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RE: Known pros/cons these brands?
Arctic fox, Lance, Outdoors Rv are west coast brands that are nigh on to impossible to find east of the Mississippi.
Among the mainstream brands best to worst generally seem to be,,, Grand Design, KZ, Winnebago, Jayco, after that it seems to become a crapshoot,,, the upper end units from Coachmen, Keystone, and Dutchmen probably are next, but you have to look at individual makes.
Remember, appliances, freestanding furniture, built in equipment are the same across most brands, look at construction materials, particle board, plywood etc, and decide based on the line build of what you are looking for.
We are in California so will look out for those brands.. RV Trader site has trailers for sale near me, so sifting through those... quite a few for under $30k...but not many of those higher quality brands!
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jukes
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07/08/22 07:03pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Known pros/cons these brands?
So what happened to your rig on the way home? Just fall apart or did you have components inside that are commonly the same ones used by all manufacturers fail?
The trailer frame bent and front collapsed, the trailer made it to Alaska from California and all around Alaska, but the road leaving Alaska into Canada is so bad, even driving like a snail it hit a hole and bent. I think the type of frame also wasn't as good as some of the newer ones. So it got towed off and our insurance has been pretty good about paying for all that and hoping to get something back for it too.. unlike Good Sam who after 6 hours on the phone told us to arrange our own towing as they couldn't figure it out...
Anyways, we loved it but it was getting old (but fine for us), so now we want a replacement... but prices are high..but these newer ones do have some nice features :)
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jukes
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07/08/22 07:00pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Known pros/cons these brands?
I have had Forest River products, some OK, some not. Also a Dutchmen, it was OK.
My only thought is an island kitchen.. if you use the trailer going down the road (like I do) usually an island kitchen blocks access to some parts of the trailer. Personally, I would want to see it all closed up to see if I can use the sections I want.
I was in severe weather a couple of years ago. Had to pull the super slide in and stayed in for 3 days.
I was able to use all parts of the fifth-wheel.
Good luck in your new search and sorry for your loss.
oh yes good point about the island!
ok thanks, good tips.
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jukes
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07/08/22 06:57pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Known pros/cons these brands?
I have had Forest River products, some OK, some not. Also a Dutchmen, it was OK.
My only thought is an island kitchen.. if you use the trailer going down the road (like I do) usually an island kitchen blocks access to some parts of the trailer. Personally, I would want to see it all closed up to see if I can use the sections I want.
I was in severe weather a couple of years ago. Had to pull the super slide in and stayed in for 3 days.
I was able to use all parts of the fifth-wheel.
Good luck in your new search and sorry for your loss.
oh yes good point about the island!
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jukes
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07/08/22 06:56pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Known pros/cons these brands?
I prefer aluminum sided trailers for several reasons which includes not fading like the fiberglass trailers.
My preferred mfg is Nash / Arctic Fox.
Bill
ok thanks
had a quick look, hard to find those brands for sale, or if they are they are 10 years old and $35k! Prices are crazy now.. it wasn't a good time to lose our TT!
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jukes
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07/06/22 04:19pm |
Travel Trailers
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Known pros/cons these brands?
Our 2007 30' Jayco Featherlite didn't make it home from our Alaska trip... so the search is on for a new one.
Looked at some new ones and decided we still need one similar size (up to 32' total). Excursion 7.3L diesel tow vehicle (but we dread the day it dies)...
We are looking at 'gently' used, and have narrowed it down to a few we've seen online, that are 'gently' used. All have the layout we like, so which brands are best, or anything I should know!?!?!
We prefer the look of fiberglass but some of these are aluminum, should we stick to fiberglass?
Want to pay under $30k. These are some available:-
1. 2016- 28' Radiance- Touring Bunkhouse- R-28BHIK- Travel Trailer by Cruiser RV $25k, barely used. has a kitchen island unlike others and 2 slides, so slightly heavier but looks good.
2.2020 Coachmen Travel Trailer RV
CATALINA LEGACY EDITION 263BHSCK $30k
3.2018 Dutchmen Travel Trailer RV
COLEMAN LANTERN 285BH. $30k with some extras inc.
ALSO, HOW TO KNOW IF I BIKE RACK CAN BE ADDED TO IT? THANKS
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jukes
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07/06/22 03:21pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Recommendation for New or Used Bumper Pull Toy Hauler
hi you mentioned having a toy hauler but no toys, I am curious about getting one just to haul a couple of ebikes, I like the flexible layout? Looking for a travel trailer one perhaps, under 30'...
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jukes
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06/27/22 10:38am |
Toy Haulers
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Hybrid tow vehicle?
I've been considering replacing my gas vehicle for an electric, but then figured it would be useful if this vehicle could also tow... so perhaps a hybrid as a compromise.
However, I don't like driving a full size truck, currently have a midsize SUV...I'd prefer midsize SUV or truck.
We still use our 2003 7.3l diesel Excursion just for towing, but not sure how long it's got left lol.
Also, our TT died on the Alcan so isn't with us anymore.. We are looking at some lighter TT options, but likely GVWR 7000.
Thanks!
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jukes
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06/24/22 06:10pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: ALASKA! Driving from California to Anchorage...
We wanted to do the entire Alaskan Highway so went up from Montana and back via BC. Anchorage? Not so interesting for us vs many other areas. Fuel stop distance was not a consideration for us, but be more conservative during the winter. Hours? No clue as the trip was 9,600 miles for 3 months.
okay, we'd go May/June.. Anchorage is just a meeting point, in that I may fly up with the kids and my husband may drive up and down....He'll have more time. We did look at the ferry from Bellingham, WA to Whittier but they quoted $7000 for him to take the travel trailer!
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jukes
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01/11/22 04:08pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: ALASKA! Driving from California to Anchorage...
Most of the driving directions sites (like Mapquest) give you driving time at that very moment. Get the same directions at a another time and the driving time will be different based on current traffic.
So you can "play" with it to figure out the best times.
oh so I can change it to May or June, when certain roads may be clear of snow for example?
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jukes
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01/11/22 04:07pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: ALASKA! Driving from California to Anchorage...
That would be under best driving conditions and not towing as it affects fuel stops.
okay it would be end of May, and yep, towing always slows us down!
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jukes
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01/11/22 04:06pm |
Roads and Routes
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ALASKA! Driving from California to Anchorage...
Hi!!
We are thinking to drive from Santa Cruz, CA to Achorage (and explore from there).. It's showing as 60hrs, is that winter hours, would it be a faster route in the summer (very end of May)?
Any other tips? a diff route to take on the return journey?
We'd be towing our 30' travel trailer with our 7.3L diesel Excursion....
Thanks!!
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jukes
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01/11/22 01:29pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: smaller MH with 2+ separate comfy sleeping areas?
We never had a TT. They look comfy but we found them more expensive with the price of a decent truck added and the Class C comes with a truck. But they are noisy. We have rattles in our newer coach and still tracking them down. Our Itasca 22e was actually 22 ft long but it only had the overcab bed and the flip out couch and dinette. Still we got a lot of grandkids and even a second couple into it a few times.
We expanded to a Minnie Winnie 25b this spring and it’s a little over 26’. It has a rear corner bed, a couch and dinette and a huge overcab bed that I reduced to a 3” queen foam topper to make the bedding fit. Some people don’t like sleeping just in the overcab bed but we didn’t mind. We now sleep in the rear corner bed and it’s fine. But many people hate having to crawl over the mattress to make the bed.
We bring the family whenever we can and love the space under the back bed for storage. We take an inflatable boat and trolling motor and camp chairs and tables and a pop up shelter etc. lots of stuff fits in there.
So we are loving the larger RV. We can still fit in most “hang over” spots in parking lots. Even though that was easier with 22’.
The Minnie Winnie layout looks nice... If my husband agrees to sleep in the overhead then it works for me to have the corner bed lol....He's 6' so it looks nice and spacious up there. He'd also want a topper...
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jukes
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10/28/21 09:55am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: smaller MH with 2+ separate comfy sleeping areas?
Great thanks everyone! pnichols, I am the same as your wife, I take over the comfy rear queen bed, for my bad back and better sleep lol. Hmm. so maybe the one above the cab could suffice for my husband, and dinette for the 9 yr old.. plus some tents just incase the older ones come along...
It's a catch 22, we now want to tow a boat sometimes, but then with a MH won't have a car for easy exploring! Although, I guess we could tow a car when not towing a boat!!
We do a variety of trips, everywhere from Yosemite, to Portland, to Shasta to Los Angeles to Olympic National Park next year we hope, and eventually Alaska!.. a real mix of towns and remote, although now the teens aren't coming we won't do LA in it again..
FWIW, just myself and my wife have traveled on two long trips across the U.S. (one of 9 weeks and one of 10 weeks) in our 24 ft. non-slide Class C and never needed a tow. However, our exploring and sight-seeing was not on remote/narrow forest roads, either, when on these trips.
In the western U.S. we sometimes tow our small fishing boat, and sometimes rockhound explore and boondock camp in the desert ... all with just the Class C. We carry a lot of equipment and tools with us and I have oversize tires on it's Ford E450 chassis to provide more ground clearance.
That's great to know, we were trying to imagine not having a car. some areas we will stay put at campsite but others we'd need a car, but then again a 24' is usually okay to park in most areas I'd assume, although there'd be the hassle of unhooking but then again we don't always need hookups... pros and cons I guess! We rented a 30' class C many years ago when visiting from England, before we lived here, before we'd ever had a TT. Even with that we found parking, bit did borrow a car and hitch a ride a big sur down to the beach area..Do you still have to level out and stabilize a 24' class C? that's a pain with our TT, and it's still a bit wobbly lol
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jukes
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10/27/21 04:25pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: smaller MH with 2+ separate comfy sleeping areas?
Great thanks everyone! pnichols, I am the same as your wife, I take over the comfy rear queen bed, for my bad back and better sleep lol. Hmm. so maybe the one above the cab could suffice for my husband, and dinette for the 9 yr old.. plus some tents just incase the older ones come along...
It's a catch 22, we now want to tow a boat sometimes, but then with a MH won't have a car for easy exploring! Although, I guess we could tow a car when not towing a boat!!
We do a variety of trips, everywhere from Yosemite, to Portland, to Shasta to Los Angeles to Olympic National Park next year we hope, and eventually Alaska!.. a real mix of towns and remote, although now the teens aren't coming we won't do LA in it again..
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jukes
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10/24/21 04:40pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: smaller MH with 2+ separate comfy sleeping areas?
At 9, the cab over bed should be viable for a 3-4 yrs, then it depends on when he hits his growth spurt.
As far as a full blown separate 2nd bedroom, not likely on a small MH.
makes sense.. or are there the sofa/pull out beds in living area that can have a decent mattress? They can be so awkward and uncomfy for an adult!
I guess when I say smaller I mean under 26', ideally under 24', with slide outs.. we love the 30'TT but it's so big and heavy and now we have a boat, can't tow that at same time lol
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jukes
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10/23/21 01:44pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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smaller MH with 2+ separate comfy sleeping areas?
considering downsizing. currently have a 2007 30' TT with the Queen bedroom and 2 sets bunks. These days it's usually just 2 adults and a 9 year old, the teenagers aren't so keen. But I've got used to space lol. Plus our 7.3 Excursion tow vehicle is getting old :)
Would like a smaller MH, but that can tow our old Boston Wailer boat. Also able to carry 3 or more bicycles.
Also want a separate full or queen bedroom area, plus another twin or full bed that can have a nice mattress (so not a couch pull out etc). The area above the cab is usually pretty small and awkward right???
Plus another bed suitable for a growing 9 year old..
Which MH's have this, good use of space? Best bang for the buck!? Thanks!!
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jukes
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10/23/21 01:30pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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