Hi all, we are looking to upgrade our Jayco Hybrid camper for a TT. We love our Jayco but don't want to limit ourselves to just that particular brand. Any recommends for brands you love or ones you would definitely avoid?

Oh boy, it starts already. My first TT was a Dutchmen. We had absolutely no problems with it ... none ... nada. Second was a Keystone Springdale. Minor small issues at first, some I fixed myself, a couple warranty covered no problem. After the 2nd month, no issues ever again. Third TT is a Keystone Outback, almost 1 year old now, so far, no issues. Warranty did fix the shower drain (it leaked), and absolutely no issues since.As I've said before, there are no bad campers out there when they are maintained with diligence and used for the purpose they were built for. Misuse them, and abuse them, and none of them will last a year.

Poppy & Nana wrote:avoid Dutchmen!!!!My Dutchman has also been almost Flawless for 3 years now and the few minor issues were handled quickly. No complaints here.

All manufactures make lemons, it's just the luck of the draw if you get a good one.

Not sure I would consider any one brand one to stay away from. Every manufacturer turns out an "oops" at one time or another. The ones you'll hear about most often are the "oops". And every manufacturer has come up with an idea that they thought was the best thing since sliced bread and it was a dud. We're on our second Forest River product and happy as a clam. Others wouldn't buy FR if their life depended on it....same all the way around. And then there is just the luck of the draw.IMHO, the best you can do is to find a model that fits your needs, is within your safe towing capacities, within your budget and go over that trailer with a fine tooth comb. Your dealer, if he's good, will have tweaked any little things like a latch that doesn't close snuggly, a door that's out of alignment, things that slipped through the manufacturers inspection. All of the systems and appliances should be in perfect working order and, again, the dealer should have made sure that was the case before it went out on the lot. If you love that model, but there are a lot of little things that aren't right, get back out looking for the same model at a different dealer and see if the same things apply. If so, maybe that's not what you want to get involved with.Remember, too, that there are lines of trailers that are of a higher end = higher price than others. Some would be considered more of an entry level or have less fluff and frills. Others are loaded up with the top of the line everything. Strongly suggest you agree on a budget before you head out and firmly let the salesman know that you are looking in $X range and do not want to see anything else. Trust me, you'll LOVE that one that's $10,000 or higher than you plan to spend. Don't look at those. Get your numbers, get your budget and your needs and then start online or at local dealers. Happy shopping!

Any brands out there you would totally avoid? | Good Sam Community

FrankShore
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
Regardles, Thor may start selling off the unprofitable units and sticking with Airstream, Spree and Livin Lite.

**Meant for all that to go onto one post!
FrankShore
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
Thor doesn't mfg 70% of all RV's
Biggyniner
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
FrankShore wrote:
I'd shy away from anything made by Thor Industries only because they're suffering from money problems and disharmony at the top.

Well that would eliminate nearly 70% of all RV manufacturers out there :E
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
If there's disharmony at Thor Industries, I don't think it's enough to affect their stock prices. I've been watching "diligently" Thor Stocks for about 10 years now. The bottom fell out after Sept 11 from about $70 a share to less than $10 a share. Ever since, it's done nothing but come up, and up, and up very slow, but still coming up. At this moment it's $59.91. If there's disharmony, I don't think their investors are concerned?
bhh
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
News from 8/18/14 (Two days ago):
-----
Dutchmen Manufacturing has announced they'll discontinue the Dutchmen line of RVs.

-----

clicky

I would not buy something without a manufacturer to back up a warranty.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Aug 20, 2014
My point was you can't say Dutchmen is crap, but my Keystone is great. It's like saying I wont buy Buick because it's crapp but Chevy's are great

My Dutchman experience was pre keystone.So Dutchman was crapp before the keystone buy out!:B
kodiakcanuck
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
colliehauler wrote:
gemsworld wrote:
"Dutchmen/Thor are now owned by Keystone"

Thor is owned by Keystone? Since when?
I think the poster has it turned around Thor bought Keystone in 2001.

You are right, I got that mixed up, Thor bought Keystone, who also own Dutchmen. I'm sure they all interchange parts and building assembly line processes. My point was you can't say Dutchmen is crap, but my Keystone is great. It's like saying I wont buy Buick because it's******but Chevy's are great :h

Nothing is built to last anymore, they are built to be disposable it seems. Best thing you can do is be picky when you buy it to make sure everything is right and then be diligent with it's maintenance.
FrankShore
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
http://www.hoovers.com/

And no, I won't give you my password!

The only 2 profitable units (at the present time) within Thor are Airstream and Livin Lite (a recent acquisition)
Community Alumni
Aug 20, 2014
"From the investor/stockholder/finance point of view THOR appears to be among the best operated firms in the RV industry."

That's not necessarily a good thing for consumers.
wannabervin
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
Easier said than done. :-)

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