Like many outdoor enthusiasts, we were initially drawn to Ember Travel Trailers, particularly the 201fbq model. The idea of boondocking off forest service roads and enjoying Harvest Hosts with a no-wood build and appealing layout was very attractive. Planning for frequent trips, around 1-2 times a month for most of the year, we started to seriously consider Ember. However, several red flags regarding their build quality have emerged, leading us to question if Ember is truly the premium brand they are priced to be.
Our first encounter with Ember travel trailers was at an RV show last fall. Unfortunately, the build quality immediately raised concerns. We observed numerous issues, including exposed nails and loosely fitted cabinets. Many openings appeared noticeably out of square, suggesting a lack of precision in assembly. Hoping this was an isolated case, we visited a different dealer to inspect more units. Disappointingly, we found similar quality issues across multiple trailers, reinforcing our initial worries about the overall construction standards of Ember travel trailers.
Seeking further insight, we engaged with Ember directly on their Instagram. Expressing our interest in becoming Ember owners but also voicing our quality concerns based on our observations, we posted a comment on one of their posts. Interestingly, other Ember owners chimed in, also sharing their experiences and quality-related issues. Instead of addressing these legitimate concerns or offering to investigate further, Ember chose to delete the entire Instagram post. This action, rather than fostering confidence, unfortunately suggested an attempt to suppress negative feedback and hide potential problems, which is not the behavior expected from a reputable company.
Furthermore, in our extensive online research, while dedicated reviews are not readily available, digging through various RV forums and YouTube channels revealed recurring reports of water leaks, particularly in the slide-outs of Ember travel trailers. It seems Ember has faced challenges with floor adhesive incompatibility, resulting in a concerning blackening issue. While they are reportedly working on a fix, these widespread accounts of water intrusion are hard to ignore and contribute to the overall picture of potential quality control issues.
Considering the price point of Ember travel trailers, we expected a truly premium product. However, our firsthand observations and the consistent feedback regarding build quality and water leak problems have led us to reconsider. While the no-wood construction and innovative layouts are appealing, the execution and long-term reliability seem questionable.
Therefore, we have broadened our search and are now seriously evaluating alternatives. Lance travel trailers, with their recently more competitive pricing, have become a strong contender. We are also leaning towards Outdoors RV. Despite not being fond of the brown exterior, the robust build quality and impressive 100-gallon water capacity of Outdoors RV, often priced lower than Ember, are very compelling, especially for our boondocking intentions in the Pacific Northwest. Being based in the PNW, Outdoors RV’s local presence and arched roof design, beneficial for shedding water, are additional advantages.
During our extensive RV comparison yesterday, which included brands like Artic Fox, Nash, NoBo, Sonic, Lance, Intech, Geopro, and microlite, Lance and Outdoors RV stood out as our top choices. While we admire Lance, we are still assessing how well they would hold up to the rigors of frequent boondocking trips. Ultimately, our priority is to find a travel trailer that balances innovative design with reliable build quality and long-term durability, ensuring countless worry-free adventures.
