Open Road Travel Trailers

[slo-ryde]

Well, I originally started out looking at used Airstream trailers and had a lot of great input from some really fine folks here at TDR. As I was doing research I started looking at other options and to make a long story short, I'm really liking the looks of the new Open Road travel trailers. They seem to be well built and have nice features that would be considered upgrades on most other models I've looked at. I've found some great deals but selection is limited.



The downside is there doesn't seem to be much in the way of feedback on the trailer or the company. Does anyone here have any experience with either one?

 

[Crowhurst]

Slo-ryde, their website at http://www.openroadrvs.com/trailers_std.html tells me the roof is plywood. But it does come with a 20 or 27inch flat screen TV ! I would have different priorities. Nick

 

[Mniver]

Looked at a couple of the 5th wheels at the Cleveland RV show this spring, was very impressed with the quality of the work and the layout of the unit's. Lot of stuff standard on their units that are options on other's. Going to check out the factory the week of the 14th, it's in Middlebury In. (Doing a couple of days of factory tours prior to purchase of new 5th wheel ). Will let you know what my impressions our of their setup.

 

[slo-ryde]

Originally posted by Mniver

Looked at a couple of the 5th wheels at the Cleveland RV show this spring, was very impressed with the quality of the work and the layout of the unit's. Lot of stuff standard on their units that are options on other's. Going to check out the factory the week of the 14th, it's in Middlebury In. (Doing a couple of days of factory tours prior to purchase of new 5th wheel ). Will let you know what my impressions our of their setup.

Mniver, when you visit the factory could you ask them some questions for me? Here's my list:



1. The swivel chairs hit the walls and windows when in use. Is there anything on the drawing board to correct or improve upon this problem?



2. The 2003 models I looked at did not have a ladder for access to the roof. Will this be added to newer (2004) models? I know it can be added after-market but I like to get things factory installed whenever possible.



3. On the dinette booth models the table wobbles a lot, a bracket on the wall that would attach to the underside of the table would reduce most of the movement. Having a wobbly table makes the trailer seem kind of cheesy (read: cheap).



4. The website indicates cabinets are solid wood but the 3 models I looked at had a thin, flimsy panel in the bottom that bowed down under very slight pressure. All the trailers I've looked at use this configuration. It just looks and feels cheap, also worry that it would sag over time. I know weight is a huge concern when building trailers and you have make some concessions to keep them under 5 tons.



5. Can the factory add toppers. Like I said, factory installed is my favorite kind of option.



6. The 318RLDS floor plan (the one I have my eye on) shows a small TV shelf in the bedroom. Could they delete this thing when I order my trailer? I'm kind of big and have never been accused of being graceful. The shelf looks like something I would continually bang my knees on.



7. Do they plan on offering a cold climate package or is the unit already up to par. Some of my favorite places to camp get mighty cold at night.



Thanks!

 

[bombero]

Go to Automate in Los Banos Ca. Tour their factory. They will make you anything you want. When Bill give you a price go down 20%.

 

[Mniver]

Factory Tour

Originally posted by slo-ryde

Mniver, when you visit the factory could you ask them some questions for me? Here's my list:

QUOTE]



Hey Sol-ryde, here's the answers I got from them while I was at the factory:



1. Swivel chairs are free standing, can be moved anywhere so hitting walls shouldn't be a problem. Only time they hit are when they are tied down for transport.



2. Ladder is a factory option that can be added at time of order. Price $160



3. The ones I looked into at the factory had additional bracing and seemed very stable now. Might have been an early design problem.



4. Cabinets still have the same thin, flimsy panels on the bottom and no plans to change them due to weight limitations. I agree about being cheap and weak. Additional bracing underneath would help.



5. No topper avail, factory options very limited (Only 7 avail).

They are:

Alloy/Aluminum Wheels $725

CSA Specs $406

Dual Pane Windows $1415

Free Standing Dinette $N/C

Front Roof Air 11,000 BTU $945

Rear Ladder $160

Recliners $428 per unit



6. This shelf in the one I looked at folded down so hitting it shouldn't be a problem. Forgot to ask it they could just eliminate it during construction.



7. Units come with heated tanks and extra insulation to make 4 season camping possible.



Hope this helps you with your decision.



Mike

 

[Mniver]

Originally posted by Crowhurst

Slo-ryde, their website at http://www.openroadrvs.com/trailers_std.html tells me the roof is plywood. But it does come with a 20 or 27inch flat screen TV ! I would have different priorities. Nick

Crowhurst, after touring a couple of the factory's last week, a rubber roof backed with plywood is actually a pretty strong roof. Some of them only have paneling laminated to a foam and aluminum frame.

 

[Crowhurst]

Mniver, plywood roofs are certainly strong when curved. Strength is not my concern. I have built decks and cabin tops for ocean-going sailing boats over the past 30 years using this construction, preferably using epoxy adhesive and glass cloth laid in epoxy as a sheathing, and with every hole and fastening point edge soaked in epoxy. These procedures are used in high quality wooden boatbuilding. The problem with a rubber coated plywood roof or deck occurs when there is the smallest leak, usually round a fitting like a vent, skylight or wire. The smaller the crack, the greater the capillary action. At sea, at least salt water is a disinfectant, but once rain water gets into plywood you are in trouble. One tiny soft spot round a vent can mean rot over several square meters. There is no way for the plywood to dry out under the coating, so rot continues unchecked. I have spent literally hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars over the past 25 years dealing with these problems. With aluminum or glass reinforced plastic, you only have to fix the leak, not deal with a disintegrating material. IMHO. Nick.

 

[Mniver]

Originally posted by Crowhurst

Mniver, plywood roofs are certainly strong when curved. Strength is not my concern. I have built decks and cabin tops for ocean-going sailing boats over the past 30 years using this construction, preferably using epoxy adhesive and glass cloth laid in epoxy as a sheathing, and with every hole and fastening point edge soaked in epoxy. These procedures are used in high quality wooden boatbuilding. The problem with a rubber coated plywood roof or deck occurs when there is the smallest leak, usually round a fitting like a vent, skylight or wire. The smaller the crack, the greater the capillary action. At sea, at least salt water is a disinfectant, but once rain water gets into plywood you are in trouble. One tiny soft spot round a vent can mean rot over several square meters. There is no way for the plywood to dry out under the coating, so rot continues unchecked. I have spent literally hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars over the past 25 years dealing with these problems. With aluminum or glass reinforced plastic, you only have to fix the leak, not deal with a disintegrating material. IMHO. Nick.

Your right, didn't think of it in that way. Was just thinking about the actual strength of the roof, not the problem you would have with a leak in the roof.

 

[EricBu12]

My dad used to call Open Road Motorhomes "Open Seam" As one time, in the corner of the motorhome, you could see daylight through the corner.....



Look at the Arctic Fox trailers by Nash Built in Oregon. I just bought a Desert fox Toybox. see it in "other" forum Very well built and good construction. My 28' Toybox has 2 reg beds plus the couch and dinette can be beds so sleep up to 6 and lots of storage. Not much outside storage but the regular trailers do...

 

[Mniver]

Originally posted by EricBu12

My dad used to call Open Road Motorhomes "Open Seam" As one time, in the corner of the motorhome, you could see daylight through the corner.....



Look at the Arctic Fox trailers by Nash Built in Oregon. I just bought a Desert fox Toybox. see it in "other" forum Very well built and good construction. My 28' Toybox has 2 reg beds plus the couch and dinette can be beds so sleep up to 6 and lots of storage. Not much outside storage but the regular trailers do...

Don't know who made "Open Road Motorhomes" but this isn't the same company. They have only been in business for about a year and a half. They just built their 1000 unit in Apr/May time frame. Owner used to own a couple of other camper companies but sold them and just decided to start another company. Each to his own on what they want, gotta make up ur own mind based on what you plan to use it for and what you think of it. I have been checking out different manufactures for over 2yrs and have narrowed it dwn to a couple now but still not sold on which one I will go for. Might come down to which dealer will give me the best deal and service after the sale.

 

[slo-ryde]

Re: Factory Tour

Originally posted by Mniver

Originally posted by slo-ryde

Mniver, when you visit the factory could you ask them some questions for me? Here's my list:

QUOTE]



Hey Sol-ryde, here's the answers I got from them while I was at the factory:



5. No topper avail, factory options very limited (Only 7 avail).

They are:

Alloy/Aluminum Wheels $725

CSA Specs $406

Dual Pane Windows $1415

Free Standing Dinette $N/C

Front Roof Air 11,000 BTU $945

Rear Ladder $160

Recliners $428 per unit



Mike

Mniver,

What would CSA specs be?

 

[Mniver]

Re: Re: Factory Tour

Originally posted by slo-ryde

Mniver,

What would CSA specs be?

I have no idea, didn't look to closely at the option sheet till I got back to the campground so didn't ask. It may have something to do with generator installation or prep. I noticed on the Jayco brochure I got when I went on their factory tour that in the option section it has generator prep (CSA) listed on it. That's my best guess.

Mike

 

[Ladders]

Me thinks, if that is possible, that the CSA specs are for the Canadian market. They have different (I believe) window requirements. Could ck this out with a look at some of the Canadian built rigs.



SOTSU!!

\\BF//