Lessons from a new TT owner

myredracer wrote:
In the beginning, you chose poorly... Now you speak wisely...

Don't forget the TTs and FWs that are "1/2 ton towable." ;) Right.

Imagine the olden days with no internet and RV forums. At the least, RV makers and dealers and also TV makers should be required to give purchasers a booklet outlining everything you need to know about weights, capacities and towing. Even better would be a requirement to take a course and a special designation on your licence for any size unit.

Besides all the weight, capacity and towing stuff, you discover that there are no design standards and regulations and no overseeing governmental body to enforce it. Frames for examaple, are built behind closed doors and they build them how they want to without any accountability whatsoever. Lots and lots of terrible frames out there that can barely support the UVW while standing still. When they fail, they just say you overloaded it and wash their hands clean of it. I've found that even a factory rep. at a show can't tell you anything about frames. Maybe they won't because they know they're bad?

Sometimes you have to give your head a shake how the TV and TV industry works. Sure glad we moved up to a 3/4 ton. The difference over a 1/2 ton is night and day.

I agree that there are no standards for informing consumers (like me) with the information needed to make an informed TT purchase. In our case, we had a Toyota Tacoma and knew (cause a salesman at a fair where we saw some TT;s told us) that it couldn't really tow much. The Tacoma was 3 years old and my wife wanted to trade now that the warranty had expired. We bought an F150 figuring that the larger truck could tow something, but we had no plans to buy a TT. A couple of months later (last June), we visited a large RV dealer in the area and found a great floor plan. We were assured that our F150 could tow it. Since we had stepped up from the Tacoma, it made sense that the Ford could do it. It could, but not safely.

As I see it, there is no easy way to learn exactly what a given truck can tow. Ok, I know that now it is no sweat. I know what I want to find out. But last June I had no idea in the world what I had to know to determine if the truck/trailer combination was good. I had no idea where to find out.

You bring up another important issue: basic engineering. When I shop for a car or truck, I go to Consumers Reports and get their data on quality, reliability, performance, and road tests. I can make an informed decision. Even here, there are no reliable reports on TT manufacturers and trailer models. We get the best and worst of each. People here write about trailers they love and take every opportunity to tout them. Others complain about problems. There is no way to understand any objective assessment of design and quality.

Even if I could get frame data, since I am not a mechanical engineer, I am not in a position to evaluate construction specifics for a given TT. I can't even learn the number of my make and model trailer has sold in the last year. I can get that data for any car or truck. All I know is that my dealer had my trailer on his lot and that he sold at least 6 of them last year (I saw them). Not helpful.

That takes us to the key issue that hurts all of us: no objective data on TT's. Here is what I want to know about any TT I might buy (or I own):

• Number sold over the last few years
• Owner survey results indicating reliability and satisfaction
• Independent review of the TT by a qualified 3rd party
• Owner satisfaction after they had the TT for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years.
• Average maintenance cost per year.

Is that asking too much? Hell, I spent over $30k on a blind purchase. That makes no sense at all. It makes me feel pretty stupid, but the fact is that if I want to own a TT I have no real choice.