Getting back into the RV scene

[hemismith]

I had a 5th wheel, trailer, and truck camper between 2004 and 2012. I also grew up with a trailer and motorhome in the '70s, and rented motorhomes a number of times between 2001 and 2013. I used to be a member of the RV Consumer Group and active on the rv.net forum, which seems to have died. But nothing since.

Thinking about getting back into it now. It seems there has been quite a change in the RV industry in the last 10 years and especially 5 with Covid. Lots of new brands and lots of old ones gone.

My two trailers were purchased new, but looking at used trailers now. A lot of them have delamination on the front. How has the quality been and how is the quality now? Are any of the mainstream brands decent? Seems like all are made by either Forest River, Thor, or Grand Design (Winnebago).

Normally I wanted to go no older than 10 years, but have been looking at even older ones, but really wondering if should try to buy new again. Of course each used vehicle depends on care and condition.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Welcome to the forum. If you’re going older, get one made prior to COVID. Allot of junk was made during COVID. Since you have been an owner before, you should know what to look for in a used RV. Probably best to buy from a private party. If you do go to a dealer, stay away from camping world. Plenty of posts on this forum about there bad dealings. Good luck and welcome back

 

[IBTripping]

Welcome back. Best wishes finding a nice RV that works out for you.

 

[hemismith]

Welcome to the forum. If you’re going older, get one made prior to COVID. Allot of junk was made during COVID. Since you have been an owner before, you should know what to look for in a used RV. Probably best to buy from a private party. If you do go to a dealer, stay away from camping world. Plenty of posts on this forum about there bad dealings. Good luck and welcome back

Thanks, I suspected the Covid years had issues, just like a lot of homes built during that time. I was hoping they are better now though.

And I wondered about Camping World; I shopped there about 10 years ago but didn't stay long once I got a whiff of their selling practices. I thought maybe they were better now but I'll have to check out some posts.

 

[bigbAZ]

When I was doing research on trailers most of the stick built box trailers all had issues. the only ones that I felt to be of high quality were fiberglass trailers like Oliver, Casita and Bigfoot. However Oliver is way up there in cost and scarce used and Casitas are tiny. Bigfoot makes some bigger ones up to the 25 foot range and are quality built true 4 season trailers that won't fall apart. They are not real fancy and full of bells and whistles but they are solid. You can find used ones in all sizes but sometimes you have to travel to find one. They are made in Canada and mostly sold in the North. If you join a Bigfoot forum you can ask around to see if anyone is near you that is willing to let you look at theirs. We looked at a 25 foot here in Tucson and were leaning toward that when we suddenly did an about face and bought a small motorhome.

IMO the best of the stick built trailers are Lance flowed by Grand Design but even Grand Design seems to have slipped down in quality.
Winnebago trailers may be decent, we are pretty pleased with our Winnebago MH.

BTW I haven't seen much love for Camping World on any of the forums.

 

[hemismith]

When I was doing research on trailers most of the stick built box trailers all had issues. the only ones that I felt to be of high quality were fiberglass trailers like Oliver, Casita and Bigfoot. However Oliver is way up there in cost and scarce used and Casitas are tiny. Bigfoot makes some bigger ones up to the 25 foot range and are quality built true 4 season trailers that won't fall apart. They are not real fancy and full of bells and whistles but they are solid. You can find used ones in all sizes but sometimes you have to travel to find one. They are made in Canada and mostly sold in the North. If you join a Bigfoot forum you can ask around to see if anyone is near you that is willing to let you look at theirs. We looked at a 25 foot here in Tucson and were leaning toward that when we suddenly did an about face and bought a small motorhome.

IMO the best of the stick built trailers are Lance flowed by Grand Design but even Grand Design seems to have slipped down in quality.
Winnebago trailers may be decent, we are pretty pleased with our Winnebago MH.

BTW I haven't seen much love for Camping World on any of the forums.

Thanks, yes, I'm familiar with Bigfoot, we almost bought a Bigfoot motorhome back in 2003. Should have, it wasn't much more than any other motorhome at the time. I don't think they made trailers then. I just saw one on the road a week ago. We've been leaning towards Grand Design as I figured they might be a little better than the two main mfgs but I'll have to do more research.

 

[bigbAZ]

Thanks, yes, I'm familiar with Bigfoot, we almost bought a Bigfoot motorhome back in 2003. Should have, it wasn't much more than any other motorhome at the time. I don't think they made trailers then. I just saw one on the road a week ago. We've been leaning towards Grand Design as I figured they might be a little better than the two main mfgs but I'll have to do more research.

I almost forgot, since you are looking at used Grand Design products be aware that some Grand Design products had an issue with Powder Post Beetle infestations in the wood paneling from the factory, look it up. Seems it was Imagine trailers built and purchased around 2022.

 

[hemismith]

I almost forgot, since you are looking at used Grand Design products be aware that some Grand Design products had an issue with Powder Post Beetle infestations in the wood paneling from the factory, look it up. Seems it was Imagine trailers built and purchased around 2022.

Yikes, thanks, good to know.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Not only did Grand Design have issues like those pointed out in the prio post, but they have had serious frame problems since around 2020 that has led to several class action lawsuits against them.

During last winters RV show season my wife and I hit a couple local RV shows (tiny compared to many others ). We were shocked at the poor quality, floor plans, materials used, and just about everything else on Imagine TTs. Judging by how many you see at campgrounds, they all look alike, we figured they would be some of the nicest. Wrong.

In case you're wondering, we like the FR Salem series of TT the best. And, we are not partial to Forest River at all.

 

[hemismith]

Not only did Grand Design have issues like those pointed out in the prio post, but they have had serious frame problems since around 2020 that has led to several class action lawsuits against them.

During last winters RV show season my wife and I hit a couple local RV shows (tiny compared to many others ). We were shocked at the poor quality, floor plans, materials used, and just about everything else on Imagine TTs. Judging by how many you see at campgrounds, they all look alike, we figured they would be some of the nicest. Wrong.

In case you're wondering, we like the FR Salem series of TT the best. And, we are not partial to Forest River at all.

Hmmm, I had thought Grand Design were better than the "big 2" manufacturers, and they have been the only dealer near me other than Camping World. A new dealer just opened however that sells Alliance, which I have never heard of.

Also, I thought Jayco used to be one of the better ones, but are they just like the others now?

 

[bigbAZ]

In more recent years everyone has been trying to make them as light as possible. There are more than a few brands that have experienced frame cracks and failures, I read about some with Coachmen and ORV as well. Whether it's due to overloading or bad roads or just too thin of materials who knows.

They also put just enough axle under many of them, like they will put two 3500 GVW axles and call it a 7,000 GVWR trailer so you really need to know how much you weigh and how it is distributed.

Grand Design was started by some ex-Winnebago executives and at first I thought they were a cut above the rest but after a couple years of research I came to the conclusion all the stick trailers are similar in quality. We only saw real quality in molded fiberglass trailers and Airstream, although Airstream has had their share of problems, but they do hold their value. I do think ORV is good quality but then I read about some frame failures so who knows?

If you think about it you staple a house together using the thinnest, lightest and cheapest materials you can find then bounce it down the road, what could go wrong lol!

If we ever replace the motorhome I'm seriously considering something like a Casita. I think we could get by on less space than we have now for our normally shorter trips. There are also a few trailers made with all aluminum framing but they tend to be small.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Bigb56, I believe you might be wrong on the start-up of Grand Design. If my memory serves me correctly, wasn't GD started up by the founders of Keystone trailers, some of the best on the market back then, after they sold Keystone to Thor? I always thought it was brilliant of them to sell Keystone, then start another competitive company to Keystone and sell at lower price points than Keystone, and seemingly soon dominate the TT and 5'er market.

Even though Jayco was sold to Thor several years back, I believe their TT and 5'ers still enjoy a good reputation, especially for some of the structural build properties of their rigs, such as heavier plywood used in the roofs of their products.

 

[bigbAZ]

Bigb56, I believe you might be wrong on the start-up of Grand Design. If my memory serves me correctly, wasn't GD started up by the founders of Keystone trailers, some of the best on the market back then, after they sold Keystone to Thor? I always thought it was brilliant of them to sell Keystone, then start another competitive company to Keystone and sell at lower price points than Keystone, and seemingly soon dominate the TT and 5'er market.

Even though Jayco was sold to Thor several years back, I believe their TT and 5'ers still enjoy a good reputation, especially for some of the structural build properties of their rigs, such as heavier plywood used in the roofs of their products.

You're probably right, I see that Winnebago now owns them though, and Don Clark, one of the original GD founders still serves as CEO. Who Owns Grand Design RV? The Full Story Behind the Brand

 

[CharlesinGA]

Bigfoot started out making trailers in the mid 1980's Motorhomes came later and with the bankruptcy the MH production ended. It is now just truck campers and trailers.

Charles

 

[DutchmenSport]

When disappointed with the status quo, then look outside the status quo. Consider something you've never considered before. Here's a couple suggestions:

#1 - Horse trailers with living quarters. They are built like tanks because they have to take the rough abuse of horses kicking their way in and out of them. And they have just as comfortable and luxurious living quarters as any "conventional" camper. And you have the advantage of storage in the horse stall section. You can get them custom made and have the actual stalls left out. Now you have LOTS of room for storage for toys and camping gear!

I did a Google Search for "Horse trailer with living quarters", this is the first one that came up. There are many possibilities here: Click here for Horse Trailer.

#2 - Ice House. Ice Houses are more common and built in the Northern part of the USA, mostly Minnisota, North Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin. They are, however, a charming "different" type of camper.

They are designed to be pulled on frozen lakes in the winter and used for ice fishing. The trailers are built on a lifting mechanism that will actually drop the entire body of the camper to the ground, (or in this case, on the frozen ice like). In the floor of the Ice House are several "ports" or round holes with covers that are removed, exposing the ice under the trailer. Open the hatches, punch a hole through the ice, drop your fishing line through the hatch, into the water below and fish comfortable from you RV living room.

These Ice Houses are really unique and very eye catching if you've ever seen one in a campground. No need for steps. Simply drop the camper completely on the ground and walk right in. They look weird when lowered. The first one I ever saw was in a campground in South Dakota. They don't necessarily have to be used on a frozen lake.

Glacier, Ice Castle, Core Ice, and Yeti are probably the most popular. Here's a link to RV trader, searched for "Ice House". But, check out the manufactures I listed above too: RV Trader, Ice House, Click here.

#3 - Mobile Home Office. Companies that build these will customize the camper any way you want. (Hey, it's an option outside the status quo) I did have to some internet searching for this one, but I'm sure big companies and construction companies get these from somewhere? Craftsmen Industries - Mobile Offices

#4 - School bus conversions. School bus conversions include more than school buses. This category includes any type of bus that's been converted to an RV. These are usually home built, converted older buses that have been modernized. Sometimes, folks do sell these. The life style would be similar to camping in a drivable RV.

Here's a link to the RV Life "School Bus Conversion" forum (or Schoolie). Click here for RV Life "Schoolie" forum.

So, "think outside the box" if the current conventional industry does not suit you.

 

[Laura & Charles]

Here’s an ice house @DutchmenSport #2 point above.