Looking for trailer brand/model recommendations or warnings

[Kill-R-Bee]

Hello: my wife and I are contemplating upgrading to a larger travel trailer; our current one (Keystone Springdale) is 24 feet long inside. Although it was just fine for the two of us, we are looking forward to someday soon taking our two grandkids on some camping adventures with us. Thus the need for something bigger.

I know what I want in terms of trailer length/s and amenities. I have plugged my choices into the search boxes on several RV dealership websites, and then scrolled through the choices that were provided, looking at the floor plans and specs. I have narrowed the field down to several specific models from a few different manufacturers.

Here's the deal: I know that most RV manufacturers have several different model lines that represent varying degrees of craftsmanship or quality; some are the "lower end" economy lines while others are more "premier" or upscale. Listed below are the various trailer makes & models that have all the features I am looking for. I would like to know if anyone has personal experiences to relate on those I've listed. Also, any thoughts on where the model lines I've listed fall in that particular manufacturer's quality range. Are any of these RV manufacturers "better" than the others in your opinion? Choices (so far) are:

Keystone "Bullet" or "Passport" models
Forrest River "Alpha Wolf" or "Gray Wolf" models
Heartland "Mallard" model line
Coleman "Lantern" models

I'm pretty sure the Coleman trailers are going to get some harsh or lowly remarks, but I included it because they have one specific model that is near perfect in all the metrics I was looking for.

I should also mention that we are looking to purchase a brand new trailer this time, hopefully including factory warranties for at least the first year.

Curious to hear what you all have to say on these choices. Thanks in advance.
KRB

 

[Seilerbird]

No one can tell you very much about those models. There are thousands of different RVs manufactured by hundreds of companies. You are going about this all wrong. This is not a house you are buying and it is not a car. You need to shop locally and look at as many different RVs that are actually for sale until you find one that meets your needs. Then come here and ask us about that particular RV. If it is approved by the members here then you can get a real RV inspector to check it out and then you can buy it. Searching for a particular model RV while shopping will be a fruitless search.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

If you are shopping for new as opposed to used, I think the new MSRP price is a reasonable indicator of the relative quality of construction and materials (assuming equal amenities, of course). The RV business is extremely price-competitive, so manufacturers cut corners on quality to get the price lower, usually sacrificing stuff that is not readily visible to shoppers. Some examples of corner-cutting are light duty frames, lesser capacity axles/wheels/tires, shabby cabinetry construction, poor upholstery and flooring, and sloppy workmanship on wiring and plumbing (you have to look behind things to see that).

Some often-positive clues are: heavier unladen weight and bigger GVWR, larger wheels/tires, bigger water tanks, TPO or fiberglass roof instead of EPDM rubber, fiberglass sides instead of metal, solid surface countertops, well-fitting cabinet joints/seams, and neatly placed & well supported wiring. I say "clues" because none of these items are guarantees and the lack of any one of them is not an automatic fail. Yu have to look at the whole package to judge.

Are you going to shop nationwide for the best deal on the model you select, or will you be restricting your search to your local area. It's an important factor, because dealers often don't have what you want in stock and may not be interested much in special orders either. Plus they often take months to get.

 

[donniedu]

Being in PA you don't have choices like we do out west. You did not list my two top picks.
Well actually 3. Northwood MFG, OutdoorRV and Heartland all make better quality products. Northwood and OutdoorRV are built on in house made frames designed for a rugged life.

 

[Kill-R-Bee]

Being in PA you don't have choices like we do out west. You did not list my two top picks.
Well actually 3. Northwood MFG, OutdoorRV and Heartland all make better quality products. Northwood and OutdoorRV are built on in house made frames designed for a rugged life.

Trust me...only been here in PA a bit over two years, and I am missing the Pacific Northwest immesly! There are SO many things not around here; my wife would kill to have a Kroger-affiliated grocery store to shop at.

One of the trailers on my possible list IS a Heartland: the Mallard M26. I'll have to do some more looking, see if I can find any Northwood or OutdoorRV models to my liking. I'm not opposed to driving out West to bring a trailer back here.

 

[Jackiemac]

Welcome! We like our Heartland. Have had a few minor issues but otherwise good. Its not a top of the range model, but suits us.

 

[Rob&Deryl]

Plug it into an RVTrader search and see what comes up. Worked for me.

 

[steveblonde]

Trailers are built on an assembly line by hand. So -Bob is having a good day and paying attention. Life is good. Tomorrow Bobs wife is asking for a divorce and Bob is pissed mind is elsewhere and he hates the world and his work reflects that. I just bought my 2nd Voltage 5er my 1st one was great will this one be the same?