Shocked at lack of quality

[TheGreatWaz00]

Well, went to look at the Aerolite 315BHSS and 319BHSS this weekend and I was shocked at what I would call lack of quality. Maybe I am looking at the wrong level of TT or have too high of expectations but my observations.

1. The exterior was nice clean, sleek.

2. Fit and finish of the interior was poor. You can easily see where they chalked the ceiling where the nail holes were made. Not just a little but almost every hole.

3. The trim around the wood was loose, flimsy.

4. The bathroom door would not close.

5. Bed mattress were TERRIBLE. Might as well not have one and sleep on wood. A human body would compress them to the thickness of paper.

6. The woodwork finish was low end - the "distressed" look looked like someone took a single chip out of a door corner or a file to the front of a cabinet door.

7. The location of the toilet let little space to finish your job in there - if you know what I mean.

8. The kitchen table, with two legs, the legs were so close to the seat of the U shape table that you could not get your knees and feet past them.


Am I expecting too much??????????????????????




Now as a side note I have a Ram 1500, towing capacity 9600 lbs. The TT dealer was trying to sell me on the 319BHSS at 8300 lbs shipped. What a goof!!!!! He said you would never put 1300 lbs in the and trailer. Well gasoline weights 6 lbs per gallon, 25 gallons is 150 lbs. Family, another 800 lbs. That is before food, clothing, a little water in the holding tank.

[JiminDenver]

coolmom42 wrote:
Aerolite was one of the worst we looked at. Glitz but really poor quality.

Quite honestly the cost-cutter Amerilite 21MBG we had, actually had fewer issues than almost any unit we looked at. And far fewer than the larger fancier unit that Ex BF traded it for.

Our 2011 25 ft is still problem free. It got dimpled in a hail storm but that's nothing compared to the junk I saw when we thought about replacing it after being totaled. We decided to just keep it and not take the chance.

[time2roll]

When low price is the primary motivator.... quality suffers.

[Mike_Up]

CampingN.C. wrote:
Jayco!

X2, more impressed with these inexpensive Jay Flights than most more expensive units, in quality and standard features.

[RobertRyan]

ScottG wrote:

FrankShore wrote:
What you need to do a is a Pre Delivery Inspection before signing on the dotted line! That and start looking a quality trailers, Northwoods Mfg, Lance etc.

My buddy bought a new Arctic fox last year.
While is has marginally better quality in its fit and workmanship it was only slightly better and the engineering darn right pathetic in some cases - like when the slide rollers collapsed into the floor after 1 week, the leak that saturated the floor insulation and the dump handle that pulled out the first time he used it.
While he was shopping for that TT we looked at Lance trailers. They had so many things broken and scarred that they looked used. And while they're built for light weight they take a lot of shortcuts on amenities and robustness.
I found this all to be very disappointing because I was seriously considering a AF 29D (I think that was the model) but after seeing all this I decided to keep what we have for a while.


Your comment is correct though, NW is better than most.

Some dealers in Australia have imported units like this, because they are cheap, but the appalling quality , dismal interior ,offsets the Fibreglass sleek exterior and in this case the Aussie type Slideout BBQ

[old_guy]

entry level TT's are built like what you described. tell the sales person you do not want an entry level trailer. problem is the next level is heavier than the entry level trailers. Keystone makes a good 1/2 ton trailer and 5th wheel trailer.

[coolmom42]

Aerolite was one of the worst we looked at. Glitz but really poor quality.

Quite honestly the cost-cutter Amerilite 21MBG we had, actually had fewer issues than almost any unit we looked at. And far fewer than the larger fancier unit that Ex BF traded it for.

[bogeygolfer]

We too were frustrated by the poor quality we saw in most new trailers when we were looking for a new one back in 2012 - especially relative to the price of a new unit.

I guess things haven't improved much, unfortunately.

[ScottG]

FrankShore wrote:
What you need to do a is a Pre Delivery Inspection before signing on the dotted line! That and start looking a quality trailers, Northwoods Mfg, Lance etc.

My buddy bought a new Arctic fox last year.
While is has marginally better quality in its fit and workmanship it was only slightly better and the engineering darn right pathetic in some cases - like when the slide rollers collapsed into the floor after 1 week, the leak that saturated the floor insulation and the dump handle that pulled out the first time he used it.
While he was shopping for that TT we looked at Lance trailers. They had so many things broken and scarred that they looked used. And while they're built for light weight they take a lot of shortcuts on amenities and robustness.
I found this all to be very disappointing because I was seriously considering a AF 29D (I think that was the model) but after seeing all this I decided to keep what we have for a while.

Your comment is correct though, NW is better than most.

[CampingN_C_]

Jayco!

[N7SJN]

If possible visit the factory. We did and have had no regrets with our 04 Alpenlite Aspen 28RL and have been living in it since March 04.

[TheGreatWaz00]

Thanks for the tip on Northwoods Mfg

[FrankShore]

What you need to do a is a Pre Delivery Inspection before signing on the dotted line! That and start looking a quality trailers, Northwoods Mfg, Lance etc.

[DutchmenSport]

Sounds like you did your Due Diligence. Now pass on that model and look at a different one. Make sure you let the dealer know why you are passing though.

[B_O__Plenty]

That's probably why you rarely see one in the campgrounds. They'll either figure it out or go broke. probably go broke. I'm thinking lots of brands are designed and built by non-RVers.

B.O.