RV manufacturers update?

[GAmes]

This wasn't a case of poor welding. Inferior construction material.

 

[bcbender]

WOW.... Just wow.. ya that is NG for sure.

The pinbox on my 5er (when I pulled it off) was very thin (1/8th maybe,,,) China steel im sure. Amazing they can use it for 15.5k lbs... Glad my new Goosebox is 1/4 plate.. but doesn't matter when its attached to something like that.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Lippert builds what the RV company wants, Light and Cheap usually.

I should have issues if anyone should. I have a 6k pin and my RV weighs 24k, well over what the spec is.

Difference is it's made to DRV's standards.

 

[GAmes]

WOW.... Just wow.. ya that is NG for sure.

That was one end of the fore & aft frame that hold the pinbox. Here's the other side and the other ends.

 

[GAmes]

Had it gusseted and reinforced.

 

[Wiredawg]

Had it gusseted and reinforced.

View attachment 126823

Nice Job! Glad you found it before there was a disaster.

 

[GAmes]

On our next trip I stopped for fuel in El Paso and found out what a flexing frame can cause.

Some redneck repairing, then sold to a guy who just wanted a trailer to park and live in, not a traveler.

 

[GAmes]

Nice Job! Glad you found it before there was a disaster.

I have a good friend who is a welder. Working over his head made the job very difficult. Normally his welds are visually perfect.

 

[bcbender]

All good things to be looking for when shopping used. although you cant see all the supports, on many you can check around the pin box for cracks, ofcourse those look like they were farther back and hidden.

 

[GAmes]

I bought the trailer new. The first hint of failure was the nose of the trailer bobbing up and down when I hit rough road.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have been satisfied with my little 21' Airstream for over 25 years.

 

[endoscott]

Those are really beautiful trailers, but no slideouts (and they don't make 5th wheel versions). That was a dealbreaker for us as we were spending several weeks to months at a time in our trailer, so we just really wanted a big slideout in the living area. The AF was next best for us, but Airstreams have a lot to recommend them. It's a lot like boats. Hard to find one particular brand or model that checks every box.

 

[GCroyle]

Those are really beautiful trailers, but no slideouts (and they don't make 5th wheel versions). That was a dealbreaker for us as we were spending several weeks to months at a time in our trailer, so we just really wanted a big slideout in the living area. The AF was next best for us, but Airstreams have a lot to recommend them. It's a lot like boats. Hard to find one particular brand or model that checks every box.

Airstream made slide outs from 2000-2009 in 28', 30' and the triple axle 34'. Per AS for a total of 617 units built. They get some stares, didn't know they made slides and can we look inside?

Mine is a 2007 Classic Ltd 30' Slide Out.

If you're looking for one several have popped up via Airforums classified ads. Not sure if this link will work or not. https://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/search?page=1&c=28&cf[101]=Airstream&years=2000-2009

The factory in Jackson Center OH recently completed a $40M 750,000 sq/ft additional factory to build them in.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have been satisfied with my little 21' Airstream for over 25 years.

My kids would get so excited when they saw an Airstream. They would say "Dad look there goes a Silver Turd".

They really are nice RV's.

 

[endoscott]

What kinds of problems led them to quit making the slideouts anyway? Leak problems or something? I didn't know there were several model years where you could get slideouts. Never seen one. Now that I am looking I will probably notice one somewhere. They are definitely built for the long haul, that's for sure.

 

[GCroyle]

endoscott,

Not 100% sure why but sales numbers we got from The Mothership, AKA the factory show that in the last year of production in 2009 they sold 13 units compared to the peak in 2004 of 138 units says a bunch. Didn't RV sales in general tank about that time?

The slide has a wiper seal on 3 sides and 2 D profile compression seal when extended or retracted positions. Pretty sure the slide on all models has a Zip Dee awning covering it too.

I watch for slide issues on the forum and a few electrical things pop up bot I've never seen or read of any slide being pulled for service. Not sure what years had this but mine has travel locks that lock the slide very securely when retracted.

It's a rainy dreary day here, not much going on but here's a slide show of a small rally I organized? in 2018 focusing on the Airstream Slide Out models. One pic shows four slides in a row. We also had a 34' triple axle and a few non slide models came too.

 

[endoscott]

Thanks for the great vid! Beautiful country. Yeah, it's hard to beat an Airstream in a lot of ways. We came close, but we got such a great deal on a used AF 24-5N from a couple in New Mexico. He was an engineer and took awesome care of it, always under cover, and original owner. We still have that for our short trips. It tows so easily and we can fit it in just about anywhere.

 

[Ozymandias]

If they wouldn't be so horrible expensive I'd love to buy one of these. But triple the price for half the space of a standard trailer is way out of reach.

 

[tommyturbo]

It appears my current Arctic Fox 5th wheel is sold, so I'm in the market for another RV. It's been years since I bought the current unit so if anybody has any suggestions on manufacturers to stay away from, I'd appreciate it. I know in the past anything from Keystone or Forest River was pretty much junk. Even the newer Arctic Fox units seem more cheaply constructed. Looking for units in the 29 to 32 ft. range and either 5th wheel or bumper pull. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

wyosteve. I agree with the posters that Pre 2008 were overall fair quality with all brands. Some owners were luckier than others even
with the "avoid" brands. I also agree with the Nash family RV's such as Outdoors RV as of better quality. I believe all manufacturers
after the recession got super cheap in construction and labor. The only things I would suggest to lookout for when shopping are checking
out the undercarriage and frame. Make sure the frame and A frame are robust. If you are looking for a 29-32 ft. it might have 6 lug
15" wheels and "China Bomb" tires. See if you have room and spacing to swap with 6 lug 16" wheels and quality tires. Outdoors RV
has this set up standard and also with heavy duty suspension and spring hangers. The other posters are giving you plenty of additional
suggestions for your shopping. Other posters are also letting you know their first hand ownership experience. It is my turn to
go over my ownership story too. It is because of Games reply with his experience with his 5th wheel frame fiasco that I am replying
to this thread at all. Our first trailer, a Keystone Pioneer 21T bought new in 2003 did fine and everything worked and towed with a 2003
Ram 2500 2WD 5.7. Towed directly on the ball hitch. After the 5th season we found that the floor dry rotted. Next, bought a used 2008
Forest River Cherokee 25KS double slide in 2009. The tongue weight was a heavy 1200 lbs. It was a perfect match for our new 2008 CTD.
The next nine seasons had no issues except for the early "China Bomb" blowouts. Everything worked fine. Nice and solid towing.
It was time to plan retiring and to keep the shop open long enough to finance one last trailer. We were real picky shopping and we
found a trailer with a floorplan and features better that our elegant Cherokee. We then bought a 2018 Winnebago 27RBDS. We
didn't buy because of the name brand but only because of the floorplan and features. Towing home from the dealer revealed the first issue.
The front of the trailer was bobbing up and down behind the tailgate over bumps. Our 2008 Cherokee was always solid.
The first towing season traveling over rough roads caused the A frame to bend up about 1.5". We would arrive at the campsite
with the range hood partially hanging down, window valence screws pulled out, under sink drain plumbing loose and window
blinds coming loose. This is from the A frame acting like a spring and porpoiseing. Winnebago said it was from road hazard
and denied warranty. I never thought to look for frame integrity when shopping. I assumed all trailers had frames designed
to compliment the trailer. The Cherokee had a 2X8 A frame and the Winnebago has a 2X5 A frame made by BAL from Norco
Industries. We are looking to still have the A frame reinforced some time to control the bobbing up and down.
Next is the totally inferior LCI quality throughout. Everything seems to fall apart. At the first camping the main water line burst
and flooded the underbelly. Evidently the water line was improperly routed over a frame member right next to a cotter pin
on the slide out screw. When we extended the slide out, the revolving cotter pin chewed through the hose. The roof leaked
over the overhead bedroom storage and rotted our blankets and the wood frame all the way down to the outside storage
compartment. The toilet constantly leaked. All this within the first year and a half. It was after all this that I realized that
I made a mistake and didn't arm myself with a proper shopping checklist. Even though the frame is not reinforced as of
yet, all other repairs are done and we still like the trailer with all the features and upgrades. Its a perfect trailer for us even
with the quality issues.
Tommyturbo

 

[endoscott]

For $50 anybody buying a new trailer should digest this. It rates every make and model going back several years. Totally worth it.