A travel trailer offers the amenities of a home with the portability of a trailer
If the coronavirus has you going stir-crazy, there’s a good chance you’ve thought about buying an RV and taking a road trip. After all, an RV allows you to travel without exposing yourself to germy airports and hotels.
You wouldn’t be the only person to come up with that idea. But if you’re a first-time RV buyer, there can be a steep learning curve to overcome. First, you need to figure out which type of recreational vehicle is right for you.
Travel trailers are the most popular—and most varied—type of towable RV. They have solid walls and often feature a slide—a section of wall that pulls out to provide more interior space when camping.
In an earlier article we discussed advantages of a travel trailer and factors currently fueling an increasing demand for this type of recreational vehicle.
A recent study revealed that demand for travel trailers is expected to rise 5.2 percent per year through 2022 to $12.6 billion with volume reaching 475,000 units on 3.9 percent annual growth.
Travel trailers are favored for their variety of options, from luxury to low-cost entry-level versions, and from those that require a truck to tow them to those that can be managed by most small automobiles.
In this article we’ll outline the different types of travel trailers available for purchase and the pros and cons of this type of recreational vehicle.
Travel trailers come in a wide variety of sizes and designs:
Smaller trailers have a single axle; larger trailers can have two (or even three). More axles increase towing stability and increase your living space, but they also add to tire replacement costs.
A manufacturer recall can create a safety risk if not repaired
Your recreational vehicle may be involved in a safety recall
and may create a safety risk for you or your passengers. Safety defects must be
repaired by a certified dealer at no cost to you. However, if left unrepaired,
a potential safety defect in your vehicle could lead to injury or even death.
What is a recall?
When a manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) determines that a recreational vehicle or item of RV
equipment creates an unreasonable risk to safety or fails to meet minimum
safety standards, the manufacturer is required to fix that vehicle or equipment
at no cost to the consumer.
NHTSA releases its most recent list of recalls each Monday.
The number of RV recalls has increased significantly in
recent years: 169 recalls were issued during 2016, 203 recalls during 2017, and
230 for 2018.
It should be noted that RV recalls are related to vehicle
safety and not product quality.
NHTSA has no interest in an air conditioner failing to cool or
slide out failing to extend or retract—unless they can be directly attributed
to product safety.
NHTSA announced 16 recall notices during March 2019. These
recalls involved 7 recreational vehicle manufacturers—Forest River (7 recalls),
Keystone RV Company (4 recalls), Heartland Recreational Vehicles (2 recalls), Winnebago
(2 recalls), Airstream (1 recall), Motor Coach Industries (1 recall), and Trail
King (1 recall).
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019
Glaval Entourage motorhomes and 2017-2018 Berkshire Coach Ultra motorhomes
built on a Ford chassis and equipped with an engine block heater. Water and
contaminants may get into the block heater cable’s splice connector causing
corrosion and damage to the connector, which can result in an electrical short.
Forest River has notified owners, and Ford dealers will
inspect the block heater cable and replace it if damage is found. If no damage
is found, the terminal connector will be packed with grease and reconnected.
The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on February 6,
2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-343-5111 or
Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Forest River’s number for this recall
is 51-0940.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018
XLR recreational trailers, models XLT26HFS, XLT26HFS-W, and XLT27KW. The
affected trailers were not equipped with a liquid propane (LP)/carbon monoxide
(CO) detector.
Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will install
an LP/CO detector, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2019. Owners
may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0432. Forest River’s
number for this recall is 45-0931.
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019
Flagstaff and Rockwood recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may
be improperly wired, and as a result, the trailer brakes will not apply in the
event that the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle.
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a
new wiring harness to maintain the supply of power to the brake system, free of
charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River
customer service at 1-574-642-2640. Forest River’s number for this recall is
10B-0943.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019
Forest River Columbus recreational trailers, equipped with MORryde Rubber Pin
Boxes. The pin box mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened,
possibly resulting in the trailer separating from the tow vehicle.
Forest River has notify owners, and Forest River or MORryde
dealers will replace the mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began
February 25, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at
1-574-821-1487 or MORyde customer service at 1-574-293-1581. Forest River’s
number for this recall is 410-0954.
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019
Forest River Wildwood recreational trailers. The Federal Placard indicates an
incorrect front tire pressure of 110 PSI. The correct PSI of the front, rear
and spare tires is 80 PSI. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, “Tire selection and
Rims.” Additionally, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements
of 49 CFR Part 567, “Certification.”
Forest River has notified owners, and supplied a corrected
Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may
contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-6127, extension 10917.
Forest River’s number for this recall is 69-0949.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2019
Rockwood and Flagstaff recreational trailers. The bunk bed door latch fasteners
that secure the bunk bed door closed may fail, allowing the door to open while
moving.
Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will install
the correct fasteners for the bunk bed door latches, free of charge. The recall
began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at
1-574-642-8943. Forest River’s number for this recall is 10D-0950.
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019
Cherokee recreational trailers. The Federal Placards indicate incorrect tire
size information of ST205/75R15, when the vehicles are actually equipped with
ST225/75R15 tires. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements
of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, “Tire
Selection and Rims.” Additionally, these vehicles fail to comply with the
requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, “Certification.”
Forest River has notified owners and sent them a new Federal
Placard that has correct tire size information, free of charge. The recall
began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at
1-541-644-8072, extension 4022. Forest River’s number for this recall is
64-0948.
Keystone RV Company
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019
Dutchmen Endurance and 2017-2019 Dutchmen Voltage Travel Trailers. The tires
may contact with the rear floor support, affecting the trailer’s handling.
Keystone has notified owners, and dealers will cut a notch
in the floor support to provide sufficient clearance between the tire and the
floor support, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2019. Owners may
contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone RV’s number for
this recall is 19-338.
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019
Montana recreational trailers, models 3855BR and 3854BR. The adjustment bolt
for the kitchen slide may be too long, allowing it to make contact with the
tire while moving.
Keystone had notified owners, and dealers will replace the
adjustment bolt with a correct length adjustment bolt, and replace the dinette
slide room adjustment mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on February
7, 2019. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369.
Keystone’s number for this recall is 19-341
Keystone RV Company
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019
Keystone Bullet Crossfire recreational trailers equipped with a rear-wall
mounted spare tire carrier. The spare tire carrier was improperly mounted,
possibly resulting in the carrier detaching from the rear wall.
Keystone has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the
trailers and correctly install the tire carrier, as necessary, free of charge.
The recall began on March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Keystone customer service
at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone’s number for this recall is 19-345.
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019
Crossroad Redwood recreational trailers, equipped with MORryde Rubber Pin
Boxes. The pin box mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened,
possibly resulting in the trailer separating from the tow vehicle.
Keystone has notified owners, and dealers will properly
tighten the mounting bolts for the pin box, free of charge. The recall began on
February 28, 2019. Owners may notify Keystone customer service at
1-866-425-4369. Keystone’s number for this recall is 19-346.
Heartland
Recreational Vehicles
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is
recalling certain 2019 Prowler and Trail Runner recreational trailers. The
trailers were equipped with Load Range D tires instead of Load Range E tires.
Heartland has notified owners, and dealers will replace the
tires with ones of the correct load range, free of charge. The recall began
February 14, 2019. Owners may contact Heartland customer service at
1-877-262-8032. Heartland’s number for this recall is 99.01.46.
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is
recalling certain 2019 Prowler and Trail Runner recreational trailers. The
Federal Certification Label may contain incorrect tire size, load range and
tire pressure information. As such, these trailers fail to comply with the
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110,
“Tire Selection and Rims.”
Heartland has notified owners and provided replacement
certification labels, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2019.
Owners may contact Heartland customer service at 1-877-262-8032. Heartland’s
number for this recall is 99.01.45.
Winnebago
Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago) is recalling certain
2012-2018 Winnebago ERA motorhomes. The overhead cabinet shelf may have been
improperly attached, allowing the cabinet face to detach and fall into the cab
area.
Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will install two
support brackets, additional screws, and a maximum capacity warning label, free
of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a recall start date. Owners
may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-641-585-6939 or 1-800-537-1885.
Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago) is recalling certain
2014 Metro Link vehicles equipped with Ricon S-Series and K-Series Titanium
Wheelchair Lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the
lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle’s floor
height. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 403, “Platform Lift
Systems.”
Winnebago will notify owners and Ricon dealers will replace
the lift positioning input cam, free of charge. The recall began on February
28, 2019. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.
Winnebago’s number for this recall is 157.
Airstream
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2019
Airstream Basecamp X recreational vehicles. The Federal Certification Label and
Tire Placard may have incorrect information stating that the vehicle is
equipped with 235/55R18 Load Range D tires needing 80 psi, when the vehicles
are actually equipped with 235/75R15 Load Range D tires needing 51 psi. As
such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, “Tire Selection and
Rims.”
Airstream has notified owners and will send them a new
corrected Federal Certification Label and Tire Placard, free of charge. The
recall began on February 22, 2019. Owners may contact Airstream customer
service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 extension 7401 or 7411.
Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2001-2015
J4500 and 1997-2013 102EL3/E4500 coaches equipped with a hydraulic rear axle
(tag axle) steering system. The axle’s alignment and low hydraulic pressure in
the steering system may cause the steering system to lock, causing a loss of
steering control at highway speeds.
MCI will notify owners. The manufacturer has not yet
finalized the recall remedy. The recall is expected to begin in March 2019.
Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI’s number for
this recall is SB 469.
Trail King
Trail King Industries, Inc. (Trail King) is recalling
certain 2016-2017 ACS and AACS drop deck fifth wheel trailers equipped with
fifth wheel plates that have a 14″ king pin setting and 1/4″ plate.
The fifth wheel coupler plate on these vehicles may crack, potentially allowing
the trailer to detach from the tractor.
Trail King has notified owners, and dealers will replace the
coupler plate, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2019. Owners may
contact Trail King customer service at 1-800-843-3324. Trail King’s number for
this recall is TK201901.
Note: Owners may
also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety
Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
