skipnchar wrote: Light doesn't equal cheap but "cheap" does equal cheap. Take for example the Jayflight vs Jayfeather. The feather is a more expensive trailer AND much lighter than the Jayflight. Just one example.
The JayFeather's are not necessarily lighter. The following was found on Jayco's web site.
The smallest JayFeather LGT model 25F is 27'-9" long, has an UVW of 5505# & tongue weight of 635#.
The smallest JayFlight model 19BH is 22'-5" long, has an UVW of 3750# & tongue weight of 425#.
The JayFlight model 24RKS which is 6" longer than the smallest Jay Feather LGT is 28'-3" long, has an UVW of 4920# & tongue weight of 575#.
Our Jay Flight G2 23FB is 26'-5" long, has an UVW of 4525# & a tongue weight of 565#.
All of the above 3 JayFlights weigh less than the smallest JayFeather LGT.
'03 Silverado 1500, Ext.Cab, Z71 Off Road, 4X4, 5.3L, 3.73 rear, AutoMeter Trans Temp Gauge, Putnam Class IV
'08 Jayco JayFlight G2 23FB, Reese WD Hitch, HP Dual Cam Sway, 800# Trunnion Bars, Barker 3000# Power Tongue Jack
Does this even exist in the used TT world..? A used mid range BMW with manual windows and no power seats?
Get what im saying? What used 'lite' TT will be quality without money spent in the extras? Im a handy guy and dont care if cabinet doors dont close perfect..
Thanks again this forum has so much info i cant process it all without these simple questions.
EDIT:thanks i didnt see that last response before posting...still confused haha
IMHO, "lite" is more of a sales gimmic than a description. There are no real industry standards as to what it really means. A better indication would be to look at the length, slide(s) yes or no, Fiberglass or Aluminum siding, Aluminum or wood framing. and look at dry weight and max GVW.
Some "lite" trailers are flimsy junk, some are quite well made, but that is also true of those without the "lite" label.
BTW shopping for anything that sells of for $6000 or less would mean used. Careful inspection is the key.. And how well it has been maintained. Not necessarily the brand name on the side. A better made older trailer might be a better value for the money than a newer cheap junk one.
Some "lite" trailers are flimsy junk, some are quite well made, but that is also true of those without the "lite" label.
Exactly man!! Definitely looking for a used TT. What manufactures should i stay away from?
Well, I, like everyone on this forum, have opinions, but that is just what they are, and if I was to start naming brands I feel are junk, I would receive a mountain of hate mail from those that disagree, especially if they own one I put down. SO....I will refrain. You really are going to have to look closely at as many trailers as you can and make your own decisions.
Start with a maximum weight and length and just look at floorplans until you find the one you like. Look underneath and inside cabinets and check very closely for fit and finish and attention to detail. Upholstry fabric and quality, Bed and mattress quality and comfort. Cabinetry, doors, storage, Tank size, all this is a consideration. Then you can form your own opinions.
BTW, at your price point of $6000, you will be looking at trailers with several years of use. If they are decent quality, they will be in good solid condition. If they are falling apart, perhaps they fall into the junk catagory. If they are almost new and at that price... RUN... Not walk away...
Again just my opinion.
* This post was
edited 05/16/08 12:04am by Dixonmatco *
skipnchar wrote: Light doesn't equal cheap but "cheap" does equal cheap. Take for example the Jayflight vs Jayfeather. The feather is a more expensive trailer AND much lighter than the Jayflight. Just one example.
I didn't find the feathers to be all that much lighter, definitely lower ceilings though. Quite a bit of bang for your buck, but the canvas pop-outs on the lengths I was looking at were not for me.
The low ground clearance and small wheels/tires was another turn off for me.
In a used unit that is older, the prior owner's are likely to be as important as the actual builder. If mine were for sale you might think r-vision built a decent unit, but I would not recommend them to anyone.
Alyson & Mark plus kids
Toyota Tundra 2004 Double Cab w/ Tow Package
2005 Citrus Cruiser C243S hybrid
$3k+ in warranty repairs & climbing plus
$3k+ of my time to finish building this one
Stay away from R-Vision like your life depends on it
Try Craig's List. That's where we found ours. I just did a quick search in the SNJ RV listings and found a few TT in your price range. A few of them were as new as 2003.
If it's dirty on the inside, walk away. That tells me that if they didn't care enough to clean the inside, they didn't care enough to take care of the whole TT including the rubber roof.
When we saw ours it was spotless inside and out. That impressed me. Ours is a "lite" too. It has smooth fiberglass sides and aluminum framing and it seems solid. It's a 30' that has a dry weight of 4300 and a GVWR of 6500. A pic is in my profile.
* This post was
edited 05/16/08 07:37am by LoudRam *
We just traded our '04 Starcraft HTT. It was lite, GVW at 5K, and reasonably well built. Never any problems at all. In a hard side trailer of less than 23 to 25 feet you will also be looking at a unit where there is only one fixed bed so you will need to convert the couch or dinette into a 2nd bed when needed. Make sure these fit your needs at the couches and dinette beds tend to run on the short side.
We really enjoyed the HTT if you like sleeping under tenting. These do tend to be a reasonable compromise of lenght vs. weight. Our Starcraft was 21' closed and with the 2 queen bunks and the 1 double bunk opened we had a lot of sleeping space. They are worth considering but check very carefully for water damage as many are noted as having leaks. Ours did not.
Good luck.
A man, his wife, a son and Cody the Goldendoodle.
2008 Laredo 284BHS, 2001 Chevy Sliverado 2500HD 4X4 4.10, Equal-i-zer, Primus, Subaru RG4300iS
This may apply more to new or newer models than 6K will buy, but I think it's worth noting: Some ultra lights are just TOO LIGHT. Here's what I mean - Take two different makes of a similar floor plan and length. Some have way less mass in them than the similar counterpart, which can, not always, means less product. Before I get roasted and flogged, let me say I'm referring tp comparing apples and apples. I own a Jayfeather 213, and we researched a lot before buying. There are other good brands besides Jayfeather, but the Jayco dealer in our community was also a deciding factor due to their service department's reputation. Back to the subject: Ever wonder how some brands can be 1000 or so pounds lighter than the other brand's ultralight of the same dimensions and floorplan? It's not due to titanium frames and space age manufacturing techinques, it's due to thinner cabinets, frames, etc. Yes, the Jayfeather models are heavier than many other ultralights, but there's just some compromises better manufacturer's aren't willing to make. It hard enough to keep the staples in place and the vinyl laying flat on the floor without shoddy engineering. Even the best will break,and sometimes the better brands spit out a major lemon (these are travel trailers, it happens). Just be sure to use the net to your advantage and research whatever you find. We started out with the same budget, actually 5K cash, and went with a very nice used pop up for our first camper and loved it. We waited until we were ready and shopped for the Ultralight.
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