RV Zone is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Worst Travel Trailer Brands to Avoid at All Cost

Writen by Tom Hank

Fact checked by Joseph Varney

worst travel trailer brands to avoid

Traveling and living in your travel trailer is supposed to be fun, and more importantly, safe. That’s why it is crucial to know about the worst travel trailer brands to avoid. Keep in mind that popularity does not equate to quality. It’s vital to know how to choose the best RVs and what brands to avoid to maintain the integrity of your RV lifestyle.

Table of Contents

List of the Worst Travel Trailers

worst-rv-brands

Now that you know what to look for in a worthy RV, it’s time to get acquainted with the worst trailer brands to avoid. The list contains RV brands rated low by customers according to materials used, durability, reliability, functionality, design, and customer service. Let’s go check them out.

Worst Brand #1: Hurricane

The Hurricane travel trailers are constructed under Thor Motor Coach, and they are quite popular. In appearance alone, the Hurricane trailers are wonderful, with their working stations, large kitchen, and big family space.

However, the RVs are crafted with poor material, and there are many complaints from the RVers.

The hydraulic lines of the trailer are of low quality, plus the hydraulic fluid leaks, and the lines are not firm. Additionally, this brand has poor customer service, especially when it comes to the denial of warranty.

Worst Brand #2: Forest River

The Forest River trailer brand is one of the worst RV manufacturers in the world. Many people who bought an RV from this brand reported many issues. The Forest River trailers have leakage problems, technical difficulties while on the road, sinking floors, and low-quality customer service. And though this brand is popular, they don’t live up to the expectations of the consumers.

Worst Brand #3: Coleman

The Coleman brand is an influential name in the trailer industry. They have built many RVs for years, but the travel trailers are not the best ones to purchase. Buyers have complained about the poor quality of the RV, subpar assembly of the parts, low-quality furniture, and unreliable appliances. Indeed, living in a Coleman travel trailer will not make your life comfortable.

Worst Brand #4: Jayco

The Jayco travel trailers are aesthetically beautiful, and they are equipped with unique features. However, the special features are more of a burden than a blessing once they start to crumble. The appliances inside the trailer are unreliable, and the overall maintenance is quite costly. Plus, the ventilation always breaks down, and there is a constant issue with the plumbing.

Worst Brand #5: Coachmen

The Coachman travel trailer brand is an auxiliary of Forest River, Inc, and it is one of the motorhome brands to avoid. Though the Coachmen RVs have a sophisticated design and incredible features, this brand has many flaws. The trailers from this brand are known to be built with poor quality materials, weak furniture, fragile electrical insulation, and leaking showers. And with many issues that come with this brand, it’s wise to stay away from it.

Worst Brand #6: Fleetwood

The Fleetwood brand is well-known in the RV industry, and in the past, they have built high-quality RVs. But in recent years, this brand has seemingly lowered down their standards. Fleetwood’s newly built travel trailers have poor quality fabrics, water leakage, lack of balance, and poor customer service. And the worst part is, the warranty of the RV is not honored by Fleetwood.

With the decline of the quality of the travel trailers by this brand, it is just right to stay clear.

Worst Brand #7: Keystone

The Keystone travel trailers boast an exceptional fuel system and roomy interior, but there are many reports of unreliability. The furniture of the RV is reported to be weak, the control board hard to handle, and bad customer service. Additionally, the website of Keystone does not offer relief to the customers who need help. Though it is a popular brand, it is wise to never purchase a Keystone travel trailer.

Worst Brand #8: Winnebago

Winnebago is one of the RV brands to avoid. One of the major concerns of the travel trailer owners is the low-quality wall finishing, which greatly affects the durability of the RV. Another issue is the bent panels and walls, as well as poorly bolted parts. Plus, the customer service is no help at all, on top of the structural drawbacks.

Though Winnebago is reputed to produce high-quality products, their efficiency does not apply to their travel trailers. And with many issues with their RVs, it’s safe to say that this brand is not good for you.

Worst Brand #9: Gulf Stream

When a travel trailer experiences leakage problems, then rust follows, and the quality of life declines. That’s one of the reasons to stay away from a Gulf Stream RV. Aside from the faulty materials, there are reports about the improper installation of parts and unreliable appliances. And with these structural issues, it’s not safe to live in a travel trailer from this brand.

In the past, the Gulf Stream brand produced exceptional RVs. But in recent years, there has been a decrease in quality. And though the customer service is helpful to concerns, they charge extra to provide assistance.

Guide to Avoiding the Worst Travel Trailers

Purchasing a travel trailer costs a massive chunk of money and thus must not be taken lightly. And though it’s important to pay attention to the aesthetics of the RV, it’s more crucial to consider the construction. Durability and functionality must be your top priority. And you need to make sure to come up with an informed decision.

To save yourself from buying the worst RV, there are factors you need to consider. The best travel trailer checks all of the boxes, and the worst don’t meet the criteria.

  • Quality materials – subpar materials generate unreliable travel trailers.
  • Reliability – The manufacturer must not cut corners in the construction of the RV. A reliable travel trailer brings you to different places without breaking down. You would seldom need to fix things.
  • Durability – exceptional workmanship is needed to create a durable RV. Every inch of the travel trailer must be heavy-duty to ensure long-lasting durability.
  • Functionality – overall, the RV must be fully functional without issues with the AC, appliances, furniture, and mobility.
  • Design – the travel trailer must be aesthetically beautiful inside and out for superior comfort.

Conclusion

With this post, we hope to help you identify the worst travel trailer brands to avoid. And now that you’re aware of the facts, feel free to share this with your friends. We also wish to hear from you, so please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Tell us what you think about the worst RV brands.

5/5 - (2 votes)