I Need Travel Trailer Advice

Zembonez · June 24, 2008

Since I sold my boat, I have the bug to buy a travel trailer. We have tons of state parks and lakes around here...and I'm no good at just hanging at the house. My neighbor just bought a new Jayco which stoked the fire a little more.

I have been looking at new (non fifth wheel) trailers around 20 - 23 feet long with unloaded weights of around 3500 to 4200 pounds. There are deals to be had since gas is high and they aren't selling well. I've looked at Jayco JayFeather, Fleetwood, Dutchmen, and many others. Most have the exact same stuff inside. I have determined that I'd like a smooth fiberglass sided unit with aluminum framework instead of a wood framed aluminum sided one if possible. Unless somebody can tell me I am wrong for some reason?

Can any of you guys that have experience with them offer up some advice? Have a brand that you love or one to stay away from?

Your comments are certainly welcome. I don't want to buy the wrong rig.

EDIT: I just realized I put this in the wrong section... sorry guys.

alaska511 · June 24, 2008

There are many great brands out there. I know Fleetwood "had" some issues with quality a while back, but I am not sure now. I love my Jayco Jayflight, and can recommend it. It is not a "lite" however.

The lite trailers, are lighter, and do make a few sacrifices here and there to achieve it like cabinetry, lower ceilings, insulation, etc. but are great I am sure!

Even if you go lite, man you can load them up big time and easily go over your GCVWR, so you will have to be careful. I have a TON of stuff and have to be careful. So, if you do too, a lite may be what you are looking for...

Good luck with your search, Jim! Keep us posted!

Zembonez · June 24, 2008

The one that has my eye is the JayFeather 199 with a single slide out. It has a lot of room for a 20 foot trailer and empty weight with options is under 4000 lbs. I have to keep in mind I plan on keeping my RCSB truck. It pulled my 3200lb boat like nothing was there so 4500 lbs should be pretty easily pulled. I'll use a digital brake controller.

alaska511 · June 24, 2008

that is very nice, Jim!

Keep in mind, the weight isn't much of an issue...the damn wind resistance is though

smattei14 · June 24, 2008

Look at RV Mfg Trailers.

I use to work in the RV industry....they are prob your best bang for your buck TT. They have a great light weigh called the Wrangler. Their Summit Ridge line is also a great line.

I know from walking about each of the factories, they are by far the best made for the money. They do not skimp on anything.

If you want me to get into more details about any other lines or RV Mfg. Please I will be more then happy to help you.

[email protected]

- Steve

dlstewart01 · June 24, 2008

Edit the first sentance, Ha Ha

The one in the picture is a good one, also Forest River makes some light-weights. Their Rockwood series are pretty nice, I have one going on 3 years and have had no trouble with it. I have had a couple of Fleetwoods and had trouble with both of them. I am going camping this weekend.

Good luck with your search,

Don

Zembonez · June 24, 2008

Look at RV Mfg Trailers.

I use to work in the RV industry....they are prob your best bang for your buck TT. They have a great light weigh called the Wrangler. Their Summit Ridge line is also a great line.

I know from walking about each of the factories, they are by far the best made for the money. They do not skimp on anything.

If you want me to get into more details about any other lines or RV Mfg. Please I will be more then happy to help you.

[email protected]

- Steve

Thanks Steve... I may be askin some questions!

I really shouldn't respond sense I am now a D-Bag and have dragged the forum down(in marks opinion) but what the heck.
The one in the picture is a good one, also Forest River makes some light-weights. Their Rockwood Roo series are pretty nice, I have one going on 3 years and have had no trouble with it. I have had a couple of Fleetwoods and had trouble with both of them. I am going camping this weekend.

Good luck with your search,

Don

I'm always glad to have you speak up Don. I wouldn't let somebody else slow you down any!

I need the advice of all of you that have had these. I am a greenhorn here and don't want to make a 20,000 dollar mistake!

kdogg · June 24, 2008

Hey Z I didn't have 20g sittin around , but got mine for 4. Can't beat that cause everything works great and all I had to do so far was replace some light bulbs. The one you posted should be great. Just know and from my experience that someone is always gonna one up on you and it never ends so just know that the only way you won't have a good time is if something doesn't work. The worst time to find out is when you get out in the middle of nowhere.

Oh and to add some one is always one uppin on me cause mines a 97 Coachman. Coachman is good and well known, just cuttin close on the age.

C & A s Dad · June 24, 2008

Jim, we spent 5 years in a Pop Up and for the last 3 years of this time, I was researching travel trailers. I will say that the dealership has a great deal to do with your choice becuase there are so many similarities among most brands. I too wanted a alum frame but was not sold on the fiberglass siding necessarily. Some of this siding is better than others.

I ended up with a Sunset Creek which is Sunnybrook's entry level camper. The are alum framed and are very unique in the fact their frame is "screwed and glued" together instead of welded. They claim this is more time consuming and more costly but offers a better frame. They also sell under the name Mobile Scout in the Southwest.

I am camping in mine for the third summer and it has never been back to the dealer.

I was also considering Trail Bay, some of the Forest River brands and some of Jayco's models. At the time I was doing my research, Fleetwood's brands seemed to have the most issues.

Good luck and rememeber, to "peel back the exterior" and look deep inside. Many of the brands can woo you with their outward appearance and options and what is underneath is really not the quality you are looking for.

Zembonez · June 24, 2008

Thanks everybody for speaking up. I know I like to joke a lot in here but I am serious about learning something about these before I buy.

Alaska, I know wind is a big deal when you are pulling a giant box!

Kdogg I'd LOVE to sneak up on a great deal like that.

Trey. I had a Starcraft popup for several years and enjoyed it but that is as close to an RV as I have ever had.

I'm gonna write a check for whatever I buy so price is important. I've looked around at some used units here but I can darn near get a new one for what they want! I can get the 20,000 Jayco for about 15,500 right now but I want to make sure and get the best unit for my money.

I'm gonna take everybody that speaks up here at their word and dig a little more before I plop down my money.

kdogg · June 24, 2008

Thanks everybody for speaking up. I know I like to joke a lot in here but I am serious about learning something about these before I buy.

Alaska, I know wind is a big deal when you are pulling a giant box!

Kdogg I'd LOVE to sneak up on a great deal like that.

Trey. I had a Starcraft popup for several years and enjoyed it but that is as close to an RV as I have ever had.

I'm gonna write a check for whatever I buy so price is important. I've looked around at some used units here but I can darn near get a new one for what they want! I can get the 20,000 Jayco for about 15,500 right now but I want to make sure and get the best unit for my money.

I'm gonna take everybody that speaks up here at their word and dig a little more before I plop down my money.

It can happen! It was my brothers neighbor and I walk up to him with cash. Me personally though, I wouldn't spend more than that. If your looking at spending 15g on a 20g trailer than you can find a 10g one that will be in the same condition as if you had it 1 year. The main thing though is to find a private seller, because I looked around for about 2 months at dealers and they told me straight up that they will charge more because they have to make a profit. That can go untold. Look on Craigs list!

BigJayDogg3 · June 24, 2008

You could always get one of these.

But really, I'll be following this thread. Probably going to be getting rid of my current hobby, so I need to find a new one.

alaska511 · June 24, 2008

Thanks everybody for speaking up. I know I like to joke a lot in here but I am serious about learning something about these before I buy.

Alaska, I know wind is a big deal when you are pulling a giant box!

Kdogg I'd LOVE to sneak up on a great deal like that.

Trey. I had a Starcraft popup for several years and enjoyed it but that is as close to an RV as I have ever had.

I'm gonna write a check for whatever I buy so price is important. I've looked around at some used units here but I can darn near get a new one for what they want! I can get the 20,000 Jayco for about 15,500 right now but I want to make sure and get the best unit for my money.

I'm gonna take everybody that speaks up here at their word and dig a little more before I plop down my money.

It can happen! It was my brothers neighbor and I walk up to him with cash. Me personally though, I wouldn't spend more than that. If your looking at spending 15g on a 20g trailer than you can find a 10g one that will be in the same condition as if you had it 1 year. The main thing though is to find a private seller, because I looked around for about 2 months at dealers and they told me straight up that they will charge more because they have to make a profit. That can go untold. Look on Craigs list!

That is what I did. Good ol' craigslist. Mine is an '05, bought new in late '06 and hardly used. Even came with a 7 year extended warranty. The toilet and black tank never even had anything in it, he said. I checked, don't ask . Just like new for half the price.

kdogg · June 24, 2008

Yah, maybe we could all pich in our lifes, but I get to use it first!

rckt442 · June 24, 2008

I'm going to put a plug in for Pilgrim 1500 Lite series of travel trailers. I searched for over a year, including spending 2 full days at one of the largest RV shows in the country (Tampa, FL), and spending many weekends visiting the plethora of large RV dealerships we have here in Central Florida. We looked at just about every brand available and decided to go with Pilgrim. Its a relatively new company, but the fit and finish of their trailers is really good and they are light weight. Just to give you an idea of what I compared the Pilgrim to when making my decision - Forest River Surveyor, Rockwood, Holiday Rambler Savoy LE, and Fleetwood Prowler. The price was also a deciding factor. We got it for 30% off of MSRP plus they threw in about $500 of free stuff.