Agreed I think Covid had a bad effect on RV quality, boat quality and even vehicle quality.
When I look at medium-size RVs with two 3500 lb capacity axles, little 15" rims and 10" electric drum brakes it makes me nervous. Vehicles have not had 15" rims and tires for like 25 years! Upgrade to 16" allows you to use much better trailer tires!
Barely any safety margin and in some cases, there may be none at all, seeing as how most people don't weigh their RVs or boats. I also am not a fan of torsion axles on a tandem trailer because they do not load share like a spring axle/equalizer set up and they put greater forces on parts of the trailer frame than a comparable spring axle/equalizer set up. The spring axle with equalizer spreads the load out across the trailer frame, torsions concentrate it where the one mount on each side is located. They are also double the cost of replacing a spring axle.
I've had Champion Trailers custom make me 2 axles over the years and the quality of both was excellent. The latest one is a 6,000 lb drop axle with a saddle center section. This coast $445 a few years ago, a pair of Load Rite OE 5 leave springs is about $160. To that I added a pair of 12" surge brakes. So that trailer finally has what I consider a good safety margin.
While I am not in favor of more government interference in our lives, I do think that perhaps the trailer dealer should be required to take the RV or boat to a scale and get a certified weigh slip for the new owner, at least you have some idea what you have then.
It used to be the Airstreams were the best built (and expensive) trailers, are they still or has their quality followed the industry trend?
