Buying a 5th Wheel-Good Brands-Bad Brands?

baydog · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Eastern Shore

Greetings, fellow Earthlings (presumptively Wink

)

I just became a travel nurse and husband and dog will be traveling w/me so we are buying a 5th wheel soon and will full-time for months at a time. Need decent quality rv with as private a bathroom as possible and ability to close off BR as I sleep during day. Looking at Alumascape and 03 Kountry Star as good choices but we're open to suggestion. Have sent for ratings CD on manufacturers but would like input from others who have likely researched this subject. Also need unit as "idiot proof" as possible. Any thoughts on possible brands? Thanks a million for any input--you may help someone avoid a big mistake!
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BaydogRN

nohome46 · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 10:12 pm Post subject: Idiot Proof?

No RV is made to live in full time and homes were not meant to travel down roads. But we do it anyway.
From the cheapest to the most expensive 5er you can buy, you will have problems with it. But that's life.
Go look at a number of 5ers and then pick out a few that you really like and then decide from those. All of you go inside, sit, lay down, stand inside the shower, sit on the pot and envision how you will live in it.
How big and private a bathroom do you really need? Where does the kid sleep? What do people do while you sleep? How much storage do you need and also what do you need to take for 3 people to live? What do you do when it rains for a week with a kid and dog?
Living in an RV full time takes experience which you only get from living in an RV full time. You will learn to overcome any and all obstacles.

P.S: You're not the first to take off on an adventure and try to work on the road with a family. Try it, you'll like it, or you can go back home and suffer.
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Gary & Donna
3/4 Ford 6.4
07 Nash 27T

elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

JerryH · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 125 Location: Texas

One important bit of information. As you narrow down your choices, read the fine print on the warranty. Many, like Fleetwood for example, will state "Not for fulltime use" or something simular. If the warranty does not exclude fulltime use, you can generally bet it is built to withstand the rigors of fulltime travel.
Using the RV Consumers Guide is very wise. It is not perfect, but it is the best there is in the industry.
Jerry
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International 4700 Custom Tow Truck &
38' King of the Road fifth wheel.
"Running the roads seeing God's Great Creation."

smvandyk · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 8

Hello!
Of course you can live full time in a 5th wheel. We don't stay in the 5th wheel 24/7--we camp cuz we love the great outdoors.
Just a recommendation, though, don't buy a Pegasus Fleetwood. Ours leaks and it is a nightmare getting them to step up. I would highly recommend a Keystone product and for a full time...36 foot Open Road, with winterized package....awesome trailer and definitely our next one!
Mashar!
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God Bless You
Max and Sharon

Dave N' Debbie · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 51 Location: NY & Tex.

You might want to check out the Excel Limited 5th wheels. Lots of floor plans, top quality unit and excellent 4-season unit. Go to excelrvs.com, check out their site and look for a dealer. Believe me, Keystone does not make a quality unit and they definitely are not 4-season units. Having been in the RV service field for almost 46 years, I went looking for the best unit I could find when we went full time RVing. We toured the Excel factory several times before making a decision. Oh, we toured others also. Excel is built by Peterson Industries, Smith Center, KS. They are a small family-owned operation and back up what they build. Good luck.
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Dave N' Debbie: 07 Ford (King Ranch) crewcab diesel dually, 05 Excel 38' - 5er w/cargo tlr & fishing boat.

Chris · Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

Well, everyone has an opinion....and here is mine! Been fulltiming since '98 and have had 2 5th whls. Here is my list, in no particular order for fulltime rigs that will hold up and are built for fulltiming. Consider "used" rigs in good shape and let the other guy take the drastic depreciation.
Also, buy a truck that will SAFELY tow and STOP your rig. You can never have too much truck!
Good luck and safe travels! Laughing

NuWA
Carriage
King of the Road
Newmar
Travel Supreme
Teton
Holiday Rambler
Excel
Alfa
New Horizons
Alpenlite
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Native Texans
fulltimers since 1998
40 ft. 5th whl and MDT Ford F-550
Escapees; Good Sam;Coast

sparky36 · Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 4 Location: full timers

Leave out Holiday Rambler FW as they have no customer support. You will pay premium price to be treated badly.
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2004 Holiday Rambler Presidential 36FKT
Ford F350 DRW Powerstroke
2 retired old farts and one cute and spoiled dog

Dustytuu · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 145 Location: Colorado

We have had three 5th wheels. We now have a Montana we bought new. We like it very much and have not had any problems with it. We do not full time but have taken it on some long trips and have lived in it for weeks at a time. We have friends that full time in their Montanas. Several friends. We think we got a lot for our money.
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D & D
2 Schnauzers & cat
2008 Carriage Carri lite 36SBQ,
W/D, dishW.
2008, 5500 Dodge, Laramie cab.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/forwallpaper.jpg

"Criminals like gun control"
http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/

Chris · Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

Sorry, but I disagree on the Montana. Yes, they seem to have a lot of "frills" for the buck, but my brother bought one in July to fulltime in (against my advice) and now he sees he made a mistake. Lots of things put together cheaply, lots of corners cut, VERY cold and not insulated well even though he has 2 furnaces and a fireplace! The Montana just doesn't fit in with the other brands listed. I KNOW it is the top selling 5th wheel, but not for fulltimers.
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Native Texans
fulltimers since 1998
40 ft. 5th whl and MDT Ford F-550
Escapees; Good Sam;Coast

Dustytuu · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 145 Location: Colorado

Our Montana is very warm. We vacation in winter as well as summer. And Colorado can be a very cold state. We have never been cold in our Montana. We also have the fireplace and a furnace. The fireplace saves on propane for us. We also went where it was in the low 20 degrees and snowing, and never was cold. Our Montana did not have anything missing in the construction or shoddy work. We still are very happy with our Montana after a year of owning it. If anyone wants to know how happy people are with their Montana 5th wheels, visit the
www.montanaowners.com
Some people are not happy with anything and will find fault with anything they buy. If it had that many problems, then why didn't he take it in for warranty work? Or it should have been sent back to the factory. We have had very good service with Keystone. We took ours in for minor warranty work and they did even some minor things that weren't on our list. They also cleaned our furnace.
We had a Dutchman 5th wheel first and then bought a Wildcat and then our Montana. The Wildcat is not one to winter vacation in. We were very cold in that one!
Maybe your brother didn't get the arctic package in his Montana.
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D & D
2 Schnauzers & cat
2008 Carriage Carri lite 36SBQ,
W/D, dishW.
2008, 5500 Dodge, Laramie cab.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/forwallpaper.jpg

"Criminals like gun control"
http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/

Dave N' Debbie · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 51 Location: NY & Tex.

Being in the RV service field for 46 years, I would not recommend anyone purchase a Keystone product: very poor construction, cheap materials, and no decent warranty backup. If you are looking for a 4-season unit, there are only 5 4-season units built: Teton, Hitchhiker, Excel, New Horizon, and I don't remember the 5th. Carriage, Holiday Rambler and any unit built with metal studding in the walls and roof rafters is not a true 4-season unit as the metal will conduct cold and cause the inside walls to show condensation, and therefore cause the paneling to delaminate. I sold my Carriage for just that reason. If you want a good 4-season unit, you are going to have to go to a high-end unit and you will not be disappointed. Good luck in your quest for the right unit for you.b Happy travels..
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Dave N' Debbie: 07 Ford (King Ranch) crewcab diesel dually, 05 Excel 38' - 5er w/cargo tlr & fishing boat.

Dustytuu · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 145 Location: Colorado

We have NEVER had a problem with getting anything fixed nor has anyone we know with a Keystone. The dealer can be responsible for getting warranty work done and for Keystone being notified of any problems. What ever you decide to buy please get a good dealer. That can make all the difference in your purchase!
I know many people with Montana that have got things fixed after warranty by Keystone. Such as axels, windows and etc. Any 5th wheel can have things go wrong. Regardless of which brand.
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D & D
2 Schnauzers & cat
2008 Carriage Carri lite 36SBQ,
W/D, dishW.
2008, 5500 Dodge, Laramie cab.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/forwallpaper.jpg

"Criminals like gun control"
http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/

Fordzilla · Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Iowa

I'm not going to bash any other brand of trailer. But I do want to take the time to let everyone know we love our Montana by Keystone. Very Happy

While it is not listed as full time RV, it does serve us well for what we use it for. We have had only one minor problem with a leak from the toilet. The dealer repaired it the next time we passed through that area and we have had no problems with it since. I second the message above about going to the "montanaowners.com" website. There are a lot of satisfied customers there and a few that are not satisfied. The Keystone reps frequent the site and are there to help in any way they can. Many of the members have links to other suppliers if you would need help with something specific.
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2004 F350 King Ranch CC, PSD pulling 2004 Keystone Montana 3685 with the front living room

richfaa · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 3

Well, of course, the brother of Chris made a mistake by buying a Montana with the express purpose of full timing. They and other units in that price range are not specifily designed for the full time mode. All weather camping will cost you a lot more money for proper insulation. And Dave' debbie: having been in the RV business for 46 years, you should know better that to make that post. I too have been an RV salesman for several different brands and none of them are perfect. As far as customer service and warranty goes, I have had 5 brands of RVs and just about all the trouble with RV repair/warranty was with the dealer. When I went directly to the manufacturer, we got satisfaction no matter what the brand. We ARE going to buy a Montana next month, not because it is the absolute best brand out there. There are others better and more expensive. Not because we think there will be no problems. Quality in the RV industry is not good. We will have problems, but after a great deal of homework, it is in our OPINION the best bang for our buck. And no matter what RV brand you have or are going to buy, the brand you buy will be the right choice for you.
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Ford F-350/CC/LB/Dually/V-10/ 06 Montana 3400rl