If you haven't done so already, search this forum over the last month. It wasn't too long ago that there was a discussion of Dutchmen trailers vs. other brands. Opinion was mixed at best.
My wife & I purchased a 1999 28FKDSL-GL Dutchmen travel trailer new in Sept. 1999 & spent the next 3 winters living in it. We traveled from our home in Washington state to California & Arizona where we spent the winters. We had few problems & none were Dutchmen related (everything that went wrong was with the accesories installed in the TT) I have how ever heard bad about the light TTs in general.
Have not owned one but would not hesitate if I found the right model at the right deal. I have checked them out and know several people who do own/have owned them, and I think you would be very happy with one. Seem to be a great product, great quality/fit/finish, and have heard no bad about them. Good luck.
2005 Silverado 2500HD 4X4 C/C/6.0/4.10/Pullrite Super 5th/Prodigy.
2004 Puma 249RBS fifth-wheel bunkhouse.
Jim, Darlene, Michael, Sam, Brian and Hollyann, and cats Biscuit and Stardst USAF/GULF WAR VET.
My Pictures (updated 3-27-05 with new truck)
we have a 2000 dutchman 28fb, we are currently having trouble with our slide creeping out, we have had a leak in our front bedroom, we are now working on a leak in or around our front window as we are drivin down the road when it rains.
the dealer is currently working with us, and thor has been real co-operative so far. and also on the side of the unit some stapels came out so our whole front side had to be redone ,warrenty.
We've had a 2000 Dutchman 26BH Lite for about a year now. The only real problems we've had with it is a leak around the forward popup vent, which the dealer fixed right away. Another leak around the front window occurred last month, and I put some silicone around the window and it hasn't leaked again. Other than those (rather minor) problems, I like the trailer. This is my first experience with a trailer (as the adult and driver) and at first it was a monster to pull, but it's getting easier with experience. I learned to take off the sway bars when backing around very tight corners - that helps me land it on the tiny parking spot I have for it.
There is a disproportionate amount of complaints from Dutchmen owners compared to other brands. The RVCG book uses a star rating for their reviews. In the 2000 book, the Dutchmen trailers received 0 stars! It's good to hear some happy owners out there. It's disheartening to hear horror stories from fellow rvers.
We purchased a Dutchman Ultralight Zepher. Pulls very good. All appliances are very good also.
Things to watch for. "Warranty"
One of our cushions, the fabric had about 6 small rips in it like from a box cutter.
My dealer sent not just the cover back, but the cushion as well.
Dutchmen sent 3 different cushions, each one wrong. I finally got my dealer to have one made locally here and billed Dutchman. This whole process took 8 months.
I even called Dutchman myself. Talked to warranty dept. She referred it to parts, the same man we had been having the problem with.
She said 2 weeks and I would be taken care of. One month later still nothing, called her again, she said she could not help me. She had already done her job by turning it over so it is out of her hands. I said that its still under warranty, she said sorry cant help.
Finally had one made locally, they billed Dutchman, cushion still not fitting correctly.
Currently having this cushion cut down again and being billed to them. Hope this works.
Dutchman is the worst for warranty. They are very good at passing the buck.
We bought a new '98 Dutchmen 30FK at an RV show in upstate NY. It was our first TT and not knowing what to look for was a disadvantage. The very first time we used it we traveled for about 300 miles and on the way drove through a rain storm. When we arrived at our destination we found all of our clothes that were stored in the lower cabinets in the rear BR were literally soaked. The back wall was wet and so was the bed. When we got back home it went right back to the dealer. They had it for the next 6 months. What they eventually found was that the openings for the windows were too large for the windows that were installed. They ended up replacing 6 out of 7 windows and all of them had to be custom made by the manufacturer. Didn't cost us anything.The dealer absorbed the cost and they even gave us a brand new 30' Coachmen TT to use while they had ours. I won't complain about the dealer but Thor industries would not take the trailer back nor would they admit a manufacturing error. Since then I've found that a lot of people who have units made by Thor ( several different brands) have had numerous problems with them , most notably leaking. I would do some research into consumer reviews before putting my money down.
Good luck.
Cliff & Marlene
'04.5 Dodge Ram 2500HD,4x4,Quad Cab,LB,Auto,4:10 rear,Tow Pack,Reese 16K Kwik-Slide(from the old TV), Tekonsha Prodigy,2500#Hellwigs, hooked up to a 2003 Montana 3670RL.
"Wanderin' the USA 24/7"
I'm very glad you did NOT purchase it yet! I owned a 1990 24ft Dutchman Classic for 5 years and it was a total piece of trash. Like you see from other posts in this forum its big problems are water leaks, and bad workmanship. When I traded it in (on a boat) it needed all new wall paneling and the floor up front needed replaced. I took good care of this TT and it should have taken better care of me. So my advice is DO NOT BUY ONE and stay away from Thor Industries all together. I speak as a PREVIOUS Dutchman owner. I am glad to see some people are having good luck with there’s.
02 Starcraft 28BHS
2001 Dodge conversion van 5.2,3:55.K&N Filer System, and NO problems.
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