1996 fleetwood prowler 30 5x 5th wheel

[MandTR]

I have just purchased one of these (well I could back out if I did it in the next day or so - might cost me $500 to do so). Anyone have any experience with this rig? We really like the floorplan (rear kitchen, single large hydrolic slide, hide-a-bed couch and free standing table). It is alumn vs fibreglass (that's is ok with me). I am planning to pull it with a 2500HD Ram which puts me with something like 1000# of spare capacity (best estimate using online calculator with reasonble estimations of weight etc).

Sure looks like the one we want. Any comments really welcomed and barring a show stopper consider us as new members .... thanks for any help / info ...I put an intro in new members so I will not repeat it here but exec summary is "HiHowRUglad2MeetchaSTOPnSayHIneTime"
terry

[MandTR]

I have just purchased one of these (well I could back out if I did it in the next day or so - might cost me $500 to do so). Anyone have any experience with this rig? We really like the floorplan (rear kitchen, single large hydrolic slide, hide-a-bed couch and free standing table). It is alumn vs fibreglass (that's is ok with me). I am planning to pull it with a 2500HD Ram which puts me with something like 1000# of spare capacity (best estimate using online calculator with reasonble estimations of weight etc).

Sure looks like the one we want. Any comments really welcomed and barring a show stopper consider us as new members .... thanks for any help / info ...I put an intro in new members so I will not repeat it here but exec summary is "HiHowRUglad2MeetchaSTOPnSayHIneTime"
terry

["007"]

MandTR, not to many replys so I'm short cutting to the 5th wheel and TT forum for more exposure.
You might want to check that forum lots of good info on 5th's and their problems.
Sounds like you may have a good find but just check out forum.

[K-Star]

While I did not have a Prowler, I did have a Wilderness which is the same manufacturer. We liked it alot. It was a well built unit and we only had one minor problem (water pump mounted too high above the tank).

One consideration with a rear kitchen is that things tend to move around when the trailer bounces. You might consider adding a Mor-Ryde suspension to the trailer. My 2nd 5er had a rear kitchen and with the Mor-Ryde and nothing ever moved on me.

[zip]

Hi. We have a 1994 Fleetwood Terry 30.5 fiver- it's a mid-kitchen model and has an aluminum outer skin with wooden framing for the walls and roof. It's been a good unit and tracks well behind our Chevy 3/4 ton Duramax. Single slide gave us trouble early on when the slideout electrical cable got pinched during operation and cut some wires in the cable. Then the slideout leaked during rainstorms,and the wooden flooring had to be replaced in the kitchen. Installation of a slideout topper solved that problem. After 12 years the gray color is fading out of the carpet and it's turning pink! This past summer we had to refinish the rubber roof, but oh well, nothin lasts forever.. but overall it's been a good unit and has served us well.
Just as a side note,.. not the trailer's fault, but this fall we got hit by lightening and it did some damage to the water heater, air conditioner, fridge control board, stereo, furnace wiring, thermostat, tv cable, and water tank monitor board. All damaged items were readily replaceable except the stereo, so now we have a lot of new stuff right when I was getting ready to sell and buy another 5er. Wifey said, "we can't sell it now. Everything is new!"
Dang.
Didn't mean to get carried away. After a few years you'll have some stories to tell us.

[MandTR]

Thanks so much for your input. We do indeed plan on telling our stories (just not until the statute of limitations runs out
See ya on teh road
terry

[John Harrelson]

I live full time in my 1995 Prowler 30.5 foot 5th wheel with one slide out.

I have a queen bed up front and a full length clothes hanging closet on both sides of the bed plus over-bed cabinets and storage behind the headboard..

Of course there is lots of excellent storage under the lift-up bed.

The couch is a "jack-knife" type with copious amounts of storage under it that can be accessed from inside or outside of trailer.

I got rid of the rocker/swivel chair and replaced it with a Haier 4.6 cubic foot freezer ( 22"w x 26"d x 35"T ) that doubles as television stand.

My Prowler also has a rear kitchen with a Dometic "RN 2811" fridge and Magic Chef range.

I love the built-in dinette table with lot of storage room under the bench seats which can also be accessed from inside or outside of trailer..

When you are a full timer you appreciate every inch of storage space you can get..

The bath room is an all enclosed room on one side of the 2cd level hallway while on the other side is a large clothes closet.

In addition to the bathroom having it's own door, the entire hallway area can be closed off from both directions for privacy and comfort when using the shower, sink or toilet.

As for outside storage.. I have the standard compartment under the overhang..
I can access it from a door on ether side of the trailer or from under the overhand via the large 4 foot wide x 3 foot high door..The actual storage area is 8 foot long x three foot high x 2 foot deep.

I bought the Prowler from a private party in 2003 when it was only 8 years old for $10,000.00 cash.

It was so new and hardly used that the stickers were still on the windows and shower stall.

So far I love it... This winter (2006) will be the 4th winter I have gone through with absolutely no problems from the winter conditions..

The Prowler series by Fleetwood are the best trailers made... They last forever.

best wishes,
John

[MandTR]

Thanks for your note John - we too plan on some f/t in this rig and am glad to hear your positive report. Your floorplan and mine sound about the same. I never checked behind the couch but thats a good tip. We have the free standing table which will provide me with more bellyroom (and add some flexability as well) I too am contemplating losing the 'easy chair' but we will see.
terry

[John Harrelson]

I got rid of the chair for several reasons..

I wanted to keep my 27" television and there was no place for a big TV to fit.. that little shelf by the side of the fridge is a laugh.

I also wanted more freezer room. The Dometic RM2811 has a fairly large freezer compartment but not enough to store "Family Pack" sizes of frozen meats..

But mostly I got rid of it because the chair's seat spring was budging upward and made for uncomfortable sitting.

And being typical RV grade furniture, the overall size of the chair was not big enough to be comfortable for a 6 foot 200 pound person..

Every time I leaned back my head would be too high to rest on the chair's back..
I kept getting neck aches holding my head forward to watch television.

The good part is that because my Prowler is a true "Bachelor's Pad" I don't have to please anyone but myself.. heh heh heh

John

[MandTR]

John - Are you pulling with a 1ton or a 3/4? I am going to start out with a 3/4 ton (03 Dodge 2wd 5sp hemi) so I am right at the cusp re: weight limits -- I am a bit concerned about that (the max weight on the 5er lists as 10,100 so if its 20% on the pin I should be fine) but I know that f/timing is likely to add more weight ...

[John Harrelson]

Hi Mandtr,

I have a 1993 Ford F-350 (one ton) 7.3 diesel, 5 speed manual transmission and standard cab.

It's old, has 150,000 miles on it and when I put my foot into it, like climbing a hill,, it pours out black smoke.... but... it runs great and its all mine, no payments to make..

oops.... forgot to say that your 3/4 ton Dodge will handle it just fine..
The "DRY" weight of your trailer should be about the same as mine...7650 lbs... which means that when its fully loaded with all of your gear it should end up weighing about 10,000 lbs..

This is based on the surmise that most RVers usually carry about 1000 pound of stuff per person..

This means that your hitch weight would be between 1200 and 1500 pounds..

best wishes,
John

[MandTR]

John - thanks for your response (and making me feel better about the weight issues -- seems like I have 'weight police' phobia after reading all of these numbers).

We will be leaving the far North in early Jan (just about a month - wow!). Its going to be an adventure taking off with a new (to me) 5er and truck without any real shakedown -- but that's the way its gotta be given the timing and the 2 feet of snow and -20 outside my door. I feel ok about that since I have had a 1984 class Cer for many years and done much camping.

I totally understand about the "no payments" thing - we have just sold our house and we will be debt free for the first time in 30 years or so (after getting 3 kids out and on to University). This rig will be on the road with us until either I/we or it breaks down beyond reasonable repair - as I dont want any more debt - ever.

thanks again John - see ya on the road.
Terry and Marg