I am looking at buying my first camper/toyhauler. Is forest river a decent brand? Im looking at model F295WP its a new 2008. Dealer has it for $11k of msrp. The floorplan looks like it will work for our needs. Just wanna make sure its not a junkbox. Thanks Bret

 

I had a Forest River TT and I wasn't fond of how poorly it was made. My TT wasn't a Toy Hauler, but I like my Desert Fox much more than I ever liked the FR!

 

I looked at two different Forest River units (Work & Play, and Sandstorm), both seemed good, but they sat a little low. I too ended up buying a Desert Fox because of the heavier frame and suspension.

 

I have a 2005 Forest River 39sp sierra. Love the trailer, only been in the shop once.

 

I have a 2008 32srv and have had no problems with it and we are at the races with it every weekend threw the summer.

 

The GF's parents have a Forest River tow trailer. It seems to be pretty high quality, especially the cabinetry. I think Forest Rivers kind of vary by year.

If you are looking at your first toyhauler, I'd suggest you consider used, unless money is no object. Everyone I know who got their first RV learned from the 1st one pretty quickly what floor plan, size or type of RV they should have gotten.

RV's depreciate an amazing amount in the first couple years, even if they've only been used a couple times.

A big RV show is a good place to see what models you like, then search the internet and see what's out there.

 

Im in the market for a toyhauler.........so many choices and prices are all over the place. Hard to make a decision

 

I remember feeling at a loss when I started shopping.

Taking a digital camera to a big RV show really helps. Start photos of whatever unit you are looking at with a shot of the placard that shows what it is and how much. They will all run together in your mind, and that way you can keep everything straight and know which photos go with which brochure.

I also noticed that if you pull some drawers out in the kitchen and look inside, you will see why some are cheap and some are expensive...

I wanted a short, separate garage 5th wheel, and was thinking of ordering a K-Z to my specs. I'd seen some Patio Haulers, and liked some of the features, and I ran into a 30' version with separate garage that I didn't know they made (dropped from the line).

I got it for about what I was going to use for a down payment on a new one. I hit it with the carpet/upholstery cleaner, and did wheels/tires and a few little things and had tons of fun with it for several years.

I'm really glad I went that route. Everything on it has worked perfectly.

I went 30' because I thought I couldn't go any bigger in the places I wanted to go. After using it, I found I could probably get a big one in the places I really went, and a 14' garage and more living space would really be nice.

I got a used 40' version of the Patio Hauler, and the 30' one still books out at not much less than I have in to it (though nobody's bought it yet). If I had bought the new K-Z, it probably would have depreciated more than the 30' Patio Hauler costs, so there's really a better fun to $$$ ratio going used.

If it's your first unit, I can just about guarantee once you've bought your first, in a year or so you will decide you really wanted a corner shower you can stand up in, or an island kitchen, a wide body...

Major things I think people miss when looking at toyhaulers are showers that you can't stand up in (the floor on some showers is 4" above the RV floor), and the TV in a bad place (where you have to turn sideways on the sofa to look at it).

Anyway, toyhaulers are a total blast, and can be done for reasonable cost of ownership, if money matters.

 

I have found that you can see almost any type of trailer you want on Rvtrader.com You can cruise and check out what looks good without leaving the computer Once you find something you like, find who sells them and walk thru....