Any warnings on brands to beware of?
I posted a few months ago about looking to upgrade our 2015 Jayco 19FRB to a similar size trailer but with one slide. After hours looking at floor plans, I've found a few that would work for us, from...
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Another positive vote here for the Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS. As far as a couple's camper goes, this rig has worked very well for us and was delivered new to us in August of 2015 in virtually perfect condition (it's a 2016 model).
I do carefully watch and maintain the roof, seams and seals, and we have never had any water intrusion. Otherwise I'm proactive in regular inspections and maintenance and cleaning. All systems have worked as designed and advertised from day one. The only major component I've replaced was the factory supplied Chinese made tires after 12,000 miles (internal belts were failing showing accelerated and uneven wear). I replaced them with a new set of Goodyear Endurance, and they've been great so far.
We've only clocked just over 15,000 miles towing this unit, but it has always tracked stable and true behind our truck and is a delight to tow. I can sympathize with those who have experienced QC problems, but that has not been our experience. When we've arrived at our destination we've not had to worry (so far!) if something would or would not function correctly.
We recently returned from a ~3000 mile/3 week round trip to the Midwest (eastern Ohio) and back to Houston. On the way back we looped up to Middlebury, IN for a tour of the Coachmen plant. I went into this with a jaundiced, skeptical eye but actually came away fairly impressed. Our appointment was for mid-afternoon after the work day had finished and all workers had departed, so it was just my wife and I (and our dog which they welcomed) led by a Coachmen representative, so I had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. Basically I came away with a better understanding of the materials making up our unit and the process to put them all together.
With all that said other posters in this thread have offered wise counsel to very carefully inspect your prospective rig - no matter the brand or model. Any of them are subject to imperfections and/or malfunctions.
I do carefully watch and maintain the roof, seams and seals, and we have never had any water intrusion. Otherwise I'm proactive in regular inspections and maintenance and cleaning. All systems have worked as designed and advertised from day one. The only major component I've replaced was the factory supplied Chinese made tires after 12,000 miles (internal belts were failing showing accelerated and uneven wear). I replaced them with a new set of Goodyear Endurance, and they've been great so far.
We've only clocked just over 15,000 miles towing this unit, but it has always tracked stable and true behind our truck and is a delight to tow. I can sympathize with those who have experienced QC problems, but that has not been our experience. When we've arrived at our destination we've not had to worry (so far!) if something would or would not function correctly.
We recently returned from a ~3000 mile/3 week round trip to the Midwest (eastern Ohio) and back to Houston. On the way back we looped up to Middlebury, IN for a tour of the Coachmen plant. I went into this with a jaundiced, skeptical eye but actually came away fairly impressed. Our appointment was for mid-afternoon after the work day had finished and all workers had departed, so it was just my wife and I (and our dog which they welcomed) led by a Coachmen representative, so I had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. Basically I came away with a better understanding of the materials making up our unit and the process to put them all together.
With all that said other posters in this thread have offered wise counsel to very carefully inspect your prospective rig - no matter the brand or model. Any of them are subject to imperfections and/or malfunctions.
