Community Forums

kcaravelli · 07-17-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiverBob

Ditto on that advice - - one of the top of the lines. They are not cheap, just good. If you think you can't afford a new one, look for a good one a couple years old like Dusty Rusty said - - save some bucks. Carriage has been around a long time and builds excellent coaches with great floor plans, one of the best frames made by them and excellent cabinetry again all done in their factory. Sure love ours.

Bob

Stopped by today to havce a look at a Cameo today. Very nice coach.

rfhtlh · 07-28-2011, 06:49 AM

we are full time and live in a mobile suite. we have owned a carriage and an excel previous to the ms. the carriage is a good unit, we just traded because it was only a 30 footer and too small for full time. we owned the excel for four years and had problems with the slide and jack motors. they are now using hydralics so that may take care of the slide motor problem. we took our unit to the manufacturer for some warranty work and they did an excellent job. we took it back after warrnaty for some work and the service manager seemed to have a different attitude. he did not own up to his committment after we drove all the way from florida to kansas. the excel is a quality unit, we were just unhappy with the slide motor problems and the attitude of the service manager. we have toured a lot of the factories and our choices were hitchiker, carriage, and mobile suite. these are all quality units but we chose the mobile suite because the hitchiker uses wrapped wood on the cabinetry and carriage had the short queen bed and we need the standard length. we ordered our ms so had some changes made: eliminated the window in the entertainment center, ordered a refrig without the icemaker and water through door, put the elite sofa in with storage underneath, added shelfs in the pantry, changed the material on the valances and chairs from the standard, fiberglass roof in lieu of rubber, and some miscellaneous changes. they were very receptive to the changes. we do volunteer work with a christian ministry and have travelled all over the us including alaska with this unit. i would recommend if you go with a ms, upgrade to the 17.5" wheels. we upgraded after having two tires blow.

auctioneer15 · 11-21-2011, 07:49 PM

Hello everyone I am new to this site and 5th wheels. My Wife and I are in process of buying a new 5th wheel. We have narrowed it down to only 2 trailers. The new Redwood with the bouns room or the new Key Largo by Landmark. After reading the post here I am concerned now about the Redwood. Any advice would be appreicated. We will be full timing on the road working state to state for the gas companys.

kcaravelli · 11-21-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auctioneer15

Hello everyone I am new to this site and 5th wheels. My Wife and I are in process of buying a new 5th wheel. We have narrowed it down to only 2 trailers. The new Redwood with the bouns room or the new Key Largo by Landmark. After reading the post here I am concerned now about the Redwood. Any advice would be appreicated. We will be full timing on the road working state to state for the gas companys.

We ended up buying a 40' KZ Escalade a few months ago. It is a 2007 that was lived in for a year then repoed. Incredible build quality and very spacious. KZ told me although they are not making them in production in 2012 due to falling demand is this economy(they are on par with NuWa and Mobile Suites. They said they would build one since there plant is running fine on other models.
Be sure you understand what build quality really means in an rv when you are going to live full-time in a 4 season lifestyle.
There are great deals out there. Our KZ came with more amenities than we knew existed. Retail with the upgrades was pushing $100,000 and we picked this up for $37k.

Mr_D · 11-21-2011, 09:50 PM

Newmar makes many good four season units on the same assembly line as their MH's. The only downsides (?) are that they're heavier and cost more than most other units.

Fred1609 · 11-21-2011, 10:12 PM

my wife and I were looking at 5th wheels and found out that many fifth wheels dont come with double thermal windows. We bought a cougar 327RES with an artic package with extra insulation and a sealed heated under belly, so the tanks wouldnt freeze. The trailer also had a slightly larger air conditioner.