Community Forums

Arby49 · 12-30-2020, 04:43 AM

Looking to make the move from DP to a 5er, but wanted to reach out to any Alliance Paradigm owners. Curious about heat retention during winter and cooling during the summer? Any other good/bad things you want to share? Any fter's?

tuffr2 · 12-30-2020, 06:13 AM

I looked at these 5th wheels about 10 months ago. I noticed the A/C was not ducted. This is a big deal. My previous 5th wheel had 2 ducted A/C units. We could run the bedroom A/C and get good cooling in the living room and visa versa. This meant we could sleep with the living room A/C running and cool the bedroom.

I vote for ducted A/C.

Both A/C units had heat strips so the same when heating.

The A/C units were kinda noisy unless you ran them opposite to where you were.

jdpm · 12-30-2020, 08:38 AM

Do you have a lenght and budget in mind?
I agree I don't like the lack of ducted air. I don't like all that glass either in the dining slide.
To me, it's another start-up like GD that will be focused for a while. Then they will go down hill, sell-out and be just like all the other crap on the market.

RVNewbie55 · 12-30-2020, 03:51 PM

There has been lots written on this. Here's a little reading material...good luck. Let us know what you decide.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/alli...gm-498768.html

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/new-...-472981-4.html

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/para...-516748-3.html

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/para...-516748-2.html

Arby49 · 01-14-2021, 06:04 PM

Well, we decided (dw mostly) that we actually liked the floor plan. Since we have been in it for about a week, we have used the a/c's and heater. The third a/c is ducted, so the br and bath are cooled and heated very well. We have found the two a/c's to be acceptably quiet. We are transitioning from a 45' motorhome to this 40' 5er, so a bit of a learning curve.

bmralston · 01-15-2021, 08:10 AM

We bought our Alliance 385FL on Wednesday at the Tampa RV show. We did have them turn on the AC so we could hear it and it was very quiet. With 3 AC units that are independently operated we feel that works better than having the ducts that can get hot due to the sun pounding on the roof and then the air losing its cooling prior to coming out of the duct. We'll see but we're happy with our decision.

bmralston · 01-15-2021, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdpm

Do you have a lenght and budget in mind?
I agree I don't like the lack of ducted air. I don't like all that glass either in the dining slide.
To me, it's another start-up like GD that will be focused for a while. Then they will go down hill, sell-out and be just like all the other crap on the market.

I can't predict the future but right now they are listening very closely to the customer and Bill Martin and team respond very quickly to posts on the multiple Facebook sites (as I am sure they do when reached out to by other means). We're happy with the floorplans they have as well as the construction of their units. Until proven otherwise I believe they deserve a shot and they have our business.

Jerry Burks · 02-07-2021, 10:25 AM

I am also looking at the shorter 310 (34') version to replace our 31' Class A. Really like the equipment, fit and finish. I am concerned about the large single pane glass surface as using lot of energy to cool or heat. Or is that a non-issue? I know it can be ordered double-pane, though.

Another question is that the generator is apparently an option. I am not used to that from the class A coaches. Is that normal for 5th wheel?

BDHPlayer · 02-14-2021, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Burks

I am also looking at the shorter 310 (34') version to replace our 31' Class A. Really like the equipment, fit and finish. I am concerned about the large single pane glass surface as using lot of energy to cool or heat. Or is that a non-issue? I know it can be ordered double-pane, though.

Another question is that the generator is apparently an option. I am not used to that from the class A coaches. Is that normal for 5th wheel?

I just ordered the 310 about a week ago. From research I've done on other brands it's been an option.

Cumminsfan · 02-15-2021, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Burks

I am also looking at the shorter 310 (34') version to replace our 31' Class A. Really like the equipment, fit and finish. I am concerned about the large single pane glass surface as using lot of energy to cool or heat. Or is that a non-issue? I know it can be ordered double-pane, though.

Another question is that the generator is apparently an option. I am not used to that from the class A coaches. Is that normal for 5th wheel?

Those large single pane windows are heat and cold suckers. DP windows will help but if you look up the R value of a single pane of 1/8" glass it's almost nothing (1). DP windows in TT/s and 5ers aren't like your home DP windows. IMO they're best attributes are sound and less condensation.

If you wall has an R value of 7-9 and you put a large glass window in it you've cut that wall R value drastically. The more big windows the harder it will be to heat and cool regardless of DP or not.

Most all 5ers don't have gens and only some offer it as an option.

Jerry Burks · 02-16-2021, 08:51 AM

In the meantime I bought that Alliance 5th wheel and it does not have the double pane, that would be special order from the factory.

Maybe I'll have 3M Thinsulate window film installed. According to 3M this would reduce about 40% heat loss and be barely visible. Does anybody have experience with that film?