Community Forums

RoadEyePie · 04-24-2018, 12:59 PM

So I've been doing research for about 2 months now and although I'm not going to decide anything before the Hershey PA RV Show in Sept., I'm beginning to narrow the list down.

I've eliminate New Horizon based on price and the fact that they have no dealerships. After all, it's just a trailer.

I've also eliminated Outdoor RV just because of lack of appeal (for me).

So, I've got it down to Vanleigh Beacon, Forest River (Hathaway Edit. and Cardinal Luxury), and Grand Design Solitude. Probably in that order.

I haven't entirely excluded Keystone Montana or Artic Fox. I'm not a big fan of the Montana's. I like Artic Fox, but would have to give up Full Body Paint and the fact that they're on the left coast and i'm on the right.

Funding Fun · 04-24-2018, 01:13 PM

Don't leave out Open Range by Highland Ridge in your research. I think OR and Grand Design top the list in build quality and have almost identical floorplans. OR pays a little more attention to detail and fit/finish. They include everything you would want as standard equipment. With some of the builders, after you add all the must have options, you add another $15K to the price.

archer75 · 04-24-2018, 01:36 PM

In terms of quality i'm not a fan of keystone or forest river so i'd take those off my list.
Anything from northwood in terms of quality is top of my list. However I wish they had more floorplans. Which is where I really like grand design. I want a mashup of those two, northwood quality and grand design floorplans.

mrgrayaz · 04-24-2018, 02:10 PM

Oooh I really like those Open Range floorplans...like a LOT. and they have actual fresh water capacity and decent CCC!

Superslif · 04-24-2018, 02:16 PM

There is a Arctic Fox dealer in Cincinnati. They sell rv trailers, not sure they would ship in a AF 5er unit from OR. We ended up driving the 4500 miles RT to buy our Outdoors unit last Oct. We spent 18 months looking.

MTK46 · 04-24-2018, 02:38 PM

My son looked at three different used Open Ranges and that was enough to pass on those. They weren't the top of the line models but they were junk. These were 5th wheels. Are you looking at TT or 5th wheels?

RoadEyePie · 04-24-2018, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK46

My son looked at three different used Open Ranges and that was enough to pass on those. They weren't the top of the line models but they were junk. These were 5th wheels. Are you looking at TT or 5th wheels?

Fifth wheels only, mostly between 32' - 38'.

RoadEyePie · 04-24-2018, 03:16 PM

Took a look at Open Range website. Didn't see anything of interest. Many of their models are too long for me.

Cumminsfan · 04-24-2018, 03:30 PM

Have you checked out any of the brand forums?
https://www.granddesignowners.com/forum/forum.php
Keystone RV Forums
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/
There's one for every brand too.
I read them all daily along with several others. Mostly to see whats trending and get some ideas on places to go or mods. With that being said I can't help but notice that they all have similar issues in one form or another.
Since you're not buying until Sept then I would suggest you hang out on those forums to get a feel about quality and what types of issues each brand is having.
I always ignore the 'I love my RV" stuff because, well they are brand forums. Most everyone thinks theirs is the best. It's their way of reinforcing their decision to themselves. And most on one brand forum don't spend anytime reading about others RV's. So lots of whats said is a little bias. Like X brand has the best customer service or X brand is built better than most. When in fact they haven't owned but one or two before and have not had experience with very many other brands to really back up those opinions.
But you will get a feel for how the brand company operates and what types of problems each brand seems to have more of in terms of are the problems factory related or parts related.

RoadEyePie · 04-24-2018, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

Have you checked out any of the brand forums?
https://www.granddesignowners.com/forum/forum.php
Keystone RV Forums
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/
There's one for every brand too.
I read them all daily along with several others. Mostly to see whats trending and get some ideas on places to go or mods. With that being said I can't help but notice that they all have similar issues in one form or another.
Since you're not buying until Sept then I would suggest you hang out on those forums to get a feel about quality and what types of issues each brand is having.

Yes I have looked at the brand forums and as you say I have time to do more. Since you've been at it much longer, have you gleaned any observations on my top 3 brands that you can share. They are Vanleigh Beacon, FR Hathaway & Cardinal Lux. and Solitude.

cfowler55 · 04-24-2018, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manwithnorv

Yes I have looked at the brand forums and as you say I have time to do more. Since you've been at it much longer, have you gleaned any observations on my top 3 brands that you can share. They are Vanleigh Beacon, FR Hathaway & Cardinal Lux. and Solitude.

I looked at the exact list you have. Problem with most for me was length. A 5er listed as 37' will end up being closer to 40. Beacon is not made in the smaller floor plan yet. The equivalent Vilano I could not stand up straight in the shower. Hathaway is beautiful but too long. For me. Really liked the 3350RLX Cardinal. They are also a little hard to locate right now. Listed as 35'7". One I measured was over 38 front cap to ladder.

Cumminsfan · 04-24-2018, 10:52 PM

I've never read anything about Vanleighs except on their website. I sure like the fit and finish of the few that I've walked thru. Out of my price league so I haven't really looked at them from a build point.
I like the hung walls on the CC as opposed to pinch rolled or vacuum bonded. Not that the the later are bad. It's just that the CC hung walls are different and may have a better chance of not de-laminating.
To me the Solitude is just another cookie cutter 5th wheel only with top notch customer service. The Solitude doesn't offer anything special as far as build goes that any other brand already offers.
JMHO but it seems like Forest River has too many offerings. Lots of repeat models under other names.
If it were my money it would be the Vanleigh simply for the interiors and the fact that they aren't pumping out dozens of them a day.
Also if I'm paying close to or over $100k MSRP I want a fiberglass rear cap. Es[ecially if it's got full body paint. Solitude doesn't have one. Heck even Northwood offers a fiberglass rear cap for cheaper.

RoadEyePie · 04-25-2018, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfowler55

I looked at the exact list you have. Problem with most for me was length. A 5er listed as 37' will end up being closer to 40. Beacon is not made in the smaller floor plan yet. The equivalent Vilano I could not stand up straight in the shower. Hathaway is beautiful but too long. For me. Really liked the 3350RLX Cardinal. They are also a little hard to locate right now. Listed as 35'7". One I measured was over 38 front cap to ladder.

Beacon makes a 34RLB which is listed as 34' 11".

RoadEyePie · 04-25-2018, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

I've never read anything about Vanleighs except on their website. I sure like the fit and finish of the few that I've walked thru. Out of my price league so I haven't really looked at them from a build point.
I like the hung walls on the CC as opposed to pinch rolled or vacuum bonded. Not that the the later are bad. It's just that the CC hung walls are different and may have a better chance of not de-laminating.
To me the Solitude is just another cookie cutter 5th wheel only with top notch customer service. The Solitude doesn't offer anything special as far as build goes that any other brand already offers.
JMHO but it seems like Forest River has too many offerings. Lots of repeat models under other names.
If it were my money it would be the Vanleigh simply for the interiors and the fact that they aren't pumping out dozens of them a day.
Also if I'm paying close to or over $100k MSRP I want a fiberglass rear cap. Es[ecially if it's got full body paint. Solitude doesn't have one. Heck even Northwood offers a fiberglass rear cap for cheaper.

You make a good point. The Beacon really isn't at the same price point as the others, so it may not be a fair comparison. I appreciate the feedback.