Travel Trailer Purchase - Quality

[tkwoodcock]

Hey guys I have a question that I'm sure everybody has been asked but alot of what I have seen is at least a couple years old. We are in the market for a TT. We currently have a 1983 Palomino MXL Popup but are ready to upgrade to a full size TT. Camping in the south with no AC has not been the greatest experience.
We have a 2012 Toyota Tundra 5.7/V8 rated at 10,300. We are looking at bunkhouse models in the 28' to 34' range. I really like the Jayco Flights namely the 29QBS but have heard alot of horror stories on build quality. Has anyone else had any bad experiences? We are also looking at the APEX line as a possibility but don't know much about them. I haven't seen a lot of Palominos around our area but I know out old pop up has been good. Does anyone have any experience with their Puma or Solaire Lines a friend of mine said to steer clear of them but I want more than one opinion. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Happy Camping

[westend]

hvac wrote:

westend wrote:

hvac wrote:
My suggestion is simple. They all leak. So find a unit with no wood. Not even the floor.

-1 X, mine doesn't leak.

Not a matter of if, just when.

Disagree with that, as well.
If an owner maintains the sealants or improves the manner used to seal everything (think Eternabond tapes) there is no generalization that an RV HAS to leak.

[hvac]

westend wrote:

hvac wrote:
My suggestion is simple. They all leak. So find a unit with no wood. Not even the floor.

-1 X, mine doesn't leak.

Not a matter of if, just when.

[westend]

hvac wrote:
My suggestion is simple. They all leak. So find a unit with no wood. Not even the floor.

-1 X, mine doesn't leak.

[hvac]

My suggestion is simple. They all leak. So find a unit with no wood. Not even the floor.

[hvac]

My suggestion is simple. They all leak. So find a unit with no wood. Not even the floor.

[Ron3rd]

I don't own a Jayco but can tell you they have a very big following and it seems the vast majority are satisfied. They seem to have a good warranty and support too.

[tkwoodcock]

APT wrote:
A WDH is required over about 600 pounds of tongue weight on every half ton I have seen. If you adjust the WDH such that 100% of front axle weight is restored, then only about 80% of loaded TW should be accounted for in payload. But dry weight will go up, as will dry TW.

Take your 1380 pounds of payload and subtract however much you an family weighs. Maybe that's 300 pounds or 800 pounds - you do not have to disclose. 1380-500=880 pounds for trailer TW. I'd look closer to 650 dry then.

Get a WDH with integrated sway control and learn how to adjust it.

Ok I feel a little better now I was beginning to think the only thing I could tow would be something less than about 5000 lbs.

SO If i'm understanding it correct, and I apologize if I'm not, I need to keep my tongue weight from the TT around say 650 to give me some payload room under the 1380 limit. I need to make sure then that the trailer is not more than about 6000 to 6500 lbs to keep it within the safety margin of the 9000 lbs capacity listed in the owners manual to account for cargo, water and such.

Towing the popup at only 1400 lbs this was not an issue.

[APT]

A WDH is required over about 600 pounds of tongue weight on every half ton I have seen. If you adjust the WDH such that 100% of front axle weight is restored, then only about 80% of loaded TW should be accounted for in payload. But dry weight will go up, as will dry TW.

Take your 1380 pounds of payload and subtract however much you an family weighs. Maybe that's 300 pounds or 800 pounds - you do not have to disclose. 1380-500=880 pounds for trailer TW. I'd look closer to 650 dry then.

Get a WDH with integrated sway control and learn how to adjust it.

[Danattherock]

You won't be safely towing anything near 10,000 lbs in a Tundra. With associated tongue weight you will run out of payload long, long, before that. I barked up this tree recently and discoverd the Tundra, like all other 1/2 ton trucks and SUV's are limited by their low payload ratings. Otherwise, we would have bought the Tundra special edition 1794 we saw. Amazing truck that impressed us more than any we have seen. Sans having payload slightly higher than that of a Walmart electric scooter. The several new Tundras I saw had payload stickers showing 1300-1400 lbs!!

As for quality, good luck man. We all have different views on what quality means. To say this is subjective would be putting it lightly. My wife and I have infant, toddler, and German shepherd. We are buying first camper and have looked all over NC at various models. My humble opinion is that nearly all white boxes are of questionable quality.

Arctic Fox has better reputation than most, but I haven't been able to see any in person. We love the Evergreen Element. Big front glass, unique design for sure. Looks similar to the discontinued Aviator. Which we loved by the way, fell in love with it online till I discovered it was discontinued in 2013 ish.

My biggest issue, my parents had a new 2000 34' Airstream Classic. Had I not spent time in it, I would likely already own a camper. But Airstreams are unquestionably the highest quality travel trailer you can buy. They are in a class of their own. Avoid the haters and crayon eaters that talk junk about Airstream. Jealousy seems a primary motivator in many cases.

Pricey, yes. Over priced, most would say yes, if not factoring in length of ownership. Read average white box is sold after 4-6 years by average first time buyer. Airstream was 18-20 years on average. The more I learned about a Airstream the more clear my decision to buy one became. They are a love it or hate it thing. An American icon either way.

Might be worth your time to ride over to Out Of Doors Mart near Winston Salem and take a look see. We were up there yesterday comparing floor plans. The 30' Serenity custom ordered with twins is at top of our want list at this point. Lots of info on Airforums. Great folks too.


Dan

[tkwoodcock]

APT wrote:
Not tow capacity, payload. Any given vehicle is limited to the lowest of all its ratings. That could be receiver, axles, tow rating, GCWR, etc. A 10,300 pound loaded TT will likely exceed every half ton receiver. If you have 1200 pounds of payload and 1000 pounds of TW, then you have 200 left for driver, passengers, and anything else in the truck bed and cab.

Just make sure yours has enough for what you estimate. Open drivers door and locate this sticker. Note what it has where mine says 2051:



And verify the yellow sticker weight on the actual unit you plan to purchase. I looked at the Jay Flight 31QDBS that were 500-600 pounds over the web site weight. Then I would add fresh water, pots/pans, food, clothes, etc.

Mine shows 1380 in the place where yours says 2051. But my owners manual says 9700 lbs capacity based on my engine and the factory towing capacity. The other sticker says GVWR 7100 lbs and GAWR 4000 front 4150 rear. I think I'm getting a little confused with this. Can you help me out, what size can i really tow? The hitch weight is 855 on one of the trailers, will weight distribution arms not help me?

[tkwoodcock]

From Sticker
GVWR 7100 LBS
GAWR: FRT 4000 lb
REAR 4150 lb

Based on Owner manual with A towing package 9700 lbs

[Tequila]

I have a friend with a Puma, lots of problems.

[fla-gypsy]

They all make good ones and bad ones. Trust your eye and be very thorough on inspection before money changes hands. You will need to do some research on actual towing ability of your vehicle. That 10k number is a theoretical limit and not real world numbers.

[Terryallan]

Of course I have had an APEX for 3 years now, and have only had it back for very minor stuff like loose threads, and to have them tighten the ac bolts.

It tows well, and doesn't leak. It also is made of AZDEL. AZDEL is super light, and has double the insulation value of normal TTs. My single 13500 AC does a really good job of cooling it, as long as the kids don't run in and out constantly. Much better in fact then the aluminum TT we had before. One is enough for it, and yes I live in pretty much the same area as you. At Myrtle Beach. We had no problems. The TT is 30' with a slide, and there were 10 of us. If it was going to be hot inside. It would have been then.

BTW. Our 30' Bunk House has a dry yellow sticker weight of 4811 lbs

Also as for Jayco. Very nice, and a great warranty.

[APT]

Not tow capacity, payload. Any given vehicle is limited to the lowest of all its ratings. That could be receiver, axles, tow rating, GCWR, etc. A 10,300 pound loaded TT will likely exceed every half ton receiver. If you have 1200 pounds of payload and 1000 pounds of TW, then you have 200 left for driver, passengers, and anything else in the truck bed and cab.

Just make sure yours has enough for what you estimate. Open drivers door and locate this sticker. Note what it has where mine says 2051:



And verify the yellow sticker weight on the actual unit you plan to purchase. I looked at the Jay Flight 31QDBS that were 500-600 pounds over the web site weight. Then I would add fresh water, pots/pans, food, clothes, etc.