Community Forums

elijah205 · 11-19-2015, 08:48 AM

Hello. I plan on living rurally in Northern-BC where temperatures can easily get below -17 in the winter with tons of snow. I will be semi-annually dry camping there and I need a 5th wheeler that can handle those conditions.
I will have a very large battery cluster and a generator running daily to heat the pipes.

With a budget under $100,000 the Keystone Alpine 2015 caught my eye, but many people are telling me that Keystone has had major quality control problems and not worth the money.

What have you guys experienced? Is it worth getting one? Do you recommend another model or brand?

JBurg · 11-19-2015, 09:49 AM

Is your budget for the trailer AND pickup or just the trailer? $100K for just a trailer will put you in something much better then any of the keystone offerings. Look to get between 25%-35% off of the msrp on any of the trailers out there.

elijah205 · 11-19-2015, 09:53 AM

Just the trailer.
What do you recommend for another brand or model? I am not worried about the msrp .. I just would like to know some reliable quality brands.

JBurg · 11-19-2015, 10:17 AM

Look into DRV. Very well insulated and great build. Two of the many reasons we ordered our Mobile Suites 41RSSB4 for full-time use this year. Currently we are in Montana until December, with temperatures dropping to around 20 degrees F. The trailer has been absolutely fine, and we didn't order the second furnace.

Another line that intrigues me is the Augusta Luxe. I haven't seen one in person yet, but they seem to have some pretty good ideas.

JBurg · 11-19-2015, 10:19 AM

Here is a link to a fairly active DRV owners forum.

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f29/

As well as

http://suitesownersinternationaltrav...general-topics

Yes, they have their issues just like the rest of the industry, but I've been very impressed with customer service from the factory after the purchase.

elijah205 · 11-19-2015, 10:32 AM

Thank you for your help. Most DRV fifth wheels show about $150,000 and the Augusta Luxe is about $120,000. An Alpine with all the options is about $90,000 in British Columbia. Is the Keystone brand is bad as everyone says it is? Some review sites seem overwhelmingly negative for it.

Do you know much about North Wood or Winnebago?

JBurg · 11-19-2015, 10:53 AM

If it's showing 150 plan on around 105-110k or so depending on the dealer. I'm not sure how much it would change in Canada though. The Augusta appears to be factory direct rather than relying on a network of dealers, so I'm not sure how much negotiating power you would have there.

As far as keystone, I'm not able to provide much information. I didn't spend much time looking at their offerings after doing research and finding the same things you are regarding customer satisfaction.

JBurg · 11-19-2015, 11:10 AM

I'm not able to help on Northwood or Winnebago.

Gsport · 11-19-2015, 11:35 PM

I'd be looking into any of the Grand Design units, preferably the Solitude line.

DrDaveMA · 11-20-2015, 06:42 AM

This forum is for Alpine motor coaches manufactured by Western RV, they are not related to the Keystone Alpine fifth wheeler. You may get some responses here, but you might get better results asking this question on the travel trailer, fifth wheel and truck camper forum.

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum
Dave, Bobbi and Fenway

CptCook · 11-20-2015, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrDaveMA

This forum is for Alpine motor coaches manufactured by Western RV, they are not related to the Keystone Alpine fifth wheeler. You may get some responses here, but you might get better results asking this question on the travel trailer, fifth wheel and truck camper forum.

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum
Dave, Bobbi and Fenway

Actually Dr Dave, this is the 5th wheel forum, not the motor coach forum.......

450Donn · 11-20-2015, 08:56 AM

There is only one RV that MIGHT stand a chance in northern BC. Alpine certainly isnt it. Look for a gently used TETON. They were built in Wyoming originally for oil field workers, later branched out to the RV trade. They did go out of business several years ago, so no new,but used there still around. True 2X4 construction with insulation to match a S&B house.

Cumminsfan · 11-20-2015, 10:37 AM

OP are you talking CDN dollars? Remember you should be able to get near 30% off MSRP. That puts DRV's around the $100,000 US dollars. Alpines would be way cheaper than $90,000 if talking US dollars. This unit would be $86,731 CND.
Example
New 2016 Keystone RV Alpine 3511RE Fifth Wheel at Southern RV | Bossier City, LA | #019088

shane wood · 11-21-2015, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elijah205

Just the trailer.
What do you recommend for another brand or model? I am not worried about the msrp .. I just would like to know some reliable quality brands.

Buy a Redwood they are built for fulltiming.
You can pick one up for under your price level. We have lived in ours over 1 year and very happy with it. You will need a dually to pull it depending on model