[p]Hello all, new guy in the market for a travel trailer. 32 years old from the greater Houston area. Have been eyeing a travel trailer for a while but got serious in the last month but really still in the research phase because I haven't had time to go look at any, or the ones I am interested in have no stock near me to look at. Beginning to really settle on a Camplite 16DBS or a 21RBS (really want the dinette option) just trying to decide whether we want the extra room to take guest, currently have no kids but that is in our plan, but 75% of the time it would just be the wife and I. I plan to pull it with a 2015 F-150 with the 3.5L Ecoboost. According to the charts my tow rating is 9,000 LB. This will be my first travel trailer.[/p][p]
[/p][p]This weekend we are going on a river float trip near Austin, TX and will look up Princess Craft and look at the 16DBS they have in stock. Before I stumbled onto Livinlite I was most interested in a Jayco. The all aluminum guts of the livinlite and no wood to rot really has me sold on this brand though as I expect to own this for a very long time. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Few questions I have if anyone would like to help...Thanks in advance![/p][p]
[/p][p]What are the #1 problems with Livinlite?[/p][p]
[/p][p]How is Livinlite customer service?[/p][p]
[/p][p]Are there any tricks to dealing with dealers?[/p][p]
[/p][p]Anyone pros/cons to buying out of state?[/p][p]
[/p][p]What about buying from another dealer than where you would typically have warranty work done? (example not buying from the dealer near you). My closest dealer is more like an RV consignment company and have no new stock. If I use Princess as noted above its a 3 hour drive to have it worked on.[/p][p]
[/p][p]If I can't find the model I want, would I be able to order one?[/p][p]
[/p][p]I plan on building a concrete pad to set this on in the backyard with a awning and 3 sides protecting it. Is that sufficient? (really don't want to pay a storage lot a monthly fee for the life of this trailer)[/p][p]
[/p][p]
[/p][p]All the questions I have for now! :) [/p][p]
[/p][p]
[/p][p]Thanks[/p][p]Justin[/p]
Quote from: @justing" source="/post/23392/thread" timestamp="1469540380[p][span style="font-size:10pt;"]What are the #1 problems with Livinlite?[/span][/p]
Quality control. Dealers that don't know the product (including service dept). Responsiveness to warranty/parts.
Quote
How is Livinlite customer service?
Hit and miss. Sometimes awfully good. Sometimes awful.
QuoteAre there any tricks to dealing with dealers?
If you catch them early in the day, many of them will actually pull your finger.
QuoteAnyone pros/cons to buying out of state?
Pro: Price, availability of the model you want.
Con: Not going to the dealer you will use for service. Gas, food, lodging and time to get there. Trailer isn't right when you try to pick it up, now have to make another trip.
QuoteWhat about buying from another dealer than where you would typically have warranty work done? (example not buying from the dealer near you). My closest dealer is more like an RV consignment company and have no new stock. If I use Princess as noted above its a 3 hour drive to have it worked on.
Your consignment dealer likely doesn't know anything about LL trailers and won't have the contacts within LL to get warranty work done, or parts quickly. Princess may or may not be any better, of course. Many of the parts are industry standard (ie. door locks, refrigerators, vent fans, etc.) Does your dealer know the dos and don'ts of aluminum frames, or will they happily drill hole after hole ?
Note: I think post-Thor, Camping World now does service and warranty work on LL's. Unconfirmed, dunno anyone who has used them.
QuoteIf I can't find the model I want, would I be able to order one?
Yes. They were much more obliging in the past to custom orders - not meaning options, but actual custom changes.
QuoteI plan on building a concrete pad to set this on in the backyard with a awning and 3 sides protecting it. Is that sufficient? (really don't want to pay a storage lot a monthly fee for the life of this trailer)
Yes. Make sure you run electric to the pad so you can maintain the battery. It would also be nice to have water nearby to fill your fresh tank, and also for washing purposes. Make it tall enough to clear the air conditioner, fan vents, TV antenna etc.