Keystone Passports...Good-Bad or ???

Friends of ours have a Keystone TT (not sure which model) just over a year old and it has quality issues, especially cabinetry. Some doors are barely hanging on, some doors can't close, some doors fly open all the time. All due to sloppy installation and alignment of hinges. Should have taken it back to dealer.

Saw the same thing in one at an RV show. You'd think the dealer would have fixed this up before thousands of potential customers see it. Stuck out like a sore thumb.

Keystone tends to go for more bling and features that appeal to buyers at first glance but they cut corners in other areas that most won't notice -info. from a dealer I know.

myredracer, that was our opinion too. We just purchased, and went with a Forest River product, even though we paid $1k more than the comparative product in Keystone.

I have nothing concrete to say why we did. It was just an overall impression after searching through dozens of products from each manufacturer.

You may be safe with a stick and tin camper from Keystone but I've seen many more delamination issues on Keystone Laminated build campers(Passports, Outbacks) than other laminated build camper brands. If I wouldn't buy one, I wouldn't recommend one.

BTW, laminated build is a fiberglass thin skin glued onto luan (or other material), then glued onto a frame with Styrofoam insulation that fills the voids. The back side of this is now glued onto another piece of luan decorative interior wall board. All glued together.

We have a keystone Passport Elite which we bought in 2013. We love the layout a looks of the inside. No major problems and would buy another again.

We have a passport 238ml and had no warranty issues pulls great mainly just the two of us but it works great.

We have a passport and love it. We take it out 45+ nights a year

Whenever I read these questions I always wonder if the OP means this RV just in general or compared to other RVs. In general, it's a cheaply manufactured product made with an abundance of particle board, low end cabinets, the lowest cost faucets and fixtures available and basically subpar materials throughout. All that being said, it's pretty much the same as every other main stream TT being made and for what you pay, IMO, it's a great value.

With all of these lower end units it's a bit of a roll of the dice. Every manufacturer turns out problem free units and..... well, others :)

After owning numerous similar units I personally think the best thing is to really look at the one unit you are interested in rather than a brand or manufacturer as a whole. Find a good dealer that is close by for service/repair and do a REALLY thorough PDI or inspection if buying used. I have a very similar TT only made by Forest River. It provides numerous wonderful times for the family and I but I'm never surprised if one of the cabinet doors falls off in my hand :) :)

mtofell1 wrote:
Whenever I read these questions I always wonder if the OP means this RV just in general or compared to other RVs. In general, it's a cheaply manufactured product made with an abundance of particle board, low end cabinets, the lowest cost faucets and fixtures available and basically subpar materials throughout. All that being said, it's pretty much the same as every other main stream TT being made and for what you pay, IMO, it's a great value.

With all of these lower end units it's a bit of a roll of the dice. Every manufacturer turns out problem free units and..... well, others :)

After owning numerous similar units I personally think the best thing is to really look at the one unit you are interested in rather than a brand or manufacturer as a whole. Find a good dealer that is close by for service/repair and do a REALLY thorough PDI or inspection if buying used. I have a very similar TT only made by Forest River. It provides numerous wonderful times for the family and I but I'm never surprised if one of the cabinet doors falls off in my hand :) :)

I love this response! So true. If you can't smile when you're holding that cabinet door, then TT's are probably not for you.

tragusa3 wrote:

mtofell1 wrote:
Whenever I read these questions I always wonder if the OP means this RV just in general or compared to other RVs. In general, it's a cheaply manufactured product made with an abundance of particle board, low end cabinets, the lowest cost faucets and fixtures available and basically subpar materials throughout. All that being said, it's pretty much the same as every other main stream TT being made and for what you pay, IMO, it's a great value.

With all of these lower end units it's a bit of a roll of the dice. Every manufacturer turns out problem free units and..... well, others :)

After owning numerous similar units I personally think the best thing is to really look at the one unit you are interested in rather than a brand or manufacturer as a whole. Find a good dealer that is close by for service/repair and do a REALLY thorough PDI or inspection if buying used. I have a very similar TT only made by Forest River. It provides numerous wonderful times for the family and I but I'm never surprised if one of the cabinet doors falls off in my hand :) :)

I love this response! So true. If you can't smile when you're holding that cabinet door, then TT's are probably not for you.

Truth. I love my Passport. I came from a 1988 24 foot Fleetwood Southwind to a 1995 Fleetwood Prowler 5th wheel to the current Passport. The Southwind and Prowler were put together better than ANYTHING we looked at. I wasn't sure what to do...I finally said...Give me the biggest one with the least amount of weight for a gasser 3/4 ton...So now I have the Passport...Season four and it has been great. Separate space for the kids and if stuff breaks...I fix it, have a few adult beverages and move on!

mtofell1 wrote:
Whenever I read these questions I always wonder if the OP means this RV just in general or compared to other RVs. In general, it's a cheaply manufactured product made with an abundance of particle board, low end cabinets, the lowest cost faucets and fixtures available and basically subpar materials throughout. All that being said, it's pretty much the same as every other main stream TT being made and for what you pay, IMO, it's a great value.

With all of these lower end units it's a bit of a roll of the dice. Every manufacturer turns out problem free units and..... well, others :)

After owning numerous similar units I personally think the best thing is to really look at the one unit you are interested in rather than a brand or manufacturer as a whole. Find a good dealer that is close by for service/repair and do a REALLY thorough PDI or inspection if buying used. I have a very similar TT only made by Forest River. It provides numerous wonderful times for the family and I but I'm never surprised if one of the cabinet doors falls off in my hand :) :)

I posted the question about Passport trailers in general because my sister in-law is interested in one and asked my opinion. I don't have any personal knowledge about them. I've only owed Northwood products, but they are heavy and not for everyone.