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03-07-2017, 08:27 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 20
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RV brand suggestions?
My wife and I are going 5th wheel FT in a couple years.
It's getting near to spring time and we're about to make the local dealer rounds to do some browsing. Just looking at this point.
So far we are most interested in the Grand Design Solitudes.
What other brands do you suggest for consideration?
My first concern is build quality. My wife is mostly with beauty and a rolling apartment.
We don't plan on moving around a lot, but rather staying in place for 2 or 3 months at a time if it's a good place.
Have the quality of the various THOR products improved? Last time I researched them was about a year ago and decided to avoid them like a plague. That was based on complaints.
Am I wrong? Do you think I should reconsider? Thor covers a lot of brands.
Thanks for your input.
Steve
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03-07-2017, 10:24 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,450
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Using the search window, at the top of each page, reveals many conversations to help you. The link below shows search results.
https://www.google.com/search?q=whic...earch=irv2.com
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George R. - Fulltiming since January '03
2007 Newmar Mountain Aire 3991
2012 Chevy Malibu LT1
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03-08-2017, 08:23 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 325
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Stevefury, Quality... New Horizons! Unless you go with a "very expensive high end custom" unit. Most everything else is a progressive downhill curve from there. You just have to find your cost position on that curve! memtb
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03-09-2017, 09:28 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 84
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most people who respond, and probably correctly, to your question will tell you need tp spend 100,000 plus to get a high quality 5th wheel. I think the 50,000 to 60,000 dollar range you will find acceptable quality units. The more popular brands you will find more negative on line personal reviews. Why? Well they sell more units. I think the most important thing to do if you are not wanting to spend the big money is to review the dealers first. A good dealer with competent people will make the difference between what many consider a good 5th wheel. I've read way too many negative reviews while exploring my recent 5th wheel purchase and so many problems could easily be repaired at a competent dealer but in the end the mfg gets blamed. type in the dealers names and check out the online reviews.
__________________
George & Deb
2015 Alpine 3010RE
2015 silverado HD
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03-09-2017, 10:49 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 87
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I've had my Solitude for four years this month... I don't think you can go wrong with any Grand Design unit..
__________________
2014 Grand Design Solitude, 369RL, #107
2016 Chevy 3500HD, SRW, Diesel/Allison
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03-10-2017, 04:17 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 20
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Stevefury61@gmail.com
Thank you all for your thoughtful replies.
-Steve
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03-10-2017, 04:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 374
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I would look at the Cedar Creek line, I know a lot of folks that are very happy with them, also check out the new River Stone and their Legacy line. Good luck on your search.
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03-10-2017, 06:00 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 596
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I would suggest Artic Fox. Lots of old units on the road and never met an owner that didn't like their unit. They are a little heavier than comparable layouts from other manufacturers but that is due to the frame and build quality.
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03-10-2017, 08:41 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,596
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gsport
I've had my Solitude for four years this month... I don't think you can go wrong with any Grand Design unit..
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You could if you start reading here Grand Design Owner's Forum
They're no different than the rest out there. Some good ones and some bad ones.
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03-15-2017, 10:27 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dblr
I would look at the Cedar Creek line, I know a lot of folks that are very happy with them, also check out the new River Stone and their Legacy line. Good luck on your search.
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X2 on the Cedar Creek plus the Riverstone is a nice camper, it comes down to the floor plan you like. Some of the things I like on our Creek is the temperature can get to zero and no freeze ups. I have a residential refrigerator on our camper, I also have a stacked washer/dryer plus a Trav'ler satellite antenna. I'm planning on installing disc brakes this year on Creek plus I have Goodyear tires on camper. Whatever camper you get make sure you install a TPMS on camper that you trust.
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03-24-2017, 07:53 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: west Michigan
Posts: 411
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I've owned both Forest River and Heartland products. The FR was an '02 and the Heartland is an '09. Both units were good, but I think the Heartland is a few clicks above the FR, partly due to the Heartland being classed a luxury model and the FR was not. Not sure what the acquisition of Heartland by Thor in '10 has done to the line, but the quality of my unit is good. We were toying with upgrading to a different Heartland RV, but the more I think about my current unit, the more I am inclined to throw 10K into exterior restorations/paint and another $8k into suspension and disk brakes and be happy and still debt-free!
I think that there are a few really good manufacturers, and only by studying their websites and analyzing their build quality can you come to grips with which one you are willing to support. The interiors are the easiest part to make look good, but once again by careful study of the build you will see there are differences in what is being used in cabinetry and fixtures for example.
Grand Design is said to make a good product, but the DW and I thought the interiors were less than ought to be for the prices they are asking.
Gnirwin made a good point about dealerships. You need to find a good dealer and then find the RV out of his offerings. I've dealt with both sides of that fence.
__________________
'03 Dynasty Chancellor 40' A/H - '93 Jeep Wrangler YJ
Life has many choices, eternity has two...choose wisely!!!
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03-25-2017, 08:06 AM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 356
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my way
I look at this way, Do I want to spend 90,000 to 115,000 every 7 years or do I want to spend 60,000 to 90,000 every 7 years. Counting trade in value, who keeps their value better which of course offsets some costs but the ratio should be the same. I`ve owned many brands and they all have problems just different. My trade in`s run about one third to a little more of original costs. Still the purchase is a role of the dice for quality after the warranty is over.
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03-25-2017, 09:13 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Full Timing. When I park I'm home
Posts: 1,369
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Quote:
Originally Posted by memtb
Stevefury, Quality... New Horizons! Unless you go with a "very expensive high end custom" unit. Most everything else is a progressive downhill curve from there. You just have to find your cost position on that curve! memtb
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I'm not sure what is considered very expensive high end but I have a friend that has 185K in his New Horizons. They are pretty much custom builders like Space Craft.
I full agree with refurbishing a rig if you like what you have. I'm also a big fan of buying used. Check out consignment lots. I found our HitchHiker at PPL Motors in Houston, TX. The web sites list 100's of units. Of course this is just my opinion.
Brad
__________________
2004 Volvo, 2009 smart car
2008 Hitch Hiker Champagne
Full timing January 2010
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03-25-2017, 02:29 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wherever we are
Posts: 4,280
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Stevefury,
Do you have a lot of RV experience, or will this be your first venture into the lifestyle?
As mentioned, buying used after research/looking at what is available can save you tons of $$, and later it won't be such a hit when/if you want to upgrade.
__________________
'16 40QBH Phaeton
'21 Sahara HA toad
'15 38RSSA Mobile Suites--traded
'05 36TK3 Mobile Suites--retired but not forgotten
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