Who makes the best trailer ? - my answer
Nobody. What i have learned so far is - all trailers are junk, just of varying degrees. One could easily assume from that comment i have a horror story to tell, i don’t, i love my trailer. I’m just...
Forum Discussion
I've had alot of different RV's in my lifetime. They span the types from lowly pop-up to 40' diesel pusher and almost everything in between.
I'd mostly agree with the OP. Price does in no way give you any indication of the quality of a unit. I say that because price is largely a function of the options list - not the man-hours put in to build the unit, nor the materials of the construction.
As one person noted, the actual build cost has to be low to feed the food chain. I put the cost of production around 25% at the manufacturer.
Many people think quality is stainless appliances, glossy countertops and fancy wood finishes. It is not. Quality is what is under the floors, in th walls and roof. Quality is engineering and construction procedures.
In my experience, there is a correlation between the size of the RV and the number of problems you'll have. I have found that the bigger units are just more prone to structural issues, flexing and just the shear number of points that can have a failure of some kind. The smaller RV's I've had have simply had fewer, and in some cases, no problems at all. Very rarely have I had a failure in a sub-system compenent like an appliance or an axle. Most of the time, it's that something has pulled apart, or was out of alignment, came loose, etc. Sometimes these are material failures. Often times, just poor engineering.
I've recently come to the conclusion that the fifth wheel trailer I've been using for my work lodgings was a mistake and I'm going to downsize it. I've decided to buy an Oliver Travel Trailer - the Rolls Royce of travel trailers with a price to match. It was this or an Airstream. After doing my research, I've decided that the Oliver is a better bet. Still a gamble, mind you, but I think I may be happy with it.
I'd mostly agree with the OP. Price does in no way give you any indication of the quality of a unit. I say that because price is largely a function of the options list - not the man-hours put in to build the unit, nor the materials of the construction.
As one person noted, the actual build cost has to be low to feed the food chain. I put the cost of production around 25% at the manufacturer.
Many people think quality is stainless appliances, glossy countertops and fancy wood finishes. It is not. Quality is what is under the floors, in th walls and roof. Quality is engineering and construction procedures.
In my experience, there is a correlation between the size of the RV and the number of problems you'll have. I have found that the bigger units are just more prone to structural issues, flexing and just the shear number of points that can have a failure of some kind. The smaller RV's I've had have simply had fewer, and in some cases, no problems at all. Very rarely have I had a failure in a sub-system compenent like an appliance or an axle. Most of the time, it's that something has pulled apart, or was out of alignment, came loose, etc. Sometimes these are material failures. Often times, just poor engineering.
I've recently come to the conclusion that the fifth wheel trailer I've been using for my work lodgings was a mistake and I'm going to downsize it. I've decided to buy an Oliver Travel Trailer - the Rolls Royce of travel trailers with a price to match. It was this or an Airstream. After doing my research, I've decided that the Oliver is a better bet. Still a gamble, mind you, but I think I may be happy with it.
