RV Trailers

W

Will-C

New member
Since we already have a dependable tow vehicle we are thinking of purchasing a new or used travel trailer in the 25' range. The boat is ok for up to month but we are thinking of taking a more extended type of trip and wanted to investigate this option. We wondered if someone might be able to steer us to what brands are well built and offer a decent service life.
D.D.
 
Dave,

This suggestion is not in the 25 foot range but it meets the other criteria. Since 1996 we have had two Casitas. These are 17 foot molded fiberglass, single axle travel trailers that come in three floorplans. We have taken them across the US several times. In about 2003 we decided we needed something bigger in the 25 foot range and sold our 1996 Spirit Deluxe for about what we paid for it 7 years earlier. Our search included about everything, including Airstreams. Couldn't find anything we like as well as the Casita so we ordered a new Liberty Deluxe.

Aside from holding their value (Like C-Dorys) they are extremely durable, easy to maintain and easy to tow. They are made like a boat with a molded top and bottom which are joined together in the middle with a band. Their features are the same as you find in a larger trailer only in a smaller package. The bath, however, is larger than those in many larger trailers. Our model, the Liberty, allows more flexibility in sleeping configurations. We use twins with custom mattresses.

Downside...size. If it is just you and Ginny great, but you won't be taking family or friends unless you have other accommodations Aside from the trailer. Storage is also limited...unless your tow vehicle is a pickup with a cap.

Casitas also have a following just like the C-Dorys. In fact there are two groups. www.casitaforum.com and www.casitaclub.com are two with the former being more user friendly to non-members. The factory also has a website where you can see floorplans, etc. Sales are factory direct. Company is located in Rice, Texas. They put you in touch with owners in your area in order for you to see the product. There is usually a several month long waiting list on orders.

Did I say easy to tow? You LITERALLY would not know you had it with your HD Chevy. Let me know if I can provide more info.

Best,
Harper
 
Hi Dave,

It seems that most of the smaller travel trailers are built to a price point. Lighter and cheaper being the rule. Airstreams are nice and hold their value better than most TTs; but, that curved body means less storage than the "squared off" brands.

Also, most of the travel trailers are designed/built for weekenders and occasional vacation type trips. Spending extended time in those will show the shortcomings.

If you are willing to give up storage in the pickup bed, there are a couple brands of 5th wheel manufacturers that build for extended use: NuWa (HitchHiker) and Excel. Neither of those manufacturers make anything in the 25' range, though.

As you look at RVs, look under the floor and inside cabinets. Most have little insulation. Look for signs of delamination down the exterior walls. Just like in a boat, condensation is a big issue with small RVs... even worse that in a boat since the materials used to build are usually wood (untreated).

Make sure any of the appliances that use propane are DSI (water heater, fridge); otherwise, you may be going outside to light them each time you want to use them - a real inconvenience, but some manufacturers put those in because they are less expensive.

When you walk in, see if there is a lot of movement. Travel trailers generally use a scissors jack for stabilizing, but there will still be movement due to the suspension. Some folks don't care for that constant movement as someone walks through the trailer. Sit on the furniture and have someone walk from the front to the back and in and out the door.

See if there is adequate storage space for clothes/coats for an extended trip. Many small trailers have little hanging storage or even drawers. Stand in the shower to see if you have room to do the job. Check out the furniture - comfortable? Does it seem sturdy enough? Flexsteel is a decent brand for RV furniture, but some manufacturers use bench type seating to keep the cost down.

Are water lines exposed? Any openings where hookups connect sealed? Speaking of hookups, are they located in three different locations or a central "unit"? Is the sewer connection easy to get at (you don't want to have to crawl to get to it). Storage space for a sewer hose separate from the fresh water hose/connection?

Is there adequate weight capacity for tanks and your stuff? See what the tires and axles are rated for. Some manufacturers are notorious for undersize axles and tires.

That should get you started.

Best wishes,
Jim

On edit, I just saw Harper's suggestion of a Casita. A good suggestion in a smaller unit. Owners love 'em, understanding simpler is better (and using the truck for storage).
 
Dave,

Just read Jim's advice and every point he makes is extremely valid. Some of the issues he raises are such that you don't think about them until you are in the rv for a while and are disappointed.

Another issue is wet bath vs dry bath. Ours is a wet bath and it's a no fun clean up after showers. The bath interior is all fiberglass but it is so much more convenient to have a separate shower. Also, a smaller TT offers less water and holding tank capacity. But...they are easier to move and dump when needed.

Small, cheap stick built rvs flex when traveling (and as Jim says also often while set up) this causes eventual leaking around the joints. Notice how many blue tarps you see over these while being stored outside.

Fifth wheels as Jim talks about are perfect for long trips...long stays (like Jim and Joan do). They tow better than TTs and maneuver a heck of a lot better in tight spaces. I haven't seen the Excel that Jim mentions but have seen several Hitch Hikers. They seem to be "bullet proof" and are really well thought out.

Another couple of possibilities that we like are Bigfoot and Earthbound travel trailers. Bigfoot is another molded fiberglass trailer that is squared off unlike the rounded corner Casita thus more storage and interior room. They are made in British Columbia, and have US dealers in Oregon and Illinois. They are extremely well winterized and are well regarded by molded fiberglass enthusiasts. A lot of Casita owners "graduate" up to Bigfoots. They have two 25 foot models that are very well thought out. We are thinking about that down the road.

Earthbound is a relatively new "green" brand made without wood. We have seen a couple and were very impressed. A couple of years ago they had several dealers but seem to be sold by the factory today and the price has gone way up. They have a nice new 23 foot model and a 26 foot model that I don't consider well laid out. I would prefer the 23. They are located in Marion, Indiana. Only concern I would have here is they are not well tried and proven.

Hope this helps some.

Harper
 
A picture says a thousand words...

7019423305_8668c0b497_b.jpg

This is an Airstream 25 foot Flying Cloud with a front bedroom. We previously had an older Airstream Safari '6 sleeper' that we liked other than the sleeping accommodations. It had the twin bed and bath sharing the back end of the trailer. The Flying Cloud has a walk around queen.
 
Or, you can do what I did and just watch the owner seller adds. MOST travel trailers get little use and little wear. They depreciate like crazy, and many are in very good condition because of little use, though several years old. Typically you can buy almost any travel trailer or fifth wheel for 50 cents on the dollar within two years of the manufacture date. I've done that twice and have been well pleased both times. Both of my trailers came from little old fellows who's eyes were bigger than their health many years into their retirement.

The "disposable" trailers and fifth wheels made by most companies are good for 5 to 10 years, and if your are buying them on the used market cheaply, they make about as much sense as spending a bundle on the "perfect" unit that you will find after a trip or two wasn't perfect anyway.

I've avoided anything with slideouts as wonderful as they are when they are working. BUT, more than half the time in an RV park I see or am helping others with slideouts that won't go back in.

Keeping things simple is smart in the RV business. BUT, if you are seriously going to be spending months on the road, then the slides and other amenities may be worth their potential pain.

Also, keep in mind that many RV parks along the way, and many campgrounds have limits on length of the RV. Costs go up and easy access to RV parks spaces is a problem with the really comfortable live in units.

I think that RV's, even more than boats have more pitfalls in selecting, buying, owning, maintaining, and reselling than any other toy you can get into.

You will likely buy high for new and sell low for something more compatible with your needs later. Specially if you've not spent much time RVing over the years.

Good luck. I do love the fifth wheel for ease of towing, parking, and stability during winds and emergency maneuvers. Also can tow my fishing boat behind the fifth. Deadly to do that behind a bumper pull.
 
Be sure to buy one with a aluminum superstructure,no wood.

I have a 24.5 5th wheel. It's a Cougar by Keystone. Love it. C-Otter
 
Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. I know RV's are like quicksand. I traveled to the local Airstream dealer on Saturday over in New Jersey and looked at a new 25' Flying Cloud at the tune of 65k or so. Not what I had in mind. The International series my wife liked even better was another 5k. I bailed out of there. I am looking at the Big Foot brand built in Canada. Thanks Harper! Closest dealer is in Zion Illinois which is just north of Chicago. I like the 25' models and new they fall in the low forty k range. The Casita's seem a little small even though it will be pretty much my wife and I. I'm sure they are built well and if I get a chance I'd like to see one just to see. I like my cap on my pickup trucks bed too much to go with a fifth wheel. That's mostly related to hauling boating and fishing equipment around and keeping it secure etc. If I can convince my wife to sell the house and hit the road for a couple of years she is going to want something half decent or she just won't take the bait. I'd like to lose the 6k a year in real estate taxes along with the other Pa taxes etc. Like the 1% earned income tax. The 6% sales tax I could go on here. Not to mention another 2k in heating oil for the winter months. Thanks again for the replies.
D.D.
 
Dave look at Lance trailers 1685 and 1885 ,2385 I believe they are the model numbers they have a nice dinette slider Good Luck in your search Jim
 
DD, my advise would be go to an RV show and look at everything to get ideas as to layout and prices. Actually being in them and feeling the space or lack of it will give you a better idea what will suit your needs.

Like Jim said check for delamination. My neighbor has a Terry trailer and he has problems with the fiberglass delaminating. You can see bulges looking along the side. He bought his the same year as us 2008.

Ours is a Grey Wolf (by Cherokee) It is just a base model around 20k for the 28BH model. We are happy with it but we have it parked at a conservation area on Lake Erie. If you are travelling I would definitely equip it with an equalizing hitch.

Although some people do have problems with slides, I would never buy a trailer without one. That extra 18-24" makes an amazing world of difference to the living space and the feeling you get inside it on a rainy day or when company comes calling.

If your plan is to live and travel in it, take Jims advise and get one that is well insulated. On most cheap trailers (like mine) the insulation is of little to no good. When I go to check my trailer in the winter I swear its colder inside it than it is on the long walk from the road into the park! :D

I would advise any couple buying a trailer or boat to buy the model that suits their own needs. The double/bunk at the back of our trailer that we thought would be nice for company is rarely needed(except to store crap on) and my wife and I would far rather have a bathroom with some room in it! :D

The roof is one area that ages quickly on the cheaper trailers. Mine is parked under trees which is hard on them but so is being parked in the sun all year.

If I could redo I would also look at one that has the 2 lazyboy chairs instead of the futon that mine has. It is not the most comfortable thing to sit on or sleep on. :disgust

Regards, Rob
 
With an eye toward full timing, then you should consider a 5th wheel.

We have had an Airstream, I liked it my wife did not. Although we have had other trailers that we both liked, the best was a Sunnybrook. It was just a good all around unit.

We now have a truck camper due to the fact we want mobility and the capability to pull a car hauler.

As far as size goes, the bigger the more cumbersome it is. We would not go bigger than 26 feet due to national park camping space size and just getting around where we do like to go.

A slide is going to add between 500# and 800#. They give a lot of space. I am not sure that my wife and I need one.

Good Luck.
 
I know you were looking for something in the 25' range, but you should check out Livin Lite. They are a relatively new company and their largest trailer is currently the 16' camplite. Form follows function with these units - constructed completely of aluminum and synthetics with absolutely no wood. The look is kind of spartan, but a perfect fit for a c-dory owner if you ask me.[/url]
 
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