This article is about my recommendations for the best travel trailer brands. The ones that you should be be considering now in 2023.
Of course, travel trailers are by far the most popular RV. And that’s because in many cases they’re the most affordable RV too. But they also fit into people’s lifestyle a lot easier as well.
Suppose you have a larger SUV or a passenger truck that you use for your daily driver. Well then, a travel trailer is going to fit in really well with what you already have.
Also, if you’re thinking about getting into RVing on a more permanent basis, travel trailers are a great place to start to get used to RVing itself.
Now when you start looking at travel trailers, you’re going to see that there are an incredible number of brands and models to choose from.
It’s really a crowded field. So the question is, how do you know which brands produce the best travel trailer quality? The ones that you want to buy?
Well, it’s interesting to note that quality doesn’t stay level in this segment of the RV industry though.
So very often, you’ll see brands have some years where they make really good quality RVs. And then other years where their output isn’t so great anymore.
And that means that it’s important to stay up with what brands are making the best travel trailer quality now.
In other words, the best travel trailers for the money.
So that’s what this video is all about. It’s about the top three travel trailer brands that I can personally recommend for you. Especially within the last three to four years or so.
A good question though is what am I basing my decisions on? Well, there’s three big things that I use as the basis for my list.
And number one is build quality. That’s something that as an RV inspector I pay a lot of attention to.
But the second is customer service too. Yes, you want build quality before the sale. But you also want to know that you’re going to get support after the sale too.
And finally, the third point is resale value. Because you want to be able to sell the travel trailer later on and get a reasonable amount back out of it.
So let’s go ahead and cover the top three best travel trailer brands that I can recommend for you.
The Best Travel Trailer Brands – Pick #1
And number one on the list is Grand Design. Now Grand Design may seem like they have been around forever.
And that’s because they’re so ingrained in the RV culture now.
But the truth is, they’ve only been in business for about 10 years or so. But in those 10 years they have made tremendous strides.
Today they are known for producing some of the best travel trailer quality RVs. And they are also known for exceptional customer service after the sale.
They have also won numerous industry and consumer awards over the last 8 years or so.
So give them real consideration as one of the best travel trailers for the money.
Now the models that you want to look for are first of all, the Transcend. And generally speaking, the Transcend allows you to buy at the lower end of the market.
Grand Design Transcend
Then the Imagine fills the slot in the middle area of the travel trailer price range.
Grand Design Imagine
And finally, the Reflection is more in the higher end of the newer and used travel trailer market.
Grand Design Reflection
When you go online to RV trader, you can look for the range of costs for new Grand Design travel trailers.
And they can start anywhere around the low 30s, and go all the way up to the low 90s.
So that is a wide variation of costs within just one brand. In fact, you’ve got almost any price range that someone could afford.
And of course, you can save a lot by buying a Grand Design RV that is just a few years older.
So if you’re considering a travel trailer RV, Grand Design has got a lot to offer most buyers.
The #2 Pick For Quality Travel Trailers
Now let’s move on to number two on the list. And that is Northwood RVs.
Northwood is well known for making true four season RVs. And that means they build their products with quality materials and methods.
Now they are not a large quantity builder though. So you might have a little more challenge even finding Northwood travel trailers.
But when you do, the quality is apparent right away. And they also have a lot of very loyal customers and fans who are also really vocal about their support for the company.
In addition, they are known for making true four season travel trailers and fifth wheels.
Now let’s take a look at their models to buy. And there’s two main travel trailer models that Northwood puts out at this point.
The first one we’ll cover is the Arctic Fox. And that’s the travel trailer model that they’re probably most well known for.
Northwood Arctic Fox
But there’s also the Nash, and it is well worth your consideration as well.
Northwood Nash
And if you look on RV trader, the costs are going to run anywhere from the mid 30’s all the way up to the mid 80’s for new Northwood travel trailers.
So once again, you’ve got a wide range of prices to choose from with Northwood RVs too. And you can save by buying a few years older as well.
And whether you’re buying on the lower end, in the mid range, or the higher end, there’s something good that Northwood has to offer you.
The Best Travel Trailer Brands – Pick #3
Now let’s move on to the third brand on my list of the top three travel trailer brands. And that is Lance Campers.
Lance is one of the fastest growing RV builders in the current market.
And I have to say that they make exceptionally higher quality travel trailers than the majority of the competition in their price range.
In fact, they make some of the best travel trailers for the money that you can find.
So really consider Lance if you’re looking in the travel trailer segment.
Now as far as the models are concerned, they go about things a little bit differently.
They don’t give their models names. Instead they give them model numbers.
Lance Campers
So the numbers range anywhere from 1475 up to 2465. And there’s a lot of models in between too.
Now as far as the cost is concerned, on RV trader you’re going to find that most new Lance travel trailers are going to run between the low 50’s up to the mid 90’s.
So not quite as large a range of prices on Lance travel trailers. But the range is still large enough that most people could find something they can afford.
But once again, choose a Lance product that is just a few years old to save lots of money.
Reminders About Buying Travel Trailer RVs
Alright, that’s the three brands and models that I wanted to recommend to you in this article. Brands known for making the best travel trailer quality products.
Number one, Grand Design. Number two Northwood. And number three Lance.
I specifically chose these three brands to represent higher end, mid-range, and lower cost travel trailers.
Now are these RV brands perfect? Am I saying that there will never be problems with these brands and models?
Absolutely not! There is no brand or model of RV out there that is perfect. And these days, that is especially so.
Remember that RVs are still being made generally by hand. So there can be a great variation in the sustainability of the quality level in a brand.
That means that you can get a lemon in almost any RV brand out there.
But these brands of travel trailers are going to put the buying odds on your side. That most likely you’re going to get a very good RV.
Also, I have only covered the top three travel trailer brands here in this article.
More Of The Best Travel Trailer Brands
But I have created a guidebook to buying newer and used travel trailers that can be even more helpful.
And it provides all of the brands and the models that I recommend for your consideration. Not just the top three, but all of them.
And I list them in order as far as quality, customer service, and resale value are concerned.
Although it covers travel trailer brands up until 2019, the recommended list still applies even for the best new RVs now. Not much has changed during the Covid pandemic.
So just click on the image below to download my travel trailer guidebook.
Now what if you have a favorite travel trailer brand, that you’re convinced builds a quality RV? But I didn’t mention it on my list in this article.
Well, don’t get shook about that. It probably means that you’re going to see it on my full list in the travel trailer buying guidebook.
OK, now the last points I want to make here is actually a couple of things.
RV Inspections On Newer RVs Too?
Number one. As always these days, before you buy a new RV or a slightly used RV, make sure that you get it inspected by a certified NRVIA inspector.
Why? Because RV factories are turning out products these days that really aren’t up to snuff in many cases.
Even some of the better RV manufacturers have struggled to consistently produce quality RVs during Covid.
So brands known for some of the best travel trailer quality methods have been affected.
And RV dealers are often not fixing those problems before you buy it. So get an RV inspection before the whole buying process is ended.
And then once that inspector gives you the punch list of all the RV’s problems, do not take delivery of that RV until all those issues are fully resolved.
Now if you’ll do that, the odds are even greater that you’ll get a good RV.
And you’re going to eliminate a lot of the frustration and irritation that so many new RV buyers are experiencing these days.
My 5 Step RV Buying Success Process
Finally, let me also recommend that you consider getting my buying and inspection guides for new and used RVs.
Now these guides are not about the best RV models and brands like the one I mentioned above.
Instead, these two buying guides specifically focus on the RV buying process itself.
One is for buying new RVs. And the other is for used RV buying. They will show you how to find the right RV for your specific needs.
Then they will provide you with a proven system for buying RVs that really works.
And here is an overall illustration of my 5 step process for successful RV buying:
My guidebooks go into lots of detail about how to pre-inspect an RV you are considering. And that way you can determine whether it’s worth going to the next step or not.
I even provide a handy checklist with instructions on what and how to pre-inspect on each RV.
After that, the next step is to call in a professional RV inspector. But only on the RV that is your best candidate overall among the ones you have found.
So if you use my new or used RV buying guide along with my best travel trailer brands guidebook, the odds are really on your side to get a great RV.
Conclusion
Armed with the information in this article and my guidebooks, buying the right travel trailer is much easier.
And you can avoid all the frustration and regret that many RV buyers are experiencing now.
Oh and one more thing. When you buy any of my guides, I make myself personally available for help.
Yes, I will be happy to help answer any question you have about RVs or RV buying. Either by email or phone call.
So let’s work together and make sure that you get the travel trailer you deserve.
One that will bring you on many happy adventures for years to come!
In this article, we’re going to be talking about buying a used RV. And the top five things that you need to be looking for in the buying process.
Of course, buying a used RV can be very scary for a lot of people. That’s because nobody wants to buy an RV that is somebody else’s problem.
You know what I mean, an RV money pit with hidden problems in it. That’s every used RV buyer’s nightmare.
But if you follow a few simple guidelines, you can put the odds on your side that you’re going to get a great RV. And at a much better price than buying new.
So let’s go ahead and get started. And the first thing we want to talk about is that when you’re going to get any RV there’s a few things you need to do first.
For instance, you need to make sure you get the right length RV for your needs. Also, you need to make sure that it’s the floor plan that you really like.
And of course, make sure that you get it to fit your budget too. But we’re not going to cover those things in this article.
Instead, we’re going to go from there and talk about the top five things that need to be done to make sure you get a good RV. One that you can count on.
Click here to view my video on this subject
Buying A Used RV – Tip #1
And number one on the list is to buy a good RV brand. Now why do you need to do that?
Well if you do, the odds get much better that you’re actually going to get a quality RV. And that’s because it was originally built with good quality and good quality materials.
So you need to be able to identify the manufacturers out there that build good quality RVs. Especially in the segment of the industry that you’re buying in.
And then make sure that you look for those brands while you’re searching for a used RV.
Now for the second point on our list. You need to look for maintenance and repair records on the RVs you’re considering.
This is really important. But a lot of the time, folks never even ask for these kind of records at all.
However, it’s good to get maintenance and repair records that you can go over and review.
Why is that important? Well, it’s a good sign that the owners have been recognizing that an RV needs to be repaired and maintained.
And if they can show you those records, it indicates that they cared about that RV. That they have been caring for it well. And that’s a good thing!
But service records also lets you know what has been done on the RV so far in its life. And that can be useful to know in many ways.
So try to get an RV that has maintenance and service records.
Buying Used RVs – Tip #3
Now number three is really critical. And that is to check all of the joints and the seals on that RV.
And I’m not talking about just the side joints or the ones that’s easy to find.
No, you need to get up on that RV’s roof too. And if you can’t do it, then get someone you know that you can trust who will go up on the roof for you.
Either you or they will need to examine the joints and seals on the roof as well.
Because what happens if the roof joint sealant has begun to crack and get holes in it?
Or maybe something scraped it off as the RV went under a tree. Or a tree branch could have punctured the rubber roof.
These are places where water can get into your RV. And that means that you could have a serious water intrusion problem developing.
Roof joint sealant with cracks – a water intrusion issue
Remember that water intrusion is the number one enemy of RVs. It can break down your RV before you know it, requiring costly repairs to fix.
So get up there and look at all those roof joints and seams. You want to see everything covered with sealant. And you want that sealant to be in really good shape.
Other Places To Inspect
But of course, don’t just do it on the roof. Come down and examine the side joints of the RV too.
Especially where the front cap and the rear cap attaches to the RV. Most of the time, there’s a big joint there and you need to check that sealant too.
And don’t forget about the RV windows either. Because that’s another place that a lot of water intrusion can take place.
So look very carefully at the sealant around those areas as well.
Buying A Used RV – Tip #4
Now let’s move on to tip number four. And that is to try to figure out how well the owner has really cared for this RV.
You can do that by inspecting certain areas of the RV. Because there’s certain things to look for that gives you some insight into whether that owner has really been looking after the RV or not.
And one of those areas is the battery compartment. You might see batteries that are filthy dirty like nobody has been cleaning them.
Maybe they have corrosion on the connections and battery cables. Well, that’s an indication somebody is not looking after that electrical system in the RV.
Battery connection corrosion
Next take a look in the RV’s water bay. I often look in there and find it’s dirty, filthy, and not organized in any way. Well, what does that say?
It says that this is an owner that’s not really looking after things on their RV.
Next look at the exterior walls of the RV. Are they faded and cracked? Does it look like they haven’t been washed in a while?
Once again, that’s an indication of the level of care that RV has been given.
And if you see problems in these areas, my recommendation is to proceed carefully. Because what else has that RV owner not been maintaining that you can’t see?
Of course, maybe they have taken care of the more important things on the RV.
But my experience is that if they’re not caring for the smaller things, they usually don’t care for the bigger things on their RV.
RV Buying Tip #5
Now number five is about tires, and the age of RV tires. I mention this because I see a lot of used RV buyers lose money in this area.
Now if you’re buying a car, you look at the tire tread, right? And if the tread looks good, that’s about as far as you go.
But that’s not the case on RVs. That’s because RV tires age out before they wear out.
So be sure to look at the date that each tire was manufactured. And the tire’s manufacture date is right on the sidewall of the tire. It’s a four digit code usually in an oval.
The two first digits tell you the number of the week that the tire was manufactured. And the last two digits is the last two digits of the year that it was manufactured.
This tire was made the 34th week of 2018
So if you see a tire date that has 3520 on it, that means it was manufactured in the 35th week of 2020. Now why is this important?
It’s because most RV tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires every five or six years.
So let’s say that you find that those tires are four years old. Well, that means you’ve got a big expense coming up to replace all those tires at one time.
And you need to know about that! You don’t want to buy the RV and then suddenly realize you have to replace all those tires.
It costs thousands of dollars in many cases. And you may not appreciate that until after you have bought the RV.
So check the tire dates before you buy any used RV.
More Tips For Used RV Buying
Okay, those are my five top things to look for when buying a used RV. Now is that everything you need to inspect before buying?
No way, not even close! So if you really want to know more about how to buy a used RV, I’ve created a guidebook for that.
It’s all about buying used RVs. And it will list not only the things we covered here in this article but much more as well.
It reveals many of the more expensive items that you need to be checking.
That way you can make sure that the RV you’re looking at is even worthy of consideration.
What are the best RV brands? Of course, that is what RV buyers want to know before they buy an RV.
And there are lots of brands and manufacturers in the RV industry these days. So how do you know which of these RV builders to choose from?
Well, this article is going to give you a list of some of the best RV brands in every category. And that includes Class A, Class B and B+, Class C, Super C, Fifth Wheels and Travel Trailers.
Of course, it’s good to understand first that RV quality is relative. That is, it is relative to products from other RV manufacturers. Not products in other industries.
So here is a video where I discuss new RV quality and what it really means:
Now, let’s move on and discuss some of the best RV brands and manufacturers. The best RV builders in each type of RV.
In fact, I’ll give you the brands that I recommend for the higher end, the mid-range and lower cost RVs in each RV type.
So let’s go ahead and get started with the most popular motorhome. The Class C.
The Best RV Brands – Class C Motorhomes
Class C motorhomes are usually built on either a Ford E350 or E450 chassis.
And they are usually easily recognized by the outcrop over the RV’s cab in front. This is the area that is often used for extra storage or sleeping.
A typical Class C RV
And a Class C RV is well positioned in size between the larger Class A and the smaller Class B.
So let’s take a look at some of the best quality manufacturers of Class C RVs now.
Class C Brand #1
On the high end of the Class C market is a company called Coach House RV.
Now, they are not a high production RV builder like the others I will mention below. But they are well-known for very high quality products.
They build a Class C shell that is a one-piece unit made from fiberglass. And the larger ones are then placed on a Ford E450 chassis.
The RV itself has a very luxurious look and feel. But you can only buy them direct from the factory.
So here are my Coach House Recommended Class Cs:
Platinum
The cost for this Coach House Class C starts around $175K – $200K.
Another great Class A diesel pusher builder is Fleetwood. They have been in the RV business for a whopping 65 years now.
Now they are not quite on the same level of quality as some other diesel pusher brands that I recommend here. But they are still worthy of consideration.
Especially if you are looking for a mid-range to lower cost diesel pusher RV.
Their price range goes from the low $300K’s to the mid $400K’s. And their models include:
As with the other types of RVs listed on this page, there are more brands and models that I can recommend for consideration.
So to view the complete list of quality Class B manufacturer brands and models, just click the image below.
That way you can download my guidebook on buying quality Class B RVs.
The Top RV Brands – Class B Plus Motorhomes
The Class B plus motorhome is really more of a marketing term than anything else.
And so it’s hard to actually define a B+ RV. But the best explanation is that it is an RV that is larger than a Class B and smaller than a Class C.
This type of RV was actually needed. Because a lot of people like the smaller, nimble Class B.
But the biggest complaint about it has always been the small amount of actual living space.
So some RV builders have decided to build an RV body on a van chassis platform made by either Mercedes, Ram or Ford.
A typical Class B plus RV
And because the RV section of the rig is usually wider and often has slides, there is more usable living space.
So here is how I define a Class B plus RV. If the RV is not on a Ford E350 or E450 chassis, it is not a Class C in my opinion.
On the other hand, if it is on a van chassis, but has an RV body that is wider than a normal van, I classify it as a B plus RV.
Not everyone agrees with this assessment of RV types. But for the purposes of this article, it helps you understand what I mean by recommending B+ RVs.
And here are some of the brands and models of Class B+ RVs that I can recommend:
Class B+ Brand #1
Airstream is an iconic RV brand. And they have over 85 years of experience in building RVs.
They have been constantly recognized and applauded for the quality construction methods they use in their products.
Of course, this usually puts them firmly in the more expensive higher end category.
But their RVs are worth the extra money spent. At least in my opinion.
So here are the Class B plus models that I can recommend from Airstream:
Atlas
Clearly, they don’t provide a lot of choices in this B+ category. But the Atlas is well worth consideration at an MSRP price beginning at $290K.
Well, I hope you enjoyed my list of the best RV brands in both motorhomes and towable RVs.
But if you are in the market for a new RV, more is needed than just knowing which brands to buy.
These days, new RVs are coming from the factory with problems. And many of these problems need to be repaired before you take it on your first camping trip.
But how do you find the issues that need attention? And how do you get them fixed before you take delivery of the RV?
As an RV inspector I know how to answer these questions for you. And I have produced a guidebook that explains how to buy a new RV the right way.
What My Guidebook On Buying New RVs Will Show You
Now here is what my guidebook will show you in clear step-by-step terms:
How to find the kind of RV and the model that is just right for your needs
How to make sure that you get the best price possible for the RV you choose
How to make sure that all of the hidden problems and issues with any RV are found are fixed before you take delivery and before you use it the first time.
A checklist to use along with the guide that will easily step you through the most important things to check before you buy an RV
How to get my personal help as a certified RV inspector in the buying process
So if you want to make sure that you get the new RV that you paid for from the first day of ownership, download my guidebook here:
This guidebook makes a great companion to any of the guidebooks listed above about the best brands and models to buy.
And that’s because you need to know which brands to choose to get the best quality RV possible.
But then you also need to know how to make sure it doesn’t have hidden problems too.
And you need to know how to buy that RV at the very best price possible.
So I suggest combining the guidebook for the type of RV you want with the new RV buying guidebook.
That way you put the odds heavily on your side to have the best new RV buying experience that you can.
And by getting any of the guidebooks listed above, you also get my personal assistance.
That’s right. I’ll personally help answer any questions you have about buying an RV. In fact, I’ll be there with you every step of the way if you like.
What About Used RV Brands?
Of course, this article is mainly about the better quality new RV brands.
But what if you want to look back a few years and save money by buying a used RV?
Then you might find this video that I made on this subject helpful:
And the good news is that I have created guidebooks for used Class A, Class C, Super C, and travel trailer RVs too. You can click on the images below to view them.
And you can combine my used RV buying guides with my guidebook on “How To Avoid Buying An RV Money Pit”.
Together they will help you find the right RV for you. Then make sure that it is a quality brand and that it doesn’t have hidden problems.
