Better RV Brands?

[Yo Hoot]

The current owner "George" said he just put a new set on due to dry rot. I asked what kind. He said he had the RV place put them on... regular trailer tires. So I guess they'll do for now unless they are total junk. I'll see when I look at it.

Thanks George.

 

[RVTRKN]

Many thanks to all of the good people here helping us all out in our decision making. I am getting ready to make my first RV purchase ever. Based on what I've learned, I'm zooming in on a used 2005 Nash 26X. I did notice it comes with 16" wheels from the factory.



The problem is it's about a 170 miles from here... ... 3 hrs.



I've talked to the fellow on the phone and am trying to get a feel for the model, condition and final price. I guess I'll come to a decision, make the deal by phone and head up there. If it doesn't suite me, I'll just pass on it.



Maybe next week



Mike



BTW: What frames does Northwood use?

I drove 2K miles round trip for my 05 33. 5v Actic Fox I bought in 09, it was worth the trip.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Yea you know 170 miles each way is like going next door for an RV. As long as it's not a surprise POS. From the 4 pics I got it looks pretty clean. They went to Fla once only so not alot of road miles.

 

[Grizzly]

We drove over 1000 miles, one way to pick our brand new 2008 Arctic Fox 5th Wheel in Pinehurst, Idaho. We made a long vacation out of it. As soon as we got it home, I took the 5er to Discount Tire and had them change out all five tires to Michelin XPS Rib LT tires. I brought the 5 ST tires home and sold them on Craigslist.



Yo Hoot, I'd still change them out to good LT tires and sell the ST's on Craigslist.



george

 

[Yo Hoot]

We drove over 1000 miles, one way to pick our brand new 2008 Arctic Fox 5th Wheel in Pinehurst, Idaho. We made a long vacation out of it. As soon as we got it home, I took the 5er to Discount Tire and had them change out all five tires to Michelin XPS Rib LT tires. I brought the 5 ST tires home and sold them on Craigslist.



Yo Hoot, I'd still change them out to good LT tires and sell the ST's on Craigslist.



george

I will do that!

 

[Bill Carlyle]

I took one of my Avion 5th wheels to Huntsville, Ala. from the Tampa, Fla. area to trade and we enjoyed the trip. My latest 2005 Mobile Suite we purchased in Springdale, Ar.



Bill

 

[Newt]

I think you'll be happy with the quality of the Nash. We had an 07 Arctic Fox 25. I think the Northwood products are the best TT for a reasonable price.



Newt

 

[Yo Hoot]

Little more help.

You can see the truck in my sig. That will be the tow vehicle.

The truck is not lifted but I do have a leveling kit that levels the front. The larger tires (35") do raise the truck a bit.

I assume I should have a good weight distributing hitch along with anti-sway? I have a call into the see if he is letting his go with the trailer or will sell it. Any suggestions as to brand and model? I have a Prodigy controller already installed.

The TT GVWR is 10,400, dry hitch 970.

On edit. .

I'm picking it up tomorrow. He is giving me his Reese weight distributing hitch and sway control. It was used on his 2000 3500 GMC truck.


Got it all for $11,500

Low miles perfect condition... no dents, leaks.

2005 Nash 26X (26 foot travel trailer)

Add ons:

Power tongue jack
Dual deep cycle batteries
Brand new tires
Spare tire
Reese weight distributing hitch with sway control
Roof vent covers so you can open vents in rain.

You think I should be able to hitch up and adjust with no problems?

 

[JERRYDODGE]

I pull a Titanium. These have -pointed- nose, and are made in Canada. Very nice units,

Made for the Canadian winters, 3" foam in floors. I would recommend looking at one, if you

can find a dealer...

 

[RustyJC]

I doubt you'll find a dealer since the company (Glendale RV) went bankrupt in January of this year. See HERE.



Rusty

 

[dcoffman]

Hey Harvey,

What brands do not have a Lipperd frame? Everything I have looked at in the last 3 weeks have Lipperd frames. That includes Keystone, Forest River, Jayco, Coachman and Sunnybrook and K-Z.

Thanks

Danny

 

[RustyJC]

Unless something has changed, Jayco uses frames manufactured by Leland Engineering, not Lippert. I've owned three Jaycos, two of them Designer 5th wheels and had no structural problems whatsoever - nor have I had any with my current DRV Mobile Suites, either.



Rusty

 

[Grizzly]

Northwood Mfg. makers of Arctic Fox. Nash and Desert Fox make their own frames in their LaGrande, Oregon plant. My 27' Arctic Fox 5er has a 12" I Beam frame under it.

 

[Bill Carlyle]

I have no problem with my 2005 Mobile Suite. It has 15" steel box tube chassie which allows plenty of room for R29 floor insulation.



My last Avion 5th Wheel a 1998 developed a crack at the back edge of the bedroom slide-out and Fleetwood tried several times to fix it but it kept coming back. I traded it for the Mobile Suite. Have had this for 6 years with no trouble.



Bill

 

[dcoffman]

I like my Jayco just fine,am looking to move up to an 09. I can't afford a Mobile Suite to use on weekends and a little traveling. If I spend that much might as well stay at Hoilday Inn evert time we go somewhere. I talked to 8 Montana owners at Mrytle Beach in the last two weeks and could find one with a problem. I just can't figure the ratings.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Picked up my 2005 Nash 26x yesterday. It really pulls nice but it is heavy. I found out my tire/gear combo isn't optimum. I have 373 gears and 35" tires (auto). At 60/65 mph she lugs at around 1800 wanting to push egt's over 1200-1250 and higher on slight grades. Buddy of mine said those temps are normal just help it out a little if she goes over that with higher rpms. Wow it does use a bit more fuel that's for sure. I discovered this trailer has shock absorbers. I thought it had 16" wheels but it only has 15's.

 

[Grizzly]

I like my Jayco just fine,am looking to move up to an 09. I can't afford a Mobile Suite to use on weekends and a little traveling. If I spend that much might as well stay at Hoilday Inn evert time we go somewhere. I talked to 8 Montana owners at Mrytle Beach in the last two weeks and could find one with a problem. I just can't figure the ratings.

You spoke with 8 Montana owners and only one had a problem, if I'm understanding your post correctly. I find that highly unusual because Montana RV's are only a 2. 5 star rated trailer, which are made by Keystone. I may have already posted what JD Gallant of RVCG has to say about Keystone, but here it is again;



Keystone's highlines don't go very high in my opinion. They are of the class of RVs that look good until you decide they need a closer inspection. Scrutiny works every time. It's easy to sell people on aluminum framing that's laminated into the walls, but what does it really mean? I know it doesn't mean that it's all going to hold together like a house built of brick. Actually, I think this brand is more like a straw house -- it looks good until . . . You get the point. Still, if you really want it, consider the probability that it won't fall apart before its 10th birthday. I think it's a 50-50 gamble. But who am I except an old curmudgeon who' s been studying RV construction for 25 years? Keystone seems to want to put in the good stuff like lauan backing on the walls (called integrated backing), aluminum joists in the floors, steel or aluminum rafters in the roof (Fusion uses wood rafters) , usually EPDM rubber covering the roof but sometimes vinyl, and usually plywood at floor and roof but sometimes OSB. Usually they use standard leaf springs, but now and then with MOR/ryde or EZ Flex. You see, with all these great construction features how could this trailer fall apart? Don't ask me. All I can tell you is that it does.



george

 

[dcoffman]

Yea Grizzly, I know ,I pm'ed you to see what the rating was and you told me what he( JD Gallant) said. My post said could, it should have been "couldn't" find one with a problem. One guy from Ohio had a problem with his awning, but that's A&E's problem. That's why I said I can't figure the ratings. We had an Artic Fox dealer hear but it got to be so expensive to transport them here he gave them up for another brand. I looked at them when he first got them in 5-6 years ago and liked them but wasn't ready to let the Jayco go.

Rusty, you are correct. When I looked at the spec. I saw the big L and didn't continue.

Thanks

 

[Grizzly]

Yea Grizzly, I know ,I pm'ed you to see what the rating was and you told me what he( JD Gallant) said. My post said could, it should have been "couldn't" find one with a problem. One guy from Ohio had a problem with his awning, but that's A&E's problem. That's why I said I can't figure the ratings. We had an Artic Fox dealer hear but it got to be so expensive to transport them here he gave them up for another brand. I looked at them when he first got them in 5-6 years ago and liked them but wasn't ready to let the Jayco go.

Rusty, you are correct. When I looked at the spec. I saw the big L and didn't continue.

Thanks

I know we talked about Montana in our PM'ing back and forth last month. I was just a little surprised you were even talking about them after I had quoted what RVCG had said about them and a little confused with your typo about, "could find" instead of " couldn't find".



Most Jayco's are a good 3. 5 star rated trailer. In addition there are many more good 3. 5 to 4. 5 star rated RV's out there at an affordable price, but stay away from any Keystone, Forest River and Fleetwood trailers. Some of them look very nice with well layed out designs, but beauty is only skin deep. Look beneath the skin and foo foo stuff.



george

 

[juicedcummins]

Grizzly, Whats your take on the Denali made by Dutchmen?

My Sabre by Palomino-Forest River is on its way to the factory for the 2'nd time. It will be gone when it gets back and looking @ trading on a Denali or a Jayco Super-lite.