Holiday Rambler Aluma lite 238BHS

[haro274]

Hi Guys and girls

We are looking at purchasing this travel trailer, I know the Holiday Rambler brand has a reasonable name but cannot find much info anywhere on the net on the aluma-lite.

Cant even find a nice Youtube clip!

If anyone has any experience or advise on this mdl or brand would appreciate it.

Thanks

[Jag24659]

I have a 1985 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite that I bought about four years ago. It has storage everywhere! Everything in it is original except for the fridge- which just stopped working the beginning of this season. I added AC and replaced the original fabric on the awning. The only downside to it for us is that the bedroom has twin beds. The living room area is bigger than any other TT of the same size that I've ever seen. The original owner took GREAT care of it, so we've not put much money into it. I absolutely love it! I think that HR was one of the best made campers. I haven't seen another camper from that year that looks half as good. (Unless someone did a total re-build) I think you'd be happy with that brand.

[LarryJM]

haro274 wrote:
Hi Guys and girls

We are looking at purchasing this travel trailer, I know the Holiday Rambler brand has a reasonable name but cannot find much info anywhere on the net on the aluma-lite.

Cant even find a nice Youtube clip!

If anyone has any experience or advise on this mdl or brand would appreciate it.

Thanks

The HR trailers now are not like the famous ones of the 60's thru the 80's and into the 90s. Those were not light wts. by any means with even the mid 20 footers having GVWRs often over 10K. I don't know when, but they stopped making HR Aluma-Lite line, but it AKAIK sometime in 90's. After Monaco (parent co of HR) purchased R-Vision (East Coast) and MacKenzie (West Coast) TT line they reintroduced the HR Aluma-Lite for 2 years (2007 and 2008) before Monaco along with their TT lines went belly up. These trailers were built at the Indiana R-Vision Plant where our 2007 HR Aluma-Lite was built. It looks like HR has been resurected and I assume is now being built at what was the old R-Vision manufacturing plant in In. I don't know if the current Monaco co is the parent co of HR now or if not who is. Monaco is probably best know for their MHs and were from all I have read a well run Co with some higher end MH offerings. I do know that the current Monaco Co. evidently got the older HR parts inventory since things like the molded LP tank cover was available from them as late as two or so years ago. However, without any TT dealers or network the cost of shipping was as much or even multiples of the part. The tank cover was like $90 and the shipping was around $100 to $150. While we have been pleased overall with our HR comparing it with any of the previous or current offerings is an apples to oranges for the most part and likewise getting input from earlier than where the current models are being produced is not going to be germane to you. I think our HR shows a higher dedication to excellence than the typical R-Vision offering and you can only hope that the history and pride of the HR name and line has carried over to the current models.

Good Luck in your research.

Larry

[cougarfan]

I have a 2013 Aluma lite 187QB. Coming from a Jayco Swift SLX, this trailer has some nice features that I really like such as: outside cable connection, gas/electric/DSI water heater, Sani-flush system, built-in DVD player, larger holding tanks, enclosed underbelly, 14" tires, oodles of outside storage, and a roof a/c unit that doesn't leak like the side a/c unit did.

However, I found a few things that weren't installed correctly or intelligently:

1. The "cable in" connection is on the door side of the trailer and the "cable out" connection is on the other side, which is no big deal to me since I rarely watch tv outside. I have a long cable so just run it under the trailer. Dealer says its a simple fix so I'll take it in after the camping season is over.

2. The dinette table was too close to the window so I couldn't get the night shade down. I just turned the table upside down and moved the leg holders an inch. Now I can put the shade down at night and the table only sticks out an inch past the end of the dinette. Easy peasy.

3. Only one outlet for the "kitchen" which is on the front of the cabinet below the sink. I just put my coffee pot on the sink cover so the cord will reach. Really wish it was on the wall or even under the overhead cabinet.

4. The bed feels like 4 sheets of plywood covered by a mattress pad. Maybe the bigger ones have better mattresses. I'm going to get a good quality air mattress since the little 2" memory foam mattress topper I'm currently using doesn't help much.

5. I have the flip-up windows as opposed to the sliders and I don't feel like I get very good airflow due to how low they are next to the dinette and the smaller opening (other floor plans may be better). I just got a small fan to move the air. I like the windows though. Super easy to just crank them open and close. Oh, and they look cool too :C I can even have them open in a gentle misty rain without worrying a lot about leaking.

6. I wish I could tilt the electric awning....sigh

7. I am going to get a smoke colored vent cover for over the bed to try to keep the trailer cooler in the summer and block some of the light in the morning.

All in all I'm very happy with the trailer. Its not my first rv so I do have something to compare. I think the quality of the materials is very nice and everything has worked when I needed it to work. It is lightweight with the aluminum frame and it tows great.

Laura

[bradnailer]

My folks had an Alumalite for years and it was a really nice trailer.

[haro274]

Thanks for the reply s
Woodglue that is the only video I can find of the later Model Holiday Rambler Travel trailer.

Still that is allot different than the version we are looking at.


Anymore responses would be appreciated.

[Smax]

We had an older one (1986 possibly). It was well made we got a lot of use out of it.

My only complaints were that it was very low to the ground, and I think Holiday Rambler is (or was) known for being under-suspended. I had to have extra leafs put on each spring. As I recall it was heavy even though it was an aluminum frame. If weight is an issue for you I would take it to the scales before committing.

Other than that it served us well.

Max

[WoodGlue]

I'm not familiar with the TT at all, but I did find a clip for a 258SS model (2012)

Holiday Rambler 258SS - 2012

WoodGlue