Looking to finally make the plunge and get our 1st RV and are torn between a few units and curious if anyone can shed some light as to quality or anything else....Looking at these guys:Whitehawk 29REKSJayflight 32RLDSSalem Hemisphere 272RLISSalem Hemisphere 282RKRoamer RT272RLSAll are ultralights and will work with our truck (2011 F150 w/ Max Tow).We saw the Jayflight 32RLDS and the Roamer this weekend at a local RV show and are planning to see the Whitehawk and Hemisphere 272RLIS this coming weekend at a dealer. Just curious if there are any to avoid or if it's really as simple as "which we like best"? I know the wife and I almost moved into the Jayflight at the RV show. :)

I cannot speak for the other brands but we love our Jayflight. We have had the unit two years now and have and only minor issues but nothing I needed to to take back to the dealer. The Jayflight series is considered the "best bank for the buck" with the Jayco crowd. The 32RLDS is 7,300 lbs dry...seems a bit too much for an F150 but others may have more insight.

The Jayco Eagle is more in line with the OR Roamer. I have not heard of any reason to exclude any of those brands. They all have generally favorable feedback. Your receiver limit at about 1150 pounds is likely a limit so I'd stay under 7k dry for your truck.

If you are referring to the Roamer 292RLS, the DRY hitch weight is 1020lbs. We love our Roamer 288 FLR, but it is definitely not lightweight. Have you considered the Open Range Light line of trailers?Open Range LightOne thing Open Range has over the other brands you mentioned is much better insulation. We looked at Jayco products and OR products at the same lot last summer in South Texas. The OR trailers were easily 15 degrees cooler in the summer sun. They have 50 amp capability, which is important for us in sun-drenched (i.e. brutally hot) Texas. But we have done two cold weather trips and were grateful for the extra insulation then, too.

I'd definitely put the Open Range and Jayco above the Salem. Of the mainstream brands Jayco seems to get the most positive feedback on these forums. I own a Salem and while nothing catastrophic has gone wrong I'm not exactly impressed with the overall quality and probably wouldn't buy another Forest River product. And I'm not just basing my overall recommendation on my experience. From hanging out on the Forest River owner's forum I'm not alone. Open Range is somewhat new so there is not a lot of data out there. From what I've read they seem to be quality. I've really been impressed with some of their floor plans and offerings.

I also would put the Jayco and Open Range at the top. I have had a Forest River product and the quality is ok for the price but not in the same league as Jayco and Open Range. I spent over a year researching travel trailers and it came down to two brands, Jayco and Open Range. We chose Open Range because we liked the floor plan better. BTW, Jayco has bought Open Range (or merged or something) but Open Range is still being built the same. They both have two year warranties. We have had our Open Range for about two years and had only a couple of small problems that were not caused by Open Range and were fixed under warranty. I would definitely buy another one but plan to make this current one last as long as I do.

Jayco vs Forest River Salem vs Open Range | Good Sam Community

44 Replies

mtofell1
Explorer
Mar 02, 2015
I'd definitely put the Open Range and Jayco above the Salem. Of the mainstream brands Jayco seems to get the most positive feedback on these forums. I own a Salem and while nothing catastrophic has gone wrong I'm not exactly impressed with the overall quality and probably wouldn't buy another Forest River product. And I'm not just basing my overall recommendation on my experience. From hanging out on the Forest River owner's forum I'm not alone.

Open Range is somewhat new so there is not a lot of data out there. From what I've read they seem to be quality. I've really been impressed with some of their floor plans and offerings.
Major_Dad
Explorer
Mar 02, 2015
If you are referring to the Roamer 292RLS, the DRY hitch weight is 1020lbs. We love our Roamer 288 FLR, but it is definitely not lightweight. Have you considered the Open Range Light line of trailers?
Open Range Light

One thing Open Range has over the other brands you mentioned is much better insulation. We looked at Jayco products and OR products at the same lot last summer in South Texas. The OR trailers were easily 15 degrees cooler in the summer sun. They have 50 amp capability, which is important for us in sun-drenched (i.e. brutally hot) Texas. But we have done two cold weather trips and were grateful for the extra insulation then, too.
APT
Explorer
Mar 02, 2015
The Jayco Eagle is more in line with the OR Roamer. I have not heard of any reason to exclude any of those brands. They all have generally favorable feedback. Your receiver limit at about 1150 pounds is likely a limit so I'd stay under 7k dry for your truck.
Iraqvet05
Explorer
Mar 02, 2015
I cannot speak for the other brands but we love our Jayflight. We have had the unit two years now and have and only minor issues but nothing I needed to to take back to the dealer. The Jayflight series is considered the "best bank for the buck" with the Jayco crowd. The 32RLDS is 7,300 lbs dry...seems a bit too much for an F150 but others may have more insight.

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Jayco vs Forest River Salem vs Open Range

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