Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Alliance RV Avenue All Access 28BH fifth wheel. As you likely guessed from the model designation, this is a bunkhouse model, but it’s almost the least “bunkhousey” fifth wheel that you can get. What do I mean by that?
Typically when you have a bunkhouse trailer the bunks are pretty obvious and also take up a lot of the space inside the rig. In the case of this fifth wheel, the bunks are parallel to the back wall of the unit. Then there’s another wall at the rear of the living room, so it’s not overly apparent that you have a bunk model.
When I was selling RVs, I found a lot of people bought bunk model trailers, either travel trailers or fifth wheels, with the hopes of spending those last few summers with their children or grandchildren.
Keep in mind, the kids may not want to go camping
What really happened was that the kids had zero interest in going camping and preferred doing activities with their peers. So, some of our customers would buy these bunkhouses and then trade them in at a big loss, and others would keep them but regret the decision.
Obviously, there are also plenty of people who buy bunkhouse trailers and take full advantage of the bunks. But, for those who hope tweens and teens will go camping with you, I would recommend being very honest with yourself and knowing those kids. Some would revel in the camping experience, others won’t. We’re not all created equally.
Another nifty thing about how the bunks are configured in this trailer is that there’s an access door on the road side. I don’t know if this is as much intended for the occupants of the bunk room as it is to utilize this space for storage of stuff. But, again, flexibility is always a bonus.
Flip up the lower bunk for storage
The lower bunk is hinged such that you can flip it up. Alliance suggests you use this to potentially bring bikes along, which makes a lot of sense. I see so many people hanging bike racks off the back of their RVs, and this would allow you to keep the bikes inside.
For measure, the bunks are 42” X 74”, so you could sleep many adults back there (I don’t mean all at once).
Do know that it’s going to take some scooting to get into the bunks because the access from the main living space is not even as wide as the bunk itself. If you have kids, this is not an issue. But I can see older adults having issues getting into this space.
What’s inside
Unlike many bunk model RVs, the interior of this trailer doesn’t scream “bunkhouse” at all. There’s a nice couch at the back of the space and then a dinette over on the road side directly opposite the TV.
There’s also an ottoman here, so you could use that as a footrest or to make the dinette (should you choose that option) into a bed. Or just use it as a place for someone to sit at the edge of the table.
Kitchen in the Alliance Avenue All Access 28BH
So many bunkhouse models I look at have kitchens designed for a couple’s camper. They have limited counter space, lousy ovens and just the feeling, to me, that the kitchens were designed more for those who prefer take-out rather than making meals in camp.
That’s not true here at all. This has lots of cabinets and drawers, a large oven and a good-sized 12-volt fridge on the road side. There’s also actually a residential microwave. So if you are the microwave chef, this would work well for you.
Alliance RV
Alliance RV’s claim to fame is that they surveyed some 3,000 RV owners to see how they wanted things done, and then simply did that. But they also used a lot of experience to then take that data and turn it into RVs. Up to this point, they’ve built high-end fifth wheels, including toy haulers.
The new Avenue line is a more affordable range than the company has previously been involved with, being what is called a “mid profile” fifth wheel. What that means in English is that they will count the Grand Design Reflection, Jayco Eagle and Keystone Cougar among their competitors.
Those are some strong competitors that are well-established—so it takes some big chops to stand out in this field. What is Alliance RV bringing to the market?
What’s to love in the 2024 Alliance RV Avenue All Access 28BH
There are a lot of features built into this fifth wheel that really do set the bar higher, quite frankly.
For example, the flooring in these is a laminate of aluminum with Azdel on the top and bottom.
The company also uses Azdel substrate in the wall construction. Azdel is a man-made product that provides slightly better insulation and sound deadening properties but, more importantly, it also doesn’t get ruined if there is water intrusion.
All Alliance fifth wheels are wide body right down to this smallest model, which means this measures 101” inches in width. That translates into larger bathrooms and upper decks.
Alliance not only consistently color codes all their wiring, but also numbers it consistently. This makes it easier for the person building the RV to do it properly, and also makes a huge difference if there’s ever a warranty issue.
Having handled warranties, I can tell you that diagnosing wiring issues is significantly faster and easier when you have a place to start. Many RV companies don’t even have schematics for their RVs.
Buy an RV starting at the chassis
I have frequently written that you should buy an RV by starting at the chassis. The Alliance chassis structure is a bit heavier in some places, but much heavier where the suspension is attached. Further, the company uses a wet-bolted suspension system with a MORryde CRE3000 rubber mounting system.
The plumbing is absolutely done the way it should be—where each fixture has its own shut-off valve. If the kitchen sink has a leak, for example, you can shut off just this fixture and use the rest of the RV. This is quite a significant feature.
Further, you can very easily get to the back of the water system in the wet bay—if there’s an issue. This kind of thinking is quite apparent in much of the rest of this RV.
While you’re looking at how things are made, Alliance RV also adds additional structure to the drawers in their units to give them greater strength.
Smart features
I am also a fan of the fact that there are no ducts in the floor for the furnace. Instead, the ducts are up on the cabinetry so that you’re not kicking dust in them all summer and then getting “that smell” the first few times you turn on the furnace in the cooler weathher.
There are also spaces right at the entrance as well as under the steps up to the upper deck for shoes.
One of the features I wish more RVs had is a port on the roof of the rig. Nowadays, more and more RVers are wanting to run wiring from the roof for things like solar panels or Starlink or cell phone boosters. On just about all RVs, you have to drill a hole in the roof and then figure out how to fish this wiring through to where you want it to go. On this rig, there is a port up on the roof—so this is done already. And it is weather sealed.
What I would change about the Alliance RV Avenue All Access 28BH
I’m not a fan of having the steps on the road side of a fifth wheel as it blocks access to the upper bedroom of the rig but also the all-important bathroom. That means that dad might be watering the plants on the side of the road for a potty stop but most moms aren’t going to tolerate that.
Further, the fuse box in this rig is in the stationary part of the build and is partially blocked by the slide room. You know that the chance of a fuse blowing and leaving the slide immobile are increased exponentially by the placement of the fuse box. I really dislike the placement of the fuse box.
Final thoughts on the 2024 Alliance RV Avenue All Access 28BH
I can see some folks taking out the bunks altogether and putting an office in the back or just using that space to tote bikes or the usual camping stuff that we all accumulate.
This isn’t such a huge fifth wheel that it’s impractical and is one of the more compact bunk model units I’ve seen. Further, I like that the bunk functionality really doesn’t compromise the living space in this rig.
If this were yours, what would you use the bunk space for?
My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for use of the photos and video.
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy.
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I wonder if Alliance’s customers ask them to block the bathroom and bedroom with a closed slide? Not! I can’t figure designers that don’t see this glaring error. Not sure how far the fridge door would open either.
Could be just the pictures, but I didn’t see any lighting in the bunk area. Also, looks like the slide molding & dinette might impede the footrest on the loveseat? Maybe its not a footrest, but looks weird when there’s overlap like that.
Is the Avenue line really “new?” Seems we looked at that line several years ago.
Overall nice, but the designers have a bit more work to do, IMO.
Thank you, Tony! 🙂 Were this ours, then I would use the bunk area for clothes storage. This seems very well made, but it is too bad that they mis-located the couple of things that you noted. Meanwhile, thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
At my age, I wouldn’t even look at, much less buy, any RV that didn’t have road access to the bathroom without opening a slide!
But I also wouldn’t buy any fifth wheel that still uses leaf springs, no matter how “modernized” they are with huck bolts and rubber pads. Leaf springs were probably invented 4,000 years ago by the Egyptions for their chariots, so they are an obsolete method of suspending a load on a vehicle. Not when we have torsion axles, coil springs, air bags, shock absorbers, struts, multi-link, and independent suspensions available to 21st Century vehicle manufacturers. Many RV manufacturers seem to think they are still building Conestoga wagons!
There is a new suspension system specifically for fifth wheels coming from Lippert that’s a fully independent coil spring set-up with shock absorbers at each wheel along with a coil spring in the pin box as well. This is going to be likely the new gold standard just as a similar set-up is for travel trailers as exemplified by what’s under the Ember Overland series.
The best thing that has happened to RV business in 80 years is the “overlanding” fad. DIYers and small Australian companies using true off-road, independent suspensions are revolutionizing the mindset of RV manufacturers. American companies are still installing the same RV suspensions Wally Byam used in his 1930s Airstreams. “If it was good enough for Wally, it’s good enough for us!” seems to be the prevailing attitude.