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Travel Trailer Brands to Avoid (Worst RV Brands Ever)
- November 22, 2018 /
- By R. Geraldi /
Purchasing a recreational vehicle (or simply an RV) is an investment that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In fact, it might be one of the most expensive things someone could buy. Therefore, it’s imperative to know and understand the product in its entirety in order to prevent any potential future inconveniences. People are often intimidated by the sheer number of RVs that oversaturate the market at the moment. Most people completely avoid making an informed decision by rushing and purchasing whatever is visually appealing. As a result, they often make a disastrous mistake by purchasing a trailer brand that seems trustworthy but really isn’t. Later on, that often leads to disappointment when they find out that the RV isn’t working properly, or is missing some key features.
Our primary objective is to help you avoid certain brands and provide all the necessary details that showcase a faulty RV. We took into consideration various complaints and have gathered the feedback of the users from numerous forums. Therefore, we’ve come up with a list of RV brands to stay away from. In addition to that, we’ll discuss several noteworthy steps and precautions that should be taken into account when purchasing a trailer or an RV. That being said, let’s get right into it.
Worst Travel Trailer Brands
Every now or then, trailer manufacturers release a product that’s either a complete hit or miss. We’ve selected four travel trailers that have been marked as the worst camper trailers ever, and here’s why.
Coachmen Travel Trailer
Coachmen is a brand that’s known for producing various RVs and travel trailers since the 60s. Over the years, the quality of their trailers shifted back and forth, only to hit the rock bottom quite recently. The main problem is in the interior design because everything is so fragile and loose. For example, the drawers can’t hold too much weight as the bottom breaks even at the slightest pressure. Moreover, the screws haven’t been tightened properly in some places which causes some parts to fall down. But that’s not all. There’s also a major problem regarding leaking that can easily destroy the whole floor and make it unusable. The whole point of a travel trailer is to make your trip as pleasant as possible. Coachmen travel trailer simply fails to meet even those minimal requirements. Therefore, it should be avoided.
Winnebago Travel Trailer
Another travel trailer brand to stay away from is definitely Winnebago. What’s interesting about this manufacturer is that their other products have decent quality to them. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with their trailer. So what’s that bad about it? Well, for starters, the entire frame of the trailer lacks structure. What that means is that everything feels sort of rushed, as there are multiple bent walls and panels. Moreover, certain parts weren’t bolted properly and might come off at any point. Not only does that violate the safety regulations , but it also tells us how unprofessional the company is. In addition to these structural drawbacks, there are rumors that the company refuses to provide customer support for their products. That just puts them in a bad spot.
Gulf Stream Travel Trailer
Gulf Stream is no different when it comes to visual drawbacks and faulty materials. It used to be one of the better brands in the past. However, the quality of their products has dropped over the years and fails to meet the modern standards. The entire trailer has a lot of leakage problems that cause the materials to rust. We’ve read some user feedback and numerous complaints where people state claim this is one of the worst camper trailers out there. Moreover, people state that they couldn’t feel comfortable in their trailers knowing that there’s so much rust everywhere. In addition to all of this, some parts appear to have been installed improperly.
Unlike the previous trailer, the customer service is willing to help for this one. However, they charge extra for their services , and we think that it’s not worth the hassle. Why? Because everything should have been installed correctly in the first place.
Keystone Travel Trailer
The last product to make it into our list of worst camper trailers is Keystone travel trailer. Of all the reviews that we’ve read online, we’ve only found 2 that were in favor of this product. Other favorable reviews were, unfortunately, from the Keystone’s website. We’re not entirely sure what happened to the entire Keystone travel trailer line, but all of their trailers seem to be bad. There are a lot of problems when it comes to the design and the overall structure of this trailer. First of all, the finishing looks and feels cheap. Second of all, the walls aren’t durable at all and are susceptible to bents and indentations.
The company is fairly new, and it received a lot of clients in the shortest amount of time. That might be the reason why the quality of their products is so low . They are producing these trailers quite fast. Therefore, that tells us that they didn’t dedicate enough time to fixing the occurring issues.
Worst RV Brands
The previous section featured a list of some of the worst camper trailers currently available on the market. However, these same manufacturers also produce RVs which don’t really stand out that much from their counterparts, in terms of quality. Now, we’ll take a look at the worst motorhome brands that roam the marketplace down below. So let’s start.
Coachmen RV
Following in the footsteps of their camper trailer, Coachmen fails to deliver an optimal level of quality yet again! There are so many complaints online regarding their recreational vehicles that it’s even hard to count. Coachmen overlooked the fact that each RV should have a valve on the fresh water drain. That’s an integral part of almost every RV, or at least it should be!
In addition to that, there are instances where the screws become loose enough to fall out along with the parts that they’re meant to hold. In some cases, the furniture and the panels break, since Coachmen used low-quality materials. Besides the overall visual design of this RV, there’s nothing that really stands out and attempts to justify its price.
Gulfstream RV
Gulfstream used to be a popular brand before, and people generally didn’t have any complaints about their products. Their RVs share a few similarities with their camper trailers, and that’s not good. Just like with the trailers, people experienced frequent leaks inside their recreational vehicles. These leaks are difficult to deal with and it takes time for the water to come out. As a result, the rust takes over and makes everything even worse. The main problem is that the company doesn’t want to invest in better materials. They essentially use whatever they can find, as long as it can hold the RV together. That’s definitely a sign that their professionalism degraded and that their products are not worth the investment.
Forest River RV
We know that Coachmen is a subsidiary of Forest River, so we expected at least some quality issues with their products. What we didn’t expect is that Forest River RVs share the same quality properties. There are numerous complaints online from the users who bought their RVs. The majority of the claims are that the RVs are facing technical difficulties when running, which limits the user’s comfort and hurts the driving experience. One of the user reports even stated that the whole floor had sunk. It’s really unfortunate to witness these flaws, as we know that Forest River is one of the more influential brands. However, in this case, they failed to deliver a good product.
Winnebago RV
People often have mixed feelings about Winnebago. On one end of the spectrum, we have people who are content with the product that they got. On the other, there are those who make complaints and ask for refunds. So what encourages this reaction? Well, the main issue lies with the front and the side panels of the RV. The interior could use stronger and more durable materials because everything seems so frail and light to the touch. The interior finishings are not of the best quality as well.
Fleetwood RV
We haven’t mentioned Fleetwood so far because their camper trailers don’t receive many complaints. In fact, the majority of people who buy their campers like the product. So why are they on this list? Simply, their RVs lack in quality.
We’re trying to figure out why Fleetwood refuses to transfer the quality of their trailers to their RVs. Their RVs have been around for decades and have even earned the respect of the customers. However, we think that their quality dropped over time , which makes the brand compete with other poor quality RV manufacturers.
The Hurricane RV
Hurricane is probably the least known brand of all that are on this list, which is a reason of its own to stay away from it. However, those who had purchased this RV reported that it's extremely liable to indentations. Some even claimed that the manufacturer recycles the materials from their other products to create these RVs. The materials feel cheap , and people refer to them as ‘’scrap’’. To top all of that, the RV faces problems with improper installations, and even faulty parking brakes. It easily earns its spot on the list of the worst motorhome brands of all time.
What to Avoid When Purchasing an RV?
We did our best to select the brands that really stand out in terms of bad quality. However, we think that there’s more that we can do. That’s why we’ll write a short guide which will help the readers distinguish good RVs from the bad ones. Here are some things to pay attention to.
Do Not Rush
Making an informed decision and purchasing the right product is always the key factor. People who avoid researching the product often end up with a faulty trailer or an RV. Consider the fact that purchasing and RV/trailer is a large investment. Therefore, it requires more time to go through all available options on the market and find the best deal for your budget. In most cases, salespersons are the ones who push people into buying a low-quality vehicle.
Inspect the Products Personally
Another important step is to inspect the product in person. Most manufacturers focus on presenting their product in the best possible light. The pictures of the product on their websites often feature it from the best possible angles. They try to hide all the imperfections that would have been obvious during a personal inspection.
Pay Attention to the Tow Weight Limitations
Ignoring the tow weight limitations often produces disastrous outcomes. People then proceed to complain how the RV broke down because it’s faulty. In reality, it’s them who did not pay attention to the specifications and were entirely responsible. So try not to make the same mistake.
All in all, we really hope that we were able to open the eyes of the readers to some of the worst camper brands by listing them here. If that wasn’t enough, our brief guide might be of some help. The important thing to remember is that most manufacturers try to build and produce their products as fast as possible. That limits their quality and often results in them being bad. Always do a thorough research before you buy anything.
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Outdoor Fact
8 Worst Travel Trailer Brands to Avoid Today [2024 Update]
Buying a travel trailer is a big investment, and you want to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. But with so many brands and models on the market, it can be tough to know where to start. And with so many options to choose from, it’s easy to be drawn in by the promises of a slick-talking salesman.
But beware: not all travel trailer brands are created equal. Some brands have a reputation for shoddy construction, poor customer service, and frequent breakdowns. In this guide, we’ll reveal the worst travel trailer brands to avoid. So if you’re serious about buying a travel trailer, steer clear of these brands at all costs.
If you’re serious about buying a travel trailer, it’s important to do your research and avoid these worst travel trailer brands. This following comprehensive guide will help you make an informed decision.
Travel Trailer Brands to Avoid Purchasing in 2024
Since there are a lot of different opinions for the question: “Which are RV brands to avoid?”, to provide a fair answer, we conducted a survey to Camping is our life – a reliable Facebook group for RV campers with more than 128,000 members, in which there were appropriately 3,000 respondents.
According to the survey’s result, here are what we got for the query what RV brands to avoid:
What travel trailers brands to avoid in 2023:
- Forest River t ravel trailer brand: 45%
- Keystone t ravel trailer brand: 26%
- Jayco travel trailer brand: 15%
- Coachmen travel trailer brand: 5%
- Winnebago travel trailer brand: 3%
- Fleetwood travel trailer brand: 2%
- Gulf Stream travel trailer brand: 1%
The rest 3% came to some other brands: Coleman, Thor,…
Why? Outdoor Fact did some more research on these brands trying to figure out the main reasons why they’re on the list of worst travel trailer brands to avoid.
Please note that: 1. We’ve not maintained any order here. So, the lists are not for travel trailer ratings best to worst brands. 2. Not only the craftsmanship, but the experience of buyers with customer service is also taken into account to evaluate the brands. 3. Not all products of these companies are low-quality and obviously their customer service can be improved day by day. All these listed brands have a few units that run well and a large number of customers highly appreciate. 4. If you’re a first-time buyer and you’re interested in any models from these RV manufacturers, you should have someone with experience come and checked with you. Of course, you should always go after a product that suits you the most even if it comes from a brand in this list.
Let’s check out the result now:
1. Forest River Travel Trailer
Forest River RV, which is currently owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is a large American manufacturer of recreational vehicles. Its inventory includes travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers, and a few other variations of RVs.
Though it used to be the most credible name in the RV industry, Forest River has slowly lost customer’s trust due to various reasons. There are a lot of complaints regarding leakage in the interior which lead to reductions of performance on the field. In addition to that, the issues of sinking floors present a major worry for people that travel around the year. Finally, the customer service of Forest River seems apathetic while receiving feedback from RVers and that kind of treatment steadily turn away many loyal clients.
Although communities still hope that Forest River would eventually address its shortcomings, it’s a good idea to get your recreational vehicle from another brand. Until the brand manages to put a stop to the growth of negative reviews, you should exclude all of its models from your shopping list. It’s simply unwise for you to invest on Forest River RVs knowing that you likely have to deal with a plethora of frustrating troubles. So save yourself a headache and just pass over vehicles that come from the brand.
2. Keystone Travel Trailer
Starting the journey in 1996, Keystone is a latecomer in the RV industry as being one of the well-known manufacturers of towable RVs in North America. The company produces travel trailers, toy haulers, and fifth wheelers.
Providing customers with spacious, fuel-efficient recreational vehicles, they are however structural and technical issues which make Keystone receive a lot of complaints from RV owners as one of the travel trailer brands to avoid. Most RVers frown upon the mediocre quality as well as the finishing of the furniture. They claim that the cabinet doors fall off the hinges within short periods of time. Additionally, the control board of the vehicles proves difficult to manipulate which give substandard experiences.
Aside from that, the website of Keystone itself is a pain to navigate and that give people a fairly hard time searching for relevant information. The helpline of the brand offer negligible assistance to the consumers and that makes people feel Keystone is unreliable in terms of post-purchase support. Despite the fact that the brand already earns fame in less than a decade of operation, it needs to pay more attention to quality control. Before Keystone completely patch up the drawbacks of its vehicles, it’s far from ideal as one of the travel trailers not to buy .
3. Jayco Travel Trailer
Talking about the experience with Jayco, customers tend to share different opinions. While some have been satisfied with their purchase, there are reportedly a great deal of RV owners complained about their Jayco travel trailer as a big waste of money. Jayco RVs feature a wide array of built-in facilities and facilities that appear quite attractive at first glance. However, such things usually fail after a while and that lead to huge maintenance expenses. Obviously, no one likes to foot the repair bill if the vehicle breaks down repeatedly.
Common issues include water leakage, improperly installed ventilation, missing fixtures,… A couple of RVers even claim that the toilet seat of Jayco RVs is shoddy. With multiple unhappy consumers, it’s clear that Jayco cut corners while assembling its recreational vehicles to reduce manufacturing cost. Aside from its stellar appearance, models from Jayco have nothing else to offer besides disappointment. Although certain integrated features perform adequately, RVers deserve more consider the money they have to pay to purchase the vehicle.
4. Coachmen Travel Trailer
This is a rather well-known brand that has been in the business since the 1960s. They have introduced a wide range of recreational vehicles to the market. For most of the time, Coachman products are fairly good and will match a variety of customer demands. However, it seems that that later Coachmen RV has run into several issues that considerably reduce their usefulness in the field. The biggest customer complaint is that the product quality is not as good as it used to be. That’s the reason why Coachmen is in this travel trailer brands to avoid list.
Most of the Coachmen RV problems take place in the interior which greatly impact the user experience with the vehicle. The drawer and the slides are fragile and flimsy so they cannot hold too much weight. Leakage is another notable issue as well which can quickly degrade the floor. In some models, leaking can be spotted around the vent, the shower and the sink. The problem will even get worse if you use the RV in rainy and humid weather. This makes the time you spend inside the RV to be stressful and extremely inconvenient.
The fridge upgrade in several Coachmen RVs has also lead to a rather annoying problem. After installing the new fridge, the wiring is left exposed with the wires ends visible. It’s serious enough that a recall has to be announced to fix the issue. Beyond that, you can face several technical difficulties while using the vehicle on the road that make it one of RV brands to avoid. The Coachmen Recreational Vehicle is surely not the worst thing you can get out there. But if you want to buy one of their recent models, do examine it carefully and know exactly what you are dealing with .
>> Read more: Best RV Short Queen Mattress <<
5. Winnebago Travel Trailer
For a brand that has been around for quite sometimes, Winnebago does have some excellent products for you to check. Yet quality is a criterion that cannot be found on every Winnebago product. The market demand for a high number of RV seems to make the brand to scale back the quality control for increased production. Many instances of damaged walls and bent panels have been noticed in normal operations. Interior components frequently become loose and require tightening. Lighting system tends to fail unexpectedly without warning.
Plenty of other drawbacks have been reported which substantially lower the brand attractiveness in people’s eyes. Contacting customer service usually results in unsatisfied answers and little action from the brand. These are the reasons why Winnebago is named on the list of travel trailer brands to avoid.
6. Fleetwood Travel Trailer
Fleetwood is another long-running brand that has operated for more than six decades. Their products used to offer respectable performance with tight post manufacturing exams. However, as time went by, recent Fleetwood models have shown many defects and shortcomings. As a whole, the brand RV quality has dropped quite a lot from before. Customer spoke about the low quality of interior that it degrades very fast. Compare to other RV brands, the inner portion of the Fleetwood RV age much faster.
In operation, the RV battery sometimes refuses to be recharged which may render many functions of the vehicle completely useless. You could end up stranded in such situation. You soon have to replace with an RV battery on the market for better and stable performance. Not to mention the black water tank is prone to leaking even in the newer models. When being contacted by the customer, the company is commonly unresponsive. All of those complaints about Fleetwood make it one of the worst travel trailer brands to avoid.
7. Gulf Stream Travel Trailer
The last name we would like to refer in the list of worst travel trailer brands to avoid is nothing but Gulf Stream . It is a once highly sought after brand due to their popularity and admirable performance. But there are plenty of problems that need to be addressed in later products. Leaking and rusting are the issues that really get the ire of the customer. They greatly degrade the RV interior and lower your comfort while you are using the vehicle. Certain components are incorrectly installed or just illogically placed. The customer service is quite responsive though they might charge you extra fees to deal with the problem.
8. Thor Hurricane RV
Most people never heard about this brand, and you’d better stay away from it. People that ever come into possession of a Thor Hurricane product have encountered a lot of issues. Brand new Thor Hurricane RV is said to be assembled of less – than – new components. To say the least, you can think that you own a collection of well-used parts than a complete RV. That being said, the quality of the brand product is definitely not up to specs. A wide range of operation difficulties, structure weakness and malfunction features can be found all over the vehicle.
Many recalls have been announced since the company foundation three decades ago. Fire hazard, improper awning installation, failing BCC and ineffective parking brake are several prominent problems that have been fixed. Some of the Thor Hurricane RVs are eve release with incorrect weight rating which can make the entire thing to uncouple if you load the vehicle with too much weight. For most of RV buyers, Thor Hurricane is one of worst RV brands to avoid.
>> Find out about Best time to buy a Travel Trailer, click here ! <<
What to Avoid When Purchasing an RV?
Buying a recreational vehicle (RV) is one of one of the biggest purchase decisions that people make in their lifetime. With so many options available, it’s easy to end up picking the wrong model. Making a wrong purchase decision is a part of our life. We often buy the wrong shoes, clothes, or gadgets. However, the difference, in this case, is buying the wrong RV will be a costly mistake. So, what to avoid when purchasing an RV? Besides the travel trailer brands to avoid shown above, let’s learn what steps you should follow to avoid a poor buying decision:
Rushing to a deal
You should be researching and taking notes because purchasing an RV involves lots of money. It’s an investment too because used vehicles have good value in many secondhand car markets. Avoid the RV shows because the salespersons push the buyers to make a hasty decision. Don’t be caught up in that excitement only to find out later that the trailer is the wrong size, type, or too expensive.
Skipping the legwork
There are so many brands and manufacturers to choose from. So, it requires some effort on your part to find the best product. Find out information online about the make and model and read the related forums to dig out the best deals. Attend local RV shows, request brochures from the companies, and take factory tours, if required. These will help you learn more about all the available options.
Video: If you are an RV first-time buyers, watch this to know more about the worst travel trailer brands to avoid and other useful tips!
Being unsure about the requirements
What do you need the RV for? A small travel trailer is enough if your plan is to go camping in the state parks or exploring the scenic backroads. However, it will feel small and cramped when you are looking for a cross-country adventure with one or two friends. In that case, a large motorhome will be the best choice.
Ignoring the tow weight
You should never do it because it determines how much the RV can pull and can take the weight of extra gear. It refers to the total weight that a vehicle can two and it varies from one model to another. If your RV has a low tow capacity, you can’t use it for long trips and carrying much stuff.
Travel Trailer Buyer’s Guide
Similar to other purchase, calculating the budget is the first and foremost task while shopping for the ideal recreational vehicles. Nowadays, new models go as high as $20,000 while old ones tend to revolve around $10,000. Generally speaking, unless you have specific criteria, it’s unnecessary to grab premium recreational vehicles that might strangle your financial capability. One way to determine the budget is to make a list of wanted features, filter out suitable models and then decide the average amount of money you have to spend
2. Towing Capacity
For trailers, it’s of utmost importance that you need to learn the towing capacity. There are a total of two weight ratings listed on the owner manual: Dry Weight and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Between the ratings, you should be concerned with the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating as it tells you the weight of the loaded trailer: stowed gears, full water tanks and more. Furthermore, assess the hitch on your vehicle to make sure that it’s able to tow the trailer without incidents. Replace the hitch at once if its weight rating is incapable of handling the trailer.
3. Size and Floorplan
Comfort is one of the top priorities for RVs and it’s quite hard to make yourself comfortable if your RV lacks interior space. Take into account the number of people, the length of your travel and so on in order to ascertain the amount of room you need. For conventional trips, you and your family could get by just fine on basic models. On the other hand, if you travel extensively, it’s strongly recommended that you pick a sizable vehicle that possesses slide-out sections, upgraded cabinets, …
Everyone wants to buy from a reputable RV dealership but there are certain travel trailer brands to avoid. One or two hours of scouring through online information will give you a good idea about the best and worst make and models in the market. Check the google reviews, ask in reputable forums , and if possible, contact the company’s customer service to see how professional they are in handling customers. You can also choose a comparatively new brand if it offers warranty on their sold units and has a good selection of parts and accessories.
By avoiding the worst travel trailer brands listed above and closely follow the steps, you can narrow down your search range and will eventually manage to make a wise and informed purchase. Remember that buying from a top-notch manufacturer can save you plenty of hassles.
Want to buy an RV, here are some tips for you.
Last Updated on January 1, 2024
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Carlos Perry
Carlos Perry’s passion for outdoor activities can be traced back to 5 years ago when he spent a significant time to conquer beautiful pristine lands and experience different cultures with his best friends. Currently working as a blogger, he takes pride in providing comprehensive contents about camping knowledge, survival skills based on his own experience. A lot of his work was published on well-known travel magazines like: Travel+Leisure, Thrillist
60 Comments
The title to this is TRAVEL TRAILERS to avoid….Number 1 was travel trailers and the rest were Motorhomes. Gulf Stream, for you info, has not made the style of motor home for several years.
Hi Kenneth, Thank you very much for your supporting comment. 1. It’s true that Gulf Stream have no longer manufactured that motorhome model >> Good info provided 2. FYI, 4/5 are travel trailers. As the title says, here we mainly focus on travel trailer brands to avoid (Worst RV brands in general). The problem is that we inserted the wrong picture that make you misunderstanding it. I’ve changed the photos to better explain the topic. If you have any question, feel free to ask! Thanks
Puma trailers, I have a 2022 year model that was bought in April of 22, seem right after I had it for a year , two of the theee slide outs are leaking, seems that they use tape to hold the two pieces of roofing material togeather, and the also to tape it to the end of the slide which, the tape degraded in both areas and let water seep in , causing both of the roofs to rot and break down. Returned to the dealer and was told that it only had a year warranty on the roof, to which I replied the roof is rotted, so it’s been leaking for months. I was given a 20,000$ repair bill, to fix something the builder should have honored and repaired. Stay far far and away from Forrest River products, crap products that are held together with tape. I have mailed their customer service twice , with no reply’s. Thanks for any input.
Shouldn’t the title of this be “Brands to Avoid?” Because the worst brands to avoid would be brands that you ought to buy.
I have a 2018 Winnebago Micro Minnie and find its quality to be excellent. Mine has given no trouble whatsoever and its build quality and materials seem quite satisfactory, if not industry-leading. BTW, I’m a retired professional Quality and manufacturing Engineer with 40 years experience in my profession and have owned several RVs, too.
I would have to agree with John, we also own a 2018 Winnebago Micro Minnie & the quality is above & beyond anything else that we’ve seen on the market. This is our 2nd Winnebago and I at this point I would not even consider any other brands!
What are the best brands?
Hi Russ, the Airstream has an unwavering reputation in the market. The distinctive looks, shiny polish, and aluminum work, makes these caravans worth the investment in spite of their high price. Check out this list for your better choice: https://outdoorfact.com/best-travel-trailer-brands/
Forest River is a brand you listed as worst to buy but would that also includes their R-POD line?
My Forest River NoBo 19.5 has a kayak rack with a faulty design (per Rhino Rack specifications) they offer no solutions and my kayak rack is useless! No Bo ripped me off here.
It’s usually all about preference and past experiences. So if someone had a good experience with a forest river they might like forest river. Then a person had a bad experience they won’t like them anymore. It’s like a car. I won’t buy a Pontiac ever again not just because they are out of business but many other issues. I like my Toyota much better.
Amen! I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Forest River, but I have a friend that’s that’s all his dad has ever owned, so my friend just bought a brand new Forest River for himself and after looking it over, I’m thinking about getting a new Forest River myself.
Andy Knowles well I have an fr3. Lots of little things getting annoying. I’ve had it for three years but I came from tent camping so I have nothing to compare to. All I can say is you need to be a little handy.
I certainly agree with Any K.. we have owned close to 10 different campers over the years (new & used & different makes & models). We now own a Forest River 26BUD & love it! (no issues whatsoever!) The workmanship is better than most & the floor plan is excellent. I would not hesitate to refer friends or family to buy one. I don’t care if you buy “the best” (whatever that may be based on who may be doing the review) or not but understand, the owners care & maintenance has ALOT to do with how well it holds up over the years.
Buying trailers from any brand, check it carefully. There will be pros and cons of all travel trailer brands. If buying new go in restroom and stand in shower. Pretend you are taking shower and see how much room you have or see if you have to bend over to shower. Also check toilet for roominess. Other thing I would get a rv with a 15,000 btu ac and have them install a sewer flush as soon as you buy. If buying used get an inspector before purchase. They have a lot of people that do quick fixes to sell. But problems still exist. Find out what your tow vehicle can tow. If it can handle over 5000 lbs you can tow a under 4000 lbs trailer. You have to allow 500 lbs per person in gear. Never max out the vehicle. Just because it says it can tow 7000 lbs doesnt mean it will handle good and the sway is bad.
???????? yes! What is the best Brands out there? I’ve researched for almost 3 yrs now. I was leaning towards a few, and then heard RUN! lol! First I was told to stay away from Jayco and Forrest River! So I look into the BEST rvs to buy and theres Jayco AND Forrest River listed! Its so confusing sometimes! And yes a list of the best of the best would be awsome! Bumper pull and 5th wheel is what we are looking into. Thank you for the list of bad! But which brand is the BEST to invest ? Lol
Hi, Been in the business for forty years,your trailer or fifth wheel is only as good as the dealer you bought it from. I suggest to look at a cougar!
WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE BEST TO WORST 5th BRANDS OF RVS!!
I feel the worst ???? RV brand to avoid is Forest Rivers RVs . The warranty is is a joke no one wants to do repairs under factory warranty that have a hard time getting paid and have to wait forever to get parts. We have a new Avenger ATI and in the first month of owning it the walls are coming apart ,inverter Dead , furnace dead , stereo dead, floor buckling up , screws coming out of window frames , 110 out falling out of walls , and a hole lot more. Called company and all I could get was lying from top executives down. So would recommend not buying any of their RVs unless you are ready to throw your money away.
I feel like we tossed our money but a good attorney will be your best advise
If your buying used… DO NOT even consider anything fleetwood. (They’re out of business now) but I’ve never seen a trailer made by fleetwood that wasnt garbage or so rotten it couldnt move. Also… I personally will never buy another with fiberglass siding. I feel they’re more prone to leaks and delamination
The new Shasta’s because they are not made with the quality of the older models. I am not trying to offend anyone, I love the way it looks but I have seen so many with poor workmanship, 20 or more. They had the name and could have produced a killer camper. I mean no disrespect, just trying to be honest. My friends have all sold theirs and many are still in a shop trying to be fixed, so sad.
I’ve had 2 made by KZ, one Pioneer, and one Forest River. No real problems out of any other than some very minor items which were covered under warranty.
Forest River, bad on warranty repairs and will not stand by their product.
I camp in : hammocks, tents, our Teardrop camper and I have owned in the past a 29ft Mallard and 2 different 24ft Jayco campers. I love camping period. I could care less what I’m sleeping in as it’s only a vessel to rest my head at night so I can get out of it in the morning and enjoy the great outdoors! I see them only as camping gear. Focus on why you camp and less on what gear you choose to get out there. There isn’t a camper on the planet that won’t need something fixed or replaced at some point in time. Camper companies come and go and some are better than others but for the most part they are all pretty good once you get any bugs worked out.
Forest river was definitely the junkiest camper we ever owned! Our nicest one was an MPG made by cruiser rv. We found the quality of materials inside were better in the MPG
I would suggest doing some factory tours. We did this after the fact at rally’s we attended and were glad we bought the brand we did. Nothing is perfect, but when you see them being put together and meet the people working on them, you have a clearer picture of what you are gonna get, my opinion. For instance, after a Thor factory tour all the Thor owners were very upset that their units were all glued together and no nails or screws were used in putting them together. Someone didn’t care about the rattling and vibration theses rvs take each and every time they are out.
We special-ordered a brand new 2019 Keystone and it was put together terribly we were very very disappointed and I’ve had to have a ton of things fixed in the first two weeks of having it was very disappointed are 2004 was built way better they just don’t make things like they used to and build in a rush 4 productivity
We regret buying our Coleman. Made cheap. Had small roof issue at 8 months old. Black water pipe windy…not as straight as it should be so emptying can be painful.
Avoid light weight/ feather weight. They are made cheaper in every way, in the name of tow weight. That’s my feeling anyway.
Seems, your opinion differs from many others! I have read many articles and researched for almost 2 years, and about half the models you said, “Don’t buy” many others rate as some of the best! Such as Jayco, and Winnebago! I have looked at pretty much everything on the market and Jayco, Forest River, and Winnebago are above average in build in their price range!
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