OT Quality camper trailers OT

Eoin

alaskanassasin said:

Eoin said:

Eriba caravans are nice, do you get those in the US? The biggest one is close to what you are looking for and has a one piece aluminium roof. We have a 30 year old Eriba, the small one (we like compact camping), aluminium skin and GRP roof with poptop. Still completely waterproof. They are usually efficient weight wise for their size, less of a drag to tow.

  That is a cool looking camper, looks like they are maybe just starting here

Eriba is a real quality brand here in Europe. Ours - it's small, 1989 vintage:

alaskanassasin

Nice rig I’m sure lots of good memories.

Jupiter Jim

alaskanassasin said:

Jupiter Jim said:

We have a 2012 Fleetwood Bounder Motor Home 34' purchased new have been very happy with it. We thought we would travel more when we first got it, quickly realized that many of the places we thought we would winter were to expensive for us. Thought we would spend more time on the east or west coast of FL but lot rent is usually $900.00 to 1000.00 per month plus electric. If I knew then what I know now we would probably rent for the 5-6 months we are in FL. The RV industry is for the most part not much quality and after having many boats in my life to me it's like owning a boat. Something is going to break or stop working for sure and I will have to pay to get it fixed but we love the RV life. I have always had extended warranty and that has helped.  I can't say enough good things about Lazy Days in Tampa FL, we got the motor home there and back in 2012 they were awesome. Good Luck

 This is a good comment, before we pull the trigger I would like to call rv parks and get a idea of monthly rates, very valid point.

It's the one thing we did not do and boy were we surprised! We now spend the winters in Okeechobee FL reasonable seasonal lot rent. Oh and we LOVE Okeechobee FL.

DoubleEgger

My retirement plans include a nice camper parked in Yellowstone all season. 

Jeremiah

Take a look at Grand Design, and Redwood. You’ll really need to shop used to get under 100k, also if you can find one with full body paint (automotive paint vs gel coat and vinyl decals) you’ll be much better off. 

GlennM

We thought about this and ended up buying a place in Naples Florida and a car that we leave there. It is not expensive to maintain and we can go anywhere we want in the car. Florida is great in the winter!!  

alaskanassasin

 Jeremiah said:

Take a look at Grand Design, and Redwood. You’ll really need to shop used to get under 100k, also if you can find one with full body paint (automotive paint vs gel coat and vinyl decals) you’ll be much better off. 

Looking at the redwoods... 15,000lbs  now we’re talking 

northGAcock

Jeremiah said:

We have a **** Keystone. It’s a love/ hate relationship. But they’re all ****, even the high end models. ****. 

The wing losses mounting bitterness? 

Tspud1

HeavyG said:

alaskanassasin said:

YEMTrey said:

Buy a condo and rent it the rest of the year.

This is a good suggestion however we like the idea of being able to move around to different areas of the country. 

Buy multiple condos in different areas and rent them out when not needed.

I gave a nice 5th wheel but hardly use it. I have to wonder with VRBO and Airbnb why you couldn't just hop around country staying in those

Jeremiah

northGAcock said:

Jeremiah said:

We have a **** Keystone. It’s a love/ hate relationship. But they’re all ****, even the high end models. ****. 

The wing losses mounting bitterness? 

No, not at all. I got what I paid for. We use and abuse the crap out of it, and in a few years we’ll trade it in and use and abuse the crap out of another $hitty camper. 

Tspud1

Jeremiah said:t

northGAcock said:

Jeremiah said:

We have a **** Keystone. It’s a love/ hate relationship. But they’re all ****, even the high end models. ****. 

The wing losses mounting bitterness? 

No, not at all. I got what I paid for. We use and abuse the crap out of it, and in a few years we’ll trade it in and use and abuse the crap out of another $hitty camper. 

Some Europeans do that with a used motor home, buy it and the hit the road in US. After vacation is over they sell and get most of money back

Legume

DoubleEgger said:

Jeremiah said:

alaskanassasin said:

SGH said:

alaskanassasin said:

 We are interested in high end camper trailers. Our first option was Airstream. After visiting the Airstream dealer we were not blown away by a $150,000 camper, it was 30 or so feet bumper pull but did not have any outside storage ( boots, firewood, chairs etc.) and no where to easily mount a generator. 

 We would like to buy a high end camper but I can not think of any other brands, the goal is to snow bird south in the winter and relax somewhere warm for a couple months.

 

First let me say right up front, I sure wish that I had your money. I can tell right up front that you may have problems, but money isn’t one of them. On that same note, the selling point of Airstream is they (are to the best of my knowledge) the only camper/trailers that almost never have leaks. The roof on an Airstream is solid aluminum. Most all others have rolled rubber. 
With that said, I haven’t looked at camper/trailers in several years. So the situation may of changed. But at one time Airstream was the only ones with a solid roof. Maybe someone who is in the know can chime in and say if that’s still true or not. That’s where your money went when you bought an Airstream. Peace of mind. 

 That is funny! If I had your money I would throw mine away!  You are on to something though, we would like a one piece roof, fiberglass is a good option in that department.  We are starting to save money for a camper, this purchase would be a couple years out, we really don't do anything in a hurry, shopping is a big part of the fun on big purchases for us.

They leak too. I joined a couple Airstream groups on Facebook a year or two ago. Plenty of unhappy customer there too. That’s one thing I can say at least for my crappy Keystone, it doesn’t leak—yet lol.

If I may be so blunt, what’s your price range? There are some really nice 5ers, but they ain’t cheap, or light. 

I read that Airstream’s average employee tenure used to be 20 years. Due to increased demand and retirement, the average tenure is just over five years. All of the riveting is done by hand. We all know about talent drain...

Make Airstream Great Again.

DoubleEgger

Jeremiah said:

northGAcock said:

Jeremiah said:

We have a **** Keystone. It’s a love/ hate relationship. But they’re all ****, even the high end models. ****. 

The wing losses mounting bitterness? 

No, not at all. I got what I paid for. We use and abuse the crap out of it, and in a few years we’ll trade it in and use and abuse the crap out of another $hitty camper. 

I doubt very seriously that you are abusing anything you own. I know you. 

Thatgrimguy

Go to a LARGE RV show. You will find the best deals and have a chance to inspect all the brands.  Cheaper price = cheaper quality in most cases.

PoppasGrill

Jeremiah said:

We have a **** Keystone. It’s a love/ hate relationship. But they’re all ****, even the high end models. ****. 

I bought a Coleman to use for working out of town, started having issues and was to to bring it back to the dealer and leave it until resolved. Can’t do that since I live in it while at work.
Other option is pay out of pocket for repairs and submit to company for what they might reimburse for.
So I am stuck.

Jeremiah

PoppasGrill said:

Jeremiah said:

We have a **** Keystone. It’s a love/ hate relationship. But they’re all ****, even the high end models. ****. 

I bought a Coleman to use for working out of town, started having issues and was to to bring it back to the dealer and leave it until resolved. Can’t do that since I live in it while at work.
Other option is pay out of pocket for repairs and submit to company for what they might reimburse for.
So I am stuck.

Like @Jupiter Jim said, you’ve got to be willing to work on them. ALL OF THEM. Learning how to fix it yourself,
is the  key to staying in the rv business. 

PoppasGrill

Jupiter Jim said:

We have a 2012 Fleetwood Bounder Motor Home 34' purchased new have been very happy with it. We thought we would travel more when we first got it, quickly realized that many of the places we thought we would winter were to expensive for us. Thought we would spend more time on the east or west coast of FL but lot rent is usually $900.00 to 1000.00 per month plus electric. If I knew then what I know now we would probably rent for the 5-6 months we are in FL. The RV industry is for the most part not much quality and after having many boats in my life to me it's like owning a boat. Something is going to break or stop working for sure and I will have to pay to get it fixed but we love the RV life. I have always had extended warranty and that has helped.  I can't say enough good things about Lazy Days in Tampa FL, we got the motor home there and back in 2012 they were awesome. Good Luck

I work in WPB and stay at a campground in Belle Glade, about 40 mins west near Lake Okeechobee.
Their year round price is less than 600$ per month full hook up.
Most others double their prices in the “season”.

alaskanassasin

Thatgrimguy said:

Go to a LARGE RV show. You will find the best deals and have a chance to inspect all the brands.  Cheaper price = cheaper quality in most cases.

 That’s a good idea too. I sounds like they are all junk, I was afraid of this, it is easy for me to find something good like the bge and go after it knowing all the hard work and saving will be worth it. That said I guess I have tons of options now!

  We went to a RV show years ago and signed up to win something in a drawing not realizing that we were signing up for endless spam phone calls. After a few years of them calling us randomly it was almost funny.

kl8ton

All rvs are junk.  . . Pretty much. I know 6 or 7 people that purchased new. . . They have all been in for warranty work 6 months out of the first year.  You are on dealers time.  Yeah repair is free but how long are you willing to be without? 

Our "big rv show" here in west Michigan does not get the high end models. 

Airstream quality is slipping. 

I second the redwood and grand designs suggestions.  Mobile suites are good.  Holiday rambler or maybe Jayco makes the presidential line.  Get a fifth wheel.  Far safer and a more comfortable tow.  You have the truck for it.  I always have liked this site for shopping:
https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/used-rvs-for-sale/fifth-wheel?sortBy=price+desc

Scroll down until you are under 100k.

Never dealt with them but they always seem to have great rigs. 

Good luck!

Jeremiah

Ppl are good people. Bought a good bit from them when I was building my teardrop camper. Agreed with the 5er option, wish it was a option for me. 

kl8ton

Jeremiah said:

Ppl are good people. Bought a good bit from them when I was building my teardrop camper. Agreed with the 5er option, wish it was a option for me. 

That is good to hear about ppl.

I may force a 5th wheel as an option.  We are a family of 8. I cringe thinking about a bumper pull going across country.   I don't even like a 1/2 hour trip.   We may just have a chase vehicle for our next trip.  I own nothing right now. .. on the prowl. 

berndcrisp

Oh what the hay, Just get an 'MBenz Airstream' and get over it.

alaskanassasin

I will check out 5th wheels, I have the mount in the bed of my truck already. It seems like you can get decent deals on them because they have a somewhat limited market. 

Jupiter Jim

PoppasGrill said:

Jupiter Jim said:

We have a 2012 Fleetwood Bounder Motor Home 34' purchased new have been very happy with it. We thought we would travel more when we first got it, quickly realized that many of the places we thought we would winter were to expensive for us. Thought we would spend more time on the east or west coast of FL but lot rent is usually $900.00 to 1000.00 per month plus electric. If I knew then what I know now we would probably rent for the 5-6 months we are in FL. The RV industry is for the most part not much quality and after having many boats in my life to me it's like owning a boat. Something is going to break or stop working for sure and I will have to pay to get it fixed but we love the RV life. I have always had extended warranty and that has helped.  I can't say enough good things about Lazy Days in Tampa FL, we got the motor home there and back in 2012 they were awesome. Good Luck

I work in WPB and stay at a campground in Belle Glade, about 40 mins west near Lake Okeechobee.
Their year round price is less than 600$ per month full hook up.
Most others double their prices in the “season”.

We lived in Jupiter 25 years just thought we would spend the winter in Jupiter, Sebastian, Lantana west coast but monthly lot rent was just tooooooo much, currently at just over $400.00 a month plus electric and as I said before we LOVE Okeechobee. I grew up in West Palm Beach first arrived there in 1956 lived in Palm Beach County until 2012. I sure miss the Ocean but not the busy life on the coast, but that is where the $$$$$ and jobs are. 

TEXASBGE2018

alaskanassasin said:

I will check out 5th wheels, I have the mount in the bed of my truck already. It seems like you can get decent deals on them because they have a somewhat limited market. 

Oh ya if you wanna go to a 5th wheel a whole other world opens up. You can get those with king size temperpedic beds, washer and dryers, full size side by side fridges, “libraries”. I’ve even seen them with small walk in closets with gun safes in them. Definitely go to an RV show. It will blow your mind how elegant they can get. $100,000 on a top end 5th wheel is doable.

Skiddymarker

Just bought a Grand Design Imagine, lot of lip stick on this pig. If I had a tow monster like a 3500 Cummins, I’d be looking at a GD Solitude fiver or other top end rig. A 35 foot fiver is the same rig length as a 30 foot Travel Trailer. With a large fiver you get an easy to haul rig, basement with tons of storage, winterized, frameless glass, top end cabinets, bath and furniture, Onan genny and tons of other features including lots of slide rooms and even residential appliances, including washer and dryer. Easy place to spend a few months full timing. 

EDIT - a 310GK (gourmet kitchen) is about $65K, you can add the genny, slide toppers etc if not equipped. The Canadian market is a little different. 

nolaegghead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkpCzp0CmjY

alaskanassasin

Thanks! We will check out the grand designs, swmbo read your post and perked up when she saw the washer dryer. We now have a mission! 

kl8ton

alaskanassasin said:

Thanks! We will check out the grand designs, swmbo read your post and perked up when she saw the washer dryer. We now have a mission! 

To save space, they have invented washer dryer combo units.  They wash and dry in the same machine.  Many larger 5ers have washer and dryer hookups.

Skiddymarker

As you plan to stay in one place for a time, slide toppers are a must. It is important to keep the top of the slide rooms clean and clear of debris. When you pull them in, stuff does stick and now it is inside the coach. You need a ladder that will store in the rig and a good leaf blower to clear out under the toppers. 
Also, check out the unit when the slides are in, can you still get to the fridge, bathroom, etc. It is a **** if you stop to pick up some groceries and you can’t get them into the fridge. 
many units have outdoor kitchens, never met anyone who really uses/likes them. 
In BC you have to hold a specific license if the unit is over 10,500# GVWR. Good idea to check your local regs. 
Have fun and now is a good time to buy, lots of 2018/19s on the lots.