Best, most reliable all-around travel trailer?

[TitanArmor]

Hey Boomer Mikey could you post some pictures of your TT? I pulled up that layout on their website and looks really cool! "Garden Tub" That's the first TT I've seen with that!

[Boomer_Mikey]

Originally Posted by TitanArmor

Hey Boomer Mikey could you post some pictures of your TT? I pulled up that layout on their website and looks really cool! "Garden Tub" That's the first TT I've seen with that!

We are in our 60's and my mother is in her 80's. This senior citizen friendly layout with a large rear bathroom was perfect for us. The amount of storage is awesome and this the nicest towing trailer we've experienced; it sits high enough so you don't drag anything going in and out of driveways and setup is easier because you don't need to get down on your knees to crank out the jacks. All of the Signature Ultralights include 12volt TV and surround sound stereo, ours included XM satellite radio, an RV gas grill, microwave, 21' awning, heated storage tanks for cold climates, and a full size 34" shower with a garden tub that's nice for the grand children. We could live comfortably in this with it's 14 foot slide extended and there is full access to the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen with the slide retracted.

Travel trailers and RV's in general have improved greatly in quality and features the last few years, we love the quality of the solid oak cabinetry, ergonomics, attention to details, and how solid and stable the trailer feels while camping and towing.

Boomer

Thumbnails of Rockwood 8293SS Travel Trailer:

[buckeyewhis]

i have a rockwood 8317ss its 31' long wighs about 7500 loaded. my 05 cc pulls it just fine.Rockwood has a great floor plan. Ive had mine for 3 years and love it tows great. just get the equilizer wd hitch and prodigy brake controller youll have no problems.

[TitanArmor]

That TT is really nice Boomer Mikey! I think that layout will work good for us. We'll have to head to our nearest dealer and check them out. That 8317ss is nice also, buckeyewhis, but without any little ones around we really don't need the bunks. I'll definately keep an eye out for the wd hitch and prodigy. I also came across the RVnet website forum that has a lot of great information on it about all aspects of RVing.
Thanks for sending in the pics!

[TomAZ]

We've owned 2 Nomads, 20 and 27 foot. Loved them both. When it comes to weight be cautious. Dealers lie like used car salesmen. Buy the lightest that will serve your needs. If your truck allows 9000# capacity, look for 6000# gross weight(loaded) trailer. Anything a salesman says, if it's important to you, get it in writing. If they have to fix things for you, tell them you need it done right away as you have a trip planned. Give yourself a week leeway. We told dealer we had a trip planned for the a 27th departure and they had the trailer ready at 5:30 PM on the 27th. Left us no time to pack up etc. Can't trust any service dept to give a sh$$. Probably the most important advice I can give...... never pay the asking price. There is a good profit margin in trailers and it is a buyers market now.

[TitanicDJ]

I like my Jayco 29BHS. It's about 7500 lbs loaded and 30'. I picked it because of the queen up front and the bunks in the back. This way I don't have to set the beds up at night or have to get the kids up to make the dinette for breakfast. I also like having the Kitchen in the middle for good weight distirbution. Jayco's are the only trailers that come with a 2 year warranty out the door new. This shows that they stand behind there product. Take a look at this RV fourm and do a search. There's a lot of Jayco's, Forest River, Keystone and Fleetwood products out there.

Here is also a site that list most of the manufactures make campers to look through.

Manufacture List

Good Luck!
DJ

[Boomer_Mikey]

Originally Posted by TitanicDJ

Jayco's are the only trailers that come with a 2 year warranty out the door new. This shows that they stand behind there product. There's a lot of Jayco's, Forest River, Keystone and Fleetwood products out there.

Good Luck!
DJ

Forest River is a line of Coaches that emphasizes value for your dollar. They include a one year anywhere on the road warranty and the option to purchase an additional one year extension for $100. The warranty is for everything... no restrictions and reimbursement for expenses.

I'm sure many manufacturers like Jayco offer comparable service and quality.

As I said before, I think quality is improved nowadays and we all need to watch out for the unscrupulous dealers out there as with anything else. Dealers that offer huge discounts and excellent service are rare.

If you aren't handy, or don't want to do maintenance consider purchasing an extended service agreement for your coach like you would for your truck.

Boomer

[RobKar]

Originally Posted by Steamguy

Having done it for a while, I'd recommend a couple of things for you:

1. Don't buy new for your first trailer or two. Buy used. The trailer will have depreciated to its market value, and the Titan will tow a lot of what's out there. Plus if you're not using it every month, you're not kicking yourself when you look at the thickness of the payment book. Plus, if your first choice or two don't work out to be exactly what you want, it's a lot easier to trade once or twice if you aren't looking at a big chunk of depreciation.

2. Make sure you get a guarantee from the dealer or lot and make SURE you take the trailer out while it's under guarantee. Say you get something that maybe has a water leak from a fitting inside the coach. You get it fixed for free under the warranty. (Yes, this has happened to me.)

3. Look at your needs before you go to the lot. Or go and look around a bit, but don't let them pressure you into buying. Take some time and think about how you personally will use the trailer. For instance, with us, it's important that one of us can sit on the couch and read while the other takes a nap. Couldn't do that with one of our early trailers.

4. Get the right towing gear from the start. Get a good brake controller, and spend the money to get a sway-canceling hitch setup. You can move it from trailer to trailer, and everything you get will tow much easier. Do it right at the beginning and never have to worry about it.

What did we have the best luck with in trailers? Our Skyline (Aljo) trailers were great for us. Our Fleetwood (Prowler and others) were a real PITA. Maybe they make them better now, though. Currently we have an Arctic Fox and just love the thing. It's been with us for eight years, and is solid as a rock. Great construction, really stands up to the beating we give it on back roads; and it still looks great, even after all these years.

Friendly advice:
Stay away from a used premium trailer like an Airstream that might seem to be a really, really great price. It's that way for a reason. If you're into restoration projects rather than camping, then that's something else.

Hope this helps.

The good part is you already stated what I was going to!!!
Buy a used "nice" trailer. Another reason would be to get started and know what you want to the 2nd one. There are so many out there and some are just CRAP but they look good. You will be able to tell once you have been in one for a bit.

Be careful about the weight of older units! when the dealer stats that the "DRY" weight is 6500lbs know to add about 1000lbs to that. because to a dealer dry weight is without the AC units, and furniture and ... .

I purchased used and I know for the next one I want a slide out for the dining area but thats about it.

Enjoy, I hope this helps