Deal went through on a travel trailer

[Mike Up]

Well I finally had this TT deal go through. The last TT deal on a '06 Starcraft NXP 200BB fell through because of issues on the camper. This new deal is done with the Jayco TT sitting in my driveway.
 
Lately I've been dealing with more problems on the PUP. I've had some serious leaks in the seams of the rear bunkend. So bad we had a huge puddle on the bunkend board and all of the girlfriends bedding was soaked, as she was also. She was not happy at all.
Starcraft was great at fixing it. They did it under warranty and everything was corrected. The downfall thanks to my dealers poor service department was that I had to take 2 vacation days to take it to and back from the factory. The refrigerator also stopped working on propane and had that repaired as well.
 
I even got a small tour of the factory. Actual tour was cancelled due to Starcraft closing it's doors. I talked to everyone involved with helping me correct the Pop Up. It was sad as they were getting laid off but were still helping with enthusiasm and a smile.
 
Only a few were actually getting transferred to the Jayco factory in Middlebury. That left everyone else getting laid off including the Starcraft engineers and designers.
 
Technically Starcraft will be dead as of January 2010, as all the people responsible for it's design, build, and customer support will be gone. Starcraft will only live on as a name being built by Jayco employees and repaired by Jayco employees. It wouldn't surprise me down the line, if Starcraft became a series in the Jayco line up, instead of a separate brand.
 
As of now, Starcraft is still a separate company with separate dealers and warranty department but I don't seeing this lasting.
 
Getting back to the camper, since we continued to have leak problems with the Aqualon, I didn't want to keep it any longer. We repaired all leaks but I could see it happening again and I don't want that. As much as I really like the Aqualon, it's apparent it does have some leaking issues on the seams. I've read and talked to a few others with leak problems as well. Now my cousin has none with their 2006 and I hope they never do. I think the leaks may happen as the material is rather stiff and tuff, and it may not form well to the swelling thread in the seams. I never had a leak problem with the Vinolon but it didn't wear well at all. Guess everything has it's problems but leaks are about the worst to me.
 
As so, I traded in the Starcraft on my favorite floorplan. I bought a new showroom floor 2008 Jayco Jay Flight 19BH. The floorplan and interior pics are in my signature.
 
The deal was very sweet. I was able to get an awesome deal. Not as good as the Starcraft TT but not much worse when all the added features are considered on the Jayco. If I had no trade, the Jayco would had only been $700 more than what I paid for the Pop Up in June of 2006. I had actually gotten the '07 2406 cheaper than what even Peco Camping was selling it for! So a great deal then and a great deal now. I took a reasonable beating on the trade as I expected in this economy. Their price was so good, I still did better with my trade than if I would had bought from any other dealer, or if I'd sold my Pop Up on my own, and bought from any other dealer. It was a very good deal, I just had to drive a few hours to make it happen.
 
I could had "TRIED" to sell my PUP this spring, but with the poor economy, it may had not sold or I may had to sell at a low price. Then it would be very possible for RV loan rates to get higher as these are considered luxury loans, not a necessity loan as for an automobile or home.
 
Since Starcraft is essentially out of business, with no one left except for office personel, I felt my loyality to Starcraft was gone, along with their personel and plant. Jayco was the next best choice for me as they own Starcraft and the few Starcraft employees would be working there. Besides, their warranty is top notch.
 
While Starcraft built the best PUP in 2007, their travel trailers weren't up to the quality of Jayco. This Jayco is built much better than than the '06 Starcraft NXP 20DBB. So many things are superior, there's to much to list.
 
I did look at the new '09 Jayco PUPs and they stepped up their game. If I were to buy a new PUP, it would be Jayco. I feel their quality of build is better than the quality of build I had on my '07 Starcraft. I looked at the new 1206, 1207, and the 1006. They were awesome. The only negative on the 1206 is that there is no privacy drape around the bathroom! A big negative to me so I guess everyone has to leave the camper when you take a shower. No private area to dry off or put your clothes on. Also, the 1206 was only $1000 less in MSRP than my 19BH. I was surprised to see that and it's not even a highwall!
 
I'll be visiting back and forth as I'm already missing the PUP, especially when towing!
 
I've been gone for a while due to my frustration with the PUP leaks, and researching a TT. Then my password wouldn't work and the forum software wouldn't let me reset it. Finally got the password issue fixed today.
 
Have a good one.

[wavery]

Nice camper Mike. Enjoy.......

[sacrawf]

Congratulations on the new trailer.  It will sure look nice behind the Sport Trac.

[Mike Up]

I pulled the new trailer home last Saturday. No snow or ice, I was lucky, so I thought. Then we got hit by those winds, 40 mph gust and 25 mph winds. I had the Reese WDH with HP Dual cam. Absolutely no sway, but man was the wind pushing the rig around. Now with the sail up, I had to keep both hands on the wheel to keep the wind from blowing in the next lane. I'd never go without a Reese Dual Cam sway control after that. I can't image the amount of sway that wind would had made even with the Sport Tracs long 131" wheelbase.

My coworker said that travel trailers are not even suppose to be on the road at 40 mph gusts. Guess that's why everyone was looking at my rig in amazement that I was pushing on at 60 mph while the wind was trying to slow me.  The downfall, even with that might 300 Hp V8, I still was up to 4500 rpms at 55 mph fighting that wind! This is why everyone states you should not go over 80% of your tow rating. Now I'm a believer. I could had put it up to 75 or 80 mph but when the gust hit, I instinctively slowed then trying to get back up to 55 mph I was at 4500 rpms. I don't drive over 65 mph with a camper. I don't want any tire blow outs.
 
The size of this camper dwarfs my Sport Trac though. This trailer isn't an ultralight but a full weight trailer. It has a lot of ground clearance and a lot of height. It's 10' 10" tall.
 
Have a good one.

[OC Campers]

Congrats on the new Jayco.  We just got our new hybrid in June and really enjoy it.

Jacqui

[sacrawf]

The recent midwest cold blasts with snow, ice and high winds have been brutal.  Yesterday while driving in the snow/sleet/freezing rain and high north winds, I came across a large 5th wheel camper that had been blown off of Interstate 74 into the ditch.  It had remained upright, and tow trucks were recovering it, but I can imagine it was a wild ride for the driver. I'm glad you didn't have any such problems bringing your new TT home.

Any plans for the first trip with the new Jayco?

[Mike Up]

I'm glad you didn't have any such problems bringing your new TT home.
 
Any plans for the first trip with the new Jayco?

Thanks, me too.
 
Plan to hit Indiana Dunes in April. The camper will still be winterized but that's a good time for us as we hate crowded campgrounds. Will still likely be in the 40s and 50s but we enjoy it at that time.
 
Have a good one.

[Mike Up]

Thanks everyone, it will be different for sure, with the TT. But I'm hoping the positives will at least equal the negatives of going from a PUP to the TT.
 
Have a good one.

[cjpoppin]

Thanks everyone, it will be different for sure, with the TT. But I'm hoping the positives will at least equal the negatives of going from a PUP to the TT.
 
Have a good one.

We too just moved up to a TT a few months back from a pup and we are loving it enjoyed our little pop up but now at this stage of life the TT REALLY gets the job done for us........Enjoy life in the TT as I'm sure you will and hopefully it'll be a short winter......We also have snow on the ground ( about 6-8" ) here in the High desert of California......Had a ball making snowmen and ladies with the grand-kids today after we all came in and had home made cookies and hot choc.  great ending to a great day.
Merry Christmas Mike and have fun with the new Trailer.......

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new camper.  Enjoy it and tell us how things go with it.