Greetings all!I am looking to purchase our first travel trailer. We have been tent camping and some AC and a shower would be nice! I went to our local RV stores and have browsed around and we think we landed on the Venture RV Stratus, model 231VRB.Problem is, I cannot seem to find much in the way of reviews of this unit. Does anyone have any experience with this unit, or their parent manufacturer, KZ-RV? Interested in any input you may be able to share. As I said, this is our first RV and will be a long time purchase. We expect to use it about 60 nights a year, with several thousand miles per year, so we want a good bang for our buck, but it has to last us and not fall apart. It will be used frequently. Our goal is to visit all of the national parks we can over the next few years plus small trips in between. We are in Texas so a warm climate, but would also like to potentially take to the mountains in the winter at times for short stays.If you don't have any experience with this, I would still be interested in what you recommend from personal experience brand and model wise. It needs to sleep my wife and I as well as our two 60lb dogs. We have max tow of 8,000 pounds bumper tow only, and I would like to keep it to 7,000 gross.Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me!

Certainly within your pulling weight. What’s your tow vehicle’s payload? Your TV needs to be rated to carry enough weight in addition to pulling a trailer. The trailer tongue weight on that model plus the hitch will be about 900 pounds. Add the DW, the dogs and some stuff and you might be too heavy...carry weight.

I have a Durango 5th wheel (built by KZ) very happy with it. While I haven't had any issues, others on the KZ owners site have had great support from KZ. I feel KZ delivers a lot for the money. They are a smaller manufacturer, although they have been bought by Thor, (who seems to be leaving them alone). Lots of Texans on the KZ site, so you should feel right at home. http://kzfamilyforum.com/

Welcome to the Forum..I took a look at the unit you are considering. From 5 trailers of experience I like a lot of what I see.Many nice touches. Lots of counter space, a pantry, an upgraded shower, battery cutoff, walk around bed, rear lounge floor plan which is great for couples.I'm not a fan of the frig in the slide, but it's very common in the industry and probably no big deal.Negotiate with the dealer for a tire swap out. Dump the stock Chinese tires and go for some Goodyear Endurance's. This will certainly be a nice, comfortable upgrade from tenting on the ground.

Thank you both! I will certainly ask them about a tire swap out.Also, can I ask what a reasonable price would be to walk out the door? They show the MSRP of course, but have them listed at about $23,994. With this being my first buying experience, I want to be fair to both the dealer and myself :)We are between the 231VRB and the 261VRL, but I think the 261 may be a tad heavy for my truck at the moment from a payload perspective.

beleave us the dealer won,t loose any money.

First RV Purchase - Need Advice - Venture RV Stratus

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2019
Certainly within your pulling weight. What’s your tow vehicle’s payload? Your TV needs to be rated to carry enough weight in addition to pulling a trailer. The trailer tongue weight on that model plus the hitch will be about 900 pounds. Add the DW, the dogs and some stuff and you might be too heavy...carry weight.
Nv_Guy
Explorer III
Jun 01, 2019
I have a Durango 5th wheel (built by KZ) very happy with it. While I haven't had any issues, others on the KZ owners site have had great support from KZ. I feel KZ delivers a lot for the money. They are a smaller manufacturer, although they have been bought by Thor, (who seems to be leaving them alone).
Lots of Texans on the KZ site, so you should feel right at home. http://kzfamilyforum.com/
downtheroad
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
Welcome to the Forum..

I took a look at the unit you are considering. From 5 trailers of experience I like a lot of what I see.
Many nice touches. Lots of counter space, a pantry, an upgraded shower, battery cutoff, walk around bed, rear lounge floor plan which is great for couples.
I'm not a fan of the frig in the slide, but it's very common in the industry and probably no big deal.
Negotiate with the dealer for a tire swap out. Dump the stock Chinese tires and go for some Goodyear Endurance's.

This will certainly be a nice, comfortable upgrade from tenting on the ground.
Exeter2020
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
Thank you both! I will certainly ask them about a tire swap out.

Also, can I ask what a reasonable price would be to walk out the door? They show the MSRP of course, but have them listed at about $23,994. With this being my first buying experience, I want to be fair to both the dealer and myself :)

We are between the 231VRB and the 261VRL, but I think the 261 may be a tad heavy for my truck at the moment from a payload perspective.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2019
beleave us the dealer won,t loose any money.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
Since you want a travel trailer for travel, I would want one that has complete access with the slide in. Those flip up steps is another thing I wouldn't want for stops along the way.

Both trailers apparently use the same axles and durability would go down as weight goes up. Almost all manufacturers use the same axles, so all you can do is compare the NCC to see if the ones they selected are marginal.

I would keep looking, those trailers leave many boxes unchecked for me. Yes, I have a KZ, worst purchase decision of my life.
Exeter2020
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
What boxes are left unchecked? I understand the steps but I see those on almost all trailers, or the dinky hanging ones. What other boxes are you referencing here? As a first time buyer, I am trying to make sure I get my value!
Boomerweps
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
For pricing, I recommend checking out www.rvtrader.com. I found my 2019 Wolf Pup 16BHS for $3500.00 cheaper 150 miles away in a neighboring state, compared to the closest similar 2018 unit 40 miles away. A great shopping resource.
However, a dependable dealer with a good service department can be worth the extra freight if problems arise.
First time RV tower, the more safety margin of less percentage of maximum tow rating, the better and more comfortable to you towing.
I like my little TT but I wish I knew that the GTWR was more than the axle rating and counted the tongue weight carried by the truck. It's a single axle and when using my WDH, it overloaded the TT axle. Once discovered, both the previous TV and TT went on a weight reduction program. Morale of this story, find out the axle (& tires) weight rating(s). The GTWR is the primary value to consider when deciding if the TT is a good match to your TV, NOT the listed dry weight. Personally, I shoot for 80-85% of my TV's towing rating equaling the TT's GTWR for a safety margin compromise.
Swell1
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
I own a 2017 Venture SportTrek 271VRB. After owning several trailers I'd say this one was the best built. I have pulled it over 5000 miles and have had only minor issues that I fixed myself. I pull it with a 2016 F150 3.5 Eco-Boost w/max tow package.
Good Luck.
ppine
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2019
I would buy used. Most people trade RVs because there is no perfect rig. Buy a used one and it is easier to trade to something different without losing all of that depreciation. I had a Nash for 9 years and sold it for $1,200 less than I paid for it.