Better RV Brands?

[Grizzly]

Yo Hoot,



One word of caution, If the tires on the Nash TT are original, they are now 6 years old. Maybe older depending on that date of manufacture stamped on the side wall. ST tires are only good for 3 years regardless of wear. Some won't last that long because they tend to separate.



Good looking Nash TT.



FFL8N, Thanks for bringing this thread back. It has been a good one.



george

 

[Yo Hoot]

Thanks George,



The previous owner just replaced them last year. I'll put up with them for a year.

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks George,



The previous owner just replaced them last year. I'll put up with them for a year.

Good to know.



It difficult to beat a Nash, Arctic Fox and a Desert Fox.



george

 

[Shadrach]

I found a real nice bunk model with a floor plan that I like. It's a Nash and I'm impressed with the quality, of course, but it's a 5er and that won't work for me. Their "similar" model in a TT is "not quit right", according to my DW. I like the 4 season option. What other brands are similar in quality to Northwood? They don't make a lot of models with bunks. I have seen some other brands with real nice floor plans but the quality just ain't there. Shadrach

 

[HBarlow]

... ... ... ... ... ... . What other brands are similar in quality to Northwood? ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .....

I have never personally inspected an Arctic Fox or Nash, they aren't that common over most of the US, but Jaycos are a good product in the low to mid-priced market.

 

[Yo Hoot]

My Nash 26x is built like a tank. It is on the heavy side. Axles even have shock absorbers.

 

[Shadrach]

The 26X is nice if it were just the 2 of us, but we need a bunk model. I kind of like the 26Z. I have to find one and take my wife to look at it. They are a bit heavier and more money that others, but when I buy something I tend to keep it for years. We have had our old Prowler for 11 years now. The Nash 27-5B 5er has a better kitchen set up and I prefer the table on the rt side as that is what we are used to. I know picky picky, but I would rather look out on my own site when eating indoors than the neighbors. To each their own I guess. Shadrach

 

[Yo Hoot]

I would rather look out on my own site when eating indoors that the neighbors.

Hey that's a good point. I didn't think about that before but now that you mention it we were camping next to some tent campers. We watched their whole wakeup routine on a freezing cold morning. Standing around a just started fire, wrapped in blankets while we sat at the table in our heated home sipping coffee. I remember our tent camping days when we looked at trailers and said what sissys those people were. :-laf

 

[Wingate]

kinda find myself looking for a good quality tt also... . not sure I need the bunks... but would like to sleep 6 comfortably. Guess I will be looking at a Jayco... .

I owned a Jayco Signature Series 5th wheel several years ago. . it was a very well built unit.

 

[Shadrach]

I have looked a Jayco myself. I like the "non-lite" models because they have bigger water tanks for one thing. With a CTD " I don't need no lite weight" I thought about spending the money and getting the guide like Grizzly did but it won't work on my Mac. Shadrach

 

[HBarlow]

If you are considering a used trailer this is a good site to consider:

NuWa Industries, Inc.

NuWa, builder of HitchHiker fifthwheels, began selling direct to buyers about three years ago and taking trades. They have a significant inventory that is checked out and repaired where necessary and I believe their prices are fair. NuWa has perhaps the best RV service department in America. Highly skilled, and good honest hard working mid-western values. I always pull my trailer to Chanute, KS when I want anything done because the service department is extremely skilled and I always leave feeling I got more work than I paid for.

 

[Wertles]

As a former Jayco Eagle 5th wheel owner, I can say that Jayco's are a good camper but in terms of quality of the interior, they are not any better than anyone else. I owned mine for 6 years.
1. Floor squeaked non stop.
2. Water heater needed repairs multiple times for not starting on gas.
3. 80% of drawers needed to be repaired at sometime for brittle broken plastic pieces.
4. Side started to delaminate. (prob my fault for not finding small leak on roof seam in time).
5. Blown ST tire (again, my fault but didn't know that they were junk tires at the time)
6. Multiple small pieces of molding around the camper fell off under what I would call easy reasonable use.
7. Water leak that required pulling a lot of the walls apart and repair.
Now I never had and frame, suspension, brake or slider issues. Bearings were pulled and packed every other year and greased the cheater way the others.
I would have no reservations about buying another Jayco. Some of the issues I had I would classify as normal but some were just cheap engineering and inferior products. I don't recall what frame or axles were on that trailer (2005 365BHS I believe, maybe Grizzly will have it) but as far as everything else, I can't say that it was anything special.

 

[RustyJC]

Having owned 3 Jaycos, 1 Cardinal pop-up and 2 Designer 5th wheels, all I can say is that our ownership experience was far better than yours apparently was. We never had any structural issues, and most niggling problems we experienced were related to common RV buyout items (Norcold refrigerator, Goodyear Marathon ST tires, etc. ).



When we had our 1996 and 2000 Designer 5th wheels, Jayco used Leland Engineering frames (NOT Lippert). Leland Engineering has since been purchased by Dexter, I understand, and now builds frames as Dexter - LE Technology. Our Jaycos used Dexter axles, brakes and running gear.



Rusty

 

[Yo Hoot]

I have only owned my 05 Nash for about 6 months. I recently discovered a roof leak in the back left corner. The leak was at the seam of the side wall and top and back corner. I discovered it while on the roof. There was a spot in the corner of the rubber that I almost put my foot through. Then I saw the side slightly separated from the seam. I guess the wood expanded and pulled it apart. I did a thorough roof inspection last fall and covered the unit for the winter so it was a total surprise to me. Inside revealed a lot of damage. The wall was soft and wet. I literally tore some of the inner wall panel out by hand to let air get in there. Leaving the doors open and very hot weather right now is doing a decent job of drying things out but I see at least the two crner wall panels getting removed and replaced.

Everything else has been great so far. Three trips. All appliances work great.

Mike

 

[HBarlow]

It is always important to inspect joints and seams in rubber roofs. Wood framed trailers are famous for incurring serious damage when a water leak develops on roofs, sidewalls, windows, doors, and wall/roof penetrations.

 

[Shadrach]

Harvey Thanks for the link to NuWa. Am I wrong or they all 5th wheels? I didn't see any floor plans with bunks either. I have an 11 year old daughter and sometimes she will bring a friend along. Girls, and us too, need our privacy. Shadrach

 

[HBarlow]

Shadrach,

All new units built by NuWa are fifthwheels but the trades may or may not be.

If you see anything that interests you don't hesitate to call and ask for sales and ask them any question you might have. You will find them very friendly and helpful. Not like used car sales helpful but genuinely helpful.

Again, I don't know about bunk model floorplans among used but now that you remind me, most HitchHiker buyers are older and except for taking their grandchildren along on some trips, probably wouldn't be much interested in bunk models. Someone could very possibly have traded a bunkhouse trailer for a HH though.

Jayco builds several modestly priced (comparitively speaking) models with bunkrooms.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I stayed in a bunkhouse trailer once. It's a great layout if you often have visitors. I go to RC helicopter events and often have one or two friends stay with me since we dry camp right on the flightlines. I had two stay with me in my Nash. The two beds in the living room worked out great except they are a little on the short side for taller people. I'm sure that's the case with most accommodations except the master bedroom.

One thing for sure... it's not very "sound" private when there is the bathroom between the two sleeping quarters. Now I see how nice the larger units can be in these situations where the bathroom is in a place all by itself. But... we used to tent camp.

 

[Shadrach]

It sure is great to get advise and hear from people with real life experience, rather than from someone who is just trying to sell you something. Thanks to all.

Although my TT " sleeps 8 " I don't ever want that many in there. The most I have had is 4, when my Mom used to come with us. Once I went on an outing with a group of guys from my church and had 2 stay with me.

Shadrach

 

[Wingate]

somebody may have already answered this... hopefully not, Who all makes aluminum framed travel trailers..... ??? By "framed" I mean the walls being aluminum framed. .