The new DT33RLE: Its Pros and Cons

[KHB]

There is a new 2011 Excel catalogue out now on their website here. One of the featured innovations in the catalogue, as well as in their Sept 1 newsletter (sent Aug. 31), is a travel trailer, their first in 14 years. It is the Winslow DT33RLE, with all the 4-season quality of the rest of their line. I would enjoy reading some comments on this.
Let me begin by saying that I have no direct experience with this.

All I can do is compare the specs of the DT33RLE and of the comparable L33RSE.

• At 11,550#, the travel trailer is lighter than a comparable 5er (L33RSE) by 1,400 lb. That's got to be a plus: Less to pull and less to stop. It's lighter than any rig they sell.
• The newby who has no 5th wheel hitch saves around $1400 by never buying one.
• The weight of that hitch is gone from his PU bed.
• At 143" high, it's 7" shorter than the 5ers. Less drag should mean less fuel consumption.
• They have 120 cubic feet of storage in the front third of the rig. That is a big plus for the FTer, I gather.
• The bed of the PU is there for your bikes and baggage.

Let those really informed weigh in and say what ELSE one should bear in mind when making this his next home.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KHB There is a new 2011 Excel catalogue out now on their website here. One of the featured innovations in the catalogue, as well as in their Sept 1 newsletter (sent Aug. 31), is a travel trailer, their first in 14 years. It is the Winslow DT33RLE, with all the 4-season quality of the rest of their line. I would enjoy reading some comments on this. Let me begin by saying that I have no direct experience with this. All I can do is compare the specs of the DT33RLE and of the comparable L33RSE. At 11,550#, the travel trailer is lighter than a comparable 5er (L33RSE) by 1,400 lb. That's got to be a plus: Less to pull and less to stop. It's lighter than any rig they sell. The newby who has no 5th wheel hitch saves around $1400 by never buying one. The weight of that hitch is gone from his PU bed. At 143" high, it's 7" shorter than the 5ers. Less drag should mean less fuel consumption. They have 120 cubic feet of storage in the front third of the rig. That is a big plus for the FTer, I gather. The bed of the PU is there for your bikes and baggage. Let those really informed weigh in and say what ELSE one should bear in mind when making this his next home.

Just a couple of other things to consider....

* No step up to the bedroom
* Still have purchase some hitch equipment such as stabilizer, ect.
* Overall length (with truck) is longer than the comparible 5th wheel.
* Probably won't tow as nice as a 5th wheel
* Usually shorter entry steps than a 5th wheel
* W/D not available

I'm sure there are many other things to consider......and folks will chime in here, I'm sure. rockin'

[KU9L]

The maximum bumper pull of my 2008 Silverado is 13K lbs so as long as the Winslow DT33RLE wasn't max'd out to 15.3K its GVWR it would probably be okay, but that would be one heavy bumper pull even with a stabilizer on the hitch. As long as one doesn't need the W/D, it looks like it has cute full-timer possibilities as well. I'm sure the 2011 trucks have a larger capacity hitch than than my 2008.

Dave

[Jim & Bona]

I towed a 31' (overall length) Airstream across a lot of the eastern USA and Ontario with a 3/4 ton Suburban for years. The trailer weighed approximately 7,000# loaded. The tow vehicle and trailer were both well set up for towing. The bottom line is that there's no comparison between how that Airstream towed and how my Excel tows. The fifth wheel trailer tows an order of magnitude better than the travel trailer. Just my own experience.

Maybe this new Winslow actually does tow as well as a fiver. Time will tell.

[BookIIRoadtrash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom Just a couple of other things to consider.... * Still have purchase some hitch equipment such as stabilizer, ect.

I don't think the DT is about towing, but there is a place in today's market for a "High End" travel trailer. Lots of my friends get TT so they can haul their Harley in the PU box. Lots of folks now days do not have the desire to have a 5er hitch in their pu box. So what is the difference if one has to purchase a 5er hitch or a stabilizer?

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookIIRoadtrash I don't think the DT is about towing, but there is a place in today's market for a "High End" travel trailer. Lots of my friends get TT so they can haul their Harley in the PU box. Lots of folks now days do not have the desire to have a 5er hitch in their pu box. So what is the difference if one has to purchase a 5er hitch or a stabilizer?

I would guess the stabilizer set up would be quite a bit cheaper than a truck hitch......rockin'

[davydee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KU9L ... I'm sure the 2011 trucks have a larger capacity hitch than than my 2008. Dave

Ya just have to get a bigger truck! I've got 16,000 lbs using a class 5 receiver. I looked at the class 5 hitches. They're pretty hefty.

I've sort of picked up on the philosophy of "happy wife, happy life". So when the DW walks into the TT and says "this is it", you're pulling a TT.

One technical point. That 120 cu ft is more than we've got in our 36GKE. David

[KU9L]

We had the biggest factory OEM hitch available, just because it is a travel travel one just doesn't hitch up and go without a few beefy accessories, LOL. I'd probably go with this hitch accessory myself. Trailer Sway Elimination Guaranteed - Hensley® the ONLY trailer hitch guaranteed to totally eliminate trailer sway.

Dave

[Joe Diesel]

Well I just came back from the RV show in Pennsylvania and was able to see the DT33RLE. Two words come to mind: absolutely amazing! I was so impressed by all the features incorporated into the design of this unit. After seeing it, I realized that "Peterson Industries" really did their homework on this design. Seventeen inches of basement storage in a travel trailer! That is unheard of in a travel trailer industry. Four, independently hydraulically actuated slides! Hickory wooden cabinetry! True four season capability! Independent water manifolds! Full face, one piece, aerodynamic, fiberglass front and rear end caps with molded in lights! If My wife was with me at the time, I would have probably been the first guy in fourteen years to have a "Peterson" built travel trailer in the USA! In all honesty, as much as I really like the unit, it is probably not the best fit for me right now. I have a 2003 Dodge Ram diesel rated at 12,850lbs for towing. From this number I have to subtract my payload from the truck's GVWR. That puts me way over my tow limit, legally and by the numbers. I would have liked to lash it up to see how well it towed anyways. I sincerely hope that they come out with even more floor plans or maybe a customizable platform for a wider audience. In any event, it appears that "Peterson Industries" is maneuvering to corner the market on high-end travel trailer. Joe.

[rockintom]

Thanks Joe for the review. Do you recall the price of that little jewel? rockin'

[Joe Diesel]

Absolutely I do. It sang to the tune of $72,000. US currency, of course. I was prepared to offer 40-K and my trade if the dealer would give me 20-K on my two and a half year old Arctic Fox 27-F. My pitch was that he could sell my unit, retail for several thousand over the 20-K asking price and I would essentially by the unit for what works out to about 63-K. But we never crunched the numbers because my wife was not their to see the unit and she shot me down on the long distance inquire. I really think that it is a superior travel trailer and I am a little surprised that it is not being advertised as wide spread as it should. I do realize that the RV market is really depressed but I believe that quality products are always in demand. Joe.

[TXiceman]

Gets me that Excel is claiming the earth shaking addition of a basement on a travel trailer. Avion by Fleetwood had the basement model in the late 1980's. I guess this is another case of back to the future.

Ken

[Joe Diesel]

Ken: I would love to see a comparison between the two units. Good ideas always seem to resurface. Just like in the movie, "The Long Long Trailer", Tacie was looking over some of the feathers of the "New Moon" trailer and was remarked at the fact that the oven had glass in the door so that you can see in without opening it. Well now we have key-less entry systems and electric stabilizers not to mention climate control air conditioning. I'm hoping that we could see a fiberglass roof at least as an option on the Excel Travel Trailer line up in the future. I was also wondering if anyone has experience on towing a very heavy travel trailer and how well it tow even if one had the safest hitch like the Hensley Arrow??? Joe.

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KHB The newby who has no 5th wheel hitch saves around $1400 by never buying one.

If we were going to pull a travel trailer...particularly a large one like the Excel...there are only two hitches that I would ever consider: The Hensley Arrow or the Pullrite. Neither of these are cheap...in fact, they're more expensive than most fifth wheel hitches (unless you're talking about one of the airride hitches), in the neighborhood of $3,000+.

Both of these hitches eliminate sway; in fact, the Pullrite hitch moves the pivot point to the rear axle...it just is underneath the bed rather than on top of the bed like a fifth wheel hitch is.