Palomino Puma Travel Trailer

WoodGlue wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:
My 19 year old aluminum sided TT is holding up just fine.

What's wrong with aluminum?

Our next trailer will probably be a Puma

Is this a legit question or just an aside?

WoodGlue

I'd say legit. I purposely bought an aluminum sided trailer bc of all of the delaminaation issues I've seen at campgrounds. Plus I can pull aluminum, make repairs and replace the aluminum if necessary. I don't know how to work in vacuum bonded fiberglass.

jerem0621 wrote:
My 19 year old aluminum sided TT is holding up just fine.

What's wrong with aluminum?

Our next trailer will probably be a Puma

Is this a legit question or just an aside?

WoodGlue

We have a Puma 25RS love it, bought it used, I have had to do a little work on it, but we are satisfied with the workmanship that went into it.

My 19 year old aluminum sided TT is holding up just fine.

What's wrong with aluminum?

Our next trailer will probably be a Puma

I love love love my PUMA 30DBSS. We have had very little problems with our trailer and we are heading into our 4th season. We camp 4 days a week from mid May to as late in the fall as we could go before it is too cold out. We also travel to different camp grounds every weekend (most within a 150 mile radius).

Like the another person we had a problem with one tire that wore different than the other. Called our dealer which was 1100 miles away and he had not one but two delivered because he didn't want the tires to be wore different on each side. Also during delivery one of the tire panels broke from the screws, he again had two panels delivered within the week. (we only needed one).

Our local Forest River dealer will service if needed but they did tell us that their customers get priority on service. Hope I don't have to find out.

I would also like to mention that I have two teenage sons who are both over 6 ft and one is a little on the hefty side. The interior of this trailer has held out extremely well considering they are not the most graceful boys in the world. As a matter of fact the interior is still looks like new!

we have a 3 yr old 30 kdbss?? and have spent about 120 nights in it all around the midwest. We had to replace water heater control board and one tire was wearing strange. All other issues were caused by me and so far it seems like a pretty solid trailer. Check out these guys for price Click they were the cheapest i could find.

Delamination occurs when the Luaun (wood in the walls, directly underneath the fiberglass) fails to adhere properly and separates from the fiberglass backing.

Another reason for delamination in fiberglass sided trailers is the vacuum bonding process combined with the luaun (again!)removing so much moisture and air during the process.

The only real answer to delamination issues has been the advantage of Azdel or Compositek. Although with Compositek and vacuum bonding leaves the issue to be an open ended question.

WoodGlue

Thanks all for your responses and great comments. We have owned both aluminum and Fiberglas sides and in the end either works although it is easier to clean the Fiberglas. And, we have experienced the Fiberglas delamination which is a real pain if it has to be fixed. We had a new Alpenlite 5er that delaminated and it was taken back to the factory for about a month for the installation of complete new exterior walls.

It sounds as if none of you have needed warranty work, but do you know if a Forest River Dealer (more common on west coast) will repair the Palomino if needed?

Thanks for your input!

Reno Jim
We've been RVing for over 40-years.

Hi Reno Jim, I Bought a new 2010 Puma 25 rks. Have not had any problems at all, the only thing i have done to mine is new tires, the ones that come on it don't have much tread, other than that i think it's the best. I had coachman, aljo and i think it's better constructed. Mine has the aluminum side. I'm not crazy about fiberglass because of delamination and extra weight,every one to their liking. enjoy the rig ,i know you will. 73 Kay

Hi Jim, We have a 2012 Puma 30FQSS. Love it. Have never had a problem with it. Never had to take it back to the dealer for any repairs or touch-ups. It is a solid unit. We live in a Puma rich environment. Lots of folks around our area have them. All the owners I've talked to had no complaints about the Puma brand. I'd buy another without hesitation. As far as the difference between aluminum and fiberglass siding mentioned above, it's a matter of personal taste. Assuming you purchase from a good dealer, I don't think you'll go wrong buying a Puma.