Best Quality Travel Trailers

[Kampfirekid]

Is there such a thing? Is the RV industry capable of delivering such a product with the same construction practices, materials, and appliances?
If the answer is “No”, is it reasonable to find what one considers the best for their needs, and one that has the construction and details they find most desirable, and have it air tested and then the roof coated with a hard shell for a good starting basis, and then just maintain the remaining trailer caulking as needed?
I’m not new to travel trailers. I walk the roof bi-weekly, to once a month, depending on use, weather, etc. I have no concerns with my required maintenance, but it seems the new standards are just garbage. I’m not so sure if I should expect more out of a Lance or Arctic Fox. The components, construction, and appliances are the same. I’m mot hearing from many that 2 and 3 year warranties mean much as manufacturers try to pass the buck. Just curious what others consider the hierarchy in selecting a new RV, and what they expect as normal for maintenance and upkeep.

[Corky2]

Kampfirekid wrote:

goducks10 wrote:

Corky2 wrote:
How does Grand Design compare to Thor on quality and owner satisfaction?

You gotta remember THOR owns a lot of RV companies. The more owned the more chances for problems.
Go over to the GD Owners Forum and read it for a month. You might be surprised.

***Link Removed***

I’m not sure GD is any worse/better than others. It does seem generally resolution to issues with a GD unit are a bit more likely. Maybe that’s what I’m reading. Frankly, unless you go with a full fiberglass Oliver, you’re just gambling if you got a good one or a bad one.

If I got a GD it would probably be the Imagine XLS series that is aluminum frame and fiberglass sides. They also have the sealed and heated underbelly.

[NamMedevac_70]

Never cared for the looks of Airstream even if I could afford one. My R Vision lite Trail Cruiser of 2003 was a well built TT and served me well and comfortable for many years with no major issues. On or after about 2010 the company was taken over by another brand I do not remember.

Although I have never seen an Airstream in a public campground I have noticed a few on the highways.

[Kampfirekid]

goducks10 wrote:

Corky2 wrote:
How does Grand Design compare to Thor on quality and owner satisfaction?

You gotta remember THOR owns a lot of RV companies. The more owned the more chances for problems.
Go over to the GD Owners Forum and read it for a month. You might be surprised.

https://www.thorindustries.com/thor-companies

I’m not sure GD is any worse/better than others. It does seem generally resolution to issues with a GD unit are a bit more likely. Maybe that’s what I’m reading. Frankly, unless you go with a full fiberglass Oliver, you’re just gambling if you got a good one or a bad one.

[goducks10]

Corky2 wrote:
How does Grand Design compare to Thor on quality and owner satisfaction?

You gotta remember THOR owns a lot of RV companies. The more owned the more chances for problems.
Go over to the GD Owners Forum and read it for a month. You might be surprised.

https://www.thorindustries.com/thor-companies

[Campfire_Time]

I call it the Walmart Effect. People say they want good quality but what they buy says they really want it as cheap as they can get it. So the industry listens and builds poor quality. And we keep buying 'em...

[Corky2]

How does Grand Design compare to Thor on quality and owner satisfaction?

[rbpru]

When you build to a price point you sell trailers, when you do not you go out of business.

They have been making RV's since the turn of the last century the TT industry knows what sells.

If you want an honest to goodness 2x4 and 4x4 suburban home construction and appliances, then buy a tiny home and the semi-truck to pull it.

If you watch the Travel Channel there are folk who will build you a TT you can take to a war zone.

But in the real world, the TT industry is highly competitive, no company is going to build what you want, the way you want it, at the price you want.

That is the job of the custom shops and they are not cheap.

[profdant139]

Someone mentioned that Airstreams are high quality: "Try closing the door on one."

I had a trailer like that once -- it also had a door that was very hard to close -- but I eventually replaced the latch. 😉

[aftermath]

Lantley wrote:
Airstream maybe the pinnacle when it comes to longevity and towabilty. But they are not the pinnacle when it comes to interior living space and features.
In my opinion Airstrem units are crampedand tight vs. the competition.
What you gain in quality, you lose in usable space.
Nevertheless they have a loyal follwing however they are not for me.

True words here. While I do like mine, it has no slide out and while there is ample interior storage there is almost NO exterior storage. It is low to the ground too. These certainly are not for everyone. I am no fat cat looking for places to throw my money. Got ours very slightly used, 3 years old for about half of the original price. Back in '09 the original price was much less than it is today.

[Deano_1]

Airstreams are still built with quality in mind. One example is it takes one employee 8 hours to build the door. Try closing the door on one, they’re like a bank vault.

[Lantley]

Airstream maybe the pinnacle when it comes to longevity and towabilty. But they are not the pinnacle when it comes to interior living space and features.
In my opinion Airstrem units are crampedand tight vs. the competition.
What you gain in quality, you lose in usable space.
Nevertheless they have a loyal follwing however they are not for me.

[Kampfirekid]

Great news on Airstream. Really unfortunate what they cost. My wife just asked why we have never seen a silver capsule at the campgrounds in the past. I have always thought Airstreamers considered themselves too elegant to mix with us low rent district units. While I’d never have issues camping with anybody at any campground if I had an Airstream, it does beg the question “Why have we never seen an Airstream when camping?” Now I guess we never will with these $100k to $160k price tags. I’ll have to browse the Oliver Forums and see why people switched? Price? It’s understandable to get what you pay for, but is it right the standard is ****?

[profdant139]

Aha! THompson and ORthwein = THOR?

What a disappointment. I thought their RVs were made by a Norse deity with a hammer. 😉

Oh, well. At least it's Thorsday.

[djsamuel]

Thor did not exist prior to Airstream as it was formed when Airstream was acquired from Beatrice Foods in 1980. The two owners, Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein, brought Airstream back from the brink. Thor began to grow after that, but was just Airstream at the beginning.

[aftermath]

True, Airstream was purchased by Thor but the management at Airstream is the same, they are still made in the same place by the same people. You can go visit the plant if you would like. They are not cutting corners or buying cheap materials. What they are doing, and this is where I am having trouble, they are changing and going upscale, if that is possible. Today, an Airstream is extremely expensive. They have top notch materials and are going to all electric fridges, on demand water heaters, automatic awnings, powered levelers with upscale faucets, stoves and everything else.

That said, I do like my 15 year old trailer. I have owned it for 12 year sand have put over 55k miles and everything still works. No drawers falling out, the fridge still works as does everything else. All the doors shut and the windows open easily. I do believe quality is better than the two other trailers I owned but they are not....I say not....perfect. Pull any trailer down the road at 60mph and you are going to have some maintenance. How much, is the question.