Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Fifth Wheels
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-26-2018, 06:36 AM   #1
madmaxmutt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
Cougar vs Jayco Eagle

Are there any owners out there that have recent experience with both? The initial quality of materials seems similar. The floorplans are similar enough to be a wash. The Cougar has a better docking station. The Cougar has better basement storage. The Jayco has better front storage. All the local Jayco models have better tires and spare mounting.

Looking for any and all recent experiences with both brands.
madmaxmutt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2018, 06:49 AM   #2
mhbell
Member
 
mhbell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Ogden
Posts: 92
Quote:
Originally Posted by madmaxmutt View Post
Are there any owners out there that have recent experience with both? The initial quality of materials seems similar. The floorplans are similar enough to be a wash. The Cougar has a better docking station. The Cougar has better basement storage. The Jayco has better front storage. All the local Jayco models have better tires and spare mounting.

Looking for any and all recent experiences with both brands.
What Jayco and what Cougar are you looking at. There are different trim levels in both. also different packages. I've owned both. my cougar is at the lower end and the jayco that I use to own was at the top of the line. The Jayco's in most cases are more expensive unless you are looking at a upper level Cougar Like the high country. I found the jayco in most cases to be better built, but not always.
Mel
__________________
2016 Keystone Cougar 277RLSWE 1/2 ton series Towed with a 2011 Ford F-250 Super Cab Super Duty 6.2L Gas, Reese 16,000 Lb Sliding Hitch. my Blog Site RV Bloggers https://rvbloggers.wordpress.com/
mhbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2018, 06:55 AM   #3
madmaxmutt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
Quote:
Originally Posted by mhbell View Post
What Jayco and what Cougar are you looking at. There are different trim levels in both. also different packages. I've owned both. my cougar is at the lower end and the jayco that I use to own was at the top of the line. The Jayco's in most cases are more expensive unless you are looking at a upper level Cougar Like the high country. I found the jayco in most cases to be better built, but not always.
Mel

Great point! Cougar Half Ton vs Jayco Eagle HT. This comparison side-by-side seemed to be apples to apples for the most part.
madmaxmutt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2018, 07:12 AM   #4
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
Are you looking at 5th wheels or pull behinds..
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2018, 07:20 AM   #5
madmaxmutt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
Quote:
Originally Posted by Javi View Post
Are you looking at 5th wheels or pull behinds..
Mostly 5th wheels, but not 100% on either at this point.
madmaxmutt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2018, 08:03 AM   #6
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
No opinion to give on which trailer, that usually turns out like which truck is best... But a point to remember is that tires are a "constant change item" meaning what's on the trailer isn't something that'll have to remain the same. Most people upgrade tires not only because of brand but because of weight capacity/loading. I'd prefer cheap tires that have a heavier load capacity over expensive tires that are barely adequate to carry the load.

I guess what I'm saying is that the brand of tire, while important, isn't as important as whether they're "bare minimum" or "adequately oversized" to carry the weight being placed on them. Manufacturers tend to "go cheap" rather than "install the next larger size", so this is one area where "size is more improtant than looks".... YMMV
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2018, 08:14 AM   #7
madmaxmutt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
Excellent point. I didn't check that. I only noted Goodyear Endurance vs Trail King.
madmaxmutt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2018, 03:41 PM   #8
madmaxmutt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
The Jayco Eagle HT 26.5RLDS won out in the end. It came down to picking which items best fit our needs and wants.

The Endurance tires are rated at 3640lbs each. The trailer is a 9995 GWVR, so I believe they will work well for us.
madmaxmutt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2018, 05:57 PM   #9
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,234
Well congrats on your new purchase. Feel free to stick around, we won’t discriminate just because you bought some other brand.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2018, 05:30 AM   #10
5J's
Senior Member
 
5J's's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Schulenburg
Posts: 1,164
Congrats. Jayco has a nice product.
__________________
Joey

2017 Hideout 308BHDS

2006 F-350 6.0L PSD CC 4X4
5J's is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2018, 06:27 AM   #11
wiredgeorge
Senior Member
 
wiredgeorge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,392
Lordy! Was hoping this wouldn't turn into a tire thread. LONG LIVE TRAILER KING!
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
wiredgeorge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2018, 07:28 AM   #12
travelin texans
Senior Member
 
travelin texans's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57 View Post
Well congrats on your new purchase. Feel free to stick around, we won’t discriminate just because you bought some other brand.
Ultimately they're both the same company, Thor.
Just recently Thor acquired Jayco & owns Keystone, along with about every other company you could think of.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2018, 07:31 AM   #13
wiredgeorge
Senior Member
 
wiredgeorge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,392
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans View Post
Ultimately they're both the same company, Thor.
Just recently Thor acquired Jayco & owns Keystone, along with about every other company you could think of.
While Thor owners a bunch of RV companies, do you think they all fall into the same quality of material and workmanship standard because of the single owner?

Didn't know that Keystone and Airstream were both owned by Thor... Thor owns a BUNCH of prominent manufacturers:

https://www.thorindustries.com/get-t...the-companies/
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
wiredgeorge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2018, 12:47 PM   #14
travelin texans
Senior Member
 
travelin texans's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
While Thor owners a bunch of RV companies, do you think they all fall into the same quality of material and workmanship standard because of the single owner?

Didn't know that Keystone and Airstream were both owned by Thor... Thor owns a BUNCH of prominent manufacturers:

https://www.thorindustries.com/get-t...the-companies/
Each of the different entities are run independently, but all use the same vendors. Just like Wal-Mart, big discounts on supplies when bought in qquantity. Like all rv manufacturers the bottom line is all that matters.
I think you'd be surprised at the different companies that Lippert owns & how much they supply to the Thor entities & other rv manufacturers.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2018, 02:49 PM   #15
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
There are just so many window manufacturers, so many refrigerator manufacturers, so many aluminum tubing manufacturers, so many luan plywood manufacturers, so many vinyl wallboard manufacturers, the list goes on and on... All the RV companies from Forest River, Thor, Winnebago and even the couple of "private small RV builders" all use the same materials from the same manufacturers and purchased through the same suppliers in their trailers.

There is some difference between brands in "quality of workmanship" but rest assured, even Airstream has a warranty and a service department at every dealership....

There was a comment made a few days ago about paying $20,000 for a 23' trailer and not getting a "problem free unit"... Trailer Life has an article in the current issue in which they tested a 23' "teardrop" trailer and a RAM 1500. The trailer listed at $31,000 and the MSRP on the test unit with options was $38,000. Airstream International 23' models start at $87,000.

So, expecting a "no problem trailer" for a "bargain basement price" ??? Probably not going to happen when the 40K and 90K trailers have issues with almost every trailer.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2018, 05:24 PM   #16
SkiSmuggs
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vermont
Posts: 367
In 2011, we had a Jayco Eagle HT 29.5 camped next to our mediocre TT. The couple had just picked it up from the the Indiana and were towing with their brand new 2011 F150 (they just added air bags LOL). They gave us a tour and we were sold. Then I started doing research and was not happy about the 1700 lb dry pin weight for our new 2011 Max Tow Ecoboost F150 with an 1848 lb payload. While checking other options, we found the 2012 Cougar High Country 299RKS with an almost identical floor plan and a dry pin weight of 1410. We got the HC and the loaded pin weight was 1650 lbs.
So pin weight was the deciding factor for us.
__________________
2015 Ford F-350 XLT Ruby Red 6.7L Powerstroke, 4x4, Short Bed, Andersen Ultimate Hitch
Cougar High Country 299RKS, Mor/Ryde pin box, 200w solar
SkiSmuggs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2018, 05:56 PM   #17
Gegrad
Senior Member
 
Gegrad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Monroeville
Posts: 1,548
Congrats max. Glad you were able to get everything settles after your nasty hailstorm.
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 29bh in Charocal
2019 Ram 2500 HD 4x4, CC, 6.4L
2011 Passport 2510RB (Sold)
Gegrad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2018, 08:19 PM   #18
madmaxmutt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gegrad View Post
Congrats max. Glad you were able to get everything settles after your nasty hailstorm.
Thanks. It is far from settled, but the trailer is
madmaxmutt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2018, 06:19 AM   #19
plocklin
Member
 
plocklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW area Texas
Posts: 45
Thumbs up on the Goodyear Endurance tires! I upgraded to larger rims and Endurance tires on my Cougar 306BHS and love them.

Ive been to California, New Mexico, 2 trips to Florida and others over the last 2 years and they pull great. The "Made in USA" 10 ply tires are a huge improvement over the China Hurcules that came on the trailer.
__________________
plocklin
Old dog

New tricks
plocklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cougar

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:22 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.