Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 So, on my most recent trip, I rented a 2011 Gulfstream Ameri Lite 255 BH. I thought for sure this would be "the" camper, but sadly, it was not. I'm not a patient person, so I was hoping I'd say "Yep, this is the one. I'm going shopping." There were a lot of things I didn't love about the unit, but only a couple of deal breakers. They were probably all options that weren't on this model, with the exception of the shower being too small for me. I really liked the finishes and other base options the Gulfstreams have, though, and found a larger trailer with exactly the floor plan I want, ducted a/c and very importantly, a shower I can stand up in. So, are there any reasons I shouldn't look at the Gulfstream? Thoughts? Opinions? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 Do a search over at rv.net. I've never owned one, but I have seen plenty of threads about poor quality and lack of customer service. BouncingTiggers 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 Thanks. I'll definitely take a look. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 Take a look at Jayco and KZ. Both are privately owned and offer a 2 year warranty. They are both considered to be above average quality.Here's a good board for KZ's.http://kzownersforum.com/index.phpAlso check out Evergreen. They don't use wood at all in the construction. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 I'm not familiar with KZ, but they have some NICE rigs. Probably a little too nice for my budget. A friend and her family bought an Evergreen and haven't loved it. She's commented to me several times that it's nice, but she's not sure they'd buy another one. I'll have to follow up with her, though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 KZ's prices are about like everyone else's. I would say mid teen's for the size rig that you are looking for. Their dealer network is smaller than most, though. They do make nice campers. We are on our second one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 A friend owns a Mako TT by Gulf Stream and is not happy with it, the roof leaked but I helped him fix that no problem since, but lots of other issues have came up. They no longer make this brand but even if they did he is way past warranty, I have offered to help again but they want to get everything fixed now at a dealer, I told him the big RV show was in Sept. @ Hershey and a good time to trade in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 Our first TT was a Gulfstream Conquest and I never had a single issue with it. But having read a lot of reviews of their products on rv.net and other owner sites I know I was very lucky. More people have issues than not. But based on my experience I was a happy owner. The only reason we sold it was that we outgrew it when our 4th daughter was born. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 Thanks Dave. This is also a new Conquest I was looking at. I'm sorry to hear there are so many negative reviews out there. I searched around on RV.net this afternoon and found some interesting stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wak648...Bill 94 Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 When we went looking for a new TT last year the shower height was on of my concerns. On some Jayco models they have a dome over the tub/shower to give more light and increased height. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jsh...Joyce 11 Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 We have a Gulfstream motorhome and are having plenty of issues. We are currently fixing the back wall of the motorhome which is pulling away from the frame. The 1st year we owned it we had to take it back to the factory to be worked on and then they informed us some of it was not under warranty. We were Fleetwood dealers for over 20 years, Starcraft before that and never had the factorys fight us on warranty issues. Took us over a year of constantly calling Gulfstream to get a wiring diagram of the mh. The a/c blew hot air instead of cold and they told us nothing was wrong. DH finally fixed the issue. Our motorhome is 5 years old and we bought it as we were getting out of the RV business because I liked the floor plan and we needed a heavy duty mh. (Super C) for pulling a trailer full of 4 wheelers. Trying to talk to the service dept is next to impossible. From our experience I would definitely look elsewhere. Every manufacturer will have pros and cons, so I would also consider the RV dealer that you buy from and what type of service dept. they have since they will be the one that has to go to bat for you with the manufacturer if any issues come up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 When we went looking for a new TT last year the shower height was on of my concerns. On some Jayco models they have a dome over the tub/shower to give more light and increased height.Yeah, I always have to climb in there to test it out. The first Starcraft I looked at I would have had to have showered on my knees. That wasn't going to happen. I like Jayco a lot, but their trailers really are more geared to large families and groups. I'm specifically looking for something with just a bedroom and larger living space - no bunks. I know from experience that you don't need it 90% of the time, but when you do, you're miserable without it. I found a Kodiak that I like, but haven't found a dealer nearby. I'm still looking, though, so who knows. Maybe I'll find something with the right floor plan yet.We have a Gulfstream motorhome and are having plenty of issues. We are currently fixing the back wall of the motorhome which is pulling away from the frame. The 1st year we owned it we had to take it back to the factory to be worked on and then they informed us some of it was not under warranty. We were Fleetwood dealers for over 20 years, Starcraft before that and never had the factorys fight us on warranty issues. Took us over a year of constantly calling Gulfstream to get a wiring diagram of the mh. The a/c blew hot air instead of cold and they told us nothing was wrong. DH finally fixed the issue. Our motorhome is 5 years old and we bought it as we were getting out of the RV business because I liked the floor plan and we needed a heavy duty mh. (Super C) for pulling a trailer full of 4 wheelers. Trying to talk to the service dept is next to impossible. From our experience I would definitely look elsewhere. Every manufacturer will have pros and cons, so I would also consider the RV dealer that you buy from and what type of service dept. they have since they will be the one that has to go to bat for you with the manufacturer if any issues come up.Thanks. That's good to hear. So far, the majority of the complaints about Gulstream I've heard are in MoHo's. Everything I found on rv.net was fairly positive for the travel trailers, but I also didn't take the time to really search through the archives. Like I said above, I'll keep looking. I think I've heard enough to stay away from Gulfstream for now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
disneylitch......Debbie 61 Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 We just bought a 1994 Newmar Kountry Star diesel pusher. We have had some questions and contacted Newmar. They were fantastic. They answered all of our questions and I feel went above and beyond what I had expected. We have had a few issues with the motorhome, but it is from neglect from the previous owners, not the construction of the unit. It is very quiet and stable when driving it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Brent, One thing to consider is resale. You will probably want to upgrade to something else sometime in the future....unless you do an insane amount of research and homework before hand. Most people find out what they REALLY want after camping for a while. If you found a bunkhouse model that fit your needs except for the bunk you could modify the bunk area for another purpose.....ie storage or wet bar ;-) Then when it comes time to sale you could put it back to stock. BH's are usually in high demand in the used market. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Friends bought a Surveyor with a floor plan your looking for almost laid out like a 5th wheel, very nice unit made by Forrest River. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Thanks all. I really wanted to find a jayco that I liked, but they just don't have any floor plans that appeal to me right now. I've found a KZ and Outback that I like a lot. Shopping on Saturday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BouncingTiggers 98 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 We looked at KZ TT a few years back & were impressed with their fit & finish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Thanks all. I really wanted to find a jayco that I liked, but they just don't have any floor plans that appeal to me right now. I've found a KZ and Outback that I like a lot. Shopping on Saturday.My current TT is an Outback. We love it so far. Had it for almost 18 months already. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I thought I remembered that from your last TR, Dave. They're, obviously, a little higher end than what I was looking it, but looks like there are some good or even great deals on 2012's out there right now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 I thought I remembered that from your last TR, Dave. They're, obviously, a little higher end than what I was looking it, but looks like there are some good or even great deals on 2012's out there right now.I think you'll find their pricing a bit less than Jayco. While I'm very happy with my Outback, I would put the construction quality a tad lower, and it only came with a one year warranty. You can bargain with them quite a bit, especially like you said on a leftover 2012. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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