Hobie1
Well-known member
all TT mfr seem to have horror stories. Is there a reasonably reliable mfr/brand? want to buy a 25' TT or TH towed by 2019 Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi. open to all suggestions.
Reasonably reliable MFR?
- Thread starter Hobie1
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I towed a 2005 Cherokee Lite 28A trailer by Forrest River with my Ram 1500 for 13 years and just sold the trailer this summer. In those 13 years, the only thing we ever had to deal with was tire maintenance and repacking bearing maintenance. It was a real good TV-TT combination.
I don't have any experience other manufacturers.
I don't have any experience other manufacturers.
darsben
Well-known member
If you want less problems BUY USED.
A year or two old rig will have had the warranty items taken care of by the original owner.
A year or two old rig will have had the warranty items taken care of by the original owner.
SeilerBird
Well-known member
An RV is a house being driven down the road at 60 miles per hour being shaken to death. You cannot build an RV that could withstand that type of punishment, unless you built it like the space shuttle. All RVs have problems and most are not their own fault. RVs require constant maintenance and attention to keep it in good shape.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
I guess it depends on how "reasonable" you are. 
And your budget.
There is probably no real higher quality brand in the size and type you want. Airstream would qualify, but they are really pricey. Most everything else available in that segment is focused on the entry level buyer and therefore low price & glitz trumps quality and reliability on every score. People willing to pay a premium for "better" also want "larger" and "upscale", so they mostly buy larger 5W or motorhomes.
Forest River has a broad line-up of trailers with an offering in most every size and price class. That's where I would be looking. Winnebago has a couple decent towables as well.
And your budget. There is probably no real higher quality brand in the size and type you want. Airstream would qualify, but they are really pricey. Most everything else available in that segment is focused on the entry level buyer and therefore low price & glitz trumps quality and reliability on every score. People willing to pay a premium for "better" also want "larger" and "upscale", so they mostly buy larger 5W or motorhomes.
Forest River has a broad line-up of trailers with an offering in most every size and price class. That's where I would be looking. Winnebago has a couple decent towables as well.
Lou Schneider
Site Team
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2005
- Posts
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Take a look at Northwood Mfg and their sister company, Outdoors RV.
They're a relatively small manufacturer in La Grange, OR that has a consistent reputation for turning out well built, affordable trailers, 5th wheels and pickup campers.
They're a relatively small manufacturer in La Grange, OR that has a consistent reputation for turning out well built, affordable trailers, 5th wheels and pickup campers.
OP
OP
Hobie1
Well-known member
Thanks: everyone has confirmed my discovery I am looking at Forest River and Northwood as they have a broad range of low priced junk. Love Airstream but too pricey for a vehicle that will mostly sit in a parking lot.
I am looking at Forest River and Northwood as they have a broad range of low priced junk. Love Airstream but too pricey for a vehicle that will mostly sit in a parking lot.
You want an Airstream, you pay for an Airstream. I'm pleased with my Forest River Puma, I would call it a middle line of the junk as you say. There are much worse. As mentioned, look for a slightly used, rarely used trailer. I bought a 2012 in 2016, and it hadn't been towed 500 miles, never showered in, it was only camped in a couple times. Elders buy them and turns out they are a bit more work than they want. It takes serious looking, and cash in hand, on the spot to buy. You won't find a deal off someone upside down on a loan they got suckered into and some RV Store, cough cough.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Grand Design has some better-built travel trailers, but they are also the more upscale models. Jayco has them as well, though reports seem to indicate that Jayco quality has slipped in the last decade.
Without meaning to be catty, after reading literally thousands of inquiries here about buying a quality RV, it is apparent that quality takes a distant second seat to price. Talk is cheap, but quality RV construction is not.
Without meaning to be catty, after reading literally thousands of inquiries here about buying a quality RV, it is apparent that quality takes a distant second seat to price. Talk is cheap, but quality RV construction is not.
Lou Schneider
Site Team
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2005
- Posts
- 13,516
Hobie1 said:
Sounds like you really don't want an RV. That's fine, maybe you need to build it yourself or look at one of the custom builders like New Horizon or Spacecraft. Or Google Tiny Homes and pick someone to build it the way you want it.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
New Horizons stopped making their travel trailer models several years ago - strictly 5W now. Not enough TT buyers willing to pay for custom construction. Spacecraft still does custom TTs.
It's tough to justify higher prices for an item that only gets occasional use. Junk may be "good enough" for a few weekends each summer.
It's tough to justify higher prices for an item that only gets occasional use. Junk may be "good enough" for a few weekends each summer.
Frizlefrak
Well-known member
My low priced junk Forest River has had exactly 3 mechanical problems in the 7 years since I bought it new, and they were minor. There are good and bad in every batch from every manufacturer.
Learn to repair your own RV and the maintenance and upkeep can even be fun, and you'll get to know the rig inside and out.
Learn to repair your own RV and the maintenance and upkeep can even be fun, and you'll get to know the rig inside and out.
