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01-10-2006, 01:55 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PacCoast
Posts: 79
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As we shop for a fifth-wheel to full time, we have come across a couple of "Front Living Room" models - notably Montanas, a couple of years old. Who else makes a Front Living Room model? Anyone have one - what are the pros and cons...?
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Buck 'n Pat (& Toby - old cat learning new trix!)
Re-tredded Newbies lookin' forward to seeing the USA at a more leisurely pace!
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01-10-2006, 01:55 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PacCoast
Posts: 79
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As we shop for a fifth-wheel to full time, we have come across a couple of "Front Living Room" models - notably Montanas, a couple of years old. Who else makes a Front Living Room model? Anyone have one - what are the pros and cons...?
__________________
Buck 'n Pat (& Toby - old cat learning new trix!)
Re-tredded Newbies lookin' forward to seeing the USA at a more leisurely pace!
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01-15-2006, 03:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,655
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During our shopping for a new 5er we viewed several front living room models. While different, we decided they are not practical for us. Older folks like us don't want to negotiate stairs every time we want a drink while watching TV,entertaining company, etc.
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2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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01-15-2006, 05:20 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 393
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I could never see the advantage of the front living area. What makes them attractive to folks?
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01-15-2006, 06:21 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
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I side with Ken Lenger on this. While it is something different, I do not see how they fit me. The ones we have looked at, seem to loose a considerable amount of usable storage space. For me storage is very important.
Ken
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Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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01-15-2006, 05:44 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Columbus, GA
Posts: 49
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When we were shopping for our current fifth wheel we looked at a couple of front living room models (as well as a front kitchen - Prowler AX-6?) but decided we liked the more traditional layouts better. Our dealer had a Cedar Creek with a front living room on the floor for over a year - he said that everyone thought it was a unique idea, but nobody wanted to buy one. He finally dropped the price way down on it to move it. He said he wouldn't bring another one in unless it was pre-sold. The lesson to us, he pointed out, was that this style of unit probably wouldn't have very good resale value since they were difficult to sell in the first place.
The other thing I noticed about these units is that they all tended to be rather heavy - 15,000# and up (some went as high as 18k# gross). Don't know if it's because of a different type of construction or just that they were large and loaded.
???
I guess it's "to each, his (or her) own"
Juan
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________________
2004 Dodge 3500 4x4 DRW HO/6 SPD B&W+Companion, Prodigy, Line-X, Pac Brake
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01-18-2006, 07:35 AM
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#8
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,594
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The front lounge layout seems to get the "WOW" factor at rv shows & it was something the mfr's tried but they don't seem to be a good seller. They look impressive but aren't practical from a storage standpoint plus the pin wt is much higher on these. Another mfr has entered with a front kitchen layout that I saw at a recent RV show. Don't know that those will sell much either. It's a lot of going up & down stairs while preparing meals to serve outside or just to get a cold beverage out of the fridge. Not my taste.
L-
P.S. Personally I thought rv-ing was to get out & enjoy nature. With these entertainment center based lounges & the indoor fireplaces that now come in several units, we don't really even have to leave our campers. Just tune to OLN on the tv & turn on that fireplace & you've got all the perks of the outdoors without the bugs, noisy neighbors & unpredictable weather.
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Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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01-18-2006, 08:35 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cypress, Texas USA
Posts: 8,854
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rv goddess:
P.S. Personally I thought rv-ing was to get out & enjoy nature. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Sometimes it is. Other times (such as visiting relatives over the holidays), it's about having our own living quarters along with us. In the latter case, the "entertainment-centered" RVs are really quite nice!
I agree about the front living room configurations, however. Those that we examined were woefully short of storage, among other shortcomings!
Rusty
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01-18-2006, 12:47 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Nor'easters Club Appalachian Campers Coastal Campers
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Florida USA
Posts: 1,337
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I like the bedroom in front because it kind of separates it from the rest of the living space. But people like different things. It looks fun but I think I would stick with the traditional floor plan.
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Lynnvt & George (DH), Sam the traveling pooch
2014 Primetime Crusader 32' fifth wheel
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01-21-2006, 10:38 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Abingdon, MD, USA
Posts: 14
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I guess I'll be the oddball on this thread. We have a 2006 Montana 3685fl front living model http://keystone-montana.com/?page=floorplans#3685fl and love it. Of coarse we're not full timers yet, but do take 3 to 4 week vacations. Storage is adequate for our life style both basement and living quarters. We looked at all the models and liked the interior of the Montana the best. Unfortunately Keystone has discontinued this floor plan for 2007. Low sales I guess.
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2007 Georgetown XL 370
2001 Chevy Malibu Toad
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01-27-2006, 11:45 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: IL
Posts: 45
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We have looked and toyed around with the front living room. The reason we thought it would be nice is all you really need would be on the first level if you had any problems one day with stairs. We have been looking and looking and probably will go tradional too.
Have been looking at Montanas, Newmars, and Sunny Brooks. Seen a Mobile Suites Fifth Wheel and boy was it wonderful with a wonderful price too. Shut the door and no outside sound at all. The Montanas and Sunny Brooks have had central vac which I think is nice too.
Happy hunting,
Linda
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Windy (Linda) IL
2006 Cedar Creek 34CKTS
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