lack of quality in Elkhart

[Mike G]

https://www.rvtravel.com/indianapoli...manufacturers/


We can't complain about ETI being slow to produce trailers. Take your time, fellas, and do your best....

[splitting_lanes]

When we drove through Elkhart on 80/90 a couple of weeks ago there were thousands of trailers in the lots. I wasn’t envious at all, pulling our 5.0 past them. They just crank those trailers out, because people want to walk into a dealership and pull one off the lot.

So glad we waited for ours to be molded.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

When we drove through Elkhart on 80/90 a couple of weeks ago there were thousands of trailers in the lots. I wasn’t envious at all, pulling our 5.0 past them. They just crank those trailers out, because people want to walk into a dealership and pull one off the lot.

So glad we waited for ours to be molded.

and hatched....

[M & M]

THOR Industries, the maker of AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILERS.

Make me wonder about their quality now.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by M & M

THOR Industries, the maker of AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILERS.

Make me wonder about their quality now.

Check out Airforums; they are the original RV Superfans.

Just checked out a new 27' International nearby a former 21 owner bought. Super nice; it better be for that kind of money.

[oldwave]

They did release a recent video about their construction methods, it was quite impressive. The do no how to build trailers. Of course the airstream cache adds to the price. I’ve got a friend who owns a 27 flying cloud . It’s quite nice. Another friend owns a vintage land yaught. It’s also very nice. The price and fragility of the body is my main concerns, even the pricy Fiberglas builds are in the realm of 20 to 40,000 cheaper. I honk they are still a cut above most of elkherts sticky’s. We have waited for our Bigfoot, I suspect it will be worth it.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by M & M

THOR Industries, the maker of AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILERS.

Make me wonder about their quality now.

Originally Posted by Rossue

Check out Airforums; they are the original RV Superfans.

Just checked out a new 27' International nearby a former 21 owner bought. Super nice; it better be for that kind of money.

Originally Posted by oldwave

They did release a recent video about their construction methods, it was quite impressive. The do no how to build trailers. Of course the airstream cache adds to the price. I’ve got a friend who owns a 27 flying cloud . It’s quite nice. Another friend owns a vintage land yaught. It’s also very nice.

Airstream may be owned by Thor. However, they are made in Jackson Center, Ohio, not Elkhart, Indiana.

Airstream Factory Tours

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Mike G

https://www.rvtravel.com/indianapoli...manufacturers/


We can't complain about ETI being slow to produce trailers. Take your time, fellas, and do your best....

Hi: Mike G... Lack of quality is the new corrosion seeping into all aspects of manufacturing.
We're in the midst of replacing our 50 yr. old Maytag washer. I bet the new one won't last that long but at my age does it really matter? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by TTMartin

Airstream may be owned by Thor. However, they are made in Jackson Center, Ohio, not Elkhart, Indiana.

Airstream Factory Tours

Right I’ve been to the factory.

[Ooshkaboo]

I have heard a lot about Bigfoot being the way to go.
The wait time is way less than Escape and I’ve been told after sales customer service is also a better deal.
Did I mention how they’re four seasons, quality build, more room.
Price wise, well with Escape raising their prices. like just outa nowhere…
I’m now convinced it’s just makes sense to make the upgrade.

[splitting_lanes]

Bigfoot doesn’t have a fifth wheel version like escape. I wonder if they’ll ever build one?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

Bigfoot doesn’t have a fifth wheel version like escape. I wonder if they’ll ever build one?

They did - if you are willing to go used,

here is a tour of 1986 Bigfoot 5th wheel

.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by Ooshkaboo

I have heard a lot about Bigfoot being the way to go.
The wait time is way less than Escape and I’ve been told after sales customer service is also a better deal.
Did I mention how they’re four seasons, quality build, more room.
Price wise, well with Escape raising their prices. like just outa nowhere…
I’m now convinced it’s just makes sense to make the upgrade.

What you didn't mention is how much they weigh. That applies to the tandem axle versions of Bigfoot (7500 GVWR) and Airstream (minimum of 6000 GVWR). If you have a tow vehicle that can to tow those weights certainly don't limit yourself to an Escape. Escape is unique in offering tandem axle molded fiberglass trailers with a GVWR of 5000 lbs.

At $94,472.00 CAD for a Bigfoot (and even more for an Airstream) let's not pretend that it is because Escape trailers are too expensive. Everyone's pricing has gone up. Molded fiberglass is a petroleum product and all fiberglass trailer manufacturers have seen their cost of production rise. All are raising their prices accordingly.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

They did - if you are willing to go used,

That 'dry bath' was the same style as my previous trailer where the shower curtain gets sucked in and attacks you every time you use it.

The only nice thing about that Bigfoot is it looks like you could maybe use it as a wet bath instead, by relocating the shower curtains so it just protects the cabinets and the door.

[Eggscape]

Bigfoot again is a great locally made product to us but was a non contender as they don’t make a normal bed. When I did my research they were all “RV size”. What this means is it is non standard even if they call it a familiar name. The beds are either normal length long and narrow or normal width and short. There is a reason they do not make it easy to find the exact measurements of each bed. I could not find a full size queen in the bunch. Our sleep is very important to us and Escape had the right size bed in the right size trailer.

[splitting_lanes]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

They did - if you are willing to go used,

Wow, that’s pretty cool. I like the loft on it, it’s a little more separated from the living area. Captains chairs are nice too, if they are comfortable.

[brroberts]

We loved our Bigfoot pickup camper, but the Escape trailer was a better fit for us when we went from camper to trailers. All RV’s have pluses and minuses. You just have to figure out what works best for you.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by TTMartin

What you didn't mention is how much they weigh. That applies to the tandem axle versions of Bigfoot (7500 GVWR) and Airstream (minimum of 6000 GVWR). If you have a tow vehicle that can to tow those weights certainly don't limit yourself to an Escape. Escape is unique in offering tandem axle molded fiberglass trailers with a GVWR of 5000 lbs.
Attachment 65591
At $94,472.00 CAD for a Bigfoot (and even more for an Airstream) let's not pretend that it is because Escape trailers are too expensive. Everyone's pricing has gone up. Molded fiberglass is a petroleum product and all fiberglass trailer manufacturers have seen their cost of production rise. All are raising their prices accordingly.

They are about 2000 lbs heavier than an Escape and 25 has no equivalent yet in Escape, as they are larger than the upcoming 23. These are not light trailers as even the 21 is significantly heavier than an Escape. I’m paying about 15000 more than a top of the line fully equipped 21c. We have the tow vehicle. As I stated a few times we would have likely bought the 23, but after three years we are too old to wait. We liked our Escape just fine, we need more room and a bit more comfort.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

Bigfoot again is a great locally made product to us but was a non contender as they don’t make a normal bed. When I did my research they were all “RV size”. What this means is it is non standard even if they call it a familiar name. The beds are either normal length long and narrow or normal width and short. There is a reason they do not make it easy to find the exact measurements of each bed. I could not find a full size queen in the bunch. Our sleep is very important to us and Escape had the right size bed in the right size trailer.

An rv queen is 5 inches shorter than a queen.

[Iowa Dave]

Mike Szabo on Fiberglass RV has a fifth wheel Bigfoot. He’s pulling it with an F150. Mike lives in Michigan and attends several Midwestern/ Eastern rallies each year. He is a very nice guy and his wife is wonderful too. Mike is a craftsman and has done several interesting projects. He is mszabo on fiberglass. He really knows Bigfoot campers. I spent a little time with him at Algonac this year. He’s been at the Niagara Wine Escape many times too.
Iowa Dave