Better RV Brands?

[HBarlow]

Im no expert on 5ers but this, being my first, seems to be a good one a 07 bighorn 34' has all the bells,whistles sirens,and horns some things you wouldnt expect in a camper,(like a fireplace, bigscreen,etc,) owned 2 years, nothing broke, fell off, or melted,other than a plate (I dont know how to cook in a convection oven) not bad for a 5th whl sold to a complete novice (RV MORON) just cant seem to be able to sell it, dont need it anymore, since I retired last year,it just sits there,may turn it into a horse trailer,whaddya think?

Big Horn is the model. What is the manufacturer's name?

Since the economy and the RV industry went in the tank in 2008 it has been a buyer's market for used RVs. Unless you bought it deeply discounted and own it free and clear it will be difficult to sell even though it is a nice unit.

The old easy credit for anyone who could walk or ride a bicycle to the dealership is also gone.

Someone would probably be interested in it if it is priced right and in clean shape and advertised so that prospective buyer's know about it.

 

[Bill Carlyle]

Better R V's

We are leaving for Colorado next week and the thing that bothers me is the condition of the interstates. If it doesen't tear up your trailer maybe you have a pertty good unit. I guess each person has to look at how often and for what you will do with the trailer.



Bill

 

[Wiredawg]

We love our 1999 Travel Supreme 36RLTSO 5th wheel. I lived in it the last 6 years I was in the Air Force. It is tripple axle that tows really great. I would be interested in how it rates. I added a second roof air that really can make it a refrigerator on the hot Texas summer days. It has really nice oak wood all through it, and oak flooring in the kitchen. I installed two home theater systems in it, one in the bedroom and one in the living room. We've been living in it since October while our house is being renovated.



A couple of years ago, we thought about downsizing, but could not find anything we really liked. we then decided to keep it, and upgrade our tow vehicle to the 2009 4500.



Thanks, and take care.



Ron

 

[Grizzly]

Wiredawg, Your 1999 Travel Supreme 36RLTSO 5th wheel has a 4. 5 star rating according to my RV Consumer Group guide. The curb weight is 14,487 lbs and the GVWR is 19,000 lbs, which gives you a 1,414 lbs Payload Capacity. The report does recommend a medium duty truck, which your 09 4500 SLT is.



You have a great 5er, which I believe is worth keeping if you're full timing, however I wouldn't want to pull that trailer for the kind of travel we do.



george

 

[ENafziger]

Wow, I wish I would've seen this thread sooner!

I got married 6 weeks ago, and we're planning a 24 day extended honeymoon to Alaska in July.

I just purchased a 2011 Sabre 31RLDS last week. George, Harvey, do you have any information on these units? Most of the Sabres are fifth wheels, but I got the bumper pull travel trailer.

Anxiously awaiting info...

--Eric

 

[Bill Carlyle]

I have been full timing for 21 years and have had nothing but

1 Avion trailer, 3 Avion 5th wheels and now a 2005 Mobile Suite, 36 ft. I have had several friends who owned Travel Supremes and they were really nice 5th wheels. I liked the drawers that were solid wood. They did not cut corners. Of course all of that makes then heavy.



Bill

 

[Bill Carlyle]

Eric:



Tell us a little more about the Sabre Trailer. Who makes them.



Bill

 

[Grizzly]

Wow, I wish I would've seen this thread sooner!



I got married 6 weeks ago, and we're planning a 24 day extended honeymoon to Alaska in July.



I just purchased a 2011 Sabre 31RLDS last week. George, Harvey, do you have any information on these units? Most of the Sabres are fifth wheels, but I got the bumper pull travel trailer.



Anxiously awaiting info...



--Eric

I couldn't find anything on a 2011 Sabre 31RLDS . Who is the manufacture?

 

[HBarlow]

Wow, I wish I would've seen this thread sooner!

I got married 6 weeks ago, and we're planning a 24 day extended honeymoon to Alaska in July.

I just purchased a 2011 Sabre 31RLDS last week. George, Harvey, do you have any information on these units? Most of the Sabres are fifth wheels, but I got the bumper pull travel trailer.

Anxiously awaiting info...

--Eric

Eric,

Sorry, I can't help you either. I'm not familiar with that name. Read the manufacturer's name off the VIN decal or other source and post it for us.

I hate to offer this comment but I think it is true . . . several of us here have been RVing for a very long time and I don't think we've heard of the name you mentioned. I started with truck campers in the late '60s (I was only in my 20s) and bought my first travel trailer in 1973. I've owned Fleetwoods, a park model whose brand name I've forgotten, a Kit, several Airstreams, an Avion, a Travel Supreme fiver, and now a NuWa HitchHiker.

 

[HookMeUp]

Sabre is manufactured by Palamino which a division of Forest River RV. We looked at one over the weekend seemed to be well built. Quality cabinets and finishes.

 

[ENafziger]

Sabre is manufactured by Palamino which a division of Forest River RV. We looked at one over the weekend seemed to be well built. Quality cabinets and finishes. <!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Yes, Sabre is the highest model produced by Palamino... and I think Palamino is an offshoot of Forest River. I know very little about RV's, but chose the Sabre beacuse of the full superstructure, higher quality cabinets, etc.

Here is the website on the 2010's... I haven't seen anything out yet for '11.
Sabre Fifth Wheels by Palomino

Thanks, Eric

 

[HBarlow]

Forest River is an umbrella company with several units that makes and sells a lot of RVs. They are not noted for high quality or high resale value.

 

[Grizzly]

Palamino has been around for many years and it's primary unit was a fold down or a tent trailer. The manufacture was or may still be, Van Guard US. They much later started producing 5th wheels, still under the manufacture name of Van Guard. The last entry in my RV Consumer Group guide for Palamino is of the 2002 model, which is a 2 star rated. Reliability and Value are it's worst values and Highway Control is good. No mention is made of Forest River as the manufacture.

 

[ENafziger]

2 star rated. Reliability and Value are it's worst values and Highway Control is good. No mention is made of Forest River as the manufacture. <!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Interesting... well, I guess it could be worse! :-laf

We were primarily looking for something just to take for a month to Alaska, and then possibly re-sell. Due to cost, I was looking for something used, but not TOO used . Interest rates on a used RV loan were 13% at my bank though, and used units (2003 - 2008) for the Sabre I found were between 22k and 35k.

I found a special at a local Credit Union for 3. 09% on a "new" loan. Immediately after seeing that, I found this 2011 model Sabre that had an MSRP of 42k. An offer for 25. 5k was accepted, so I bought it.

I selected the Sabre because it was the high end model of what Palomino makes, offered fully welded aluminum superstructure, mortise and tenion cabinetry, diamond plate aluminum on the front to prevent rock damage, and Trailair Equa-flex suspension.

I guess it's too late to turn back now! It does have 15" tires on it. I'll look tonight and see if they're "ST" or not. The unit weighs 11,100 fully loaded, and comes with 1 spare.

Should I seriously consider getting a couple extra spares, or buying 5 new 16" wheels and tires?

Thanks for the help...

--Eric

 

[HBarlow]

Sounds like you bought it discounted anyway.

You can be sure the tires are ST.

I made the Alaska trip summer of 2004 with my old '01 Ram pulling an '87 Avion 32' with 15" wheels and tires and NO spare tire. I was using Michelin P225/75R15 SUV tires on the trailer. I didn't get a single rock chip or flat tire during the entire journey.

I did find the left rear on the trailer soft with a nail showing during a stop and squirted it with a spray can of flat repair and pulled it on to the next town where I had a flat repair done.

You should have no problem with a new trailer.

 

[Grizzly]

Interesting... well, I guess it could be worse! :-laf



We were primarily looking for something just to take for a month to Alaska, and then possibly re-sell. Due to cost, I was looking for something used, but not TOO used . Interest rates on a used RV loan were 13% at my bank though, and used units (2003 - 2008) for the Sabre I found were between 22k and 35k.



I found a special at a local Credit Union for 3. 09% on a "new" loan. Immediately after seeing that, I found this 2011 model Sabre that had an MSRP of 42k. An offer for 25. 5k was accepted, so I bought it.



I selected the Sabre because it was the high end model of what Palomino makes, offered fully welded aluminum superstructure, mortise and tenion cabinetry, diamond plate aluminum on the front to prevent rock damage, and Trailair Equa-flex suspension.



I guess it's too late to turn back now! It does have 15" tires on it. I'll look tonight and see if they're "ST" or not. The unit weighs 11,100 fully loaded, and comes with 1 spare.



Should I seriously consider getting a couple extra spares, or buying 5 new 16" wheels and tires?



Thanks for the help...



--Eric

Eric, I did't mean to make you feel bad, that wasn't the intend. Your 2011 trailer is a long time from a 2002, which is an 11 year gap and I'm not sure who the manufacture of you trailer is. They don't put mortise and tenon cabinetry and diamond plate aluminum on the front of cheap trailers. The best way to find out of the quality of your trailer is to look and see where the axles and frame were made and the brand name. If it has Dexter axles and running gear and American frame, that would be a big plus. If it's made by Forest River, it's a minus. My son has a 2000 Forest River, which he does have problems with, but on a two week trip and a weekend fishing trip it does okay. My RV Consumer Group guide only goes to 2008. Your TT could have a better rating.



Changing the subject to making a trip to Alaska in 24 days. Don't bother to take a camera because you won't have time to take even one picture. You'll be driving 20 hours a day. I know, my wife and I have drove the Alcan Hwy twice, 11K miles round trip. The Alcan is much improved from our first trip in 1995, so an extra tire may not be necessary. I can assure you that they are ST tires and may not last long and you can not get LT tires for 15" rims. You'd be much better off if you could get 16" rims and LT tires. Even in 1995 many bumper pull trailers had problems with breaking their hitches. Avoid rough highways like the Top of the World Hwy from Whitehorse to Dawson City in the Yukon and on to Chicken and then on to Tok. Best way to do that trip is with a slide in truck camper, which is what we did in 2006. If I can be of any help with your Alaska trip, let me know.



george

 

[HookMeUp]

Forest River & Palamino are owned by Berkshire Hathaway Company. When we looked at the Sabre last weekend I was sold on it. They do have an option to upgrade to 6,000 lb axles and 16" tires. For a 5th wheel that is in the upper 20's to mid 30's I think it is a great bargain.

 

[Bill Carlyle]

Eric:



































Eric: Go to Alaska and enjoy the trip but try to take more time. I'm like George, don't rush up there and back just to say you have been there. We had a friend that went to the Grand Canyon, looked over the side and came back just to say he had been.



Bill

 

[Bill Carlyle]

Eric

I seeyou are from Knoxville. Jim Anderson, TDR writer lives in the Dandridge area and is a good friend of mine. He has been to Alaska twice that I know of. Maybe you know him from

 

[ChrisOlson]

Eric
Good luck with your Purchase... . I have a Junky old no resale value 2001 Forest river Toyhauler... That I love and is BULLET PROOF(see my earlier posts in this thread) However the upper echelon here do not share the same love for the poorly built Forest river. low Quality Prouducts. Enjoy your RV, have fun use common sense, and if you can afford it up grade to the 16 inch tires and wheels load range E and if you come to Juneau AK, look me up and we can compare notes on our Proletariat class RV, and enjoy a frosty Beverage together. Have A great Trip

Chris