Holiday Rambler Alumascape TT Opinions

[jgillott]

I have been actively searching for a used travel trailer for a little while now. I ran across a 2000 Holiday Rambler Alumascape 29FKS on craigslist today that sparked my interest. From my discussion with the owner, it appears to be in very good condition and well cared for. I have absolutely no background with the Holiday Rambler line. Any opinions or insight or areas to look for if I would seriously consider it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I had a 1988 Holiday Rambler Alumalite that I bought new. It was a well built unit and was still in good shape when I traded it for a HitchHiker in 1998.



The Alumascape is built the same way as my older one. They are quite solid and the aluminum framework is high quality. I wouldn't be concerned as long as the appliances and tanks are all working well. Other things to check are the brakes and suspension. My original Holiday Rambler did wear out the suspension linkage in a couple of years. If it doesn't have the heavy duty greaseable suspension, it is not very expensive to upgrade.



Tires should also be replaced if they are more than 5-6 years old.

 

[jgillott]

How would I identify wear in the suspension linkage? I know on the older Airstreams, you could tell by how low the fender well hung down over the tires.

 

[NIsaacs]

Just use your eye, sight along the center of the shackle bolts and the center of the spring bushing. If it is used up, the spring center will be lower or higher than the bolt center, depending on how the weight is carried on the system.



The quality of the running gear is only a small part of the expense of the total unit. Even if you replace the complete system the dollar amount is only a fraction of the cost of the unit. It's rare for most travel trailers to be pulled enough to use up this part of the trailer.



Nick

 

[JMetzger]

We have a 96 32ft Alumalite Travel Trailer that has over 100,000 miles on it. Been across country 10 times plus many short trips. The only thing I have done is brakes, tires, suspension, painted end caps, replaced mattress & replaced the AC. The trailer still looks good & interior is good. Has been a great trailer. We have talked about buying an Alumascape several times but we look at our 96 & it is paid for & in good shape. I do not think you would have any problems with it. By the model # I think it is a front kitchen with slide. Ours is a front kitchen & my wife likes the front kitchen.

 

[HBarlow]

The Holiday Rambler product dates back to the early '50s. It was a popular and upscale trailer into the '90s. They were once a competitor to the Airstream and probably had similar sales figures.

As the '80s arrived RVer's interest began shifting to fifthwheels and all the cheap trailer manufacturers entered the market causing the better built trailers like HR to lose sales. HR shifted their main focus to motorhomes and built thousands of high quality mhs as trailer sales slowed. HR still built good trailers but the company was caught with several hundred completed or almost completed $200k to $400k motorhomes on their storage lot in Wakarusa, IN when the economy tanked in 2007. HR went under. I'm not certain but I don't think they survived.

A clean used HR is still a good buy in a conventional or fifthwheel trailer. I think the Alumascape was a downscale product in the HR line built with slightly lesser quality and lighter weight to compete with the cheap crap coming out of Elkhart and other locations. They are still good trailers if they were maintained.

The suspension is nothing to worry about. You can buy new leaf spring packs for probably less than $100 per spring and all the shackles and hardware for another couple hundred at worst. Any good trailer repair shop, not an RV dealer, can inspect, service, and replace it if necessary.

Appliances like air conditioner, refrigerator, furnace, and water heater are important to the price you'll pay but not really important. All RV appliances are made by one of two or three manufacturers and are generic to RVS. A/Cs, refrigerators, furnaces, water heaters, water pumps, etc. can all be purchased new in the RV industry and retrofitted. I have intentionally replaced all appliances in previous trailers I've bought used.

The issues to be concerned about are roof and roof edge seams, end cap seams, air conditioner and roof vent seals, and windows and doors. If the trailer was used a lot or stored outside in the weather, seam caulking will shrink and crack leaving open seams for rain or snow melt intrustion. If this problem is allowed to continue you'll find rot in wall framing, end cap framing, and floors. If the damage is extensive, the trailer can be junk.

Fresh water tanks and plumbing as well as waste water and sewer tanks are important because they could have been damaged by failure to properly winterize trailers and are hard (not impossible) to find for out of production older RV units.

My advice would be to check operation of all appliances and systems with the trailer hooked up to power and water, water in the fresh water tank, etc. If you aren't capable of inspecting for water intrusion damage pay an RV service department an hour or two of labor to inspect it and report findings in WRITING.

If in good shape and priced right that HR could make a very nice RV for you. I would buy it over any new Keystone, or other cheapo brand trailer.

 

[RustyJC]

HR went under. I'm not certain but I don't think they survived.

HR was a division of Monaco RV, who went bankrupt in 2007 or 2008. They were acquired by Navistar, as were other RV-related companies such as Workhorse (the old GM chassis division who had been spun off). The "new Monaco" is a different company from the "old Monaco" - warranties on "old Monaco" units, even though they may still have been in effect, were not honored. I don't know how good the "new Monaco's" tech support and parts supply is on the "old Monaco" units.



Rusty

 

[HBarlow]

Yeah, you're right. I had forgotten recent history.

Holiday Rambler was a stand alone company for many years. HR existed long before Monaco Coach, the motorhome manufacturer bought HR out.

 

[jgillott]

The trailer is approximately 2 hours away from me and I'm hoping to get there to take a look at it this weekend. Apparently this trailer was purchased new by the owner and has been stored indoors at his business all year when not in use. The pictures he sent me are absolutely beautiful. It looks as new as can be for a 2000. I'll try and attach a few tonight to this thread for you all to look at closer.



He claims that everything works as it should. 4 new tires (I don't know what brand or size). He claims that the bearings and brakes have about 2000 miles on them since they were done last year. His asking price is $12K including hoses, WD hitch, etc. It's much more than I've seen others go for, but I don't know if that is out of the question considering the condition. A quick NADA search showed base average value without any options somewhere in the $7500-$8000 range in our area.

 

[HBarlow]

Age and summer heat can still shrink and dry caulk and it ages naturally regardless of temps so you'll still need to inspect seam seals and caulking.

Only you can decide if the trailer is worth 50% more to you than NADA book. A new cheap brand trailer in a similar size can be purchased by a savvy consumer in the mid-teens. I would buy the HR instead of a new cheap box but the asking price is pretty high regardless.

 

[Grizzly]

A 2000 Holiday Rambler Alumascape 29FKS is only rated 2 stars on the RV Consumer Group. Reliability is good, Value is average, but Highway Control is poor.



I purchased a new HR Alumalite 29' 5th wheel in 1988. The trailer was great on weekend and two week vacation trips. In 1995 we set off to Alaska with it and my brand new 95 Dodge dually with 2000 miles on the clock. The truck of course was great with no problems, other than broken windshield. The 5er suffered axles and tire problem almost from the get go. I had to have one axle and two tires replaced on the return trip. As soon as we got home from our two month, 11K mile trip, I had the other axle and the other two tires replaced by a very competent RV shop. Most of the running gear was also replaced.



The service manager told me that Holiday Rambler was a great trailer, but the running gear were just too light for the weight. My 29' was not a particularly heavy trailer because it did not have slideouts. The tires were only 15" ST.



Hope this helps, george

 

[HBarlow]

I think the trailer the op is considering is a conventional 29' front kitchen so it should be acceptable on 15" wheels and tires and the light weight 5,000 axles it is on.

I agree when the issue is fifthwheel trailers. I believe any fifthwheel is too heavy on 15" wheels and tires and owners will experience the same result as Grizzly did.

 

[Grizzly]

Very true Harvey, but the rating I quoted is for the Alumascape 29FKS, which is a TT. The poor Highway Control is due to a weak running gear.



My experience was a 5th wheel, which also had a weak running gear for it's size and weight.

 

[TLane]

I had a 1992 HR 32CBFK (Center Bath, Front Kitchen). The front kitchen is great for cabinet space, it also means you're loading a lot of weight up front which will add to the tongue weight, and generally increases stability. I don't think I had any more problems with mine that is typical for an RV, we replaced the refrigerator after about 15 years and the toilet after about 14 years. The refrigerator wouldn't cool below about 50 degrees, and we decided on replacement rather than repair. The toilet developed a leak in the water valve and rather than fix that part we replaced the plastic one with a new porcelain bowl style toilet. I had a few things come loose that had to be re-fastened, but overall I was very satisfied with the trailer.

We would have kept it longer but wanted a trailer with a slide-out (more living room space).

 

[JMetzger]

I was just on their web site & they do not even make the Presidential FW or TT anymore. I think that like Harvey says that they are now making what I would call low end trailers to compete with the rest of the low end RV's. Glad I still have mine. May be old like me but in great shape. I don't know if anyone remembers but HR use to be owned by Harley Davidson. Mine was the last year that HD owned them.

 

[Grizzly]

Looks like the last HR Presidential made was in 2010, according to RV Consumer Group. The following is a commentary by RVCG staff;



Holiday Rambler opened its doors in 1953 as a manufacturer of travel trailers. in 1961, they were the first to introduce the all-aluminum Alumaframe superstructure to the RV industry. Aggressive innovators, they were also among the first to add slideouts to their RVs. Eventually, the company diversified into motorhomes and high-line fifth wheels with great success. Then, in 1986, Harley-Davidson Corporation purchased Holiday Rambler. Ten years later, Monaco Corporation acquired them from Harley.

In 2009, faltering under difficult economic conditions and decreased consumer demand, Monaco Corporation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. April 2009 brought the news that Monaco was poised to sell virtually all its manufacturing assets to the giant corporation Navistar Inc. Production, however, was slated to continue for all Monaco's RV divisions, including Holiday Rambler.

 

[jgillott]

Thanks for the responses so far. You've given me a lot more to consider.



Here are a few pictures of the trailer I am talking about.



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[HBarlow]

It looks good in the photos. Only you can decide if its worth close to the asking price.

 

[Ghosterbear]

I have a 2004 34SKQ 5th wheel by Holiday Rambler and have put over 30K on it with no problems except we finally had to replace the original tires last year.
I understand that Navistar is making the Alumascape trailers and are considering making only the Holiday Rambler Presidential in the 34SKQ model (4 slides).
We recently needed a part and were able to order it through Holiday Rambler/Navistar.
There is still a very active Holiday Rambler Club that is a great resource for info and parts. My understanding from club members is that the quality of the new trailers is good but many of the Standard features of old are now "options"
Check out the roof sealant and appliances etc. if they are good the older Holidays are usually a good buy.
You might look on rvsearch.com for other used units. WE bought our 5th from a guy in Ohio for wholesale price in like new condition.

 

[jgillott]

We haven't had much snow this winter and of course we would have to get a storm today. So, I didn't get out to look at it in person today as planned. Hopefully I can get there in the next few days.