelstand]

Thank you so much everyone for such great info. We are off to the RV show tomorrow. We'll keep all of your info in mind & have a good look & collect lots of brochures!

Julie

We have a 1971 Airstream and it's a dream......for us. Not to mention PAID FOR in cash! However, my advice though is not for a particular make/model/style. Get what fits your budget, family size, style and most importantly your comfort level. You have to tow it and your family... comfort in towing is very important.

 

[cruising spud]

My suggestion-head on over to rv.net and spend a few days reading the posts.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Another item I did not think about - our trailer waste pipe is very low to the ground and I have broken one of the handles already by backing into a site that was only a little out of level. I am saving $$ to have the trailer axles flipped to gain a few more inches of clearance.

From 2009 on, Outbacks have come from the factory with the axle flip. My trailer is so high I can crawl around underneath just about on my hands and knees, and there is now tons of clearance for the waste pipes. They now come with 3 steps into the entry doors instead of 2 to compensate for the additional height. Also bigger wheels and tires. If you do the flip, Dan, you might consider adding larger wheels and tires, too.

 

[starbuc71]

I agree with everyone here. Starcraft and Jayco do have a nice line, but with any manufactuer there are entry models and high end models. Also, no matter what brand or kind of trailer you buy, there is always a chance of water damage, leaks, electrical problem etc. Especially used units that were not taken care of properly. Eventually it does come down to, you get what you pay for. It's just like contactors who build homes. If I had the knowledge to build my own home, I would have every wall as square as I could get it and make sure all nails were nailed firmly. In homes, we all know that's not true. RV's can sometimes be the same way. I thought the outback we owned previously showed some poor craftsmanship with some of the little things. Overall, it comes down to price. If I had it my way we would own the largest Airstream or Prevost but we are not millionaires. Look for the best quality and floor plan you can afford.

 

[2goofycampers]

When we bought our first TT it was because of how it rated in the Consumer Reports. You might want to see if they are still around and rating campers.

 

[Elliott]

OP, how was the RV show?

Maybe a little late but what I would recommend to do is determine a basic floor plan you like, (bunks, outside kitchen, toy hauler, etc) then hit an RV show to check out each manufactures version of that floor plan. Most will make a similiar style with a few differences here or there. Walk in each one; look at the cabinetry and hardware as this is where the major differences usually are. Put the screws to the salesman and ask them to compare their product to their competitors....but don't believe anything they say!

 

[armadafrfs]

If I were buying new today, EverGreen EverLite would lead my list. Their innovative features and composite construction, which is mold/rot/mildew proof has simply left other companies playing catch up. Even if you get a leak, you don't have to worry about delam or other issues. EverGreen offers a two year warranty as well. A close second would be CrossRoads Slingshot because they are using composite, water proof sidewalls/roofing materiel too. I have not seen one in person though to put them above the EverGreen. If the EverGreen price point is too high, then I would consider Jayco, CrossRoads, or KZ. I own a KZ and have been happy with it. I like that they are family owned much like Jayco, and they have a two year warranty with strong customer service.

 

[CKCK]

We're looking at TTs and have our eye on a Crossroads Zinger. Really like their layouts and warranty.

 

[caveat lector]

Ours is a Keystone Cougar Xlite. I would like to tell you that I'm loaded and then list out all the dif't models that I've owned. Unfortunately, that's not the case here. It's the only unit I've ever owned. That being said, it hasn't given me a lick of problems and has been used quite a bit.