Travel trailers

[Greenman]

The wife and I are considering a travel trailer for week or two junkets. Any of you have one? What's an absolute must have and what falls in the "it would really be nice" column?
Edit: I'm looking for something on the smaller side around 5k pounds. Has to fit the wife and I, along with an 80 pound MIL, and two very small dogs, about 20 pounds between them.
I'd like to keep the price under $30k. Based on what I've seen, a lot of them sell for a third under MSRP.

 

[NutBucket]

Do you plan on dry camping or hookups?

 

[Greenman]

Do you plan on dry camping or hookups?

I should be able to do both, as I haven't thought where so much as how.

 

[Meghan54]

Personally, I’d rent one first. Kinda sux to find out after spending $$$ on something only to find out you hate the experience.

 

[Greenman]

Personally, I’d rent one first. Kinda sux to find out after spending $$$ on something only to find out you hate the experience.

Done a fair bit of camping over the years, the trailer just makes it a hell of a lot more comfortable. Queen sized memory foam bed, recliner/sofa, range, microwave, heat and AC, 32" flat screen tv, full bath with shower. A whole bunch of them also have an outside kitchen as well.
I'm way past the point where sleeping on the ground is fun, and shitting in the woods never was an experience I enjoyed. At the end of the day I want a comfortable chair, a nice dinner, and maybe a drink from the bar.
My two California sofa mutts also require a level of comfort that simply can't be provided by a tent.

 

[bbhaag]

I've been looking at the 2018 or newer Lance 1575. Has a lot of nice features considering the size and comes in under 4K pounds.

 

[Greenman]

Lance has a good reputation.
The 1575 is a little smaller than I'd like, I also prefer tandem axles.
I already have a truck that can tow 9k pounds, so a 5k trailer would be a good fit and give me some room for the added junk we always need.

 

[NutBucket]

Something like this meets weight requirements but I'd want something with two beds if possible. https://www.venture-rv.com/products/sonic-travel-trailers/SN190VRB.html
Mom isn't going to like sleeping on a convertible dinnette.

 

[tynopik]

you want to rent so you don't get stuck trying to maintain a crappy POS that was rotting and falling apart before it left the factory (not to mention the multi-month/year-long wait for repairs right now)

 

[Greenman]

Something like this meets weight requirements but I'd want something with two beds if possible. https://www.venture-rv.com/products/sonic-travel-trailers/SN190VRB.html
Mom isn't going to like sleeping on a convertible dinnette.

I've already found a couple that check all the boxes, I'm looking for the issues that are rarely talked about, or the piece of equipment that makes life in one so much better. My issue is that I don't know what I don't know.
MIL is 4'11", eighty pounds, and a pretty tough old brood. But it appears that most of the convertible areas have pretty good padding. I'll be sure to try it out before buying.

 

[Greenman]

you want to rent so you don't get stuck trying to maintain a crappy POS that was rotting and falling apart before it left the factory (not to mention the multi-month/year-long wait for repairs right now)

They all have their issues, the main one is space vs weight. The better it's built, the more it weighs. The mid range units seem to have hit a fair balance in that respect.
Repairs aren't a consideration as there is nothing in these things that I can't fix or replace. An entire exterior wall might be an issue to replace, but at that point the insurance company will be involved.

 

[NutBucket]

you want to rent so you don't get stuck trying to maintain a crappy POS that was rotting and falling apart before it left the factory (not to mention the multi-month/year-long wait for repairs right now)

Eh, counterpoint is to buy one with the expectation that you'll be doing repairs and such. In many ways it's exactly the same as owning another house.

 

[Greenman]

Eh, counterpoint is to buy one with the expectation that you'll be doing repairs and such. In many ways it's exactly the same as owning another house.

Just a but load easier to maintain.

 

[NutBucket]

Eh, it's different. Your house isn't trying to shake itself apart constantly.

 

[tynopik]

They all have their issues, the main one is space vs weight. The better it's built, the more it weighs. The mid range units seem to have hit a fair balance in that respect.

no, absolutely not

there is no such thing as a well-built US RV right now (possibly excluding airstream and boutique shops). They are all stretched to the limit pumping them out as fast as possible while dealing with 150% labor turnover

Repairs aren't a consideration as there is nothing in these things that I can't fix or replace

that certainly a big help, there's only so much you can polish a turd

especially when the roof leaks and you get mold in all the walls and insulation and floors

 

[tynopik]

this is from 8 years ago, back when they nominally 'cared' about quality

 

[Greenman]

no, absolutely not

there is no such thing as a well-built US RV right now (possibly excluding airstream and boutique shops). They are all stretched to the limit pumping them out as fast as possible while dealing with 150% labor turnover



that certainly a big help, there's only so much you can polish a turd

especially when the roof leaks and you get mold in all the walls and insulation and floors

It seems like that's something that would come up somewhere. I'll have to look into it.
I have heard that roof maintenance is absolutely necessary, though the unit that's at the top of my list right now has a front, back, and roof that are one continuous sheet of fiberglass. Perhaps that's done to mitigate roof problems?

 

[Greenman]

this is from 8 years ago, back when they nominally 'cared' about quality

Interesting vid, though a little dated. As I understand it, most units have gone to fiberglass side walls and foam insulation.

 

[tynopik]

some fun comments too

When I worked at an RV dealership a couple years ago we had problems with Thor’s, we did a full inspection and started warranty repairs before putting units on the lot. We had over 40 units we couldn’t sell yet, it got so bad my boss put a stop on checks to Thor and refused every unit they tried to deliver until they flew their own technicians from the factory and repaired every single unit on the lot themselves. They did it.

My family owns and manages an RV park in SC and I can tell you right now that unless you pay through the nose for a custom built RV the new RVs off the lot are garbage!! Everyone I know that has bought one in the last ten years had to spend $20k to gut out all the cheap plastic and particle board and have the roof redone due to leaks.

I can vouch for the veracity of the FACT that the quality of RVs have done nothing but decline since the end of the 80's.
My parents had a dealership for almost 40 years. My dad was EXTREMELY bitter and would routinely get into screaming matches with his factory reps over having to basically rebuild "brand new" RVs by the time he quit. Absolute horror stories abounded. RVs coming in with zero plumbing...
RVs coming in with half the caulking just not applied...
And you gotta figure, that's just what you immediately pick up on the surface. ...Everything else that you can't see was built by the same guys...
I can fix everything on an RV and I refuse to buy one, no matter what my wife says.

 

[Greenman]

some fun comments too

Interesting stuff. Looks like there is good and bad across the industry, and also some fundamental design issues with some of the manufacturers.
Some of the issues are things I would expect. These things are pulled down the road, they take a bit of a beating, flexing and movement have to be expected. It looks like some of them simply aren't built stout enough to take that movement, leading to fractures and fastener failure.

I'm in no hurry, if I need to wait a year or two for things to level out I'm good with that. Or if I come across the right deal on a good unit I'll buy it sooner.

 

[Meghan54]

Are you willing to do some fix-it-up work? Then I'd look around for an older Airstream that needs, as is always put, TLC. Darned near the only brand worth "investing" in.

 

[Scarpozzi]

RVs depreciate and deteriorate too quickly. The materials and appliances inside them are all custom and costly to acquire unless you're a builder/wholesaler. It's kind of like trying to buy boat stuff....you're going to pay a considerable markup on just about everything.

I've got a solid RV from the mid-80s. Aspects of the wall construction are decent, but the wooden panels have seen water leak from the roof. I discovered that the metal on the roof and sides were crimped together and water got in....the top had to be sealed numerous times and looks terrible, but doesn't leak anymore. The back shower had to be deconstructed due to mold growth from the leaking roof.

I have a place that I could use the RV just about every weekend, but I don't. I think I would have to live in the thing at least 4 weeks out of the year (1 month) to break even on the depreciation over 5 years. Of course, if you bought a sub $20k RV...or cheaper, that BEP/depreciation calc would be different. I just know the units I looked at in the $35-40k range could have been rented for about $1200-1400/week and I wouldn't have to pay for storage (or deal with storing them).

If you do buy an RV, I hope you have dry storage worked out. That's really the key to keeping the roof from leaking....not allowing the sun or water to dry rot the lid.

 

[olds]

I've heard the same thing about quality, gone down hill.

Don't leave the lot with the trailer if there is work to be done after the walk through. It'll will likely take them forever to get to it, get parts, etc. Not unusual for RVs to set weeks to months to get repairs.

Don't buy from Camping World.

Pack light and watch weight distribution.

With your first one, you'll learn what you like.


If you can ignore this guy's sense of humor, he's a wealth of knowledge:

https://www.youtube.com/c/HaylettRV

Big Truck Big RV may have something relevant:

https://www.youtube.com/c/BigTruckBigRV

 

[Greenman]

RVs depreciate and deteriorate too quickly. The materials and appliances inside them are all custom and costly to acquire unless you're a builder/wholesaler. It's kind of like trying to buy boat stuff....you're going to pay a considerable markup on just about everything.

I've got a solid RV from the mid-80s. Aspects of the wall construction are decent, but the wooden panels have seen water leak from the roof. I discovered that the metal on the roof and sides were crimped together and water got in....the top had to be sealed numerous times and looks terrible, but doesn't leak anymore. The back shower had to be deconstructed due to mold growth from the leaking roof.

I have a place that I could use the RV just about every weekend, but I don't. I think I would have to live in the thing at least 4 weeks out of the year (1 month) to break even on the depreciation over 5 years. Of course, if you bought a sub $20k RV...or cheaper, that BEP/depreciation calc would be different. I just know the units I looked at in the $35-40k range could have been rented for about $1200-1400/week and I wouldn't have to pay for storage (or deal with storing them).

If you do buy an RV, I hope you have dry storage worked out. That's really the key to keeping the roof from leaking....not allowing the sun or water to dry rot the lid.

I don't give a rats ass about deprecation. I'm 64, it's pretty unlikely I'll be looking to trade in. I'll write a check for the thing, and if I get tired of it I'll give it away.

 

[Greenman]

I've heard the same thing about quality, gone down hill.

Don't leave the lot with the trailer if there is work to be done after the walk through. It'll will likely take them forever to get to it, get parts, etc. Not unusual for RVs to set weeks to months to get repairs.

Don't buy from Camping World.

Pack light and watch weight distribution.

With your first one, you'll learn what you like.


If you can ignore this guy's sense of humor, he's a wealth of knowledge:

https://www.youtube.com/c/HaylettRV

Big Truck Big RV may have something relevant:

https://www.youtube.com/c/BigTruckBigRV

I've watched a lot of Josh's videos. He comes across at pretty genuine.