Floor Plan vs mechanicals vs brands (Newb questions)

Thanks guys, I tow a boat with tandem axles and know exactly what you're talking about in regards to side load. Hadn't considered the blow out potential.

My gut is still telling my I'd be happier with the floor plan I like. The tandem axle is definitely a positive feature but so is the $3k I'd save.

Still researching so all opinions welcome!

Tandem axle will provide a much more stable towing experience. Less potential for sway, and in the event of a sudden blow out, there is the second tire to support the trailer until you can safely get somewhere. Tandem axle will also distribute the weight of the camper over 2 axles instead of one, which means less stress on each axle, a smoother ride for the camper, and the potential for the camper to weigh more, as the weight is distributed to 4 tires instead of 2.

All of these are minuses for a single axle.

The disadvantage of a tandem axle is the pivot response of trailer. The tires do not pivot like a single axle. There is always some side force on the tires. On one side of the trailer, one tire sidewall can be forced inward, the other tire forced outward, especially noticeable when backing a sharp turn. This never occurs on a single axle as there is only 1 pivot tire. This is about the only advantage I see with a single axle trailer.

Dealers: Before purchasing, check with your (local) dealerships to see if they do warranty work for the your brand not purchased there or a brand they do not market. However, if you are paying the bill out of your own pocket, most RV dealership-repair shops will fix anything, pretty much. They are there to be in business, not turn potential customer money away. They'll fix if you pay, warranty or not. You pay, they won't turn you down. Then... if you need to haggle with your manufacturer .... that's up to you. Bottom line, check with your local shop to see how they handle warranty work on a camper they don't sell. And if willing to pay cash yourself, you'll have no problems 99% of the time. (provided they can get the parts needed for the repair knocks out the other 1%.)

No experience with either brand of camper you're considering. But, use your best instincts and your own "gut reaction". This is usually the best indicator.

p40whk wrote:
Hi all,

I've been trying to educate myself as much as possible before making my first purchase and have finally narrowed down my search to a specific type of TT and a general floor plan.

I have found two brands that (through my research) seem to have decent and similar reputations; Jayco Jay Feather and Surveyor Expandables.

Obviously floor plans are a personal preference and my favorite so far is the Surveyor 191T. Jayco has their X19H which is almost identical to Surveyor's 192T but even though you get a sofa sleeper with these last two models they seem to be a bit more cramped and I prefer the side bunks of the 191.

My biggest question is the axles; the Jayco has tandem axles and the Surveyor does not. Quality between the two trailers looks like the surveyor is slightly better (I noticed much better hardware used in the Surveyor) but I'm not sure if switching floor plans just for a tandem axle is really worth it on a 19 foot trailer?

I also noticed that the frame on the Jayco wasn't as stout and neither was it's CCC.

I've tried to compare the two brands and find pros/cons for each so there isn't a real winner in customer satisfaction. Being an aircraft mechanic I tend to get a bit nit picky about construction and mechanicals but find different plus's and minus's for each (none enough to sway me towards one brand over the other).

Both the Jayco and Surveyor Dealer have a very good sales reputation but the Surveyor Dealer sells primarily to out of state people and there aren't many reviews on after the sale service.

The Surveyor is $3K cheaper as well.

1) How much better is that tandem axle over a single?
2) After the sale service, how hard is it to get service from a dealer that you didn't buy from?
3) Does anyone have any experience with both brands that can provide feedback.

Thanks and I appreciate your patience with the newb questions!

Q1. Tandem axle is always safer to tow in my opinion
Q2. depends on the area you live in and accessibility to multiple dealers. The manufacturer can provide a list of service providers for your area. You have no obligation to return to the same dealer.
Q3. Can't help with that