Viking TTs compared to Jayco

I think you are maybe not finding user reviews because the use of the Viking and Clipper brands on travel trailers is new? Applied to a product that is new this model year?

Before Coachmen was acquired by Forest River, the Viking brand and Clipper brand were applied to folding camping trailers. As TTs, they could be a new Coachmen product, or a F-R product marketed using a Coachmen brand.

I am surprised that any company is trying to sell a travel trailer in Florida that does not have an air conditioning option.

Both brands, Jayflight Swift and Clipper/Viking are lightly constructed stick-built travel trailers, something fairly new to the market. Until recently, most lightweights had been the more costly laminated wall construction. Exceptions I know about would include Gulfstream's stick-built Amerilite (at least 10 years experience but not so light these newer offerings) and Sun Valley's Road Runner, which may not be in production now, as Evergreen is now using Sun Valley as a brand.

Many times in the RV industry, when a company closes down, the assets they can sell are the brand names, which get used by the buyer on a different product.

Does the roof mount have ducted air?? Is the other unit a throught the wall unit?? Living where you do, the larger A/C would be the deciding factor for me.

I can't comment on either TT but if it were me, living in Fl, I would be looking at a 15,000 BTU AC If ir were available on these units.

Neither have ducted A/C and the Jayco has a side mounted unit that is only 5000 BTU.

Can anyone speak for the quality or construction of Vikings?

We had a 26 ftJayco Jayflight bought new in 2006 I believe. The a/c was 9500 btu and it never cooled that trailer. We suffered through one summer here in Texas and sold it. Don't settle for less than 13500 or 15000 btu. Higher is better.

The side mounted AC is for the birds. My in-laws have this in a smaller TT and I also live in Florida. Sometimes we go camping together - guess where we go to cool off? My TT with 13,000 btu ducted AC.

Which trailer have you decided on? I'm actually close to purchase a 2014 Viking 17FQ as we speak. I've been hard-pressed to find reviews on the product.

I have a 2013 Viking 16FB. I love the layout, features, light weight and price. Unfortunately, construction quality leaves a LOT to be desired. It's been back to the dealer three times to correctly install the roof mount A/C, repair a kinked propane line to the stove, and patch a roof leak (yes, on a brand new trailer); and I've fixed a ton of minor issues myself. I would have paid twice the price for a Casita egg, but it's a long drive from RI to Texas and they don't have any dealers. Still looking for a quality TT under 5,000# at a reasonable price (which eliminates the Airstream on my budget).

We purchased our Viking 16 FB in May 2013........we have camped in it on 6 different occasions, going on our 7th weekend trip starting tomorrow. We have not experienced a single problem.

I am so sorry to hear about danking19's problems.

This is our first RV and we couldn't be happier. The layout is perfect, the price was great, easy to tow, and it fits our needs.

I know it's a little late. But I bought a clipper 17BH for the overall functionality. I liked that it had a full time bed and bunks and a dinette.
I too, couldn't find any reviews when I bought mine last year so hopefully this helps out future buyers.
The bad..I've definitely pulled my hair out more than once. I would have to say quality of craftsmanship is definitely missing. Me and my brother both bought the same trailer at the same time and it seems like every trip, something falls off or comes apart. If it's not my trailer it's his. However, nothing I haven't been able to fix myself. Problems have been, barely threaded plumbing, wood trim and window valances falling off. And it really sucked noticing a pool of water under my trailer while enjoying the sun.
The good...The bunk folds up with the handy little door at the back. It allows me to store kids toys/bbq/stove etc in the trailer. Bunks are nice for kids and or extra buddies. AC can turn the little trailer into a ice box if need on hot days. Also furnace has no trouble keeping the trailer warm in early spring and fall camping in the Rockies. NO major issues (fridge, AC, roof leaks, stove, axle's etc) so far.
Overall, fingers crossed I've got the bugs out and next year is smooth sailing. I think for what I found while shopping it's the "best" little big trailer. Has most of what the big bunkhouses have in a smaller space. So if you can handle a couple headaches and don't mind a smaller space I think it's a pretty good buy for the price.