My Sons In The Market For Fifth Wheel (New)

[HBarlow]

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BTW Harvey, did you know that Travel Supreme is now making the new high end Jayco? Well, the dealer was telling me that anyway, I don't know it for certain.

Rusty answered before I saw your post.

As Rusty indicated, Jayco purchased TS's buildings and land in Wakarusa, IN along with the rights to build the TS products. I visited the plant a few months after Jayco bought it, curious to see what Jayco was going to build and how it would be priced. At the time I owned a '95 Travel Supreme and was interested in a replacement. Production was not going on at the time, IIRC. All they had to show was the brochures and some lofty rhetoric. I think they built a few trailers that were basically Travel Supremes with a Jayco label. They apparently didn't sell very well and Jayco halted production very quickly.

Very few if any fivers were built for a year or two but my understanding now is that Jayco is building fifth wheels at the TS plant again. I think Jayco is building a small number of upscale fifth wheels apparently using TS's old plans.

Jayco's "luxury" fivers are priced at far under TS old price structure so I doubt it is actually the same trailer TS built but I haven't seen one.

 

[Powder Extreme]

I know my trailer in the upscale Legacy line was just shy of a 100 grand, I priced one out but decided the Designer would be just fine. Were the Travel Supremes even more money?

Doesn't surprise me that the dealership had the facts mixed up.

Is Jayco's new Pinnacle being built at the T S plant?

 

[HBarlow]

Yeah, the last time I looked at them, a year or two before TS shut their doors, an ordinary middle of the road Travel Supreme had an MSRP of around $135k.

I hooked up to a new top of the line fully loaded Travel Supreme "Select" at a dealer in Irvine (Los Angeles) in '07 and hauled it out to an upscale luxury RV resort in Palm Desert. I think it was 43' long and very heavy. The owner of the transport company I was leased to told me the price tag was $180k. When I went inside to check it out before moving it appeared to have every luxury option I had ever seen or heard of. Granite counter tops, the works.

I don't really know what units are built at the Wakarusa plant. I haven't been back to IN since summer of '08. If I had to guess I would guess that the Jayco branded products like the Designer are probably still built in the Jayco plant in Middlebury and the renamed products like the Legacy are built in Wakarusa in the old TS plant.

I felt at the time Jayco jumped up and bought a luxury brand RV plant just as luxury RV sales were plummeting to zero, Jayco management was carried away with false confidence and making a costly mistake. I doubt they have built and sold enough units out of the old TS plant to make it anywhere near profitable. Luxury RV sales have never recovered from the disaster that occurred in early '07 and I have my doubts that they will.

RV sales have recovered somewhat but the highest volume sales are entry level budget priced units.

 

[Powder Extreme]

180,000? wow! Thats teton territory!

 

[RustyJC]

I believe Jayco shut down the old TS facility and moved the production of the Entegra motorhome line to Middlebury - see HERE. I've heard it's across the street from the Jayco production facility, but I don't know how accurate that info is.



From what I've heard on the RV forums, I don't know that Jayco is building anything from the TS 5th wheel product line - just the TS motorhomes.



Rusty

 

[ACerf]

One of the newest fivers on the market is made by Evergreen RV, it is marketed under the name Ever-lite, Evergreen Recreational Vehicles - Manufacturer of Green Eco-Friendly Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels. This fiver is worth a look at! It is far more advanced in its construction technology, using recycleable materials, that makes it light weight for its size, under 10,000# GVWR for a 32' footer!... Get out of here! Not to mention its not that same old white color that we have seen for years. Many of the RV manufactures have not changed the way they are manufacturing there trailers. Leaving consumers with the same old thing year after year. The Ever-lite is a nice change from the norm, with materials and construction techniques that will make it out last most of the RV's on the market. It is also one of the "Certified Green RV's" out there. If I were in the market for a new Fiver or trailer, it would be one I would seriously consider. I have a dealer near me and I have checked them out and I was very impressed. And at price that all of us can live with. I guarantee your son will be the talk of any campground he takes it in!

 

[ACerf]

I believe Jayco shut down the old TS facility and moved the production of the Entegra motorhome line to Middlebury - see HERE. I've heard it's across the street from the Jayco production facility, but I don't know how accurate that info is.



From what I've heard on the RV forums, I don't know that Jayco is building anything from the TS 5th wheel product line - just the TS motorhomes.



Rusty

Off the subject; But how are you liking that new truck. They sure look nice inside and out! I just wish they would up the HP and torque match the Ford and GM stuff. I remember talking to someone Dodge/Cummins. He told me that they can get 400 Hp and 800# torque with no sweat! You have good taste in fifth Wheel Hitches! Love mine!

 

[RustyJC]

So far, it's been great. No problems at all, and the ride, quietness and luxury features are head and shoulders above our 2002 dually. The 6. 7L and 68RFE with the 4. 10 axle ratio we ordered handle our 5th wheel just fine, and the double overdrive gearing of the 68RFE means it's turning 1600 RPM @ 60 MPH versus 2000 RPM @ 60 MPH with the 2002's NV5600 and 4. 10s.



Rusty

 

[HBarlow]

One of the newest fivers on the market is made by Evergreen RV, it is marketed under the name Ever-lite, Evergreen Recreational Vehicles - Manufacturer of Green Eco-Friendly Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels. This fiver is worth a look at! It is far more advanced in its construction technology, using recycleable materials, that makes it light weight for its size, under 10,000# GVWR for a 32' footer!... Get out of here! Not to mention its not that same old white color that we have seen for years. Many of the RV manufactures have not changed the way they are manufacturing there trailers. Leaving consumers with the same old thing year after year. The Ever-lite is a nice change from the norm, with materials and construction techniques that will make it out last most of the RV's on the market. It is also one of the "Certified Green RV's" out there. If I were in the market for a new Fiver or trailer, it would be one I would seriously consider. I have a dealer near me and I have checked them out and I was very impressed. And at price that all of us can live with. I guarantee your son will be the talk of any campground he takes it in!

The products are probably biodegradable also. When they're junk after a year or two you can park them out back under an old tree and they will dissolve into the soil as natural fertilizer without harming the tree.

Won't cause any further "global warming" either.

No thanks.

 

[ACerf]

Thats what I like; old fashion thinking! Never mine that someone might actually have a better idea. And this is what the RV business needs, fresh thinking out of the box and better products if it going to be good to move forward! Heaven for bid that HBarlow might actually see something better than his HitchHiker... the world would not be the same! :-laf

 

[Grizzly]

One of the newest fivers on the market is made by Evergreen RV, it is marketed under the name Ever-lite, Evergreen Recreational Vehicles - Manufacturer of Green Eco-Friendly Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels. This fiver is worth a look at! It is far more advanced in its construction technology, using recycleable materials, that makes it light weight for its size, under 10,000# GVWR for a 32' footer!... Get out of here! Not to mention its not that same old white color that we have seen for years. Many of the RV manufactures have not changed the way they are manufacturing there trailers. Leaving consumers with the same old thing year after year. The Ever-lite is a nice change from the norm, with materials and construction techniques that will make it out last most of the RV's on the market. It is also one of the "Certified Green RV's" out there. If I were in the market for a new Fiver or trailer, it would be one I would seriously consider. I have a dealer near me and I have checked them out and I was very impressed. And at price that all of us can live with. I guarantee your son will be the talk of any campground he takes it in!

Don't get your hopes up too high on an Ever Lite. They're only rated 2. 5 stars according to RV Consumer Group. They also don't think much of their new green construction methods nor the people that own Evergreen RV.



I'm just throwing a caution flag out there.



george

 

[ACerf]

That is interesting. From what I have read and seen, they look very well built. Better in most case than other RV's out there. That would be to bad if they didn't work out. I still think that the RV industry needs to look at other forms of construction. I still see de-lamination on, so called mid to high line RV's. And that is very sad indeed.

 

[macdaddy]

Thanks for all the help gentlemen.....



I guess were going to check out the Arctic fox line... .



Mac

 

[ACerf]

Don't get your hopes up too high on an Ever Lite. They're only rated 2. 5 stars according to RV Consumer Group. They also don't think much of their new green construction methods nor the people that own Evergreen RV.



I'm just throwing a caution flag out there.



george

After I read your post I decided to check out some reviews of the Ever-lite.

I have to tell you, I have never read more good things about any RV. The owers love them and the customer service from the company. I also checked out several RV Comsumer sites and honestly I did read a bad thing about them there either. There was one site that they wanted me to pay $28. 00 in order to read reviews, but I wasn't sure they had any reviews about the Ever-lite. I don't know what to tell you about this. I have to say they do look good inside and out, better than most out there.

 

[Grizzly]

ACerf, This is what RV Consumer Group has to say about Evergreen RV; The RV industry has finally entered the "Green" movement with the creation of new companies sprouting up with promises to be more fuel-efficient, formaldehyde-free, lighter and easier to tow, etc. One of these new companies is Evergreen Recreational Vehicles, which is based on some of the assets of Pilgrim International. Doug Lantz, formerly of Pilgrim, and now president and CEO of Evergreen, is confident enough in the quality of Evergreen's new Ever-Lite towables that the company can offer three-year warranties. ComposiTek, the wood-free composite material used in construction of the Ever-Lite is part of Evergreen's inheritance from Pilgrim, along with shop tools, office machines, and prototype trailers that were scheduled for marketing by the now-defunct company. We're not totally sure that Ever-Lite is still being built. With all the new "Lites" on the market, another one here or there is almost a ho-hum thing. As is the case with any new and previously untried product from a new company, caution is advised when considering a purchase.



This is JD Gallant of RVCG assessment on the Ever Lite; I like what Evergreen is saying, but I can't seem to trust much coming from Pilgrim -- of whom one of the founders was Dave Hoefer. This innovator of the nineties never built a good trailer -- just a salable trailer. Anyway, prejudices aside, it's too early in the game to guess what Evergreen is up to. With composites the mainstay of their construction, we'll have to just wait and see. But heck, being a tree hugger from way back, I'm really hoping that their Evergreen products are really green.



RV Consumer Group, (RVCG) is the most respected publication on RV's in the industry. It is the bible that every dealer uses to rate an RV. The dealer may not reveal what the guide says about a particular unit if it is not favorable information, but when asked about a Hichhiker or other well rated RV's, they will pull the data right out for you to see.



Hope this helps to clear up the mystery of Evergreen RV's.



george

 

[macdaddy]

Omg!!!!!!!!!

I've seen it all... .



Green RV's?



I don't think so:-{}. That thing would look good being towed by a Ford running on Bio Diesel. Oh and a bunch of solar panels on the roof, and a Obama/Biden 08 sticker on the rear window.



Wimpy construction, wimpy axels and brakes, and Wimpy tires. My god, in my group you would be the biggest joke in camp!!!!



Mac

 

[RVTRKN]

Is it a toy hauler or the standard 5ver your looking for?

 

[macdaddy]

Is it a toy hauler or the standard 5ver your looking for?

Oh Hey Steve. How's it going?



My son and I have just started looking. We would like a fiver!!!!!. Teton Homes,Travel Supreme, and Nu Wa are a little more than he'd like to spend.



We like the Arctic Fox line.



At or under 5 tons empty 30' max (storage).



And please nothing "Green". :-laf



Mac

 

[RVTRKN]

well the Northewoods fivers really look nice the only problem the nearest dealer is inn Escondito which is 100 miles away!



Mac

It will be worth your drive. I would show you mine, but its in Parker AZ. I was impressed with the frame, very stout for it's size.

 

[macdaddy]

It will be worth your drive. I would show you mine, but its in Parker AZ. I was impressed with the frame, very stout for it's size.

Wow!!!. Parker?



Is it sitting outside?. If so how's that thing holding up in the heat?



Mac