Buying an "Orphan"?

[brookside]

We have been looking for small, around 20', travel trailer and came across one we like, the Evergreen I-Go. When I tried to google the company, I found they went out of business, how sad for the workers and owners of their product.

The deals are attractive, but I realize that there will be no factory support and only dealer support. Has anyone dealt with this? I am really torn as to whether to go with it or choose something else especially since quality control at the factory can be poor.

Thoughts? Maybe simply play it safe and go for a company in business paying a little more?

[Lantley]

B.O. Plenty wrote:
I used to think it might be okay to buy an orphan. The I just finished reading about the poor guy on here with a Montana and frame problems for the third time. What the heck would he do if this was say a new Lifestyle? It would be the end of the line...I don't think I would ever buy an orphan after reading this..He's having problems and he has a warranty what if he didn't??

B.O.

BO you are exactly right. Yes most of the run of the mill stuff can be handled on the dealer level. However for catastrophic repairs having manufacturer support can be invaluable vs. owning an orphan unit.
I agree major repairs are rare but they do happen and if they do you can be stuck between a rock and a hard place with an orphaned unit.
I once had a R-Vision unit that required some siding work. The siding was unique and not run of the mill stuff. R-Vision shipped me what I needed. A few years later R-Vision went away and my unit became orphaned. Finding the correct siding would have been tough once R-Vision went under.
In the end having the manufacturer available is always an advantage vs. not having manufacture around.

[4x4van]

broark01 wrote:
Look, unless you trade up every few years you will have an "orphan". Companies, styles, interiors and exteriors come and go but the guts of campers pretty much stay the same. If you are a DIY'er don't worry about buying an "orphan". If you depend on the dealer for every issue, then do not buy an orphan.

Exactly. An older RV, even if the manufacturer is still technically around, could easily be an "orphan" anyway. During the recession, Fleetwood RV, based in Riverside CA, basically went under. So any "Fleetwood" RVs being manufactured today are by a completely different company in a completely different part of the country. While you can still get pdf versions of the older owner manuals, any older Fleetwood specific "new" parts are long gone. My last RV was a 1988 Fleetwood Jamboree, but there was really nothing I found during the 14 years I drove it that was "manufacturer specific" other than perhaps the front & rear fiberglass caps, and a good body/fiberglass shop could easily take care of damage to those if needed.

My very first RV was a 1979 Roll-a-Long Class C. An extremely well built coach for it's day; it was never-the-less an orphan the day I bought it (in 1989). Only thing that I had an issue with in regards to it's "orphan" status was the recessed lights under the cabinets; the "Roll-a-Log" stamped lenses were yellowed, and obviously were not available. A quick trip to Home Depot for a sheet of house ceiling light panel, and a few cuts on a table saw solved the problem.

If you are any kind of a DIYer, then an orphan RV is a non issue, as 99% of what's found in and on all RVs are common across the board. And you could buy a new coach today and have it become an orphan next year anyway.

[sam22]

I love my evergreen trailer and would highly recommend them if you can get a good deal. The loss of warranty sucks but if you get an extended warranty from the dealer that should cover your basic electrical and mechanical issues for a few years. If the floor starts peeling up or something like that you're out of luck.

[atwowheelguy]

In 2014, I bought a gently used 2010 FunFinder Xtra toy hauler made by Cruiser RV. In 2015, Cruiser RV was purchased by Heartland RV, a subsidiary of Thor Industries. All of the Cruiser RV designs went out the window and they started building Thor designed campers. So, even though the name of the manufacturer still exists, my camper is now an orphan. I have found an RV service center, not an RV dealer, that has been able to handle all the repairs I have needed so far. Find a good service center and go for that bargain orphan.

[broark01]

Look, unless you trade up every few years you will have an "orphan". Companies, styles, interiors and exteriors come and go but the guts of campers pretty much stay the same. If you are a DIY'er don't worry about buying an "orphan". If you depend on the dealer for every issue, then do not buy an orphan.

[qtla9111]

We had a leaky front cap on our 2004 Funfinder. We did a lot of checking and the repair facilities we found were cheaper and could do the work in less than two weeks instead of taking it all the way to the factory, waiting who knows how many months, and then driving back and forth again.

I see no issues. As someone stated, dealers stink and so do manufacturers on the follow up. Look at all the posts on disasters and that the manufacturer rarely makes good on it anyway.

Highly unregulated industry. Do your due diligence and be happy.

[B_O__Plenty]

I used to think it might be okay to buy an orphan. The I just finished reading about the poor guy on here with a Montana and frame problems for the third time. What the heck would he do if this was say a new Lifestyle? It would be the end of the line...I don't think I would ever buy an orphan after reading this..He's having problems and he has a warranty what if he didn't??

B.O.

[soren]

SoundGuy wrote:

brookside wrote:
... but I realize that there will be no factory support and only dealer support.

Without factory support there is no dealer support either because there are no parts or supporting technical service available from a factory that no longer exists. Contrary to popular opinion recreational trailers are NOT assembled from 3rd party sources to the extent that some would have you believe and if you happen to need one of those in-house manufactured parts you're toast. But hey, go ahead and find out the hard way ... heck, the pundits who say it's no issue buying an orphan won't be there for you either so what do they care? :R

I wouldn't do it. 😞

I don't know if I would avoid an orphan at all costs, but you make a lot of good points. I have a friend that owns a body shop. He got an insurance job to "recreate" the front cap of a Class A motorhome, after it hit a deer at 70MPH. The rig was an orphan, a replacement front cap did not exist. He is still amazed by the fact that the insurance company basically gave him a blank check to do the work, since they had no other choice. Because it was an orphan, it was a long expensive effort to get the thing back on the road.

[cmcdar]

Lantley wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
I suggest you take your concerns to the dealer. I agree with most that any reputable service center should be able to address any issues with whatever may come up. Besides, the warranty is only a year.

And gee, if I could contact the builder of my house, I'd ask them why they made that big bow in my dining room wall. But if I want it fixed, I do know of a reputable drywall company.

Good luck!

How about if you wanted a piece of your siding or maybe parts for that generic bow window that you could not identify the manufacturer?
Do you know what brand roof shingles you have on your house?
Ask your builder.
There are times where having the factory available can be very beneficial.

My house was built in 1934. Where do you think I should start looking for "The Builder"? I'll stick with the much better made older home AND camper. Just because a company is out of business does NOT mean they produced an inferior product.

I own an "orphan". Most everything that could need to be replaced was manufactured NOT by the builder.

If you have structural issues it just might be time to start shopping again.

[ppine]

I now have an orphan, a hybrid trailer made in 2002. Many of the appliances and trim pieces are generic and common everywhere. The frame, the walls, and the roof are what you have to look closely at to be sure there are not problems.

[BarneyS]

Our trailer was an orphan less than a year after I purchased it new. Have had no reason to have any warranty work done though, so no problem. 🙂
Too bad they are no longer made as we have not found any made now to be of the quality ours is.
Barney

[smokybandit]

colliehauler wrote:
For me a orphan would not be a issue, others it might be. I would buy a used Excel or NuWa over a used Forest River or Keystone. Replacement of front or rear cap on fiberglass cold be the only issue, everything else can be repaired.

They all become orphans at some point regardless if the mfg is still in business.

Those caps are no problem when you have a metal break used for siding when you need it. I plan on replacing the fiberglass siding and caps with custom made alum siding.

[smokybandit]

I was given an 1988 Excel 36' fifthwheel. Buggar is in better shape than my neighbors 2003 forestriver. The main factor would be my excel has a metal roof wial his has that rubber.

[fred42]

I do not know, but Evergreen could have gone out of business by focusing on the quality of construction materials instead of the bling. This unit has a TPO roof which is much better than EPDM. It has fully welded aluminum framed, laminated sidewalls, roof and floors. It has something called, Apollo Chassis System, which who knows what that is, but one good thing is that the term is not found on the Lippert site. Try to find a brochure on the unit if you can. This page has a "download brochure" link on it:

http://www.kansasrvcenter.com/kansasrvsales/EverGreen-RV/i_Go/Travel-Trailers.aspx


If it passes your inspection and research, it may be a rare opportunity to get a good price on a better than average constructed unit.

You may also want to keep an eye out for any Evergreen Ever-Lite models as these use exterior composites. I used to own a 2012 Ever-Lite fifth wheel, it was all composite and a Dexter frame. I think later models started using some plywood in some spots but the walls are still automotive high gloss gel coat exterior with composite substrate.

[Fubeca]

I think it really depends on who you are, what your expertise is, and what you are willing to pay.

I wouldn't be afraid to buy an orphan. I do all my own work and don't expect anything from the manufacturer. I made sure mine was something I could work on and didn't overpay.

If you need a dealership to work on it, and it has a lot of one-off parts - then it would be a bit more of a concern.