Dutchmen vs. Aspen Trail?

Thor Industries acquired Dutchmen in 1991 and then acquired Keystone in 2001, so they have been the same company for a long time, not sure what changed in 2013?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Industries

So since Aspen Trail and Dutchmen are both Thor/Keystone RVs, you can certainly compare them. Since I have owned 2 Kodiak trailers made by Thor/Dutchmen, I have only had a few small issues that plague all trailers, no matter who manufacturers them. Dutchmen was quick to fix the 2 small issues that I did have on each trailer.

I would say go with the model you like the best and what you can get the best price on.

Good luck.

Our 2013 Aerolite (also built by Dutchmen) had several annoying issues including window screens that did not fit and tank sensors that had been installed incorrectly. The supports for the dinette bed were improperly secured and it broke under the weight of my 35lbs son. I repaired that myself and had the other issues repaired under warranty. When we went to purchase our TT, we were determined to avoid anything made by Dutchmen. In hindsight, I've come to realize that all makes/models have issues and you cannot avoid having to fix some little things. Now that Keystone is handling Dutchmen directly, I don't think I'd have any issues with picking up one of their units on our next go round.

Thanks for everyone's input. We went back today to look at the used Dutchmen. It has a few more options than the Aspen Trail does and the Dutchmen has the exact colors DW wants. We are still negotiating with the dealer, and he wants to check out my camper before anything is in writing.

We have a 2013 Kodiak built by Dutchman and love it. Have had no major problems and have put on 8-10k miles on it. Many if those miles have been on washboard roads into the backcountry.

No problems with 2010 Dutchmen Lite. Well except the TV antenna booster switch was inclosed behind the DVD cabinet. I cut a hand hole to operate it. Never had to ask for warranty work so no experience with dealer to share.

After several minor repairs (8 trips to the dealer after the first 8 trips). I complained about the brakes every time it went back for repair. I was told many different stories from " it is heavier than your other trailer so it wont stop like it" to "its new it has to bed in " and "we had them all apart and found nothing wrong".

I was so tired of the brake issues I took it to a different trailer shop and they found the brakes full of grease and improperly installed seals from the factory. The Factory claims it was lack of maintenance (how can this be on a trailer with 10 miles from the factory be a maintenance problem from the start?)and the dealer claims to have no records of the trailer being there for brake issues. BOTH TOTAL BS! So to the tune of almost a grand out of pocket I have all new brakes, bearings , drums, and seals that actually make the trailer stop.

As for my signature, We LOVE the floor plan and the room of THIS trailer BUT will never buy another Dutchmen product.

Head over to the Dutchmen forums and have a look around... I am not the only one who has had the Dutchmen "DITCH".

As for the company. It is rumored that Keystone went in and cleaned house of upper management when they took over. They also say they have improved the quality of the build for 2014 models.

However they will do nothing to help me as a now out of warranty owner. (My brake issue was 2 weeks out of warranty when I finally pressed them about it. The dealer could not get it in for more than 4 weeks when I was trying to get it in to have the fixed)

As far as I am concerned the dealer Great Lakes rv knew we were falling out of warranty and claimed not to be able to do our start of season inspections till after we were out of warranty. When I took it to the other trailer shop the Manufacture pulled the "should have been at your dealer"******and now your out of luck!

I now fix my own trailer and will never buy another Dutchmen product again!

Darn shame they have made a person who camps close to where they make them a lot, and speaks his mind about their product so unhappy.

Hey Mike, I see in your sig that you love your 2013 Dutchman. Did you have major problems with the camper or smaller problems that the company didn't handle properly? Did the company changes in '13 effect the camper quality or was it a money/name thing?

Any more input would be appreciated. My wife is ready to pull the trigger and I'm holding out.

Don't buy anything built by Dutchmen during the 2013 model year! Nothing but problem after problem, including the worst customer service and communication you can imagine.

There are reports that the recent Keystone takeover of Dutchmen has helped some of their issues BUT they wont do anything for the 2013 products.

Yes, I am a very disgruntled customer and will never buy another Dutchmen product again! Nor will I buy from Great Lakes Rv in Elkhart In.