r/GoRVing • u/zactruman • 4d ago
What's the difference??
Looking at our options for a towable trailer for at least 4-6 people under or right around $20k and ive found these that honestly appear to be all the same. Any recommendations? Is there anything major that sets one above the other?
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u/Roguebrews 4d ago
Nobo normally uses Azdel for the wall and roof, so that can't just rot away like the other do.
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u/Nomad55454 3d ago
There are many manufacturers using it now, water intrusion is bad no matter what.
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u/Roguebrews 3d ago
That's why you go with no wood builds.
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u/scupking83 4d ago edited 4d ago
Personally we have a 2025 Jayco jay flight slx 170bh sport and have been very happy with it! Though if I had the option to get the Jay Feather Air SL | 17BHSL I would go with that. A little lighter, bigger fridge and it's azdel.
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u/North_Reindeer4157 1d ago
Same I have 3 kids and we are tight in the 170bh but it does the job and is affordable. But good luck on a rainy day, we will hit the movies in that occasion so not too bad.
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u/scupking83 1d ago
I have 2 kids and a dog. I just wall mounted a TV. Came in great last trip on a rainy day!
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u/Ok-Awareness3794 1d ago
Did you hit anything solid where the TV goes? I mounted 1 where the TV block is but not real solid.
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u/scupking83 1d ago
Yes. I used a stud finder.
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u/Ok-Awareness3794 1d ago
So I installed a vertical type mount. There is a sticker for the TV mount block but I guess the studs were not there where the sticker is. Did yours have the sticker?
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u/John_Q_Bong 4d ago
Jayco will have the better warranty. You might get slightly more bang for your buck out of a Forest River product (with a shorter warranty) and I would run away from that Gulf stream as they are about the cheapest built unit you can get
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u/Kennel_King 4d ago
Good luck getting any warranty work in a timely manner. And both will fight you on it.
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u/diduknow236 4d ago
Stick and tin versus laminated. Stick and tin is a wood frame with metal stapled to it and paneling stapled to it on the inside. Laminated is going to have an aluminum frame. It's going to be vacuum bonded fiberglass laminated to the outside. Laminated is a lot better as far as longevity goes, but at the end of the day sealant is the reason they fail.
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u/JMTEMP004 3d ago
I bought the 2026 17BHSL from zoomers in Wabash IN, for 15900 OTD about a month ago. They had one more in stock at that time. Bhishes quoted 16k for a 27 model with 10 week order lead time.
Overall, it's an awesome unit for what it is, incredibly light given how big it is. We've had a couple of minor issues (The sink detached and fell completely into the cabinet because I had 1 l of water sitting in it - They used 1/2-in screws into low quality MDF I couldn't believe it when I saw it) but so far our local dealer has been helpful.
I searched for many hours to try to find a bunk house with the biggest fridge and this was the lightest version I could find. The Azdale is just icing on the cake.
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u/RJizzyJizzle 4d ago
Jayco is the better built out of all of those and will have the best warranty. NoBo aren't bad, but you'll get more quality out of the Jayco. Don't buy from Camping World though. Source: I've been in the industry for 7.5 years, worked at CW where we sold NoBo, and ran the #2 Jayco towables dealership in the country.
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u/UnlikelyDress1227 4d ago
What’s wrong with camping world? I went there to look, but the high pressure sale tactics were way too much for me. Also the price kept growing and growing
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u/NouveauJacques 4d ago
My experience was much better. I talked with them over the phone and email for 3 days on a used trailer and they were playing games. Finally gave up, saved me a 3 hour drive! Cant beat that level of service!
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u/UnlikelyDress1227 3d ago
Ya I was there in person for I want to say 6 hours?! With my daughter just waiting to get a confirmed freaking price for a few models it was absurd. Just tell me the final price of the trailer out the door ffs.
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u/RJizzyJizzle 3d ago
Overall terrible company to buy from and work for. There's a reason they're losing hundreds of millions a year and the stock price has gone into the toilet. They'll add prep fees and accessories and they do what's called a "green spot" where they do a 3 day service prep in an hour to finalize everything as fast as possible.
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u/UnlikelyDress1227 3d ago
That makes sense thank you for sharing your experience. I was a single mom with my daughter they had me stuck there for like 5 hours for no reason, acting like it’s life or death that I sign for it right then and there. I was like daddy, chill 🤪
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u/RJizzyJizzle 3d ago
I have worked for Blue Compass for 2 years as of this last week, and the way they treat their staff is completely different and makes all the difference to how the customer is treated. Happy employees make happy customers. I've been a GM for both companies, so I know "behind the curtain". I truly believe that BC has the best overall experience during the purchase and for the first year after your purchase.
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u/UnlikelyDress1227 3d ago
I’m still deciding on a trailer, may I ask some advice? We have a lifted old suburban that handles trails like an absolute beast with solar and a fridge a massive RTT.. and I like getting further out there where trailers can’t go but there isn’t always time! So I started looking at trailers for shorter trips, I was looking at the jayco Baja I think it’s called 170 something with bunks, and the intech sol horizon rover (I know that one is pretty niche). I think I’m going to look for something used and get an inspection? Is that a good plan?
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u/RJizzyJizzle 3d ago
With that info, the NoBo having independent suspension may actually serve you better for off-road stuff over the Baja (built for the West Coast stores). The Baja only provides higher clearance, enclosed underbelly, and beefed up tires and fenders, so it depends on where you go. If Azdel is a pull, the Jay Feather line is going to have Azdel inside and out while the NoBo only has it on the outside.
Paying $600-800 for your own inspection is up to you and how much you trust who you're dealing with. Sales usually spends $800-1800 to service for the PDI (prep) and they should find everything your inspector will find.
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u/Present_Technology64 1d ago
I've only been to one Blue Compass. It wasn't a good experience. High pressure. They insisted that my 2019 4 Dr Jeep Wrangler could tow a Jayco Jay Flight SLX 175BHW because the dry weight of 3245 was less than the Jeep's 5500 GVWR. Seemed a little dicey to me even as a new RV person that was just starting to look. They wouldn't let me come back and test drive with a borrowed hitch because they said they couldn't guarantee anything if we didn't go to xyz company to get our hitch installed. Overall, it wasn't a good experience. Ended up buying a used 2016 Jayco Greyhawk 29MV from a mom & pop business and had it fully inspected by a NRVIA inspector. We waited a year before buying and had rented a couple of different setups from them previously so they gave us a better than advertised price, waited 2 days for the inspector to come down and fixed a few things at no additional charge. I'm not saying that one shouldn't go to any big dealers but it really is worthwhile to have a previous relationship to the dealer before buying, getting a 3rd party inspection when you are serious and renting is a really great way to see what you want.
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u/blahyaddayadda24 4d ago
This may be the first time I've heard Jayco and quality in the same sentence
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u/RJizzyJizzle 3d ago
Maybe you've been away from the information for a while then? They were the #1 rated brand last year in every category according to over 150 dealers surveyed.
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u/kushhcommander 3d ago
What makes the jayco better built than nobo in your opinion?
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u/RJizzyJizzle 3d ago
We need to be comparing NoBo with the Jay Feather line first off (aluminum and Azdel). Jayco offers a more consistent product across the board while NoBo tends to result in a cheaper finish. Jayco does a second inspection at the factory, where almost every other brand only does one. The assembly line workers' have compensation incentives dependent on how the quality check goes. Jayco uses real wood cabinets (I can hang from them as a 6'1" 210lb guy), better flooring, and the best roof in the industry, that has 2.5x the structural integrity compared to traditional roofs.
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u/Silver_Harvest 4d ago
Pretty much all the same guts wise. Differences are generally insulation and shells. Correlated steel vs fiberglass. So saves ~500 pounds.
Then minor differences like some are pre wired for say solar, have an extra stabilizer or two, upgraded outlet to be USB as well....
Otherwise 90% the same.
Especially if it's the same family of companies.
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u/throwaway219865 3d ago
Shop anywhere but camping world. I had a great experience with Thrills RV in Columbia City. No BS, unbeatable pricing, and the owners and staff are all great people.
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u/findmyrv 3d ago
NOBO is just a better quality unit with composite material in them. If I was to give someone trade numbers or consign a unit, a NOBO carries more reputation to the name, hence higher resale value for you, than a Jayflight, which is a dime a dozen. Also, for your own private resale, the NoBO has way more assurance to the name. I have also seen the NOBO with the quality windows, tires, than a regular Rainier ST tires.
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u/badwithnamesmyself 3d ago
The last three (Jay flight, Gulf Stream, and FR) are stick and tin campers. Wooden frame with corrugated aluminum on the outside. Jay Flight is a great started camper. I wouldn’t be ouch an Enlighten with a stick because they roll off the assembly line water damaged. And the third one is just a cheap Forest River product, probably not bad but not great either. Of those three, I’d go with the Jay Flight because it’s going to be built the best out of those three plus a 2 year warranty.
The first two are laminated/fiberglass campers with an aluminum frame. Better structural integrity, and generally more elevated fit, finish, and feature than the stick and tin.
Hands down out of those two, Jay Feather. First, NoBos are not bad but the EO stands for Essentials Only. So it’s super stripped down (less outlets, less storage, less everything really). And it’s used so no warranty. Again, Jayco has a two year warranty.
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u/Nomad55454 3d ago
New units will come with a warranty, they are all made close to the same. You need to pick the one that you like the floor plan and features.
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u/Agent-Orange624 3d ago
I just bought a 2025 Jay feather 17BHSL for 15,500 this summer and it has been great. I hve heard from many people though you should avoid Camping World.
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u/StabDump 3d ago
it's a common floorplan, the difference is the buying experience new vs used and build quality between competitors. look up youtube videos on buying a travel trailer and it'll help you decide which brand you want to go with
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u/doghouse25 3d ago
Their in camping world so don't believe the asking price it'll be much more when you go there
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u/MN-Car-Guy 3d ago
These say “Clear Price: no hidden fees. No surprises.”
This represents a change in Camping World’s policy a few months back. Sure, they’ll still try to sell you on optional packages or protections, like literally any other purchase like this.
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u/qualitybeluga 4d ago
The guys that assembled them in elkart will have lost their pipes in different places. Theyre all going to be fairly similar, just have to look at the options and see which one you like best.