DutchmenSport
Between Anderson, Pendleton, & Lapel, Indiana
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Joined: 10/10/2006
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Summerland is a good product and should serve you well for many years. The price sounds reasonable also. As far as "entry level" goes, a $500,000 motor home isn't worth a plug nickle if the owner does not take care of it. Take care of your RV with a lot of TLC, don't let anything slip when and if it needs repair, and keep everything in good shape. Expensive or inexpensive, an RV takes work to maintain if you want to keep it nice.
DutchmenSport
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo
Century Truck Cap Commercial /Toolboxes
Northeast Outfitters Canoe
2006 Keystone Springdale Model 263DBL
Weight 4985, Carrying Capacity 2575, Hitch 560, Length 30'
Width 8', Height 10' 6"
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fordsooperdooty
Orange Kounty Kalifornia
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Joined: 08/13/2004
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PlumBob and family first of all
to the RV.Net Forum! Mostly we are a friendly bunch, so bear with the folks who tend to forget we all started here as newbies! Don't judge the many by the words of one!
And do not make decisions so early in the game, so to speak...you are not rushed I hope, as a hasty decision for something that is the wrong size, wrong color, wrong brand and doesn't fit...."but the price was right" rarely works out! And no, you don't have to and probably shouldn't settle for an entry level trailer. Some of these things are merely efforts made by large rv companies to part a newbie with their money as quickly as possible.
You should be able to look at a variety of brands, from different manufacturers, different floorplans, various build qualities. With the younger children, by all means try for a bunkhouse model! Trust me..it worked for us so well we bought several over the years, out of the 7 Jayco's we've had so far. Kids love 'em! Parents too!
Your friend did you no favor by throwing out such a nebulous statement as "buy only an all aluminum trailer". There's way more to it than that.
An excellent RV for a beginner could in fact be built with an all wood superstructure (walls and roof frames with 2x3 wood studs)on a steel chassis frame (the lower part that everything sits on and is the platform with wheels that you tow your trailer with), and with the rippled aluminum siding. Light weight, strong yet flexible enough to withstand the rough roads. Easy and inexpensive to repair the walls if dents or damaged. The roof would likely be wood sheeting with a special "rubber" covering that lasts many years, and keeps the RV dry inside!
The next type is the same, except it would have big sheets of a thin type of smooth fiberglass glued over thin plywood (for strength) and bonded onto the wood frame (as the above example). It would not have the rippled corrugated look of aluminum sheets, and would add weight to the trailer. Roof still will be rubber covered wood!
3rd type much the same, except it will have a full aluminum framework of walls and roof, with foam blocks bonded and glued under pressure into a solid sheet, forming walls and roof, and even floors. All the above still have the steel "rolling chassis frame on wheels".
There are pluses and minuses to all the above types of construction, all are equally as prone to issues, and all can last virtually forever as well! There are some wood framed aluminum walled travel trailers 70 years old still being towed around Yellowstone today!
There are a lot of brands out there, all have good and bad products...some more bad/more often than others! All turn out a lemon now and again. Some really, honestly value you as a customer, and want you to come back again and buy from them, and tell others to do so to! Other companies only pop-out RV's like Elves, and once you've bought it and driven off the lot, you are a stranger!
You have to be an observant, knowledgeable consumer, now more than any purchase you've ever made, you have to be aware of what you are doing and choose wisely.
Two of the largest RV companies on Earth, Thor Industries (owns Keystone RV) and Forest River produce around 60 or more brands and models each...everything from $10,000.00 popup trailers to 6 figure Motorhomes.
Then the other Manufacturers...Jayco, Heartland, Sunline, Open Range, Skyline, Carriage, Gulfstream, KZ and many more.
So if you are not even more confused than you already were, stick around and ask lots of questions. Start with lists an go to the manufacturers websites, read up, find floorplans and styles you like, interior decor, how many beds you need, slideouts, etc. Get Air Conditioning, and usually ordering things you may need later from the build sheet when you buy is better and less money than adding it later!
New trailer prices are at an all time low right now, same with used tow vehicles, so you can buy more than you think.
Take a deep breath and have fun! See ya!
A Jayco is not just an RV, it's a life choice! 
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Mike Up
NW Indiana section of Chicagoland
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Joined: 05/29/2005
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plumbob72 wrote:I have found a deal on a 2008 Keystone Summerland 2670BH. It is a new unit. The dealer wants 14,000 for it. It is 29 ft with a slide and bunk beds in the back. I am thinking of buying it, seems to be in my price range. I am new to RVing and this would be my first travel trailer. My concern is that this is an entry level trailer. I had a friend tell me, make sure that whatever you buy is all aluminim construction. This unit is not all alluminum construction. Should this be a concern? I have a wife and three young kids, we will not be full timing in this unit, but we will be using it a lot. Any input at all would be greatly appreciated. I have about 33 thousand to spend on a trailer and tow vehicle. I will buy a used tow vehicle, and I was thinking of buying a used TT, but the price on this new TT seems like a pretty good deal.
Not sure what your friend is referencing when saying an all aluminum structure. Reason is that stick and tin build uses wood framing but all aluminum siding. Laminated build uses aluminum framing, but has insulation and fiberglass paneling all glued into a sandwiched panel.
I would only buy a stick and tin build if you can. This is a proven design with trailers lasting over 30 years. Laminated design is prone to delamination where the glue fails and the panel falls apart. A big deal as this is your walls and sometimes even your roof and floor!!! I've seen this delamination on so many trailers, I avoided now that I have a truck with a good tow and hitch rating.
IMO, if you want to have a trailer for many years, get the stick and tin because not only is there no delamination problems, repairs are pretty inexpensive. Laminated walls many times have to be replaced and that's a major expense that could be higher than the value of the trailer. Last repair I seen was $8000. $4000 for wall, $4000 for labor. IMO, laminated built trailers are throw aways because the repair costs when needed, will out weigh the value of the trailer when the trailer has some years on it.
Laminated build does have advantages as far as weight, so if your tow vehicle is light on capability, a laminated trailer may be your only option. In that case, keep an eye out for delamination and if it's a small area, you can Jerry rig a fix by adding glue through drill points. My dealer has done this through customers requests. They did recommend against this as the newly added glue could fail at any time but it is a cheap fix.
BTW, laminated panel build or stick and tin build does not define an entry level trailer. Jayco and Starcraft have built 2 trailer lines that were the same with the exception of the wall build. Jayco has 2 separate model lines where Starcraft left laminated wall build as option on their travel trailers.
Have a good one.
2008 Jayco Jay Flight 19BH
22.5' long & 3900#s dry
2008 Ford Sport Trac 4.6L V8 4X4
7000#/730# rating, 131" WB, 292 Hp/300# Torque
Reese Strait-Line 800 lbs Trunnion Bar Sway Control
Sleeping on ground > Tent > PUP > PUP w/HWH & Bath > Finally to a TT 
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Bigdog
silverdale wa.
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Joined: 06/28/2002
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Good Sam RV Club
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I'm sure that you would probably find that an "entry level" trailer will have many of the same quality items as a higher price one and probably as many problems also.That said,you said that the price was around $14K and then you've gotta figger tax and license and also things that will go into your rig for your convience.
Also,you said that you have about $33K to spend on both units,so after the trailer purchase,I would suggest that you look around for newest used TV you can afford,mainly a 3/4-1 ton CC p/u or a SUV such as a 3/4 ton Suburban or an Excursion since you said that you have children.Personally,I went with the Excursion with the diesel,they are also available with a V-10 gas, for the fuel mileage.The 3/4 Suburban we had before this got 6.5-7.5 MPG towing our rig and the PSD "EX" gets a bit over 10.5MPG.It also gets around 18-20 w/o the trailer on the freeway.
The reason I suggest that you get the larger TV is that a bit down the road,you may decide that you want to get out of your "entry level" TT and get something bigger and then you won't have to upgrade your TV.Also having a bit more power than you need isn't a bad thing.
GO COUGARS
2001 Ford 7.3L PSD Excursion
Ride Rite air bags
AFE Stage 1
4"MBRP exh
Hellwig rear sway bar
DP Tuner
2005 Keystone COUGAR 304BHS
Tekonsha Prodigy
1200 Equalizer hitch
2000 Thomas school bus (RETIRED !!! )
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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is the roof rubber or TPO? I would look at TPO ones myself. that would be much more important to me than alum. vs. wood. what did your friend recommend there?
bumpy
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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Joined: 10/16/2007
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"Entry Level" is fine,...... to me means that your kids should be a little bit disciplined in that they don't stand and jump on open drawers, and don't swing on the cupboard doors 
Rich
'98 Flair, 454, Onan Microlite 4k, Intel PD 9155 w/ wizard, Sta-power 1500 watt Inv, 2 6v batts, ammeters, KingDome/sat, Oly Catalytic Heat, hauling 2 Bent Bikes and sometimes towing a Tracker F&S boat.
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plumbob72
Anna
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Joined: 10/31/2009
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I really appreciate all of the advice, sorry for posting on two forums, it will not happen again. Of all of the forums I have every posted on, I would have to say that I have gotten the fastest and best advice here. Wow, great info, thank you everyone. Any other advice at all, is still greatly appreciated.
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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Joined: 03/23/2004
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DutchmenSport wrote:Summerland is a good product and should serve you well for many years. The price sounds reasonable also. As far as "entry level" goes, a $500,000 motor home isn't worth a plug nickle if the owner does not take care of it. Take care of your RV with a lot of TLC, don't let anything slip when and if it needs repair, and keep everything in good shape. Expensive or inexpensive, an RV takes work to maintain if you want to keep it nice.
Best advice and comment I`ve read here in a long time! nothing at all wrong with wood frame. $14k for a new bunk house with a slide and a 29ftr.... I`de say go for it.
Wife Kim 
Son Brandon 8yrs
Daughter Marissa 7yrs
Dog Shadow 
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear, Hellwig sway bar
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller.
A bad day of camping is
better than a good day at work!
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Deus Ex Machina
Central New Jersey
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Joined: 09/25/2009
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Define "entry level"...
My little 18 ft trailer suits my needs perfectly for the kind of camping I do. Buying a bigger, more expensive rig would be a DOWNGRADE for me.
Don't pay ANY attention to that term. It is just "dealer speak" to try to sell you a more expensive rig. 
Paul
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Mike Up
NW Indiana section of Chicagoland
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Joined: 05/29/2005
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Bumpyroad wrote:is the roof rubber or TPO? I would look at TPO ones myself. that would be much more important to me than alum. vs. wood. what did your friend recommend there?
bumpy
I think you have it backwards. The EPDM Rubber roofs are the more reliable where the felt backed TPO roofs were nightmares. All makers have ditched the troubled TPO Vinyl/rubber roofs to go with EPDM Rubber roofs.
Have a good one.
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