Better RV Brands?

[Grizzly]

Hey Grizzly George Does your ratings book list Canadian made units ? Like Travelaire Kustom Koach, Glendale Trilium, General Coach or Triple E. Some Americans like to buy "Made in USA" and some Canadians like to buy "Made in Canada"

Shadrach

I found a Travelaire Kustom Koach, which is a 1 to 3 star rated. I also found a Triple E Emerald, which is a 3 to 3. 5 star rated and a Triple E Topaz, which is a 2 to 3. 5 star rated. Didn't find the others.



george

 

[SHobbs]

It should be very easy to determine what the trailer will cost you optioned as you want it. The trailer price is listed and so are all the options with prices.



You could also email Ed Cox or Orville, both longtime NuWa sales reps, and ask them to price one with the options you list. sales@nuwa.com IIRC.



NuWa is the most professional, helpful, and courteous company I have ever dealt with from top to bottom. Great service department also with prices and service better than any dealer anywhere.



The Santa Fe park RV park is in the Chanute city park right down the street from NuWa. Spaces are free for two nights, $10 after that. Ed Cox is on the city council!

Yeah I saw the prices and might be looking at around $64k out the door according to the website. Who knows the prices may go up or come down by the time I get ready make a purchase. I am planning on touring the facilities in a few months.

 

[HBarlow]

You'll enjoy the visit and tour of the production line at NuWa.

Production is much slower now than it was prior to the economy taking a nose dive so if you want to see an example of the trailer you are considering you might want to communicate with NuWa and coordinate the timing of your visit to make sure you see the model of your choice.

I"m hearing things that suggest the economy is going to take a very serious dip next year. If it happens as predicted NuWa production will probably be halted for a time after ordered units are built and delivered.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks George. Shadrach

 

[Bill Carlyle]

Has anyone heard anything about Trail-Air suspension or 5th wheel pin boxes and do you think they performe well. I now have Mor-Ryde on my 36ft 5th wheel.



Bill

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks George. Shadrach

My pleasure. If have any other questions, ask away.



george

 

[HBarlow]

I think Trail Air products are manufactured by Lippert. Anything with the Lippert name plate on it creates doubt in my mind.

 

[Bill Carlyle]

Harvey



Thanks. If I order another 5th wheel I will keep that in mind.



Bill

 

[SHobbs]

I checked out NuWa's website seems the 2011 models jumped about five grand on some models others were higher. Got to love it when that happens.

 

[AABEN]

Well it looks like there is no one that has a fleetwood I have a Prowler AX-6 = 04 that has over40. 000 miles some of them was acrose I-40 that was very bad. It has ben on top of Graham mountain Coronado N F MT Wrighton Quartzsite and Kofa National Wildlife ridge in AZ. I have had it on some Desert roads that was very wrought. We are snow birds for 6mo at a time also all over TX NM dry camping and it is still a very good trailer. I got 4000 miles out of the Goodyears ST blow out 4 in 4000 miles. Went to Firestone lt and will make a nother run out to CA in Nov then back to IN in April.

 

[Grizzly]

I think Trail Air products are manufactured by Lippert. Anything with the Lippert name plate on it creates doubt in my mind.

Why do you have a problem with the Lippert. They are an American manufacture. They may include parts from across the globe, as all manufactures do. Lippert components are made in Indiana by American labor. Even Teton Homes use some Lippert components, namely Lippert heavy-duty front leveling jacks.



I do agree that Dexter is a better name, but Lippert is not a Chinese knock off.



Northwood Mfg. use Dexter on all Arctic Fox units and they do use Lippert on their less expensive Nash 5er and TT, which has not created a problem for them.



george

 

[Grizzly]

I checked out NuWa's website seems the 2011 models jumped about five grand on some models others were higher. Got to love it when that happens.

Maybe you should consider a HH two or three years old.



george

 

[HBarlow]

Why do you have a problem with the Lippert. They are an American manufacture. They may include parts from across the globe, as all manufactures do. Lippert components are made in Indiana by American labor. Even Teton Homes use some Lippert components, namely Lippert heavy-duty front leveling jacks.

I do agree that Dexter is a better name, but Lippert is not a Chinese knock off.

Northwood Mfg. use Dexter on all Arctic Fox units and they do use Lippert on their less expensive Nash 5er and TT, which has not created a problem for them.

george

Because Lippert builds cheap, flimsy, junk and uses lots of cheap ChiComm components. It makes little difference if cheap, flimsy junk is sourced in US manufacturing plants or Chinese Communist factories.

Have you not heard or read of all the Lippert frame failures that have occurred on fifth wheels using Lippert components? A TDR member described a spring perch weld failing on his Cardinal fifth wheel with Lippert frame as he pulled into a state campground. The axle and spring assembly twisted around under the trailer and disabled it.

I have read of numerous failures of Lippert frames and suspension components on other RV websites.

In 2006, I think, NuWa, in an apparent attempt to improve their ability to compete with the mass-produced junk built in Elkhart, began, for the first time ever, outsourcing frames from Lippert for use on HHII and HH Discover America products with three digit model numbers. A TDR member friend of mine who had previously owned HH fifth wheels warned me about it when I began studying the products. I carefully avoided ordering a DA 329, 339, etc. when I ordered my '07 DA 32LK.

Several HH owners have reported broken welds on spring and shock absorber brackets, broken springs, separated frame components, wheel bearings, etc. on the NuWa Owner's Forum.

NuWa got a lot of bad press over it and quietly dropped Lippert frames and returned to exclusive use of Youngs frames beginning in MY10. NuWa and/or Lippert backed the warranty and satisfied those owners but those units are less desirable among knowledgeable shoppers for good used HH fivers.

NuWa and other premium manufacturers do use some Lippert components such as electric slide and front landing gear hardware because they are mass produced, cheap, and readily available.

NuWa also had some problems with earlier model Lippert bedroom slide hardware but improvements were made. I think mine, built in late '07, actually one of the last few built as MY07, has an improved bedroom slide mechanism and I have had no problems.

 

[SHobbs]

George,



If I choose Hitchhiker it will be a new unit. I am in no hurry right now and will make my decision early next year. Currently I am looking for real estate in South Fork CO so a new fifth wheel has to take the backseat for now.

 

[Grizzly]

Harvey,



I learned thing about Lippert I didn't know. Thank you. Northwood does use Lippert axles on their Nash brand of TT and 5th wheels. but they make their own frames in their La Grande, OR plant. I dont's know what other Lippert components they use.



I did read all the post on the Cardinal 5th wheel failer in a campground. However, for all we know it could have been Forest River that welded the spring perch that failed.



I'm just glad that I have Dexter axles, but who know if Arctic Fox may have installed some Lippert components on my 5er. After all the world famous Teton's have some Lippert components.



george

 

[Grizzly]

George,



If I choose Hitchhiker it will be a new unit. I am in no hurry right now and will make my decision early next year. Currently I am looking for real estate in South Fork CO so a new fifth wheel has to take the backseat for now.

Good decision, I have a good friend who has a home in South Fork and lives there in the summer. The other half of the year he and his wife live in Cedar Crest, which is in the Sandia Mountains just east of Albuquerque.



Another place I like is Creed, not too far from South Fork.



george

 

[HBarlow]

Grizzly,

I would be willing to bet that the Nash, a lower priced product, uses Lippert frames as well as unspecified "Lippert components. "

NuWa didn't announce or brag about their use of Lippert frames and running gear when they made that decision either but explained it with the claim that "Lippert frames are made to NuWa specifications. "

I saw several Lippert frames parked in a storage lot near NuWa in Chanute along with quality Young's frames. Young's frames were clearly more substantial and were powder-coated. Lippert frame members didn't appear as robust and the running gear was Chicomm instead of Dexter. Lippert frames were half-axx painted and already rusting before the bodies were built on them. No comparison in quality.

Lippert frames are probably several thousand dollars cheaper than the frames used under the higher priced Arctic Fox.

 

[Grizzly]

Grizzly,



I would be willing to bet that the Nash, a lower priced product, uses Lippert frames as well as unspecified "Lippert components. "



NuWa didn't announce or brag about their use of Lippert frames and running gear when they made that decision either but explained it with the claim that "Lippert frames are made to NuWa specifications. "



I saw several Lippert frames parked in a storage lot near NuWa in Chanute along with quality Young's frames. Young's frames were clearly more substantial and were powder-coated. Lippert frame members didn't appear as robust and the running gear was Chicomm instead of Dexter. Lippert frames were half-axx painted and already rusting before the bodies were built on them. No comparison in quality.



Lippert frames are probably several thousand dollars cheaper than the frames used under the higher priced Arctic Fox.

No, Northwood Mfg. does make their own frames for Nash and Arctic Fox. I've been told that by three of their reps and by several Nash owners who have toured their plant. I've also read that on the Northwood Rv Owners Association Website.



george

 

[HBarlow]

That's a bit hard to accept. Why would a manufacturer who apparently strives to build good products put cheap Lippert/ChiComm sourced running gear on one line instead of Dexter? The price differential and savings could not amount to more than a couple hundred dollars, if that. We're only talking about a pair of axles, four lef springs, and four loaded backing plates. Big manufacturing companies don't ordinarily risk their reputation and their warranty claims budget for such a measly savings.

Are you certain Arctic Fox actually has a building where they manufacture their own frames? Many, perhaps most, of the factories do not actually build their own.

As long as NuWa has been building fifth wheels, which date back to the early '70s I think, they have purchased sturdy, quality frames from Young's Welding which is less than one mile away in the same industrial park south of Chanute, KS. The frames are ordered JIT (just in time) as factory build dates are scheduled for specific dealer or customer orders from the NuWa plant.

 

[Grizzly]

Harvey, click on this video. That ought to convince you that Northwood Mfg. makes their own 12" I beam frames in their La Grande, Oregon plant.



As far as why Northwood Mfg. uses Lippert axles on their Nash and Dexter on their Arctic Fox, I don't know, but they tell me they have had no problems with them. I also read the same thing from their Nash Owners Association Website.



george