Hi all, I’ve been a member of the forum for a long time. Looking into getting into a different type of RV soon. I will be getting married, and we plan on children, hopefully.I’m coming from a 1994 Fleetwood Caribou truck camper. It has been great for a first rv, and kept us warm and off the ground. But this last trip we went on I noticed with my fiancé laying in the cab over part while I was outside, it was very close to sitting on the cab of my truck. When we got back home, unloading it was a little concerning with the old front jacks and the frame of the camper taking some previous water damage, you can imagine I was experiencing a little fear. I’ve only started researching something else and won’t be buying for around four to five months. Right now work is great, so I plan on brand new, but very mid level pricing. I would like a fifth wheel, mainly because of most of the bedroom layouts, but dirt bikes leave me needing the whole bed of the truck, and I’d rather have a normal trailer than a toy hauler. Seems like it’ll be more comfortable that way. Of the ones that I’ve looked at so far that are readily available in my area, the Heartland Mallard line has stood out. Specifically the model M26 because of the bunks, and the M27 because we liked the layout. Though we plan on kids, the double bunk layout seems more practical, but when we looked at the M26 it seemed that it would be a pain to have older guests stay in the bunks. So they may as well sleep on the couch. By that thinking, we may just go with something like the M27 and if we have kids, just use the couch anyway. Plans for when they get a little older would be to put them in a tent and figure out what camping is really all about like I had to when I was younger. So long term, the bunks are useless anyway.Was wondering if you guys had any thoughts on the info I’ve given so far, and also what the general opionion on Heartland and the Mallard lineup is. Quality? Any rv suggestions that are available in my area? So far I like the warranty that’s comes with the Mallard, and like I said the layouts are decent. The other problem we found with the bunk trailer is that with that entertainment stack at the end of he bed, the front bedroom seemed small. So a walk around bed is probably something we would lean towards.

We had a Mallard motorhome before this Coleman TT. The Mallard motorhome was an orphan as the manufacturer was long gone. The quality of the motorhome speaks for it's self that it was 27 years old when we sold it and it was still going strong and everything still worked. The Coleman 27FT(our current) is probably an entryline travel trailer although there's few people here that have been RVing as long as we have (we started with a class B in 1987). We have had pretty much one of each over the years. There is no perfect RV. The closer to perfect the higher the price. I can tell you that RVs seem to be better thought out these days. The Coleman is a really decent travel trailer for what it cost. It tows well, the slide out works and gives us a lot of space, the central air and heat work very well, etc.. So, it all depends on perspective. In my world you look the trailer over that you want and decide. Buying an RV is fraught with personal preference. People get passionate about it. There is no right or wrong. What works for your life and budget, as long as it's safe, just works. I have developed personal preferences over the years that I'm certain others would not agree with. I like the aluminum siding, dual axles is a must, gotta have a slideout, wish they still made the tin roofing rather than rubber, I don't care about brand names at all. RVs, within a given price range, are so similar that arguing over brand is a waste of breath. There are a handful of manufacturers of, water heaters, refrigerators, axles, furnaces, air conditioners, tires, stoves, roofing rubber, frames, etc.. So, although a trailer is technically made by one manufacturer or another the components are the same. So, when your looking look for the quality of the manufacture of the specific unit you want to buy. Two can be sitting side by side and one be a winner and the next a loser. We have had no issues with the Coleman.Get the walk around bed. It's way better than having one side against the wall, which is what we had in the motorhome. We hated it.Lastly, longevity of an RV is all about maintenance. RVs die from neglect. Extremely few get worn out from sheer usage.

they are a very entryline trailer as they were with fleetwood

newman fulltimer wrote:they are a very entryline trailer as they were with fleetwoodWhat isn't? DRV? Airstream? Northwood?I don't buy into the whole entry level thing. Most are all built from the same cheap junk obtained from the lowest bidder, typically LCI and a very few others, and slapped together by pieceworkers whose main focus is speed with any inspections or quality control being nothing more than fluff on a sales brochure or website. Take for example the differences between Grand Designs Reflection and Solitude. The only thing you get with the Solitude for more money is more cheap junk and fancier paper wrapped fiberboard.

Ralph Cramden wrote:newman fulltimer wrote:they are a very entryline trailer as they were with fleetwoodWhat isn't? DRV? Airstream? Northwood?I don't buy into the whole entry level thing. Most are all built from the same cheap junk obtained from the lowest bidder, typically LCI and a very few others, and slapped together by pieceworkers whose main focus is speed with any inspections or quality control being nothing more than fluff on a sales brochure or website. Take for example the differences between Grand Designs Reflection and Solitude. The only thing you get with the Solitude for more money is more cheap junk and fancier paper wrapped fiberboard.I believe you summed it up quite well.Even Northwood. I spent weeks going over and reworking shoddy workmanship on our new 2016 Artic Fox TT before we made our first camping trip. It appears the company is more interested in pushing them out the door to fill their back log of orders than the quality of the work to build them. Over all it is a very good TT, however, they are certainly not built by "craftsmen".

And I agree with above comments. My Grand Design TT was build in mid 2017 before Winnebago bought out GD, and the big spike in production, and while their Brochure says it has 3rd party independent QC, that's BS. Simple things that should have been caught and fixed prior to delivery to the dealer were missed. And now as they speed up manufacturing and deliveries things are even worse.

Questions about Mallard Travel Trailers and quality

12 Replies

getpower1
Explorer
Dec 05, 2017
Used is on the table for sure.

New isn’t preferred, but in my experience, from new most people don’t keep up with maintinence or inspections. A warranty would be nice for some of the things that can inherently happen, but I can trust myself to catch. The new aspect of it would be that I am able to start out with a completely clean slate and keep up with it as I go. Although I don’t live in a very rainy area, things happen, and I don’t hear of a lot of rv owners that I know going up on the roof to make sure everything is still okay. Always seems to be an afterthought after a problem occurs.
Corky12
Explorer
Dec 05, 2017
We have had 8 different rigs over our 40+ years of camping. Several truck campers, several trailers and several fifth wheels. We loved some things about all of them and hated some things about all of them. Also as our family grew then shrank our needs changed. I would suggest you buy used, 3-5 years old, to find out what works for you. As stated above, the name or manufacturer doesn't make much difference. Some are great, some are junk.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2017
If your planning on kids don’t skip on a trailer with bunks. Setting up the couch every night would be a pain. Plus just getting my up early and tiptoeing around the kids would get old fast. You won’t be putting them in a tent until they are at least 12-13 anyway. So why suffer for all those years wishing for a different trailer.

Do it right the first time and get what you think you will need later, not what you need now.

I started out the same as you. With a twin bed and front living room Award trailer. After a year we upgraded to a 28 ft super slide with bunks. And then a few years later to our current quad bunk trailer.
getpower1
Explorer
Dec 04, 2017
Few nice points brought up here.

Firstly, I believe the tow vehicle has been covered. Don’t plan on getting rid of the duality in the near future. I’m also a diesel fan so I don’t expect that any future truck purchases will hinder my towing abilities.

I completely understand the neglect thought. Kind like a house that goes to junk simply because people stop walking in and out of it everyday. Little more complicated than that, but same principle I feel.
falconbrother
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2017
We had a Mallard motorhome before this Coleman TT. The Mallard motorhome was an orphan as the manufacturer was long gone. The quality of the motorhome speaks for it's self that it was 27 years old when we sold it and it was still going strong and everything still worked. The Coleman 27FT(our current) is probably an entryline travel trailer although there's few people here that have been RVing as long as we have (we started with a class B in 1987). We have had pretty much one of each over the years. There is no perfect RV. The closer to perfect the higher the price. I can tell you that RVs seem to be better thought out these days. The Coleman is a really decent travel trailer for what it cost. It tows well, the slide out works and gives us a lot of space, the central air and heat work very well, etc.. So, it all depends on perspective. In my world you look the trailer over that you want and decide. Buying an RV is fraught with personal preference. People get passionate about it. There is no right or wrong. What works for your life and budget, as long as it's safe, just works. I have developed personal preferences over the years that I'm certain others would not agree with. I like the aluminum siding, dual axles is a must, gotta have a slideout, wish they still made the tin roofing rather than rubber, I don't care about brand names at all. RVs, within a given price range, are so similar that arguing over brand is a waste of breath. There are a handful of manufacturers of, water heaters, refrigerators, axles, furnaces, air conditioners, tires, stoves, roofing rubber, frames, etc.. So, although a trailer is technically made by one manufacturer or another the components are the same. So, when your looking look for the quality of the manufacture of the specific unit you want to buy. Two can be sitting side by side and one be a winner and the next a loser. We have had no issues with the Coleman.

Get the walk around bed. It's way better than having one side against the wall, which is what we had in the motorhome. We hated it.

Lastly, longevity of an RV is all about maintenance. RVs die from neglect. Extremely few get worn out from sheer usage.
rbpru
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2017
As far as entry level is concerned, among the main stream manufacturers, the entry level TTs I have seen did not have valances over the windows and doors, did not have cabinets, closets or storage above the bed, did not have the same amount of insulation, had press board everything and sometimes curtains instead of doors.

Those were the things I noticed that were added as the price went up. Even within the same brand the are more bells and whistles. Bigger televisions, fireplaces, lazy-boy type recliners and far more LED light strips.

Some might call this fluff, others consider it creature comforts.

Among the mainstream makers, the construction methods and materials vary but the overall quality seems the same. It could be better but it is sufficient for the majority of the TT users. They sell all they make.

As for construction, Airstream's aluminum tube, Casita, Bigfoot and the other shell-type TTs, Artic Fox, Nash, Lance to name a few; seem to get the best reviews. These makers have broken off from the herd and developed unique or improved construction materials or practices. This is reflected in their premium price.

There are three thing that have to come together for a proper TT choice. 1, cost. it should not be a undue burden on the budget, 2. Tow vehicle capacity. You need enough cargo capacity hold your family, gear and the tongue weight of the loaded for the road TT. 3. Floor plan. The floor plan remain when all else is accepted or forgotten.

If you are not sure, rent what you want and find out, before you spend the big bucks.

Good luck
drsteve
Explorer
Dec 04, 2017
Make sure your truck has enough payload capacity for both the dirt bikes (and the fuel, tools, and other stuff that goes with them) and the trailer's tongue weight.
Dick_B
Explorer
Dec 04, 2017
It would be interesting to survey owners to see how many have stayed with their original choice thru their RVing experience. We are on our second having had the first one for two seasons. Some owners on this Forum have had several.
So my thought is to buy something that works for you now and worry about what might be later. I always recommend buying from a dealer who can provide good after-market service.
bailer6334
Explorer
Dec 04, 2017
And I agree with above comments. My Grand Design TT was build in mid 2017 before Winnebago bought out GD, and the big spike in production, and while their Brochure says it has 3rd party independent QC, that's BS. Simple things that should have been caught and fixed prior to delivery to the dealer were missed. And now as they speed up manufacturing and deliveries things are even worse.
3oaks
Explorer
Dec 04, 2017
Ralph Cramden wrote:
newman fulltimer wrote:
they are a very entryline trailer as they were with fleetwood

What isn't? DRV? Airstream? Northwood?

I don't buy into the whole entry level thing. Most are all built from the same cheap junk obtained from the lowest bidder, typically LCI and a very few others, and slapped together by pieceworkers whose main focus is speed with any inspections or quality control being nothing more than fluff on a sales brochure or website.

Take for example the differences between Grand Designs Reflection and Solitude. The only thing you get with the Solitude for more money is more cheap junk and fancier paper wrapped fiberboard.
I believe you summed it up quite well.

Even Northwood. I spent weeks going over and reworking shoddy workmanship on our new 2016 Artic Fox TT before we made our first camping trip. It appears the company is more interested in pushing them out the door to fill their back log of orders than the quality of the work to build them. Over all it is a very good TT, however, they are certainly not built by "craftsmen".