Modern travel trailers - Who makes them in the US?

Eldlr wrote:
Europeans were forced to build like that due to high gas prices, narrow roads, small tow vehicles, etc, etc, etc. We build them big and heavy because we have big roads, long distances, huge tow vehicles and apparently enough wealth to not give a sh*t about the now high gas prices. That and we're a whole lot fatter than they are. The oems build what sells where they are located.

Basically the differences are in cost. The US is much more cost conscious than the Europeans, so the Travel Trailers look more basic but bigger or a lot bigger.If the Fuel Prices were to hit their levels, I think your RV's would be even smaller and more basic then theirs.
Distances towing in Europe varies usually a lot shorter but you do get people towing 1500 miles going from Northern Europe to Southern Europe.

Proteus wrote:
So, now that we've looked a lot, and rented a Nash 25c for a while, its time to actually look at buying a TT. The problem is, where are the modern designs, with modern materials?

This is a non -studio shot of a Baily Unicorn on sale in New Zealand.

So, European highways, at least in my experience tend to be as good, or even better than ours. Yes, gas prices are higher here, and trucks are for hauling goods, not people (as it should be). Bottom line is that they seem to have reasonably priced, high quality well designed smaller trailers, which are really hard to find here. The "family" trailers are either stick and tin garbage, or bloated 30ft+ monsters designed to be towed by large trucks. There are 3 trailers I've found so far that have modern construction (alum frame,, azdel), lightweight and a decent floor plan. Just waiting for the next RV show, since none of the local PNW dealers have them in stock.
Lance 2185, Freedom Express 269 BHS, and Surveyor SP260. Any comments on these? Anything similar? I *really* liked the Nash 25c floor plan, but it's a wood trailer, and about 1000lbs heavier, and a foot higher than it needs to be. Also didn't like the bouncy leaf spring suspension. If only there was a modern version of that floor plan...

RobertRyan wrote:

Eldlr wrote:
Europeans were forced to build like that due to high gas prices, narrow roads, small tow vehicles, etc, etc, etc. We build them big and heavy because we have big roads, long distances, huge tow vehicles and apparently enough wealth to not give a sh*t about the now high gas prices. That and we're a whole lot fatter than they are. The oems build what sells where they are located.

Basically the differences are in cost. The US is much more cost conscious than the Europeans, so the Travel Trailers look more basic but bigger or a lot bigger.If the Fuel Prices were to hit their levels, I think your RV's would be even smaller and more basic then theirs.
Distances towing in Europe varies usually a lot shorter but you do get people towing 1500 miles going from Northern Europe to Southern Europe.

Is that real wood in there? And look - they protect the carpet with plastic for the new owners! These palces need to set up shop in the US and give the piece-o-crap RV manufactures here a run for their money. Good old competition would be welcomed by me at least.

I'm sorry - but nothing I've seen posted by our friends in Australia looks "basic". The thing parked in my driveway can't hold a candle to the one pictured here. Do we still have fun in it? Yes, but like I tell my 5 year old - you get what you get, so don't throw a fit...

2012Coleman wrote:
'm sorry - but nothing I've seen posted by our friends in Australia looks "basic". The thing parked in my driveway can't hold a candle to the one pictured here.

Yes the standard for basic in Australia is getting higher.
A "Poptop" Basic Caravan

A New AVIDA "Basic" Caravan


A Bit more than Basic

Wow Robert, I'm insanely jealous. Why the HELL can't we have trailers like that here in the US? Why do we have to put up with the cheap******basd on obsolete technology and styling?

Just looked up the Otron. $68,000 Aus. For a 19'6" TT, that is a bit steep. It is also 2500kg, over 6000lb. dry weight. And I thought Airstreams were expensive.

Proteus wrote:
Wow Robert, I'm insanely jealous. Why the HELL can't we have trailers like that here in the US? Why do we have to put up with the cheap******basd on obsolete technology and styling?

Because not enough of the market (buyers) will pay for it. Manufacturers have tried and failed. Airstream is it. And that's one reason why they hold their value so well. Small market new and used.

Proteus wrote:
Wow Robert, I'm insanely jealous. Why the HELL can't we have trailers like that here in the US? Why do we have to put up with the cheap******basd on obsolete technology and styling?

That price point is a big determiner of what you get in the US. True Australian Caravans are expensive (Small market, higher specifications) but US Travel Trailers are built to a very basic cost. You pay for what you get.
There are over 100 manufacturers for the relatively small Australian market so quite a fair bit of variety. Still per capita they sell more Caravans even with higher costs than you do Travel Trailers in the US.