What models of trailers are well built?

JMtandem,
Wally took his Airstreams round the world so long ago, that Lincoln was scheduled to take Mary on a Byam tour, but something came up with an evening at some theater;)

Seriously, I get the loyalty, but I've been through the whole Airstream event at the big Florida show, repeatedly, and I just don't see where the current stuff has much to do with back in the day? Lots of visably sketchy workmanship in the interiors, the same garbage appliances that a $15K trailer has, and from a company owned by Thor. Maybe all the magic is well hidden, but for me, I don't see the stellar quality and yacht grade attention to detail I would expect to see, for three times the price of a nicely equipped standard trailer, of the same size.

jungleexplorer wrote:

Let me ask ya'll this. Besides RVtrader, where else is a good place to look online?

There are sites that can do wide searches on Craigslist for you. I have successfully used search tempest, but I'm sure there are others.

Apache RV in Portland Oregon. New and pre owned. Lots of brands.

Thanks for all the great advice guys. Keep it coming, but please respect each other. Things always get hairy when the topic of "Which is best" comes up about any subject.

I already knew that Airstreams are awesome and built well, but unless someone wants to donate one to my ministry non-profit for a tax write off, I will never be able to afford one. I have been looking into the Arctic Fox models, but have found none in my price range on RVtrader within 500 miles of me. There is some stuff in NY, but that is the opposite direction I am traveling (California), so that does me no good. Now if it were in California, I could stay in hotels until I got there.


Let me ask ya'll this. Besides RVtrader, where else is a good place to look online?

jmtandem is always praising the Airstreams (so much so that I wonder if he's a dealer),

Hey Dallas, thanks for remembering me. Sometimes I think I just post stuff and nobody reads it. As to being a dealer or an Airstream stockholder or affiliated any way with Airstream, nope. Not even a little bit. But I learned a long time ago that quality comes with price and in RV's that means Prevost motorhomes, Airstream (whether or not you like them or think you can better the odds by purchasing four or five or ten or however many other brands for the same price as one Airstream) trailers, or expensive fifth wheels, or Super C's built on a Peterbuilt chassis. Whatever it is, quality is never cheap. The best things in life might be free but Airstream folks know that the second best things in life are very expensive and worth every penny. So, you go your way and I will go mine.

I think it is best to be up front with the OP and answer quality questions without regard to price at least initially. He did not bring price into the thread until he made a later post. And, maybe their $10,000 will go lots farther as a down payment than full price for something that is not really quality. The OP should look at pre- 2009 Pacific Coachworks Tangos, they were very well made and maybe the OP can find one in his price range. Or find a good used Arctic Fox product. The OP does not need to drop $85,000 or more on a new Airstream. But the trade off is always there between cost and quality. And the OP, not us on this forum, has to decide. I will be the first to admit that Airstreams are not for everybody. Never will be. And that is just fine.

Wally Byam led Airstream caravans around the world, across Africa, Europe, Asia, and many other places on dirt roads, across streams and deserts, mountains and jungles and they held up to it all. Maybe you really do get something for all that money they cost.

And the OP said they are planning to take whatever they end up with to the Arctic, dirt/gravel roads and all. Something for the OP to think about.

jmtandem is always praising the Airstreams (so much so that I wonder if he's a dealer), but doesn't mention that you can't get new ones with slideouts and that they cost a fortune compared to other brands. As we've debated before I'd rather buy 4 or 5 (insert major-selling brand name here) over 20 years than one Airstream, which would cost about the same in total.

Pick a floor plan you want and go for it, they are all close to the same, except for price.

Dream on! In terms of quality the differences between a Lance/Arctic Fox and an Airstream are not even in the same hemisphere. And even between the Arctic Fox and Lance the differences are large enough that one is made for full time living, well insulated, and even has a walk on roof and the Lance, well, their owners manual says it is made for occasional recreational usage and, no, don't walk on the roof. About the only things the same is that all three have aluminum frames for the side walls and pull behind a vehicle. The best use for the OP's $10,000 budget is as a down payment for quality. Then no regrets later.

All I know is the Forest River Surveyor I have now is built twice as good as my last 2 ..Lance and jayco

1stgenfarmboy wrote:
Keep believing that.

:W

Keep believing that.