Who Are The Best RV Travel Trailer Brands And Manufacturers?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ย. 2021
- Before you buy your next new or used RV travel trailer, be sure to watch this video where a certified RV inspector gives you his list of the best quality RV travel trailer brands and manufacturers. With the information in this video, you can find out how to make a good decision about which travel trailer brand will fit you best. So don't miss it!
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As a new buyer of a used travel trailer (1 1/2) year old Grand design. I can't stress how important it is to hire a true Inspector. I didn't and I really regret it. Please pay to have a trailer your going to buy, INSPECTED before taking ownership. P.S. great video, again. Thank you.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us. Hopefully it will be helpful for others who read it here.
Even new ones?
@@Daniel-lz9ps TRUE!
How do you know that you have a true, certified, independent 3rd party inspector?
Happy to see you mentioned Outdoors RV! They usually get overlooked. Although during the pandemic I'm not sure anyone is doing a great job of quality, my 2020 Outdoors RV, built in 2019 has been VERY GOOD! I spent over a year researching brand quality and decided to go with ORV and think I made a very good choice!!
I think you made a very good choice too Winston. I have had several people rave about Outdoors RV to me in the last couple of years. So I am glad to hear that I can add one more experience to that list. Thanks for commenting!
I’d been eyeballing them, too. I’d prefer to see Azdel, and a different charge controller and location in their factory solar packages.
I don’t have one, but I have friends that do. It is definitely a quality RV. They are heavy for their size though, which has some pros and cons
@RVInspectionAndCare I'm looking at a 2014 outdoors rv blackstone anything I should look out for
Glad I watched this. Thanks for your honesty.
Glad it was helpful for you. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for your video. I'll be buying soon and this is great guidance
Hi Russ. I'm so glad that the video has been helpful for you. Thanks for watching and leaving a positive comment too!
This has been so helpful and clarifying! I've just finished your comparison of new and used, fifth wheels and now trailers. I'm looking to purchase a travel trailer/small 5th wheel for an RV park in Arizona as a snowbird. Only camping experience has been in a Ford Transit campervan and I know how everything works, nothing is going to leak etc. I have been concerned about quality in RVs but have definitely got some ideas how to proceed after your videos. May well get them inspected too thank you!
Hi Margaret. Arizona is filled with snowbirds doing what you are about to do. And it's working very well for them. And I'm glad that my videos have been helpful for you. I know that many people are hesitant to spend the extra money for an RV inspection. But I have seen enough major hidden issues that have caused problems for RV buyers to highly recommend that you build in the price of the inspection into your RV buying budget. It's peace of mind that is well worth it IMO. I hope you find the perfect RV for your needs!
Great information. Thank you
Glad it was helpful Angela. Thanks for leaving such a nice comment!
My purchase will be for a seasonal site. For that reason i need to search for something no more than 5 years old. These parks around here don’t want it to be more than 10 years old.
Your info helps narrow down my choices. Thank you.
So glad to hear that this video was helpful for you. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great channel Duane! It's good to see someone who is well qualified helping buyers make educated decisions.
Thanks so much for the positive feedback. It's much appreciated!
Appreciate it man, amazing video. I was looking at an r-pod for my 1997 k1500 but I heard quality was a Problem. I’ll be looking at ones you mentioned. Thank you!
Yes Brandon, Forest River makes R-Pod along with many other brands. Unfortunately their fit and finish are not very good at all. And their record of customer service in the past 6 years or so has been very checkered. So I usually recommend other brands like the ones I mentioned in the video ahead of Forest River products.
Kind of surprised Artic Fox did not make the cut.
Actually you have a good point. Northwood makes the Arctic Fox and you are right that they are also a brand that is known for quality too. Consider that an oversight on my part not to include Northwood in my best brands list. Thanks for catching that Michael!
Agreed. I hav a 2016. Best in class
I know.. Arctic Fox is such an amazing brand. They don’t care about being lightweight or stylish. They care about quality.
Didn’t Arctic Fox have issues with their floor being spongy on their ultra light travel trailers?
@@DirtyRhodesMotorsports that was coachman not Northwood.
Also… Northwood doesn’t do anything ultra light , or kinda light, or any light.
They are custom built chassis
I just happened to come across your video, which I think is very good. I grew up camping and loved it, so when I asked my wife about going, she wasn’t sure about it. So we bought a used unit in good shape. Not perfect, but it was what we could afford. Now, 3 years later we decided to sell it and want to get a “new” travel trailer. The one we just sold was 18 years old and hope to get a brand new one. We have started our research and your video certainly helps. I have never heard of Outdoors RV. Will have to check out what they have to offer. Anyway, thank you for your video and sharing your knowledge.
Hi Steven. Outdoors RV and Northwood are sister companies who both produce very good towable rigs. I'm sure you will like what you find when you check them out. Thanks for watching and I hope you find the perfect RV for your needs!
Very helpful. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful Todd. Thanks for watching!
Bought a Winnebago voyage. 2 years a couple minor problems. Couldn’t be happier
That's great Jay. Thanks for sharing your experience with Winnebago with us!
I definitely agree with your opinion. I've owned 2019 Winnebago 2606 model and great quality unit. I just sold it and my next one is the new Grand Design 315 bumper pull, which I the largest bumper pull from them and definitely need a dually to tow it.
Oh yeah, Winnie does a great job on their TTs and I think you're going to like your new Grand Design too. Just make sure you get inspect it before you take delivery to get all the bugs worked out. These days I say that about all the brands pretty much.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Grand Design will be my 4th travel trailer in last 10 years and I learn my lesson with the first 2 units before Winnebago. Airstream is very nice but costs as much as a house , almost (refereeing to the 33 foot model)
@@emansuciu So true. But Grand Design does build a good product. Just get the kinks worked out before taking delivery.
Our 5 year old Jayco Hybrid was stolen 2 1/2 years ago. Once we settled up with the insurance company I did a ton of research and settled on a Lance 2285. It’s an amazing TT and definitely a step up from our beloved Jayco. The Lance is expensive (not Airstream expensive) but we’ll worth the premium price. Outside of a recall on our Dometic stove it has not caused us a minutes problem. I’d buy it again. No regrets.
You made a great choice Dan. Thanks for sharing your experience about buying a Lance travel trailer with us!
Great video, will you be doing a separate video for Ultralights?
Yes, I have plans on getting to that segment of the RV market in the future. Thanks for making that suggestion too.
We have really enjoyed our 2021 Open Range travel trailer .
Yes it's true, Highland Ridge RV builds Open Range travel trailers and they are a subsidiary of Jayco. And they are very well made TT's too. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
We had an Open Range 319 Light 5th Wheel, with the the 2 opposing 44" slides it was 14ft between the 2 walls, plenty of room. I sure missed that rv. They are hard to find now as Jayco bought out Open Range/Highlander so the model was discontinued.
Thank you!
You're so welcome. Thanks for watching!
Thank you
So glad you enjoyed this video. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank u. Even if it is your option and research. Thank u.
You're most welcome Cheryl. Thanks for watching and leaving a nice comment!
thanks!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video Clinton. Thanks for watching!
You're right that Airstream is the highest quality. But it is 2 to 4X more expensive than a Jayco. Just something to consider.
Quality doesn't come cheap. But not everybody needs the kind of quality that Airstream puts out. So there are lower cost travel trailers that can do the job for much less as you mentioned.
Can you please do a video on best ultra light rv’s to tow behind an suv
That's a great idea Karen. I'll see what I can do. Thanks for suggesting that video subject!
My wife and I love our 2021 Grand Design tt
That's great to hear. We love our Grand Design fifth wheel too. Have safe and happy travels!
I’d love to see this same type of review for adventure trailers like the Encore ROG
I'll see what I can do Scott. Thanks for making that suggestion!
@@RVInspectionAndCare we just pulled the trigger in getting an adventure trailer. They are really starting to take off on sales, and foot for foot are really pricey because of the construction and options.
@@mohnkern what is an adventure trailer?
I think your opinions are accurate. My wife and I are retired and have had 2 Jaycos, both were good quality. We just bought a KZ Connect and have not taken it out yet, but it seems to be well built.
Hi Philip. I'm glad that you found my reviews to be accurate. Of course, you can get a problem RV in almost any brand. And these days it's even more common to see issues with RVs coming right out of the factory. But I feel that Jayco and KZ do at least as well as their competitors and in many cases better. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
Could you make a video like this about Toy Haulers as well
Great idea Joaney. I'll see what I can do!
I prefer my Rockwood 2022 8263 MBR Signature to Jaycos, Winnebago and other TT's of a similar level. Sure are a lot of them out there but my research led me to Rockwood. The Dealer spent the entire day with us checking out systems and instructions. Very pleased.
Hi Phil. The reason I didn't include Rockwood in my list is because it is made by Forest River. And overall, FR is average at best for build quality. But they also make a lot of different brands and models too. And actually I agree that the Rockwood is one of their better offerings. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I totally agree, I don’t have a Rockwood, but I wish I did. I have several friends with Rockwood’s and from what I’ve seen they are far better quality than Jaycos and Winnebago. Just a small sample size on my part, but that’s all I can go with.
I’ve noticed an influx of complaints from Jayco owners lately especially with plumbing issues. It’s a shame as they have a lot of good options. Right now I’m leaning toward Rockwood and Sporttrack(KZ)….we were looking at East to West but I’ve read some bad things about them lately…but I feel that inspection and the dealer you get it from are key.
When you are talking about travel trailers, quality is a relative issue more so than with almost any other type of RV. Travel trailers are the least expensive RV in general and therefore you just can't expect the same level of quality that you would see in some other kinds of RVs that cost more to begin with. And although Jayco has some issues in this area, overall they build a much better product than many of their competitors in a similar price range. At least that's the way I see it anyway. Rockwood and KZ products would be a good choice too. I hope you find the perfect RV for your needs!
You need to take a good look at Outdoors RV. A west coast company. They have 4 TH-cam vids showing construction process. TOP NOTCH. I’m really considering.
@@knucklesandwich8786 I agree. Outdoors RV builds an excellent rig.
Outdoor rv is built really well
Yes, ORV makes a great product. Thanks for watching!
Great video. I'm in the market for a light weight, under 5k lbs. Do you have a video on the 15-18ft long trailers?
Not yet Erik. But that's a great suggestion for a future video. I'll see what I can do!
What is your opinion on Forest River, Cherokee, Alpha Wolf line of trailers?
Hi Michael. Forest River makes both the Cherokee and Alpha Wolf. And in my humble opinion, Forest River products are solidly in the middle of the pack as far as quality is concerned. They aren't the best, but they aren't the worst either. If you know what you are looking for, a Forest River product may well be worth consideration.
We had two Rockwood travel trailers and we can not say absolutely anything bad about them! Inside or outside! We made a mistake in the first one got to small and we will stick with Rockwood cause we absolutely had no problems or the place we bought it from!
Hi Shirley. I am not usually a big fan of Forest River products, but I make an exception for Rockwood. I am not surprised at all that you have had good results with them. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Can I ask what models of the Rockwood you had? Thanks
I'm dissapointed that Starcraft wasn't mentioned. But I do agree some of the "fit and finish" details in my 2022 Autumn Ridge 26... aren't the best and I will be making some personalized upgrades. I just expect repair and maintenance to go with the cost of camper ownership.
Hi Doug. Starcraft isn't a bad RV brand, but it just didn't make the list of the higher quality brands that I recommend. It's kind of middle of the pack in my opinion. And one of the reasons for that is the fit and finish issues. If you resolve a lot of that, you should have a good rig that will give you solid service. Thanks for watching and commenting!
What is your opinion of Forest River's Wildwood line?
Hi Tom. Forest River appears to have issues with consistency in build quality and especially with customer service after the sale. Some of their brands are more reliable than others. I don't know of anything special about the Wildwood line of RVs.
Well, it's a shame that Heartland fell of as time went on. I purchased a 2023 travel trailer manufactured by them on Saturday. One of the window shades had fallen off in the floor by the time we got the unit home. 😔
Hi Wyatt. Yes, I don't usually recommend Heartland travel trailers after about 2015. It is sad that their quality has dropped off in recent years. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Hi sir ,about fibreglas trailler like bigfoot,escape etc....
Hi Pascal. There are plenty of advantages in getting a fiberglass type RV. One of the best is the fact that there are usually fewer opportunities for water intrusion due to the way they are made. There are several high quality makers of these smaller RVs including Oliver and Casita too. I did not include them in this video as it was really about larger RVs that are more the traditional style of travel trailer buyers.
Im in the market for a small travel trailer. I think I have it narrowed down to 2 makes and models. Venture Sonic Lite 169VUD (KZ made) or a Jayco Jay feather 199MBS. Which one would you recommend? Or is there another similar floorplan,size, and priced unit from some other manufacturer you would recommend over those 2?
Jayco makes a pretty good product. But whatever you buy make sure you get it inspected by an NRVIA certified inspector to find and resolve all factory issues before you take ownership of the RV.
Yep, can't argue with your picks here. I'll also point out that Winnebago now owns Grand Design too.
Edit: I have a suggestion/request: a video of features to look for/that are desirable in a full-time rig
Good point about Winnebago. And that's a great suggestion for a future video about RV features that are best for full-time travel. Thanks for providing that idea. I'll work it in as soon as I can. :-)
@@RVInspectionAndCare Cool, thanks!
Funny thing is that we do not care for Winnebago at all, but we're absolutely set on getting a Grand Design.
LOL ... I hear that a lot. Many RVers have been concerned about whether Winnebago was going to change everything when they bought up so many other RV manufacturers. But it seems that they are mostly leaving it up to each brand to continue what has been successful for them going forward. And the same can mostly be said about Thor so far. Between Winnebago and Thor, they practically own the RV market these days. But so far, they have both demonstrated a light touch with the brands they now own. We'll see if that continues though ....
@@RVInspectionAndCare Yeah, so far it's been pretty laissez faire, as long as they do, things should be fine.
What about Northwood products? How do they measure up? I'm talking about Arctic Fox and Nash.
I love Northwood and their sister company Outdoors RV too. You might want to listen to this video I made not long ago - th-cam.com/video/bmRu0Sl1Ae0/w-d-xo.html
I had a 2000 Arctic Fox. I can't remember the model number other than it was a travel trailer with no slides and it was a 25footer. I never had a problem with it during my 3 year ownership.
What about cruiser RVs on quality? I’m looking to buy a used 2016. Also any recommendations on good quality TTs with a bunkhouse?
I'm sorry Kyle, but Cruiser RV travel trailers are not on my recommended list. If you want to see the full list of my recommended used travel trailer brands and models you can download it here - payhip.com/b/HFc4P
What is the classification for entery, mid, and high end. Is it size or cost.
Cost. It's not fair to compare high cost RVs in any category with much less expensive ones. The higher end RVs will win almost every time. So to me it makes sense to compare RVs with other rigs that are in their general price range.
I'd put Oliver at #1 for quality and true four seasons living especially in winter months and value. #2 Airstream in high quality interior and value but only three seasons living as they are not built for very cold winter months. Everything else falls under ok for average quality to downright crap. Unfortunately, most fall under crap. As you say, there are high-end campers that I haven't mentioned as that's beyond average folks' budget. Earth Roamers are way beyond most earthlings' budgets as a point of reference. Remember, bigger is not better. Purchase an RV that fits your lifestyle, not your ego, and you should be fine. Also, most importantly, higher prices don't necessarily reflect better quality. All RVs require maintenance and repair costs, so plan wisely and don't fall for glitzy nonsense.
Just for fun, I like to joke that living in my camper full-time if I don't like the weather I simply drive until I do. Also, if I don't like my neighbors, I can't get new ones within minutes.
Hi Paul. I agree totally with your putting Oliver and Airstream on top of the higher end travel trailers. Those are both great brands. And thanks for sharing your RVing tips too. There's a lot of wisdom in your advice. Thanks for leaving such a nice comment!
Thank you for your advice.
Great comment. I have an Airstream and looked closely at the dual axle Oliver. Oliver quality is right there with Airstream and it is definitely a better 4-season trailer. I live in Texas and travel up to Montana, Idaho, Washington, Canada in the summer, so extreme cold is not on the agenda. Airstreams are fine down to about 10-15 degrees F, but not much colder. Also the interior fit out and styling of Airstreams, for me, are quite a bit better than Olivers. Like you said, used Earthroamers costing $750k (when I checked pre-Covid) are for beings in a completely different income bracket and usage category than me, but they are sweet machines.
@Echo Sierra I put Oliver at #1 because they have a better winterized camper that most travelers need. I often joke with younger folks looking to purchase their first new camper not to look inside of an Airstream as they will fall in love after, and every other camper they checkout will feel like crap. I personally live full-time in a 2018 Lance truck camper and love it. I am located in Northeast PA and looking at snow on the ground as I write this comment.
@@BuellXB12SDucati1198 very cool, as I read this its 5:50 pm and its 78 degrees down from 84 earlier today
I’m curious what you think of InTech trailers. We’ve been keeping on eye on those.
I have a pretty favorable impression of Intech as a brand. It worth a good serious look.
Thank you so much for very prompt response. We watch your videos all the time and your opinion greatly matters to us. We would love hire you for our RV inspection when we make our final decision.😊
@@thx4nutin Unfortunately my schedule is jam packed for the foreseeable future now, so I won't be able to inspect any RVs for you at this time. But there are plenty of other NRVIA inspectors that I'm sure could do a fine job for you though. Just visit nrvia.org and select "Find An Inspector". Then you can view all of the local inspectors on the map there and contact them about their availability. Any certified NRVIA inspector has the necessary training to provide a top quality RV inspection for you. I usually recommend choosing the one that you feel most comfortable with.
After months of research I have decided that Grand Design is a good choice. I have had a couple travel trailer, 5th wheels and class A motorhomes. If I was to buy a new RV today it would be the Grand Design.
I think you are making a great choice Earl. I just released a video reviewing Grand Design this morning. You can watch it here - th-cam.com/video/4bUswGarFrE/w-d-xo.html
What about fifth wheels?! I myself love DRV’s!!
I hear you ... I made a video about the best fifth wheel brands too. You can find it here - th-cam.com/video/oXIkLqAIDME/w-d-xo.html And if you like DRVs I think you'll like the video. :-)
Just went to the Fall RV show here in Toronto Canada and was interested in the Coachmen Northern Spirit Ultra Lite 2145RBX and the Grand Design Reflection 226RK Fifth Wheel. Loved both of these layouts. Both are different but both would suit our needs. Of course, one is a travel trailer and one is a Fifth Wheel but we are not sure which of the two would be a better purchase/investment overall . Of course quality and reliability are always a factor. Your recommendations of having an R.V. inspection would definitely be considered. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Davide. Speaking strictly on the basis of quality of construction and customer service alone, the Grand Design would be the better buy in my opinion. But I personally would not buy either of them without a thorough RV inspection these days.
I’ve seen some bad reviews on GD fifth wheels in regards to the frames…you might want to look into it..something about the frames not being welded correctly for a fifth wheel trailer..some people have been having to go and get the frames reinforced and I don’t think GD is providing any monetary assistance with this…
@@deetles98 Every RV manufacturer has issues of one type or another. If a buyer wants a perfect RV from a manufacturer that has not had any history of problems in one area or another, they would sadly not be able to buy much. Even though Grand Design has had some issues in certain areas though, the overall outlook is that both customers and the industry are very happy with what they produce in general. Thanks for mentioning the frame issue, but it must be said that GD frames are not failing at an alarming rate.
Where do you put Northwood/Arctic Fox
Northwood is a sister company of Outdoors RV and they both build an above average product IMO.
What do you think about the keystone premiers?
Hi Tarek. Keystone is a company that makes a lot of RV brands. And unfortunately the quality is mixed among those brands and models. Their 5th wheels like the Montana, Alpine and even the Cougar get consistently good reviews from owners. But the travel trailer division is a different story. It's kind of a mixed bag of products. I don't usually include Keystone in my list of recommended travel trailer brands because they are just not consistent enough with their quality or customer service in that area. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't buy one of their products like the Premier. It just means that in my opinion there are other brands that could provide a more consistently higher quality product right now.
@@RVInspectionAndCare i appreciate your reply! I really love the Keystone Premier 25RKPR. Would hiring a third party inspector mitigate a lot of quality risk?
@@TarekNouraldeen Yes, it could. Just because I don't usually recommend Keystone travel trailers doesn't mean that their products are always bad. As I said, their main problem is inconsistency. So if you use an RV inspector before you buy a Keystone product, it helps make sure that any issues that need attention are addressed before you take delivery of the RV.
I bought a 2014 Dutchmen Aerolite
Are these guys good, bad or somewhere inbetween?
Never mind I see at 9:40 you say they’re good for entry level
I saw your reply and yes they are worth considering in their price class. Thanks for watching!
@@RVInspectionAndCare i spent $12,600 on mine used and have so far only invested $300 in it to replace the crappy Thetford toilet for a Dometic 320
@@Man_in_a_Gucci_Suit Sounds like you got a good one. I hope you have a lot of fun with it!
@@RVInspectionAndCare living in it full time to save for a house
I’ll start having fun with it in a year after I get a house and use it on weekends actually camping with it
Thanks!
Is a jayco bumper pull worth considering for full timing?
Hi Daryl. Jayco is one of my recommended RV builders for better quality and customer service than their competition. But most travel trailers are not really built for fulltime travel and living. Now that doesn't mean that you can't use the RV that way. It just means that you will need to be extra vigilant with RV maintenance and repairs to make it last while you are on the road. I hope that helps.
@@RVInspectionAndCare it does help and I appreciate you taking time to respond.
I m having trouble deciding between the jayco 27rk and the grand design 3100rd.
I don't mean to be a bother, but do you have any thoughts on grand design quality compared to jayco?
And again many thanks
@@darylwaynebrady Generally speaking, Grand Design builds a little higher quality RV overall than Jayco in my opinion. But regardless of which brand you choose to buy, I highly recommend paying for an RV inspection by a certified NRVIA inspector. And do not take delivery of any new or used RV until all the major items on the inspector's list has been fixed to your satisfaction.
@@RVInspectionAndCare
Thank you sir.
I really appreciate your time.
That 3100rd is looking like it's pretty hard to beat
I realize Northwood (Arctic Fox, inter alia) is small fry, but IMO are as good as Airstream. Years of firsthand experience and more than that, living full time, and seeing disassembled ones.
Edit: Outdoors RV is a spinoff of Northwood. So you did get close.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion. But for me, Northwood and ORV are both very good manufacturers, but they aren't made to last a lifetime like Airstreams often do.
@@RVInspectionAndCare I hear ya RV. As I have next to no experience with Airstream, I do not know. I long recognized their aluminum, round, shell and rivet system is very aircraft-like and probably lends to bearing up well under bouncing and heat-cold thermal expansion and contraction.
What about Northwood??
Yes, Northwood builds a great travel travel Jay. Thanks for watching!
Do you have any insight on Avengers by Prime Time?
Sorry Sarah. I don't have any experience with that RV. Apparently, it's a small outfit with low annual production. So I have not even seen one of their units before. And I never comment on something that I have had no experience with.
Thank you for your honesty.
we bought a 2018, new in 2017 and kept it until this spring. No issues with it at all. We had the 28RKS. Bought new for 20K and traded in for 18K five years later.
No Northwoods ??? One of the better brands out there for a traditional Travel trailers.....
Hi Chris. Actually I tend to agree with you. The more Northwoods I am seeing the more impressed I am with their build quality. I will no doubt include Northwood in my future list of top quality TTs. Thanks for bringing this up. I appreciate all the feedback I get. Thanks for watching and commenting!
What about Oliver?
Oliver is a great manufacturer and is definitely on my full list of recommended brands.
I think the Forest River/Rockwood Series far exceeds Dutchman/Palomino unless you consider them to be Ultra Lights? Would like to see your Ultra Light list. Newcomers Ember & Black Series could hang with Airstream for travel trailers...TY
Hi Roy. As I mentioned in the video, not everyone will agree with my list. And you have a point that the Rockwood line of Forest River products is usually one of their best products. But I personally still can't give Forest River a top spot these days. Of course, in the TT entry-level area, it's hard to be really enthusiastic about any brand, since that is where the lowest quality becomes evident. As far as the other brands you mentioned though, it's too soon to tell. I usually only list manufacturers that have been around for a few years, and have large enough production to make them a recognized brand. Thanks for your observations though. I always like to hear what others think about RV brands and manufacturers.
I recently bought a 2022 TT. After shopping around for more than a year and looking at several dealerships, countless manufactures and going to the RV shows, I have bought what I think is the best build trailer. It was a 2022 Grand Design XLS 23 MLE. The layout and utilization of space was superior to all others. The workmanship surpassed all others. So in my eyes Grand Design takes first place. I feel the utilization of space exceeded the AirStream. And the price of the trailer was wayyyyyyyyy less than AirStream.
It sounds like you found the perfect RV for your needs and wants. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions on Grand Design too. They are definitely one of the best travel trailer builders now.
I also love the Grand Design XLS 23 MLE and also the TT 23LDE.
Skip to 5:04 if you want to get past 5 minutes of “Here’s what I will be telling you in this video”.
You may not feel that what I said leading up to the list was very important. But without understanding what I explained, there would be a lot of unnecessary questions about my list picks. I'm sorry that you didn't get that point.
@@RVInspectionAndCare i thought ur video was super helpful :)
@@dakotaferdon4111 Thanks so much for your positive feedback Dakota. It's much appreciated!
I bought new an from hands on inspection all manufacturers are lacking in quality control an dealers are saling campers as they are shipped an not fixing problems
That is pretty much true Roy. Almost all RV manufacturers need to make improvement in their quality control procedures for new RVs. But some brands are much better than others. Thanks for watching!
I’ve kind of liked Coachmen/Freedom Express and Rockwood in the lower price range…. Your opinion?
Totally agree on the higher end Outdoors RV, Airstream, Lance, and anything from Northwood imho seem a step or two above their comparables.
Hi Jeff. Coachmen has some build quality and consistency issues in my opinion. Forest River makes Rockwood, and it is one of the better brands owned by FR. Unfortunately, FR has had their customer service issues in recent years though. That doesn't mean that you can't get a good RV from those companies. I just feel that there are better choices in that price range at this point.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Interesting. Thanks for the reply. I might have gotten lucky, then, in that I’ve had one of the little Freedom Express toyhaulers for a couple years, and other than an interior LED light that starred flickering, it’s been trouble free.
I used to have parking space for a 40’ toyhauler 5th wheel, enclosed cargo trailer for giant rc airplanes, and a flat bed ATV trailer for day trip rides.
Wife wanted to buy the house she grew up in, so now I have a standard size carport…. Fits the dually (now with a monster quad rack) and this trailer. Not as much room, but I still can haul 3 quads and have two sleeping areas- plus I have access to a bathroom and fridge at the flying field.
@@JeffinTD It sounds like you have a great setup there. I'm going to take a closer look at Coachmen and Forest River this year and maybe they will move up in my recommendations. Thanks for sharing your experience here!
@@RVInspectionAndCare Pretty early in my ownership experience to say anything definitive, and I have seen videos about this style of laminated foam core floor failing, but so far so good. Rockwood I believe went back to plywood floors for this reason.
Would like to go to something like Outdoor RV, but on the other hand if I had the depreciation would likely be close to the full purchase price of the freedom express at this point.
Out of curiosity, I think you mentioned Heartland in the 10 years ago category. I’m not too familiar with that brand. Thoughts on their current products?
The frame were way more stronger then now
Thanks for watching Tim!
See I’m so confused me and my girlfriend recently got a 2022 prowler 250bh (headland) it’s a very nice and well built trailer. But the care taken inside for “quality control” is Terrible. The one wall panel half the staples Aren’t in the board causing it to pop out. The curtain hanger isn’t flush with the roof. And worst of all the brand new trailer leaked water. I did alll my research for her and found heartland was one of the greatest manufacturers with nothing but great review. Really kicking myself in the arse now
Hi Tyler. I've made several comments in my videos recently warning about RVs that were built during the Covid pandemic as yours was. Workforce problems were experienced by almost all RV manufacturers during the years of 2020 - 2022 and it often resulted in poor quality products leaving the factory at a much higher rate than normal. I also repeatedly recommend that RV buyers get any RV they buy, including new ones, thoroughly inspected by a certified NRVIA inspector before taking ownership. Most likely a good inspection could have found much of the problems you mentioned so that you didn't have to deal with them after the sale. Sorry to hear about your experience though.
You should never expect anything but there going to do as cheap as possible to make the most money
Sorry to say but that is often true in the RV industry as well as many other industries. Thanks for watching and commenting Tim.
I see your video is a year old. There is another YT video about a Grand Design trailer bought new or nearly new. The # of problems the owner had was horrifying.
The thing about recommending the better built brands is that since RVs are still essentially built by hand there can be some poorly built units that still get through the RV builder's quality control efforts. But on top of that, Covid placed so much pressure on RV makers to push out more units for dealers to sell that quality control measures were often lowered. This allowed more problem RVs to be sold. That's why I have been recommending that anyone buying a new RV get an RV inspection before purchase to work these problems out before taking ownership. Some listen, some don't. And those who don't usually pay the price in getting an RV with hidden problems. But as the sales situation begins to normalize in the RV industry I expect to see construction methods by the better brands to normalize as well. We'll see.
Oliver? Alto?
As far as Oliver is concerned you might want to check out this video I made not long ago - th-cam.com/video/WRWzOg6ZJo4/w-d-xo.html I'm not as familiar with Alto RVs though.
How defines high, medium and low?
For the purposes of this video, it's actually a very loose distinction between the 3 categories. Some brands have models that fit in more than one price range. But in a future video I will name the models and be more specific about price ranges.
Wonder price range from the levels of rv’s that make high end down to entry level ?
If you are asking about travel trailers, some Airstreams can reach up to $200k while other smaller tear drop trailers can be bought for 15K or even less. I hope that helps Jeff.
Love Grand Design
I agree Steve. Thanks for sharing your opinion here!
Brinkley rv is about to kill all other brands if they keep doing what they’re doing now…
I'll keep my eye open for them in the future. Thanks for mentioning that brand!
I believe the average consumer completely disagrees with your statement that price determines quality. Quality should be evident in all price points. Luxury and options and more expensive materials should be the price driver. Quality is how the trailer is built and the components are installed.
I agree that is the way that it should be. But my comments in this video are about the reality of the RV industry as it is now. You can wish it was different all you like, but that doesn't change the fact that in many industries, not just RVs, if you buy a cheap product, quality is poor. And if you buy a more expensive product in the same category, very often you get a better quality product. I find it interesting that with all of the valuable information in this video, all you choose to do is argue about the definition of what quality means.
@RVInspectionAndCare I was thinking along the lines of of the quality of a cheaper RV and a more expensive higher end RV as compared to a cheaper car and a more expensive car. While you are very likely correct in your video and in the RV industry that quality is in the prices, I was thinking that a cheap car still has the same quality as a high end high option luxury car yet their quality is essentially the same.
Your video was good and very informative, and I appreciate the time and energy it takes to make and post it. I most appreciate that you took the time to read my comment and respond. Cheers!
@@jeffsavage7135 Hi Jeff. Thanks for further clarifying your comment. And I appreciate using the example of the auto industry. A lot of RVers make that comparison. But passenger vehicles these days are by and large built by automation which means that the mistakes made in construction will be fewer. But RVs are still basically built by hand. So the quality found in them can vary wildly from one brand to another and even from one RV to another. I am hoping as you are that this situation can eventually be resolved and a more consistent product that is based on higher quality will be the result. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject!
can't believe you didn't mention rockwoods
As I said in the video, any list like this is subjective. And there are bound to be differences of opinion. While I agree that Rockwood is the about the best that Forest River has to offer, overall FR needs to improve on build quality and customer service after the sale. Many of the larger RV manufacturers like FR just can't seem to solve the problem of high production and putting out quality products at the same time. If all they made was Rockwood, they would be on my list. But sadly, that is not the case.
C’mon, the good Lance products are better than Grand Design, KZ and Winnies
Like I always say in these kind of videos, it's not uncommon to disagree with my conclusions. That's fine with me. I really do like Lance products. But I stand by my video's list. Thanks for watching!
@@RVInspectionAndCare I like the Lance fit and trim but didn't like any of their floor plans. Some day RV manufacturers will hire design engineers that actual own and lived in a trailer.
@@earlbalentine2754 I know what you mean Earl. Finding a really useful floor plan is not easy.
It doesn't matter how good Lance is if they don't have a floor plan you like.
Lance is amazing..but their Floorplan are not so great..storage is not so great - quality is surely one of the best
Laminated floors and rubber roofs are the worst 😫
Ha Ha! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Yes! My roof has leaked from early on.
Poor quality is greed on the part of RV Manufacturers 💯%
It does have a part to play in the problems we see in the RV industry right now. Thanks for watching.