Input on a Coachmen or a Starcraft Trailer

Previous Starcraft Travel Star owner and current Keystone Springdale owner here.

Loved my Travel Star hybrid-it was well built and had a lot of nice creature comforts which sold me on it over it's Jayco cousin. It wasn't without issue though...I bought it when it was a year old in 2013 and had to take it back to the dealer on three separate occasions for a plumbing issue and leaks in the Aqualon tenting material (one of the tent ends ended up being replaced by the factory). Thankfully, I had a fantastic dealer taking care of me. Despite the issues, I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Starcraft product.

Absolutely loving my Springdale!! Growing family meant moving up to something a little larger than the hybrid. The Springdale and Summerland lines are tough to beat when it comes to build quality, overall features, and value. I cross shopped my 260LE with the Jayco Jay Flight SLX 264BHW and, while I liked the Jayco and the reputation for quality that comes with it, I felt the Springdale was constructed just as well with a lot of extra niceties that just weren't included with the Jayco. My Springdale has seen quite a few miles in the 5 months I've owned it with only a few small hiccups. Since the camping season here in PA has wrapped up, I have it back at the dealer getting a few odds and ends taken care of (trim pieces and the like, minor things that are expected of a new trailer).

Good luck shopping!

Starcraft is owned by Jayco so many Starcraft models are very similar to Jayco models.

We have had a StarCraft and now own a Coachman Freedom Express (32RLDS). The StarCraft was great with no problems. We have had nothing but heartache with the Coachman.

Any thoughts on a new 2017 Keystone Summerland travel trailer?

mikakuja wrote:
My vote is for the Coachmen, I personally like the quality and creature comforts of the Coachmen units. The Azdel wall construction is what I really like about Coachmen construction. Pretty much eliminates the possibility of delamination should you ever get a leak.

Don't kid yourself, only the sidewalls are Azdel - end walls are just luan on the inside ... doesn't "eliminate" possibility of delamination but does reduce it.

As far as I can tell Coachmen hasn't made any effort to improve fresh water tank support in any of it's models. 2017 versions of my own 2014 Freedom Express 192RBS still suffer an inadequately supported tank. Fortunately in my case it was obvious as the 192RBS has an open underbelly but on larger models with an enclosed underbelly you'd have to open up that underbelly to see just how poorly these tanks are supported. :(

Our own Coachmen has served us well for 4 seasons now and althoug it probably repsents good value for the cost it certainly could stand improvement in some areas, just as pretty well any other recreational vehicle could. ;)

Thank you for the input.

My vote is for the Coachmen, I personally like the quality and creature comforts of the Coachmen units. The Azdel wall construction is what I really like about Coachmen construction. Pretty much eliminates the possibility of delamination should you ever get a leak.
We didn't care for the Starcraft trailers, but that is just a personal opinion.

What ever you choose spend some time in the trailer and go over the unit from top to bottom and make sure it has no hidden issues before you take possession... I speak from experience here..............