Let's Talk About The Longest Lasting Travel Trailers

So according to these guys, there aren't any good RV brands???

I know Jayco is cheap crap but I thought Winnebago, Coleman and the Forest River brands (including Coachmen) were supposed to be pretty good.

 

Those all use the exact same materials and the exact same construction techniques. They will all age the same.

 

These guys also say Airstream is junk too. So it's either spam or you just go in knowing the life and maintenance requirements of your RV.

 

I have been hanging out with AS for a while and I have never heard of that problem. I can't even find an example online of someone complaining about the hitch frame issue.
They do leak though.

 

I don't about Winnebago trailers but my in-laws 200k Class A is constantly breaking and in the shop. It's nice looking but has always had issues with the coach. The drivetrain has been rock solid just everything else is falling apart around it.

 

My family has an Attitude toy hauler by eclipse RV. Weve had it over 15 years since new and probably has over 50-60k miles on it!

other than typical new Trailer bugs like; refrigerator break down. Other
Than maintenance like hoses, resealing roof and misc interior stuff its a tough trailer!

its been down dir roads and sand storms!

 

We got back from our summer camping trip yesterday. Wyoming, Badlands, and then Custer State Park. Trailer will go to my 11 year old, if he's worthy. 2003 Airstream International.

 

Fiberglass campers (Escape,Casita,Oliver) or Airstream thats about it. Yes airstreams have issues, the resale is awesome and their longevity is renown. 70% of all airstreams produced are on the road...the built the first one in 1936.

 

We've had a few issues issues with our Airstream but nothing that can't be fixed. Most of them have been our fault. There's no reason the trailer isn't rolling years from now, and maybe better than it is now.

 

Let's see some pictures of that.

 

Badlands. Very cool, but very hot. Hail in and out of Wyoming. Second time at Custer and it was great. Crazy Horse was my favorite there.

 

Beautiful.

 

Picked up the TT yesterday.

 

Bigfoot 22 winter
cozy

 

The Bigfoot is a true 4 season trailer, tows well (5000 lbs) and at 21’…
a good size for travel with two adults and the dogs. Thats a borrowed F250 in the photo, as I had an older 4 Runner which was not up to the task…It was great with previous 1980 Trillium 13’ trailer (1200lbs) Currently looking at getting a 2016/2017 Tundra to be the permanent tow vehicle with this 2005 Bigfoot.

 

What I wanted too. Settled on the Gulfstream made with three pieces of Adzel. One piece strarts at the tongue, wraps the roof and ends at the rear bumper. Pieces 2 & 3 are the sides. Drivers side is cut for the slide. Aluminum frame above the floor and steel box trailer frame.

 

On another note, this is a wonderful way to go. FWC of California makes rugged, reliable campers—-good for onezies or couples. Mine was a 2005 Tundra LTD with Hawk camper. Traveled through all 4 seasons from Calif to BC to Toronto Boston New Orleans and back.

Ran across an updated version 16 years later. 3x the dough though.

 

I don't think I've seen a single trailer with a manual awning in the last few years but I wonder if you could order one.

 

I too originally wanted a manual awning but when I found out most awnings are replaced due to wind damage and the motors are reliable and affordable I decided convenience ruled. Slides can be a problem with leaks if not maintained or improperly setup when new. Slide awnings seem to be a good investment. I may eventually get a slide awning as an additional form of protection. Until then it's up on my folding RV ladder with battery leaf blower in hand to clear off the debris prior to retracting it. BTW, getting outvoted on the slide also played a huge part. Dog got a vote and was the tie breaker.

 

We think our double hull fiberglass 2015 LE2 Oliver will last long enough to hand it down to our children. When not in use we keep our LE2 stored inside, but I know plenty of folks that store their Ollie outside.

 

My big issue is form follows function until her veto power comes up.

 

I bought this Back country last year made by Outdoors RV. Towed it with my Tacoma but have not towed it with the Tundra yet.

 

Look like my Casita inside but nicer!

 

Thanks,

You can see the shape of the Oliver is similar to Casita trailers. The Oliver brothers were building step in fiberglass "Safe Step" tubs when they built their first single axle Ollie, Legacy Elite. In 2015 they started building the dual axle Legacy Elite II, LE2. It's a four season camper, but we don't camp in temps below 30.

 

I am more than a little familiar with the Oliver.
I Buy and Flip Eggs though not for a while as my current one is all I really need.
I have been to rallies when Oliver first released and we all walked through them and gave feedback,really nice with lots that I like but way out of range for me too.

I dont think there are many other types of trailers that have the long term staying power that the FGRV does and I have worked with a lot of them.

I used to camp in my 16' Scamp to around 0 degrees every year on the way down to Sebring and then the Casita after that and they each have materials on the walls inside that help at those temps but I still do not suggest anyone go there if they dont need to!
Good Times though too.

 

Berkshire Hathaway own many of the RV manufacturers now. My personal opinion of the current quality of those brands is not good. Companies privately owned have the potential to be a higher quality but poor assembly techniques of a well designed product give the end user a lesser quality RV.
As much as I like the Airstream brand the polished aluminum exterior can be very easily damaged. Hail, very small tree branches falling, road debris or minor accidents can leave a very noticeable dent. It's expensive to repair any RV but brands that use Adzel are much more resilient to bumps and bruises.

 

And Airstream is owned by THOR who is the largest with BH right there in 2nd place as the big RV makers go.
Airstream was also circling the drain back when they were saved by the THOR acquisition so that is a pretty huge part of the story overall really too I think.
They seem so focused on quick and dirty manufacturing while still raising prices that it is almost impossible to find one anymore that offers true better quality and longevity?

Enter the Egg! for one.

 

Well, my wife hates the look of the Airstreams and she wants a slide so that lets out the fiberglass ones. I guess we buy something and rebuild it ourselves.

 

Oh no! Airstream owned by Thor. I wondered about the self parking Airstream.

 

We previously owned a LivinLite Camplite Travel Trailer. Thor purchased LivinLite a couple years after our trailer was built. It had aluminum plank floors, aluminum walls and aluminum roof, very rugged. Don't know what changes Thor has made to LivinLite trailers since buying them.