Trailer construction quality question?

[jungleexplorer]

Okay. I just bought a 2005 Kodiak 19FL. I am actually not sure who built it. It says "Kodiak by Scamper" on the side, but it says "Thor Industries/Dutchmen" on the manufacturers plate. Anyway, my question not about this; it's about the difference in quality of construction from one manufacturer to another.

When I was looking for a trailer to buy and talking to a RV salesmen, and I said something to the extent of, "Hey! You have this Pioneer priced $3000 more then a similar same year model Jayco I saw at another dealer", they would come back with; "Jayco is nothing but a tin can on wheels. This Pioneer is so much better built then that Jayco".

Okay, so what is the truth? Is there a huge difference in quality from one manufacturer to another?

Take my 2005 Kodiak 19FL. It's UVW (or dry) weight is about 3800 pounds. According to this BROCHURE I found, it is an Ultra Lite. Now compare it to a 2005 Jayco Jay feather 19H which I think is the same length. The Jayco is listed on the NADA as weighing 3140 pounds UVW, over 600 pounds lighter then the Kodiak.

So my question is, since these are both supposed to be "Ultra Lites" and one weighs over 600 pounds more then the other, does this mean the Kodiak is built better then the Jayco?

[rmnpcolorado]

I find it interesting that you're asking people on an RV forum what they think of two manufacturers - my question back to you is what did YOU think of the two different manufacturers' products? You're the one that looked at both of them, how did YOU think they the two models compared in build quality? If you looked both over thoroughly, it should be fairly obvious the differences, even in used trailers. I myself have a different opinion than what you came back with as I happen to like Jaycos. Having said that, I know there are other units that are built better than Jayco, and my next trailer will probably be a different brand that I like the build quality better on (currently eyeing up the Lance line, even though we have a dealer nowhere near us!).

To me it's about what YOUR opinion is of the manufacturer and trailer you're looking at (because each is built different individually as well). And if you bought used, it gets even more interesting.

[jungleexplorer]

Okay, one salesman told me that a trailer I was looking at had an "Engineered Floor" and that was weak. What was he talking about?

[hddecker]

Much of it is probably the differance in materials used. Some brands use more MDF than a competitor. MDF is much heavier than plywood. Some use light weight composites, different models of appliances will have varying weights.

I change our bed platform from MDF to plywood and saved three or four pounds. The plywood is so much lighter that I had to swap out the gas assists, because the stock ones had to much pressure and the bed platform wouldn't stay closed.

If you research the same model TT over several model years you'll find weights change as newer and lighter materials are developed.

[jungleexplorer]

westend wrote:
A movie line comes to mind ---"You can't handle the truth!" :B

There is definitely a lot of competition in the light weight, ultra-light weight TT lines. IMO, all of them are similar in construction. Mfr's have to watch the bottom line and that means staple the heck out of it and push the wires and pipes out of the way. Sure, some are more than others and some are less than most but, for the amount of time they're typically used, there is little difference for the consumer.

If you want to add sleeping space, you could always reconfigure for more bunks or use cots. If you can, put a sleeper convertible couch inside. A tent away from the parents was also always better for kids.

I would suggest that you use what you're putting the labor into before flipping it. It may be a delight for you and an upgrade and more fixing may be a harder route.

I plan to use it until school starts, so I can get some traveling in before are 12 yr old starts school again. My wife and I had two kids early on and then took a long break and had a late child. He has not got to do all the things we did with our first two. Of course with our first two we were poor and young, so we roughed it with tents. Older now, a little more money with bad backs, and not able to rough it like we did back then. It's trailer time!

Yeah, my older kids can sleep in tents if they want to camp with us. They are young still. lol!

[westend]

A movie line comes to mind ---"You can't handle the truth!" :B

There is definitely a lot of competition in the light weight, ultra-light weight TT lines. IMO, all of them are similar in construction. Mfr's have to watch the bottom line and that means staple the heck out of it and push the wires and pipes out of the way. Sure, some are more than others and some are less than most but, for the amount of time they're typically used, there is little difference for the consumer.

If you want to add sleeping space, you could always reconfigure for more bunks or use cots. If you can, put a sleeper convertible couch inside. A tent away from the parents was also always better for kids.

I would suggest that you use what you're putting the labor into before flipping it. It may be a delight for you and an upgrade and more fixing may be a harder route.

[Farm_Camp]

jungleexplorer wrote:
I guess what I am wondering is if there are certain manufacturers that have a reputation of building better quality trailers then others? I really like the trailer I got, but it is not quite what I really wanted, it was just what I could afford at this time. It is heavier then what I wanted and it does not have the bed configuration that I wanted for the long run. It is a 19 foot (inside living space) trail with bedding for only three people. It has a huge bathroom and lot's of storage space, but I would rather have a trailer of this size that could sleep 5 people. This trailer will work for me and my wife and our 12 year old son, but we have two older children that are married and if they ever wanted to travel with us, they would have no place to sleep.

The bottom line is that I am thinking about fixing this trailer up and selling it. I got is for under NADA bluebook. It needs some minor repairs and a good wash and wax. I live in Texas and I think I can haul it over to the Midland oil boom area and sell it for a lot more then I paid for it, which would give me enough money to buy something else that has more sleeping area and is lighter.

I have not quite decided on this yet and this is why I am asking the question about quality. I am trying to decide if these super lightweight trailers are just pieces of junk waiting to fall apart and I would be better off sticking with a heavier trailer and upgrading my towing vehicle.

In the end, what is important to me is getting a good trailer that will last for a long time. I can't seem to find a travel trailer review site that offers any reliable reviews. Every manufacturer touts their trailers as the best and most owners love the trailer they have and don't really have enough knowledge to evaluate a trailer properly because they have only had experience with maybe one or two trailers. There seems to be a lack of any good unbiased knowledgeable reviews when it come to trailers.

Anyway, thanks for the advice.

Yah, somebody else might have ideas for a "consumer reports" of camping equipment... I've never found it. To be totally honest, I do not think what you are looking for exists (100% unbiased reviews)...

I'll tell you what I did: I researched on my own a lot! Probably over a year of just reading and searching online groups like this one. When I started narrowing my search I also looked for an owners group for the specific brands I was interested in.

Then, I started visiting RV shows and dealers in my area. After awhile, and thanks to a lot of good information I read here, I was able to start picking out items that concerned me, things I liked, and so on.

For instance, I eliminated one particular brand when I walked into a couple of their units at an RV show and noticed unprotected electrical wiring running along the floor exposed in the living area. I've got little kids, so that put me off. In another unit, I opened a drawer and the face of it came off in my hands... These were brand new units on display at a show mind you. If you visit enough of these you will start to get some feel for how they are built.

(I probably looked like a crazy man, crouching down and looking up under units to see whatever I could, and sticking my head back under sinks and so on LOL.)

Also, just like a house (well, a house that moves a lot) things break. Lots of vibration and flexing. It's gonna happen, even well built rigs will have some issues, even brand new ones.

And finally... Lots of strong feelings on the web, take it all with a small grain of salt. I'm happy with my brand, but it's NOT perfect in the quality department. Good, not perfect... Every brand produces a lemon sometimes. Wish I could help more, still new myself in many ways. I think I ended up doing ok, but it took a lot of sluething on my own. I hope somebody else will have a better idea. Welcome again, best of luck.

[jungleexplorer]

I guess what I am wondering is if there are certain manufacturers that have a reputation of building better quality trailers then others? I really like the trailer I got, but it is not quite what I really wanted, it was just what I could afford at this time. It is heavier then what I wanted and it does not have the bed configuration that I wanted for the long run. It is a 19 foot (inside living space) trail with bedding for only three people. It has a huge bathroom and lot's of storage space, but I would rather have a trailer of this size that could sleep 5 people. This trailer will work for me and my wife and our 12 year old son, but we have two older children that are married and if they ever wanted to travel with us, they would have no place to sleep.

The bottom line is that I am thinking about fixing this trailer up and selling it. I got is for under NADA bluebook. It needs some minor repairs and a good wash and wax. I live in Texas and I think I can haul it over to the Midland oil boom area and sell it for a lot more then I paid for it, which would give me enough money to buy something else that has more sleeping area and is lighter.

I have not quite decided on this yet and this is why I am asking the question about quality. I am trying to decide if these super lightweight trailers are just pieces of junk waiting to fall apart and I would be better off sticking with a heavier trailer and upgrading my towing vehicle.

In the end, what is important to me is getting a good trailer that will last for a long time. I can't seem to find a travel trailer review site that offers any reliable reviews. Every manufacturer touts their trailers as the best and most owners love the trailer they have and don't really have enough knowledge to evaluate a trailer properly because they have only had experience with maybe one or two trailers. There seems to be a lack of any good unbiased knowledgeable reviews when it come to trailers.

Anyway, thanks for the advice.

[Farm_Camp]

Hey! Welcome to the party!

I don't think weight alone will tell you very much... Others will be along with maybe a lot better ways to tell/things to look for.

IMHO one thing that will tell you something: A dealer that has to bad mouth a brand that they themselves do not carry. I'd worry some about that. Actually if they are carrying it and badmouth it. I guess I'd worry some too. 🙂

[westend]

Steel main frame differences? It doesn't take a lot of steel to start adding into the hundreds. Choice of materials for roof deck, floors, and cabinets can also mean some weight differences. I don't think you can use weight as a qualifier for durability of construction.

[jungleexplorer]

According to the brochure I found the 2005 models of Kodiaks were built completely with aluminum frames. I am guessing that is good thing, but since aluminum is lighter then wood (I think) why is my Kodiak so much heavier then other ultra lites of the same size? Most other ultra lites of the same size that I have looked up are all under 3400 pounds.

[poncho62]

I am not sure about the quality, but know that different manufacturers use different methods. I have a 99 Keystone Springdale, It is what they call stick and panel construction, I believe. It is where they build a frame of wood and add everything to that. I had some water damage, which was not hard to fix,,,just pull the panelling off, seal it up and fix the wall board.
A friend wanted me to look at his 2003 KZ Sportsman, that the floor was soft. When we dug into it, it seems that the whole trailer is built by laminating layers of plywood, Styrofoam, and rubber together. The water got in between the layers and the whole thing basically is falling apart. He sold it to a guy that is just going to part it out.
There are probably other methods of putting these things together