Which would you buy?

[Dano 500]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

Wondering why you'd want one with an upstairs bunk vs a standard RL floor plan?

My older model Carriage Carriage CW374 is the same, so I thought about something different.

[08Carriage]

The DRV would be my choice
Being stored inside the exterior should be in good condition
Check inside walls of the slides any stains blistering does it have slide toppers
Run the slide in and out do they work properly?
Newer tires?

[oldenavy]

We owned a DRV previously. It’s about the best built production fiver out there (I’m not counting the custom builders like Luxe and Spacecraft). There’s no comparison to the forest river.

If the DRV has been cared for, it’s an easy decision.

2014 is before they were bought by Thor, so quality should be there.

[Toby Dog]

Less $$$$$$ and far better quality? I would vote for that.

[jimcumminsw]

Originally Posted by Dano 500

There are no businesses that do RV inspection here. I checked, but I will have them move dining side sofa to check for soft spots and check behind washer also. Thank you.

I would do a search on the internet for an RV inspector in your area.

My neighbor at the RV resort I stay at in MI is an independent RV inspector. He has been doing this since his retirement from his former job. He usually inspects 2 or 3 used or new RV's a week.

Customers usually contact him through the internet for his services.

Just a suggestion.

[TampaDave]

I had a 2017 forest river destination cottage until the hurricane blew it away and now I have a 2021 DRV.

The destination cottage is nice enough, it won't seem as plush as the DRV but mine was put together well. It's only designed to be towed once and then you leave it. Very comfortable.

As for that DRV, at that price, just buy it.

That looks like a Houston, about the best layout you can get in an RV for living aboard (I have a Santa Fe which is very similar, I can argue the differences but it's the same concept basically). That was the last year of production before they sold out to Thor so you're talking legendary quality. Shoot, even my COVID era rig was put together fairly well, I had a couple of things to patch up but it's pretty solid. That's about the only frame I would consider for a 40+ 5th wheel of that era. Even so, there have been frame failures reported so make sure someone who knows what they are doing checks it out. Very well insulated, a snap to keep cool or warm. The forest river is no slouch (long as you get dual pane windows) but the DRV has like 3" of insulation.

That's a heavy beast but (for better or worse) it's balanced out so it can be towed with a modern 1-ton dually. Just barely. You may not be able to fully load the RV, I run with 20% water (for ballast as much as anything) and nothing in the bed and I'm within all my capacities with a safety margin. With upgraded shocks it tows pretty well, kind of a pain on expansion joints but otherwise it's been fine. The Morryde independent suspension helps a *great* deal, I believe that's the only manufacturer that included that as standard feature. Should have a Morryde pinbox also.

As for the price, if it passes inspection that's the deal of the century. Shoot I'd reno the thing for that price, depends on the condition of the roof, frame and floors but, dang.

That there's a keeper, brother. Unless there's something wrong with it -- and I seriously wonder about that possibility given the price. If it's in even halfway decent condition, buy it and buy it now.

[psmiller]

Have owned our 2013 DRV Mobile Suites 38RESB3 since 2019. Has all the comforts of home on a smaller basis! Hubs stays on top of maintenance and repairs and we have a great RV shop nearby that does excellent work if hubs chooses not to do. Highly recommend the DRV as the 2014 year was pre Thor! You will love it!

[Dano 500]

So, to make things more confusing, I have found a:

2014 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSSA for 36k

2016 Luxe 39FB for 50k


😵*💫

[TampaDave]

Originally Posted by Dano 500

So, to make things more confusing, I have found a:

2014 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSSA for 36k

2016 Luxe 39FB for 50k


😵*💫

The 38rssa is gonna tow the best, Luxe probably the second best although I question whether a class 3 truck would be enough for that beast. I wouldn't try to tow a destination trailer at all.

Gotta look at the destination trailer more as "affordable housing" than as an "RV" per se. The opposite apples to the 38rssa imo.

That Houston style layout (essentially the same as the Luxe) is the bomb for living aboard. It really works. We like it better than the destination trailer. Get to have our cake and travel with it too.

[Dano 500]

Originally Posted by TampaDave

I had a 2017 forest river destination cottage until the hurricane blew it away and now I have a 2021 DRV.

The destination cottage is nice enough, it won't seem as plush as the DRV but mine was put together well. It's only designed to be towed once and then you leave it. Very comfortable.

As for that DRV, at that price, just buy it.

That looks like a Houston, about the best layout you can get in an RV for living aboard (I have a Santa Fe which is very similar, I can argue the differences but it's the same concept basically). That was the last year of production before they sold out to Thor so you're talking legendary quality. Shoot, even my COVID era rig was put together fairly well, I had a couple of things to patch up but it's pretty solid. That's about the only frame I would consider for a 40+ 5th wheel of that era. Even so, there have been frame failures reported so make sure someone who knows what they are doing checks it out. Very well insulated, a snap to keep cool or warm. The forest river is no slouch (long as you get dual pane windows) but the DRV has like 3" of insulation.

That's a heavy beast but (for better or worse) it's balanced out so it can be towed with a modern 1-ton dually. Just barely. You may not be able to fully load the RV, I run with 20% water (for ballast as much as anything) and nothing in the bed and I'm within all my capacities with a safety margin. With upgraded shocks it tows pretty well, kind of a pain on expansion joints but otherwise it's been fine. The Morryde independent suspension helps a *great* deal, I believe that's the only manufacturer that included that as standard feature. Should have a Morryde pinbox also.

As for the price, if it passes inspection that's the deal of the century. Shoot I'd reno the thing for that price, depends on the condition of the roof, frame and floors but, dang.

That there's a keeper, brother. Unless there's something wrong with it -- and I seriously wonder about that possibility given the price. If it's in even halfway decent condition, buy it and buy it now.

Thanks for the help, Dave. There are no RV inspectors in my area, for a few hundred miles, but the walls at upper slides that i can see look good. Nothing behind washer and nothing bad under couch at slide floor. They won't budge from the $55,750k. price.

The DRV 38 RSSA owner is almost identical on the inside to the elite suites, but $20k less and I got them down to an even $35k, instead of $35.9k. I checked it out the same way and it is also in great condition. Only thing I noticed was very slight cracking a fiberglass at bottom corners of bedroom slides.

Of course, I'd like to have the side and rear cameras, and the triple axle, but is the elite suites really worth 20k more on 11 year old models?

[Dano 500]

Originally Posted by TampaDave

The 38rssa is gonna tow the best, Luxe probably the second best although I question whether a class 3 truck would be enough for that beast. I wouldn't try to tow a destination trailer at all.

Gotta look at the destination trailer more as "affordable housing" than as an "RV" per se. The opposite apples to the 38rssa imo.

That Houston style layout (essentially the same as the Luxe) is the bomb for living aboard. It really works. We like it better than the destination trailer. Get to have our cake and travel with it too.

The dealer won't budge on the price for the elite suites. $55,750 and the 38RSSA is $35k. Is it really worth 20k more?

[Dano 500]

Well, another wrench in the gears. It isn't a 38RSSA, unless JB Power has it wrong. The site lists a 38RSSA as having three slides, but this has four. Anyway to enter a vin somewhere to check model? Some of the sites dont give great and complete info.



So, again, Is the Elite Suites 43 Dallas worth 21K more than the DRV Estates Suites (if it is even an estates suites).

And I found little spider cracks in the front bottom corners of both bedroom suites. They have already sealed them with silicone.

[TampaDave]

RE 3 vs 4 slides -- there was an option for a small door-side bedroom slide. It's only about 6 inches deep. Cable operated slide so there's potential for trouble there, personally we like having it tho

Main advantage of the Houston layout is the bathroom. If you can live with the bathroom in the 38RSSA, go for it. It's gonna tow better. You have two less tires to replace and two fewer suspension and brake assemblies, and one fewer macerating toilet to deal with.

Speaking of which, the half bath on the Houston is a waste of space imo, to really get the most out of those extra three feet, that needs to be pantry space (which was an option)

[Dano 500]

Originally Posted by TampaDave

RE 3 vs 4 slides -- there was an option for a small door-side bedroom slide. It's only about 6 inches deep. Cable operated slide so there's potential for trouble there, personally we like having it tho

Main advantage of the Houston layout is the bathroom. If you can live with the bathroom in the 38RSSA, go for it. It's gonna tow better. You have two less tires to replace and two fewer suspension and brake assemblies, and one fewer macerating toilet to deal with.

Speaking of which, the half bath on the Houston is a waste of space imo, to really get the most out of those extra three feet, that needs to be pantry space (which was an option)

They have it listed as a Dallas, so idk. There is only one bathroom. Do you think it’s worth the extra 20k? What about the spider cracks I found? Should I be concerned?