DVR Owners

[rbuttolph]

Ok DVR owners.
Lets here from you all Good & Bad.
The CCC ratings are there, but a couple have a 5,000 hitch weight.
That's a load to almost max out my MDT.
Looked at a Tradition today, salesman opened the Basement door & the door frame Buckled ( door side ) Oh My Full Body Paint
You can imagine straighten & Repaint.
Felt sorry for the Guy.
What else can go wrong?
High Dollar units, but how well built?

Fulltimer

[Cummins12V98]

It's "DRV". They are not perfect but they are really nice!

Tradition is the BASEMENT level for "DRV".

5K hitch almost maxing out your MDT??? My Pin is well over 5K and my rear axle rating is not achieved with that load.

[glennwest]

Well the rear axle gross is 9750# on all 3 trucks, Ford, GM, Dodge. I am shy of 6k and well over 5k. I am somewhat over this rating. I really don't see how any of you can have 6k pin and not overload rear axle. Have you been on Cat scales with camper hooked up?

[rollondown]

The Tradition line isn't built like the Mobile or Elite lines. Different frames, and a different level of finish. Tradition is more in the upscale LifeStyle, Montana, Cedar Creek, Pinnacle, Redwood area.
Most of the DRV Mobile Suite line and Elite line have heavy pin weights. Most start at #4500lb and go up from there. But that's the cost of Quartz counters, solid wood trim, 3-1/2" walls, box tube frames, etc.

[jdpm]

Originally Posted by rollondown

The Tradition line isn't built like the Mobile or Elite lines. Different frames, and a different level of finish. Tradition is more in the upscale LifeStyle, Montana, Cedar Creek, Pinnacle, Redwood area.
Most of the DRV Mobile Suite line and Elite line have heavy pin weights. Most start at #4500lb and go up from there. But that's the cost of Quartz counters, solid wood trim, 3-1/2" walls, box tube frames, etc.

I would not compare a tradition to a Lifestyle by any means. The Tradition is on a Lippert I-beam and the Lifestyle is on a in-house built box frame.

[rollondown]

Originally Posted by jdpm

I would not compare a tradition to a Lifestyle by any means. The Tradition is on a Lippert I-beam and the Lifestyle is on a in-house built box frame.

Lifestyle has outsourced their frames to Lippert recently.

[schrod]

Originally Posted by rollondown

Lifestyle has outsourced their frames to Lippert recently.

Yes they have. We were told that it was going to happen when we did the plant tour in early August. It will still be built to Lifestyle specs, just that Lippert can do it cheaper as they are geared to faster production so consequently can do it cheaper.

[Regnum4st]

Our Lifestyle LS36FW being delivered next week. It is the very last of the in house constructed frames. The box tube frame was the tipping point in our decision to purchase a Lifestyle. In fact the frame construction was the chief marketing tool of Lifestyle since their inception implying that the Lippert frames were not as durable.

Our dealer was not thrilled with the new Evergreen president's decision to go with what just about every other manufacturer does. I realize DRV uses Lippert to build a triple box tube. I was led to believe that the new Lifestyles will have the same frame as Alfa Gold which is not a double box tube or so I have been led to understand. Quality seems to be taking a back seat here just as the industry see more and more Baby Boomers electing to try out the RV lifestyle.

Is VW joining in the RV trend? I do own a 2001 Cabrio. Perhaps I should have a hitch put in the back seat.

[Fulltimer]

The unsold Alfa Gold that I have seen has a stacked box frame all the way to the back, unlike the Lifestyle. I think the issue should be: Can Lippert come back from all the bad press with quality? DRV has used Lippert for years with little problem, as I understand it.

[rbuttolph]

Cummins12V98


I don't know about your Dodge.
My Stallick International runs 7620# Front & 7240# rear.
One axel is more than a lot of trucks weigh.
When under our Excel the front go to 7340 & 11600 Rear.
That's about 4000 Hitch weight.
My rear ax is rated at 12000 you can see how close.
Lots of storage in truck but might have to leave wife behind?

[rollondown]

Originally Posted by rbuttolph

Cummins12V98


I don't know about your Dodge.
My Stallick International runs 7620# Front & 7240# rear.
One axel is more than a lot of trucks weigh.
When under our Excel the front go to 7340 & 11600 Rear.
That's about 4000 Hitch weight.
My rear ax is rated at 12000 you can see how close.
Lots of storage in truck but might have to leave wife behind?

Thats one of the things I love about my Volvo pickup with the 20k rear axle. I'll never max it out. I think..... unless I add the Smart and bike..... and extra tanks.... and order that custom 48' Forks Continental Coach ..

Back to the OP's question

[RWeigant]

Garbage.....
Here is what you get for $100.000 in 2006.
DoubleTree RV problems:

Axel shock brackets broken. Poor welding. Too small. Shocks bent and had to replace all.
No heat to bedroom. The heat vent wasn't attached together and sent the hot air to basement.
Wood trim attached poorly and fell off.
Outside basement door screws came loose.
Two broken shackle bolts at the lube hole.
Sliding door broke. Fell into basement.
Closet door glass cracked because of poor latch.
Woodworking falling apart around slides.
Cheep faucets broke. All replaced.
Plastic fenders cracked. Replaced both.
Three double glass windows fogged up.
Roof leaked many places.
TV antenna placed on roof seam.
Bath fan vent goes nowhere. Dumb.
Poor insulation. Side insulation falls to bottom.
Plastic cabinet hooks broke. I replaced more then 12.
Hub caps fell off. Bad design. Made in China.
Plastic wire supports under slides broke.
Furnace problems. No Return vent.
Remote heat sensor located above light shuts off furnace. Put there by an 8 year old.
Water leak around slide outs.
Black and gray water valves hard to pull.
Plumbing from hot water heater leaked.
Ladder broke. Not fastened well to roof.
Workers broke screw heads then glued heads back in place to cover up.
Cracks in fiberglass around license plate recess.
Spare tire lowering hole does not line up with bolt to lower tire.
Rollers on slides tore up floor.
Slide rollers roll over heat vents. Not a good idea. Think?
Cheep recliners. Chipboard and rags.
Wiring/plumbing a big mess. Looks like the same 8 year old wired it.
All tank levels stopped working from day one.
Workers left sawdust and garbage in places you can't see.
All screws that hold awning toppers too small and broke.
Screws that attach bed shock and motor too small, all broke.
As much as they tried, they never got the slides to come in all the way.
Wall between washer and toilet not screwed to floor.
RCA? The cheapest junk out there. All had to be replaced.
Soft floor in bathroom.
Ice maker? Joke.

[caissiel]

Looks similar to our $50000 unit bought in 09.

[wingnut60]

Sure glad I got a 2005 model....