Looking for a travel trailer
- Thread starter sigpros
- Start date
Addicting
Well-known member
I would google the Winnebago roof problems.
Worst experience of my life was dealing with a Winnebago lemon and La Mesa RV. HARD PASS.
Buy once, cry once and go Outdoors RV. Every new RV out there will have some small issues, but after buying 3 new campers this one had the most minimal and is a beast in the cold. Great suspension.
The only feature I wish ORV would offer from factory is lithium batteries with inverter powered outlets. My buddy has a cheaper camper with 400W solar and lithium. Hardly needs a generator at all (just in winter). But this can be added on.
Buy once, cry once and go Outdoors RV. Every new RV out there will have some small issues, but after buying 3 new campers this one had the most minimal and is a beast in the cold. Great suspension.
The only feature I wish ORV would offer from factory is lithium batteries with inverter powered outlets. My buddy has a cheaper camper with 400W solar and lithium. Hardly needs a generator at all (just in winter). But this can be added on.
Salmonchaser
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2019
- Messages
- 2,930
We’ve got an Airstream (2006) One minor plumbing issue in all that time and it was my fault. We were pre lithium and early if not pre solar charging options. The solar was easy to add but converting to Lithium was too expensive for me. From 2011 when I retired until last year we put about 10k miles a winter under her axles. Been down to Cabo and Mazatlan a couple times, east into Texas and up the Alcan. (Not in the winter)We don’t haul a generator.
Not many travel trailers will give 20 years uninterrupted service. Another thing to keep in mind if you plan on touring. Many RV parks do not allow rigs older than 10 years. With Airstream they make an exception. But they are expensive, we all talk about buy once cry once when it comes to optics.
Regardless, get good solar, good batteries and for Gods sake if you’re taking it up elk hunting, tire chains for all four on the truck and a set for the trailer too. I don’t take mine up elk hunting.
A good camper is a great investment for recreational activities. With a little practice it’s pretty easy to head out for a long weekend, slide back in on Sunday night and in an hour have the rig put to bed so to speak, until next time.
Good luck.
Not many travel trailers will give 20 years uninterrupted service. Another thing to keep in mind if you plan on touring. Many RV parks do not allow rigs older than 10 years. With Airstream they make an exception. But they are expensive, we all talk about buy once cry once when it comes to optics.
Regardless, get good solar, good batteries and for Gods sake if you’re taking it up elk hunting, tire chains for all four on the truck and a set for the trailer too. I don’t take mine up elk hunting.
A good camper is a great investment for recreational activities. With a little practice it’s pretty easy to head out for a long weekend, slide back in on Sunday night and in an hour have the rig put to bed so to speak, until next time.
Good luck.
Would strongly suggest that you rent one first and use it for a week or more before running out to buy one.
We bought a brand new one to live in while our home was being remodeled. They are pretty much all built the same and this one was a complete piece of junk. Had issues with the water heater, the ceiling sagged and had to be refastened, thermostat went bad and had to be replaced, had a water line leak and some kind of electrical issue that fried the microwave. And this thing only went from the dealer to our home, maybe 30 miles. I'm guessing there would have been a lot more problems with some road miles.
When we were done with it I put it up for sale. It took nearly six months to sell it and I still took a $12k loss but was glad to be rid of it.
You definitely need to be pretty handy and know how to fix stuff if you're going to own a camper, and don't leave home without a well stocked tool kit.
We bought a brand new one to live in while our home was being remodeled. They are pretty much all built the same and this one was a complete piece of junk. Had issues with the water heater, the ceiling sagged and had to be refastened, thermostat went bad and had to be replaced, had a water line leak and some kind of electrical issue that fried the microwave. And this thing only went from the dealer to our home, maybe 30 miles. I'm guessing there would have been a lot more problems with some road miles.
When we were done with it I put it up for sale. It took nearly six months to sell it and I still took a $12k loss but was glad to be rid of it.
You definitely need to be pretty handy and know how to fix stuff if you're going to own a camper, and don't leave home without a well stocked tool kit.
Last edited:
Southern Elk
Well-known member
I would buy used and let someone else take the big depreciation hit.
Buying used isnt a bad idea like southern elk said. No experience with your 2 brands. But my parents have a grand design, stay away from them. I have a keystone cougar and rent it out to other people. Minimal issues, most fixed myself, and its done great. Constant use for the past 4 years and still looks nice inside and out.
The cougar is a "luxury" model and the fit and finish was better than other models we looked at. Unfortunately better still means poor overall. All trailers are built like junk, with the exception of a few like airstream, maybe outdoors rv but ive seen and heard mixed reviews on them. To own a trailer and not be handy enough to fix things is an expensive combo.
The cougar is a "luxury" model and the fit and finish was better than other models we looked at. Unfortunately better still means poor overall. All trailers are built like junk, with the exception of a few like airstream, maybe outdoors rv but ive seen and heard mixed reviews on them. To own a trailer and not be handy enough to fix things is an expensive combo.
ashersdad
Well-known member
Liz Amazing
An RV consumer advocate shining the light on the good and the bad of the RV industry. Fridays at 5pm Eastern Time. For all sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected]
www.youtube.com
After watching a bunch of this ladies' videos, I have no desire to buy a new RV. Sounds like used is the way to go or build your own like some have done.
WapitiBob
Well-known member
I've had 3 travel trailers and one slide in camper.
If it says Lance or Nash on the side it should be a good one. My current one is a Nash 17C I bought from my hunt partner. I updated the solar, added lithium, added a soft start to the roof air, updated interior plugs to 100W usb-c, and added Starlink mini. Just can't bring myself to add an inverter when I have a Honda 2200i sitting there.
If it says Lance or Nash on the side it should be a good one. My current one is a Nash 17C I bought from my hunt partner. I updated the solar, added lithium, added a soft start to the roof air, updated interior plugs to 100W usb-c, and added Starlink mini. Just can't bring myself to add an inverter when I have a Honda 2200i sitting there.
WyoCoalMiner
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2024
- Messages
- 313
Give this a watch before you make your first purchase.
El Jason
Well-known member
Yes. Or Arctic Fox or Outdoors RV.
Johnny Bravo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2022
- Messages
- 1,415
After I saw a video on how the put an Airstream together I would nevr buy one now...I did see this all new full fiberglass one that looked good in a video, was not cheap, but I trust that way more than the crap I hear and see from other vendors. found the video...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAjLQcAhvv0
Similar threads
