Why do they look the same?

In the case of Cruiser RV, the under-rated axles are not a misconception of the owners. Both my axles bent in the first 1000 miles of use. The dealer I bought mine from has replaced the axles on over 30 Shadow Cruisers. I have worked in the quality field in the automotive industry for more than 30 years and I don't understand why the RV industry gets away with the shoddy workmanship I see in so many of the products on the market. Cruiser RV has been the absolute worst. Every person I have talked to has had problems with their RV from them, gets the run around and then when the warrantee is up, the excuse themselves, even if the problem was reported after the first month of ownership.

busterbrown73 wrote:

This is what I'm unsure of... "Who makes the better ultra light quad bunkhouse". I've read many reviews on different units and there are such disparities between owners. Cruiser RV's Shadow cruiser bunkhouse had many complaints about under rated axles and water leaks in years 2012-14. Since their parent company was recently bought out by Thor, I'm wondering if quality has gone up since then? The dealer is telling what I want to hear...I know he is.

You have to take some online complaints with a grain of salt. "Underrated axles" is a common complaint. People look at the combination of axle weights, discover that it doesn't meet the GVWR of the trailer, and automatically assume that the axles are underrated. What they forget is that the trailer's tongue typically carries 10-15% of the trailer's weight. Some manufacturers use this method to get away with using lighter axles. If the axles are actually underrated then you would see some dramatic failures like bent axles. The manufacturer would also probably be in hot water with the government for not meeting minimum standards.

Leaks happen and are easy fixes. Even trailers that are commonly considered high quality, like Airsteam, has a few that roll off the line with leaks. Whichever trailer you go with, have the dealer test it for leaks before you buy. Sometimes the leaks are from the factory, but some of the complaints you read are from neglect. A lot of people don't bother to inspect their trailers and are quick to blame the manufacturer for their leak. Caulking, sealant, and seals don't last forever. Maintenance is the key to having a problem free trailer. The best defense against leaks down the road would be you.

Just about every trailer out there you'll find people who rave about never having a problem and those who complain about having a lemon. Subpar quality control is a problem that affect the majority of the industry. You may get a good one, you may get a bad one. With this industry it's kind of like gambling lol.

Focus more on how the trailers are constructed and what materials they are made out of. What are the walls made of? What's the R value? What's the construction of the floor? Etc. You'll probably have to contact the manufacturer directly since this info can be hard to find in brochures. If you aren't sure if something is good or bad, just ask.

I love to go to RV shows, but after about an hour of looking through so many units, they all start to look the same and you get exhausted!

I started RV'ing with PUs, and in my opinion they had a lot more differentiation/uniqueness across brands then TTs do nowadays.

proxim2020 wrote:
That's what it's important to look beyond the aesthetics and figure out which trailer is better built. Find out what's in the walls, floors, and on the roof. These are the areas that will cause the most headaches in the future.

This is what I'm unsure of... "Who makes the better ultra light quad bunkhouse". I've read many reviews on different units and there are such disparities between owners. Cruiser RV's Shadow cruiser bunkhouse had many complaints about under rated axles and water leaks in years 2012-14. Since their parent company was recently bought out by Thor, I'm wondering if quality has gone up since then? The dealer is telling what I want to hear...I know he is.

Cruiser RV and Palomino (Forest River) are two different companies, but you see this often in the industry. There's a floorplan that sells well, so everyone makes their version of it. I'm sure if you look you'll find that there's probably 10 other brands that build the exact same floorplan. Lots of parts are shared across manufactures. Things like frames, axles, fridge, stove, radio, even the TV. So really, they're probably pretty close to being identical for the things you can see.

That's what it's important to look beyond the aesthetics and figure out which trailer is better built. Find out what's in the walls, floors, and on the roof. These are the areas that will cause the most headaches in the future.

naturist wrote:
Because unlike houses which have infinite possibilities for floor plan, there's only so many arrangements possible it an 8'x28' rectangle.

I much prefer my late father's description, "there's only a couple of ways to put the shoes in the shoe box."

Yup, there are not too many variations you can do to a rectangle. Also if one company creates a new feature the rest will follow in short order.

Also there are a limited number of suppliers to the RV industry so the frig, stove, water heater etc. are pretty standard.

People want cheap and light weight so you need minimal materials and rapid construction methods.

Beef up the frame you add weight and cost. Add better appliances you add cost and power consumption.

The RV industry has figured out what will sell; they leave the custom builds to the high dollar shops.

For example, Forest River sells the same floorplan under the name of several sister companies. Brand loyalty and trim level set them apart. It also allows them to sell basically the same models through different dealers in the same market. Flagstaff and Rockwood are good examples.

Very possible they rolled off the same line. Kind of a GMC / Chevy thing. More comon than most are aware of.

^^^^What he said^^^^
In a nutshell I think that's pretty much it. Plus, I do believe main manufacturers market/sell their trailers under any number of different "brand" names. Change some small things, like the colors and a couple of upgrades here and there, and hoila, a different model.

But, in the end, agreed. Only so many combinations you can create.

Mike