Newbie Looking For The Right Trailer

[_1nobby]

I thought I would do things differently, for a change.

Do things in my personal reverse.

Ask for advice BEFORE diving in feet first. Eh? Yes, I am a male.

So.....love camping...tired of setting up tents and tarps and sleeping on the ground. Tired of walking 200 meters in the rain to take a dump in a filthy toilet facility. YUCK.

I've decided to buy a travel trailer.

Criteria:

24' total length
No slides
No hybrid tent pop ups
Tandem axle

I've looked at, I dunno...75 trailers in and around Central Ontario. Some nice floor plans but some really cheap finishes and poor workmanship.

One trailer that has caught my eye...but I have yet to see in person.. is the Northwood Nash 17K. This trailer fits all my criteria and adds some I didn't know I needed.

Please...opinions on this idea of mine.

Thank you.

[_1nobby]

TrailerTraveler1 wrote:
Why no slides? Just curious. We loved the Nash's, but bought a Lance. Mainly because of weight - and tank size, which the Nash does well on also. Our Lance 1685 is similar to your Nash 17K except we have a slide for the dinette which makes all the difference in living space. Yet our GVWR is lighter and our overall length is 20'9". If you're trying to save weight with no slides, look at Lance before making a final decision. Nice finishes too, much better than average. Keep in mind, every trailer is subjected to a mini-earthquake everytime we take it on the road - shake, rattle & roll. There is no perfect trailer. Good luck & hope to see you "out there" soon!

I guess you didn't read the rest of the thread. I bought a Pacific Coachworks Tango Twist.

Why no slides? Less problems. Simple is best, in my opinion.

[TrailerTravele1]

Why no slides? Just curious. We loved the Nash's, but bought a Lance. Mainly because of weight - and tank size, which the Nash does well on also. Our Lance 1685 is similar to your Nash 17K except we have a slide for the dinette which makes all the difference in living space. Yet our GVWR is lighter and our overall length is 20'9". If you're trying to save weight with no slides, look at Lance before making a final decision. Nice finishes too, much better than average. Keep in mind, every trailer is subjected to a mini-earthquake everytime we take it on the road - shake, rattle & roll. There is no perfect trailer. Good luck & hope to see you "out there" soon!

[_1nobby]

rosspulliam wrote:
Congrats! Post pics when you get it all settled in.

I'd love to.

How does it work on this forum?

[rosspulliam]

Congrats! Post pics when you get it all settled in.

[_1nobby]

Made it home in one piece.

First tow....400 kms.

Towed very well but man did my gas mileage get halved!!

[_1nobby]

So.....I am currently in a motel room in bumf**k nowhere.

Why?

Well...I bought the Tango Twist.

See the problem?
I bought a 4 sleeper but I'm in a motel.

Banks were closed by the time the deal was struck.....tomorrow morning at 9am I will be heading back to Barrie with the trailer.

:):)

[stpauligirlmn]

Delete duplicate post.

[stpauligirlmn]

I understand! We were surprised also at the lower quality of some trailers when we first started shopping seriously. For us, the tradeoff was between weight and quality, and of course budget.

We are weekend only campers, living in MN. Our season is very short. Our best fit was lower quality, less weight, better price. My hubby is handy, so he can fix anything that doesn't hold up. We only camp about 6 -7 weekends and one full week a year, so we are not that hard on the trailer. Of course, we also take care of it proactively.

Keep your eyes open. I'm crossing my fingers that the perfect gem will come along for you!

[_1nobby]

stpauligirlmn wrote:
JMO, but I think 10 years old is really old for a travel trailer. You seem to be looking at higher end models (AIRSTREAM, NASH, ARCTIC FOX), but I think age matters even with them.

I have only owned cheap, entry level travel trailers. I know an airstream can hold up really well. Still, you sound like great condition is important to you. You might be happier with a newer model.

Whatever one you choose, have a great time!

Well...I knew nothing about travel trailers a month ago except that I wanted one.

Boy was I disappointed when I saw a whole dealer lot filled with new travel trailers that I could afford that were built like s#*t.

So then I started looking at quality....and then quality that I could afford.

And here I am. 🙂

[stpauligirlmn]

JMO, but I think 10 years old is really old for a travel trailer. You seem to be looking at higher end models (AIRSTREAM, NASH, ARCTIC FOX), but I think age matters even with them.

I have only owned cheap, entry level travel trailers. I know an airstream can hold up really well. Still, you sound like great condition is important to you. You might be happier with a newer model.

Whatever one you choose, have a great time!

[_1nobby]

OK....so here's where I'm at.........

Looking at an Airstream 25 1998 ( too far away but.....), a 2005 Nash 17C (love this trailer but too far away again......) and a 2010 Pacific Coachworks Tango Twist 21 about 4 hours away.
I'm going to see the Tango tomorrow.

I also have a bid in on another Airstream 2005 25 Classic....but I'll never win this. I called and the reserve is set at $36,500 USD which is WAY over my budget.


Comments?

[_1nobby]

SoundGuy wrote:

#1nobby wrote:
Can't even buy a Northwood here, let alone rent one.

SoundGuy wrote:
I would have thought so too but on the Northwood Dealer Contact List it shows Storm Runner RV in Bayfield, Ontario as a dealer that sells all Northwood products. As a small dealer there's not much h chance they'd have the particular model you're interested in but as an authorized Northwood dealer they should be able to order what you want.

#1nobby wrote:
Nope and nope according to head office in Oregon. they are not authorized to sell the Nash. Pennsylvania has the closet East Coast dealer that can sell the Nash.
Just repeating what head office said to me.

Wouldn't give me a lot of confidence when the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. :R Go to the Northwood Mfg Website and you'll notice they do list Storm Runner RV as one of their dealers who sells ALL Northwood products, which would therefore include both Nash and Arctic Fox ... go to the Storm Runner RV Website and you'll see they do have Arctic Fox sitting on their lot. Who's kidding who here? :S

I don't think you understand. They only sell the Northwood truck mounted campers (Arctic Fox).....that's it. That's all they are authorized to sell by Northwood.

I was looking for an Arctic Fox Classic travel trailer.

That's just the way they have set up the territories, I guess.

Incidentally, if you do the "all products" drop down and select Nash or Arctic fox....you'll see what I mean.

[SoundGuy]

#1nobby wrote:
Can't even buy a Northwood here, let alone rent one.

SoundGuy wrote:
I would have thought so too but on the Northwood Dealer Contact List it shows Storm Runner RV in Bayfield, Ontario as a dealer that sells all Northwood products. As a small dealer there's not much h chance they'd have the particular model you're interested in but as an authorized Northwood dealer they should be able to order what you want.

#1nobby wrote:
Nope and nope according to head office in Oregon. they are not authorized to sell the Nash. Pennsylvania has the closet East Coast dealer that can sell the Nash.
Just repeating what head office said to me.

Wouldn't give me a lot of confidence when the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. :R Go to the Northwood Mfg Website and you'll notice they do list Storm Runner RV as one of their dealers who sells ALL Northwood products, which would therefore include both Nash and Arctic Fox ... go to the Storm Runner RV Website and you'll see they do have Arctic Fox sitting on their lot. Who's kidding who here? :S

[_1nobby]

SoundGuy wrote:

#1nobby wrote:
Can't even buy a Northwood here, let alone rent one.

I would have thought so too but on the Northwood Dealer Contact List it shows Storm Runner RV in Bayfield, Ontario as a dealer that sells all Northwood products. As a small dealer there's not much chance they'd have the particular model you're interested in but as an authorized Northwood dealer they should be able to order what you want.

Northwood dealer is sending me some up close and personal Nash 17K photos of the last one he has in stock. He sold his last Arctic Fox 22g.....but apparently that one was $39K....ouchy mamma.

Planning a weekend flight Toronto - Calgary return. Rent a car in Calgary.