Jayco Eagle vs Open Range Light 308bhs

Thanks Penman. I appreciate the input. We have a full family (3 kids) and they all want to take friends, so I'm sure it will get used. We definitely want a unit that will spend more time with us than with the repair shop, and we hope the OR is it.

Construction of the Jayco and factory support is far superior. I have seen both in for collision service and the Jayco construction is superior to the Open Range. Jayco has an area at the factory to camp at and have repair done if needed. You want the best construction and that is Jayco with motor slides, not cable.

SpotlessDemo wrote:
Penman,

If you full-time in it, and you need warranty work, their warranty states that it is void if you full-time. So, just remember to tell them its still seasonal. I don't know how they would prove otherwise. Just choose your words wisely because of the warranty. Thanks for the info though. I think we are at 100% on the Open Range.

It will be out of warranty before we go full time. I have used it enough to know it is built solid. I'm a big guy (almost 400#) and every step is solid (I could not say that about our previous Forest River trailer). Never a leak either. I know they had some early problems but I think they have corrected them and the fact that they do provide a two year warranty says a lot. I know Jayco also gives a two year warranty and is a quality trailer too but we just liked the Open Range better.

SpotlessDemo wrote:
Vulcaneer,

Why would you recommend staying away from the Open Range? What's up / what happened?

Very feature rich. Nice layout, and interior. Build quality was just awful. Slide floor rotted out after year one. Improperly sealed. Took a trip to the factory to get it fixed under warranty. Dealer could not fix it.

When new, the main living level floor was not supported properly. Had soft spots. When I went to fix the problem, I found the factory had found there was a problem and tried to fix it. Tore the insulation out. Put a couple 2X4's under it, Duct taped the sub-floor burlap covering. and covered it up with Coroplast. But they really did not fix it. Still soft. I took photo's and sent them to the factory. Their response? Yes... that is how we fix 'em. I fixed it the right way.

Had many other construction issues. Finally, when 2 year warranty was about to expire, they let me bring it back to the factory for repairs. The service center was great. Fixed it all up under warranty. But until then we could not take the trailer out without having one new major problem arize. Sometime component failure. Sometime build failure. Many... I was able to fix myself. But when you buy a trailer with an $76K price sticker, it should be reliable.

Last time at the factory, I toured it. Does appear OR is making a much better trailer today than they did in 2011. But I cannot recommend them based on my experience with their quality.

we have a Jayco 321RLTS Eagle,would definetly buy again.when buying /selecting among good brands,DEALER REPUTATION for service is extremly important.IMHO.
we have a dealer that goes above & beyond.

Penman,

If you full-time in it, and you need warranty work, their warranty states that it is void if you full-time. So, just remember to tell them its still seasonal. I don't know how they would prove otherwise. Just choose your words wisely because of the warranty. Thanks for the info though. I think we are at 100% on the Open Range.

We have had our Open Range (different model than you're looking at) for one season and only had one problem and that was not Open Range's fault. Had a bad propane regulator which OR replaced quickly. We looked at Jaycos too and ended up with the OR and are very happy with it. We will be snowbirding (or possibly full-timing) in it starting late next year when my wife retires.

If you like the OR better, I would go with them. They seem to have a good reputation. We just bought a new Forest River trailer but we looked at the OR rigs too and really liked them. The wife just liked the floorplan in the FR a better.

Good words from all 3 of you. Thanks. Most of what you read are problems (because most don't brag about problems they don't have). I love the OR modern floor plan from the TV on the 45 degree angle, fantastic fan in the kitchen, to the extended couch / dinette. They seem to have good attention to detail.

Jayco makes a good unit but so does Open Range. We are on our 5th year with ours having pulled around 25,000 miles. I would nor hesitate to purchase another Open Range. Ours was one of the first few off the assembly line and did develop a couple of problems but took it to the factory and was treated super. They fixed the problems and also went through the rig and fixed other things that we had not told them or even new about.(slide seal torn) Got there around 6 in the morning and was done by early afternoon. Excellent factory service personnel.
Hope you have good luck with which ever you decide to get. Happy Camping.