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09-22-2024, 07:12 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2023
Location: Full-timing On the Road
Posts: 16
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Most Durable Full-time 5th Wheel
In the opinion of everyone out there, who makes the most durable full-time living/traveling 5th-wheel. I think "traveling" is the key word. We've been traveling full-time/living for a little over a year now in a 2023 Montana 3793RD. In that time frame we've had a roof leak, water pump leak, replaced 3 slide motors on 2 different slides. Replacing the motors all within a matter of days, developed an interior wall crack, and a exterior wall crack. With that being said I'm starting to lose confidence in this unit.
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09-22-2024, 08:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 34,183
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Were any of the slide drive motors , SchwinTec ?
Friends with a Mobile Suites traded up to a newer MS to get rid of a unit with SchwinTec slide drives . A $2,500 repair lasted less than a month.
Five years later their newer unit still needed in the neighborhood of 10k in repairs to get it in decent condition to sell , hydraulic slide drive issues were the big ticket item .
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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09-22-2024, 08:44 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: SoCal
Posts: 184
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We've been full timing in a 2020 Montana 3121rl for almost five years. In my opinion it's the "Trabant 601" of 5th wheels.
The insulation is terrible so when it's hot when it's hot and cold when it's cold. Our fresh water tank froze solid and burst in 2022 even with the heating pad on. Once I opened the belly up I discovered it had come detached from the tank. The ceiling molding all fell down. We had two broken spring hangars that had to be reinforced and re welded. All of the ceiling AC registers leaked into the "attic". Main awning rail was missing and/or had screws stripped out so it pulled away from the wall. Had a crack develop at the corner of the bedroom slide. An entire panel was missing leading to the basement which allowed a family of pack rats to "stroll" into the basement/underbelly. The awning wire hole in the LR slide wasn't fully sealed which allowed rain to pour into the wall. Exterior range hood vent leaked rain into the wall behind the stove. Bracket holding the residential fridge came loose from the wall. Both basement baggage doors leaked when it rained.
The vinyl furniture all started peeling in very short order so we threw it all in the dumpster and replaced it. "J" channel at the rear wasn't properly installed and came loose. I'm sure there is more I forgot but you get the gist.
If we had it to do all over again we would buy an older rig like the one the Mortons have and just fix it up.
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09-22-2024, 09:33 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2023
Location: Full-timing On the Road
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip426
Were any of the slide drive motors , SchwinTec ?
Friends with a Mobile Suites traded up to a newer MS to get rid of a unit with SchwinTec slide drives . A $2,500 repair lasted less than a month.
Five years later their newer unit still needed in the neighborhood of 10k in repairs to get it in decent condition to sell , hydraulic slide drive issues were the big ticket item .
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Yes, they were Schwintek.
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09-23-2024, 09:29 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 978
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Luxe or spacecraft are probably the top end fivers out there. They are custom built, so they are priced accordingly. Mobile Suites used to be the best production fiver. We had one and it was very well built. That was before they were bought, don’t know if their quality is still the same or not.
Arctic Fox be Northwoods look to be well built. Have looked at them a few times but haven’t owned one.
__________________
2024 Renegade Verona LE
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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09-23-2024, 12:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 358
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We have had our Cedar Creek for 10 years and had some problems mostly front and rear cap fading. Now we have added a few things to the camper and some of those haven’t worked as well as we liked. But overall the Creek has been great. We have had more problems with the trucks than the camper. Got scammed by Camping World when we purchased the camper but that was my fault. We have took 3 trips to Yellowstone and Alaska plus a lot of places in between but I hear about some Creek’s that have problems. The best advice I could give anyone is find someone or company that gives great service and take your camper there every year for check up and fix anything that’s wrong with the camper. We have someone and he is the best. We trust him to give our camper kid glove treatment. Unfortunately he only works on Cedar Creek’s and he stays backed up for 4 months
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09-24-2024, 09:00 AM
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#7
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Full timing
Posts: 7,964
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GetGone
In the opinion of everyone out there, who makes the most durable full-time living/traveling 5th-wheel. I think "traveling" is the key word. We've been traveling full-time/living for a little over a year now in a 2023 Montana 3793RD. In that time frame we've had a roof leak, water pump leak, replaced 3 slide motors on 2 different slides. Replacing the motors all within a matter of days, developed an interior wall crack, and a exterior wall crack. With that being said I'm starting to lose confidence in this unit.
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You are going to get numerous opinions from different brand owners.
Our Road Warrior has had some issues, the biggest, outer sidewall crack. Repaired by Heartland at their cost at a private repair shop in Goshen.
We have installed some big upgrades, MorRyde IS System, disc brakes, RF Moguel satellite system, new spray on roof, and a whole rig solar system.
For us, our rig is doing great. We have been full time in it since June 2019.
__________________
2018 Road Warrior 427
2013 Can Am Spyder RT Limited
2017 Ram 3500 w/Aisin w/4:10
2 Dachshunds DJ (RIP 9-12-19) & Joey (RIP 5-14-21)
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09-24-2024, 10:58 AM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,975
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Find one that does NOT use a Lippert frame. Also, no Schwintek or cable slides. Look for non-Chine tires and Mor-Ryde IS suspension and dual pane windows.
Pretty much anything built after 2015 or 2016 id junk compared to the older built units.
Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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09-24-2024, 01:00 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 358
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TXiceman
Find one that does NOT use a Lippert frame. Also, no Schwintek or cable slides. Look for non-Chine tires and Mor-Ryde IS suspension and dual pane windows.
Pretty much anything built after 2015 or 2016 id junk compared to the older built units.
Ken
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I have Chinese tires on my Cedar Creek and they are great, Sailun tires, West Lake also makes great tires. We had dual pane windows and I couldn’t tell the difference, windows fogged up
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09-25-2024, 08:19 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Home Is Where We Park It !
Posts: 19
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Oh my, I am sure you will get plenty of opinions.
I can only say what we have and what several RVing friends of ours have, different manufacturers and different rigs from TT to 5ers to MH.
For us, we have been fulltimers since July 2020 and have a 2019 Grand Design Solitude S Class. We bought the S Class because we needed higher cargo capacity for fulltiming and did not want hydraulic slides or leveling system. but in every other way it is a Solitude. Now the Solitude S Class has been renamed Influence, stupid name and is nothing more than a GDRV Reflection.
Our pin weight is 3600# and weight is 15,525# on a 16,800# GVWR.
It has leaf spring suspension and drum brakes. Standard Companion 5th wheel hitch and a MORryde cushioned pin box. In the 5 years since going fulltime, we have @ 26,000 miles on it. In that time the "G" rated westlakes and now "G" Sailun tires have been great, no problems. We have had no major problems with the rig in 5 years.
The newer Solitudes and Momentums now come with "H" rated tires. I can't say about other manufactures.
Most of the tire blowouts you hear about are rigs with "E" rated tires. Then I have to wonder how many owners have weighed their rig so they know how much weight is on the tires and air pressures. Speed plays a factor with tire blowouts as well with a near or over loaded tire.
Lippert "Frame Flex / Breakage" on 5th wheels affects all manufacturers of large 5th wheels that use Lippert frames usually 2020 and newer. I keep an eye on our 2019 and the pin box and front frame area and see no indication of problems with our rig.
In this area you mostly hear about GDRVs because they and Lippert have done a terrible job with the issue.
Now we know other owners that have GDRVs, and they had nothing but problems with them. Usually 2020 and newer. Lippert frame problems, leaf spring hangers welded on crooked and not positioned in the right place. But this could affect other manufacturers RVs as well using Lippert built frames.
We know other friends that have a New Horizon 40 foot 5er and have had lots of problems with it. So price doesn't necessarily mean quality.
Other friends that have MH class A and C tell us their cost to maintain and repair their rig is much higher than a TT or 5th wheel. This because they not only have to service and repair the motor and running gear, but also the house as well at a higher rate than TT or 5th wheels. Also there are fewer facilities to get their rig serviced and repaired.
But we all agree people have to buy what best fits their needs, TT, 5er, or MH
Typically trucks GM, RAM and Ford pulling TT and 5th wheels have a longer and more inclusive factory warranty than MHs.
Now I don't fault GDRV with failing LCI, Suburban, Dometic, Norcold, Furrion, Thomas Payne, etc, appliances as they are also used across all lines of RVs. Some of these appliances have terrible quality.
Trim falling off - these RVs are a rolling earthquakes, just nail the trim back on for peat sake.
My advice, no matter what brand of RV you buy, learn all you can about the systems in the RV. 110VAC, 12VDC internal power. 12VDC external lighting, 7 way pin 4 charging capability, batteries Lead Acid / Lithium, converters, inverter, solar systems, suspension system, water system, sewage system, propane system, heating system, leveling system etc.
You will be better prepared to handle any issues that come up, maybe even fix it yourself and wont be at the mercy of dealerships. We have never taken our rig to a dealer for repair or maintenance. We did use a mobile tech to replace our black tank dump handle/cable. At the time I couldn't do it.
If you learn everything you can, you won't be setting on a forum waiting for someone to tell you what's wrong with your rig. Like- I'm not plugged into power but why doesn't my microwave work?
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Steven & Tami, Texas Based Fulltimers Since 2020, Escapee's, FMCA Members
2018 Ram 3500 LB CC DRW, 2019 GD Solitude 3350RL S-Class, Texas Class A Non-CDL License
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09-25-2024, 11:05 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2024
Location: Nevada
Posts: 283
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Northwood Manufacturing in Oregon. They make their own frames, have tongue and grove floors, arched trusses in the roof, high R value, thermopane windows. Made for dirt roads. Suspension, high ground clearance, all of the plumbing is protected and heated.
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