The most reliable Travel Trailer
Based on your experience, which brand of travel trailer is among the most trouble free. I'm not looking for luxury, I don't want fancy counter tops nor amazingly beautiful cabinets...what I'm searchin...
Forum Discussion
Most reliable? There may not be a "most reliable" TT brand but any Northwood TT, Lance and a few others mentioned above would be above average. Jayco has had a good reputation for years but were bought out by Thor. There is a youtube video of a Jayco production line and after seeing it, I def. wouldn't buy one. If we were to buy again, Outdoors RV would be at top of my shortlist.
I'd avoid any TT with a Lippert frame. Not easy since Lippert has something like 95 percent of the market or more. Get one that has a BAL Ultraframe like Jayco and a small handful of others. Or get an in-house, heavy duty, off-road, certified frame like Arctic Fox, Nash & Outdoors RV (all Northwood products).
People talk about leaks and rot. Besides water leaking from the outside in, RVs are simply built wrong. They have an impervious exterior layer (metal or fiberglass) and there is no vapor retarder/barrier on the interior side of a wall "assembly". Insulation is either fiberglass batts or open cell insulation. Same for a roof assembly. If windows are not opened when camping in cold weather and/or a dehumdifier isn't used, moisture in the air will migrate to the cold exterior surfaces and condense and lead to eventual rot. Aluminum framing would be a better choice in this regard. Closed cell insulation like spray foam in a house along with a vapor barrier on the inside (and also sealing of penetrations & holes) would help a lot.
Also, the "quality" of a dealer can easily turn the best of TTs into a nightmare so it would help to find out what you can about a dealer if at all possible.
After going through 3 new TTs in just 3 years, I've become a hardened and cynical TT owner. The question of reliability and quality could take many pages to delve into.
I'd avoid any TT with a Lippert frame. Not easy since Lippert has something like 95 percent of the market or more. Get one that has a BAL Ultraframe like Jayco and a small handful of others. Or get an in-house, heavy duty, off-road, certified frame like Arctic Fox, Nash & Outdoors RV (all Northwood products).
People talk about leaks and rot. Besides water leaking from the outside in, RVs are simply built wrong. They have an impervious exterior layer (metal or fiberglass) and there is no vapor retarder/barrier on the interior side of a wall "assembly". Insulation is either fiberglass batts or open cell insulation. Same for a roof assembly. If windows are not opened when camping in cold weather and/or a dehumdifier isn't used, moisture in the air will migrate to the cold exterior surfaces and condense and lead to eventual rot. Aluminum framing would be a better choice in this regard. Closed cell insulation like spray foam in a house along with a vapor barrier on the inside (and also sealing of penetrations & holes) would help a lot.
Also, the "quality" of a dealer can easily turn the best of TTs into a nightmare so it would help to find out what you can about a dealer if at all possible.
After going through 3 new TTs in just 3 years, I've become a hardened and cynical TT owner. The question of reliability and quality could take many pages to delve into.
