Dont overlook a used unit with a few years on it. If it has been properly cared for it will have all the new trailer bugs worked out of it already. One thing to really pay close attention to is storage. We have been wanting to get a new trailer for a few years now but every time we go shopping we just cant find anything with the amount of storage we have. We have so much now that there are actually drawers and cupboards that are empty.
On to brand and quality. I think all the new ones are junk. We were set on a new montana last year. We looked at just about every floor plan they had. I dont think we walked into a single trailer that didnt have at least one cupboard door that fell off in someones hand. Its like they said screw it its 5:00 on Friday and I am just going to stick that door in there and not even bother to put a single screw in the top hinge. I kid you not.
Our current trailer is an 05 Cedar Creek. Its been a pretty good trailer to us but it is not without its share of faults and "what the hell were they thinking" kinda designs. We love our trailer, and I guess thats why we are being so picky about replacing it.
Our next older trailer was a 1995 Hornet travel trailer. That thing was your mid to lower priced unit in its day but in reality it was way better built that our Cedar Creek , and head and shoulders better built than all the junk being pumped out today. We would probably still have that trailer if it had a slide in it. With a family of 7 and a large breed dog it was pretty cramped in there.
It boils down to pick what works for you and fits your needs and future needs, and just plan on having to fix things.
One more note to mention. I would stay clear of the newer "Lite" models. My sister bought one for a permanent site, and in less that a year the foam core floor was all sagging and coming apart. That fall they took it back to the dealer who sent it to the factory. It spent all winter getting fixed. Last year they noticed that the outside walls on 2 of the slides were delaminating. Well, it spent all of last winter back at the factory getting repairs. Now it is out of warranty and this year every time the wind blows they get a huge bubble on the back wall end cap. Now this thing is 3 years old and the only miles it has seen are the ones from the factory to the dealer and the dealer to the factory.
There son bought a "Lite" model last year, and now this summer we started noticing that the back wall end cap is starting to come apart as well. It is all wavy and big bubbles everywhere.
1993 Chevy C3500
2005 Cedar Creek 34RLTS
