Should I buy a Gulfstream Innsbruck?

[SacoDan]

19, 2017 8:40 pm

Found what seems to be a great deal on a new 2016 Innsbruck. Have some concerns about it though, wanted to hear from real people before I pull the trigger. Searched online for problems and found a bunch of bad reviews, enough to make me question if I should buy. But while looking at other brands I am seeing the same thing, so I'm sure there's always going to be problems and unhappy people. I'm going to look at it, along with some other units this weekend. Already approved for a loan.

One of the main complaints I saw was roof leaks, but gs website describes it as a one piece rubber roof. What should I look for when I inspect it? Also, this is not, as far as I know, at a gulfstream dealer. So how did they end up with a new, leftover? As well as another similar 2016 that they list as used. If it's sold as new I will still get the factory warranty, right? Even though they aren't a gs dealer? I don't even know if its actually a 2016 259bh, when I Google that it shows me an amerilite.

[lawrosa]

yeah this guy a drive from you has the camper I got for 15900. says he will not be undersold... lol

http://www.orchardtrailers.com/2017-coachmen-catalina-sbx-261bh-new-travel-trailer-ma-i2019463

Tell him you can get the same camper for 12999 here...This is where I bought mine and its on special order with full wall.. 13400.

http://www.keystonervcenter.com/2017-coachmen-catalina-sbx-261bh-new-travel-trailer-pa-i1937087

[tnrv_er]

atreis wrote:
They can vary a lot from one unit to the next though (QC is not that great) so I'd look it over carefully.

This is very true....When we bought our KZ there was 3 of the same models on the lot too choose from. There was a noticeable difference between them on assembly quality.

[tnrv_er]

Went to the Nashville RV show yesterday.There is a definite difference in quality of workmanship & quality of materials used on higher end trailers.
Two of the better manufactures that I looked at were Grand Design & Lance.
Price does reflect it though.
In my case when the time comes to up grade i'm looking more at up grading in quality as compared to up grading in size.

[atreis]

I'm pretty happy with mine. They can vary a lot from one unit to the next though (QC is not that great) so I'd look it over carefully.

Many owners of them report pretty much the same thing I do: There are usually a few issues - those issues are different for every unit, and usually relatively minor and straight-forward for the owner to fix. Every now and then a unit will have something major wrong, like a roof leak, but those are uncommon.

Mine had a bad water pump, a couple loose plumbing fittings, and the through-the-wall AC had been installed badly. I fixed those things myself and have had no issues since.

[SacoDan]

That's a steal. Except for that leftover Innsbruck with a slide, all the non slide bunkhouses with identical layout I'm seeing are right around $15,500. I checked and found only two coachmen dealers that carry the Catalina line in my region (neither close to me) and neither had any sbx listed in inventory. I was at a coachmen dealer yesterday but they don't carry Catalina line, or avenger either for that matter. Only thing close was the freedom express, of which they had one, and then a few freindship editions.

[lawrosa]

I went to the RV show in edison NJ today. Almost all the travel trailers and higher end 5th wheels in most brands had fit and finish issues. Most if not all had the counter top and t moldings peeling already. And these are brand new units..

Jaycos where the worst of the bunch.

IMO most slides will leak and cause trouble down the road..

Ugggg

They had one coachmen there, and I tell you it was the best of the lot..

The countertops in the coachmens are thermofoil.

I ordered this one with a full wall from a guy in PA for 13400..

Coachmen is giving all options for free with the customer value package this year...

http://www.coachmenrv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=338&ModelID=2193#Main

video 1

vid 2 2017 coachman 2017

[colliehauler]

Sounds like you already found your answer. My first camper was a Gulfstream Seahawk, very well built. My second was a 2003 Streamlite that I traded after one trip. While I don't expect much out of cheap camper my Gulfstream was sub-par.

[SacoDan]

Drove up to look at it today, was pretty excited by the price and all the options. Didn't take long to see a lot of fit & finish problems that I didn't like. Really sloppy looking construction. I don't think the materials are any different from one brand to another, but the wall paneling isn't laid flush, bowed out In several places. Much of the matching tape they use to cover the wall seams was either peeling, wrinkled, or otherwise improperly applied. Ceiling light falling apart, slide ceiling bowed down. Didn't like the way the tank drains were supported and hanging down. Just overall a sloppy looking build.

Hit several dealerships today, like the Heartland build quality but wasn't optioned the way I'd like. Jayco is leading the pack right now. Even with it being the entry level SLX value brand, I couldn't find anything anywhere on them that was loose or misaligned or sloppy in any way.

Thank you all for your input.

[tnrv_er]

I looked at a 19' Gulfstream when we were looking at TT. They had 2 of the same model on the lot. I thought the fit & finish was very poor quality.

Passed on the Gulfstream & bought a KZ

[SacoDan]

That video was great, loved seeing how they are built. I've owned some campers before but never a brand new one. So I've been around enough to see fit and finish, electrical and plumbing problems, and the dreaded roof leaks. Even reviews for what I thought were upper tier brands have shown me that interior trim and the like is a pretty much an issue across the board. I think half of it may be sloppy construction, maybe the other half is a flimsy lightweight box being pounded down the road all day must loosen things up. A lot may depend on how the driver who delivered it from factory to dealer treated it. One trip up 495 in Massachusetts at 60 is enough to loosen all your fillings.
I think I like the aluminum stud walls over wood, but why didn't the do aluminum on the roof as well? Strength?
For what I'm looking at, this leftover Innsbruck is the cheapest of all five Im considering. It is the only one with a slide, which is a big plus. I started out looking at no -slide bunkhouses, just to stay down in price. They all have two rear bunks of varying size, front walk around queen, and dinette and couch that can be made into beds. There are five of us, but the kids are at an age where they may want to bring a friend. Options I want are spare tire, exterior speakers, power Jack, and I would love an outdoor kitchen. However, the only one I've found with an outdoor kitchen is several states away, apparently Campers Inn doesn't carry them in my part of the country.
For reference, the GS is $14k and has a slide. Heartland, Coleman, Avenger ATI and Shasta are all around $15,900 for 2017s but no slide.

Thanks for the responses.

[FrankShore]

Here something to look at:

Gulfstream Innsbruck Factory Tour

[samsontdog]

I had a 2014 for a yr or so did not care for the lay out after I bought it. Only had one slide out. Seemed to be made alright

[lawrosa]

I was looking at the innsbrooks and did not like the quality.. But I think most campers in this class are mass produced to a point that they are thrown together.

Then it comes down to layout..

Opposing couch/ dinettes are better in my opinion in that regard..

I just bought a second coachmen. first one is 13 years and held up well.

I think the coachmens are a bit better built...


This is not the one I bought but fits your weight and layout..

http://www.coachmenrv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=62&ModelID=292#Main


Video

[rjf7g]

I custom ordered a Gulf Stream Innsbruck in 2007, so I have some feedback. Before I go in to it, though, there is an Innsbruck Lite version of this floor plan - http://gulfstreamrvtrailers.com/conquest-lite/floorplans.php#259BH

I had to have a few warranty repairs. This is where having a real dealer comes in to play. In my 36FRS park trailer (the RV type is now known as "destination trailers"), there was no heat in the front bedroom. Gulf Stream authorized my dealer to pull another run from the furnace and cut another hole in the floor vs actually fix the problem. The main electrical feed for the camper was loose and my dealer fixed that under warranty. The frame around the master bedroom slide was not done properly and my dealer caught that in his inspection and fixed it before I took possession.

There were a number fit and finish issues with my camper as well. One thing I didn't notice in my PDI is that the trim around the night stands in the master bedroom is white on one side of the bed and brown on the other. This is just sloppy.

The cabinets are cheap as well.

I am looking at replacing this camper this season and will look at other brands before looking at Gulf Stream again. My awesome Gulf Stream dealer has added Forest River lines to his sales, so I may look into what is available there. I have a Puma by Forest River (yes, I have 3 campers) and there are some areas in which the quality is better than the Gulf Stream.