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BadgerX's avatar
BadgerX
Explorer
Jun 13, 2015

Newb Question/ advice, about to buy a trailer

Hello all, I'm a newb on this forum so take it easy on me for a bit.
We are about to pull the trigger on our first travel trailer and wanted some feedback / advice/ comparisons/ reviews on the two we have narrowed it down to. What is better? Why? Any big differences? quality? Anything to look out for? Thank you in advance!
1. Keystone premier 34 BHPR
2. Dutchman Kodiak 300 BHSL
  • Went with the 2016 Dutchman Kodiak 300 BHSL , interior finishes were just nicer. Should be picking it up early next week, thx for the help!
  • You might want to contact The RV Consumer Group for their objective appraisal of these two models. The responses you get in this Forum are mostly positive from owners who want to justify their purchase. Pay more attention to those owners who have complaints about their rigs.
  • Be careful of the dealer and do not take delivery or pay for the unit until you have done a thorough pre-delivery inspection and everything and I mean everything is shown to be working. Do not believe the smiling salesman make them prove it works. Stories abound of people paying then not being able to use the rig for months because the dealer has not repaired the items as they promised. Payment made after all items fixed. This transcends brands etc, Warranty work on an RV is not handled like a automobile.
    THE SALESMAN IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. YOU ARE THE WAY HE FEEDS HIS FAMILY.
  • Dutchmen and Keystone are "cousins" to each other. Both are ThorIndustries products and are pretty much similar in every way. They are both manufactured in Elkhart, Indiana and their manufacturing plants are just a short distance from each other.

    We took a tour through the Dutchmen facility several years ago. In all respects, they are pretty much identical in build, quality, appliances, parts, everything.

    We've owned both a Dutchmen (new) TT and a Keystone Springdale (new) TT. Both were good campers. Our needs changed and that was the reason we ended up trading for something different. We are on our 2nd Keystone now, Outback. It's been a good camper also.

    When I look back, I feel the Dutchmen was a bit more solid, but it was also only 18 feet long. Maybe the size just felt more solid. The Springdale was 31 feet long. Maybe because it was bigger it just felt different. Funny though, both campers weighed about the same, but they were a few years apart in manufacturing.

    It really is a flip of the coin. Floor plans are almost identical too. Don't know if you have done so or not, but if you can actually go see both models in person, it may give you a different feel one-over-the-other. The color of the wall paper, the design of the cabinets, the size of the refrigerator, the color of the floor, one may be more pleasing than the other.

    And then there is the price? I'd consider the cheaper one first, even if was 50 cents, it could just enough to break the tie. They both have an outside kitchen. Look at both of them and see which one works better for you.

    Good luck!