I have been looking on the internet for months now for a new 5er. As some of you know we have decided to buy a new 2006 Doubletree Elite Suites.
I have been looking at weights and insulation R factors. Here is what I have come up with, W=wall, R=roof, F= floor. Doubletree W-13, R-23, F-27 Excel W- 7, R-14, F-14 Teton W-10, R-25, F-? Carriage W-7 , R-16, F-30 Big CountryW-8, R-14, F-21 Landmark W-8, R-23, F-38? Montana W-9, R-14, F-21 Big Sky same Cardinal W-?, R-14, F-8 Everest W-9, R-15, F-29 Nu-Wa Doesn't "hype" on there R factors??? AS you can see with the 3-1/4" walls the Elite Suites should keep up warm in the winter and cool in the summer. FYI travelinbob, southwestjudy, and our 2blackdogs
Froggi said
07:35 AM Jul 1, 2007
I did a similar one a year ago on Toy Haulers....here it is for anyone it might help.
A very important thing to consider is the insulating effect of dual pane windows.
You will negate most of the value of all that R factor if you have single pane windows, and have the additional problem of condensation and mold.
Fred
wmalefyt said
11:50 AM Jul 1, 2007
Not to nitpick, but in reading the 2007 Excel brochure it states the following "R" factors apply to their fifth wheel models:
Sidewall: R10 Roof: R17 Floor: R17
Excel offers a Zero Degree Guarantee that holding tanks, water tank, etc won't freeze all the way down to zero degrees. You must have dual pane windows and a working furnace for the guarantee to apply!
As with most claims, I think you have to take a lot of them with a "grain of salt"!
I think I read somewhere that the R factors may be accurate for the insulation before it's installed. During installation and completion of the RV assembly some insulation gets squeezed so it no longer offers the full advertised R factor.
-- Edited by wmalefyt at 12:52, 2007-07-01
-- Edited by wmalefyt at 13:00, 2007-07-01
sfischer said
06:14 PM Jul 1, 2007
Actually, Excel's newest claim against freezing is down to -10 degrees beginning with the 2008 models, but I haven't looked close enough yet to see how they are getting the better rating over previous year models.
Luvglass said
08:45 PM Jul 1, 2007
wmalefyt wrote:
Not to nitpick, but in reading the 2007 Excel brochure it states the following "R" factors apply to their fifth wheel models:
Sidewall: R10 Roof: R17 Floor: R17
Excel offers a Zero Degree Guarantee that holding tanks, water tank, etc won't freeze all the way down to zero degrees. You must have dual pane windows and a working furnace for the guarantee to apply!
As with most claims, I think you have to take a lot of them with a "grain of salt"!
I think I read somewhere that the R factors may be accurate for the insulation before it's installed. During installation and completion of the RV assembly some insulation gets squeezed so it no longer offers the full advertised R factor.
I think you should take them at their claim and expect the unit to withstand the temperature. Excel is a good brand from everything I've read and heard.
We have dual pane windows and bought the extra astrofoil insulation for our Carriage, and we've been in below zero temperatures a number of times without any problems at all.
They can be built to use in any weather, you just have to shop carefully.
Fred
D and J said
06:58 AM Jul 2, 2007
I have been lurking for a while, but decided to join to add my .02 to this thread.
One thing we found when hunting for the 5th wheel we are going to live in is that most manufactures don't tell you that their rated R factors do not include the slide outs!!!!. Some do not insulate the tops, floors, and walls that are not exposed to the outside when the slides are in.
Excels numbers are for the insulation only!! their number does not include the fact that the fiberglass roof insulates better than a rubber membrane roof, (no black streaks!) and that the wood construction insulates better than aluminum construction.
I don't know about 0 degree or -10 degree (we don't want to be in places that cold!) but we were in an ice storm last December and our heater only turned on twice that night! We were boon-docking in a Flying J parking lot to wait out the storm, and I am a light sleeper when we are not parked in a campground. Our last trailer (keystone) heater would have been running all night long.
in our well exhausted search for a well built and insulated RV, we felt Excel and New Horizon, and Nu-Wa did it best, but we didn't want to "show the money" while we are driving down the highway, and we found that the Excel line just doesn't stand out like a "flashy" 5th wheel.
We are very happy with our Excel, and we love our 4500 pound carrying capacity! so my opinion might be a "little bit" biased!
Doug
-- Edited by D and J at 07:59, 2007-07-02
travelinbob said
03:24 PM Jul 3, 2007
Just to set the records straight, Excel just emailed me and I stand corrected. R values for Excel are W-10, R-17, F-17. Bob
-- Edited by travelinbob at 16:28, 2007-07-03
ken and cindy said
08:52 AM Jul 4, 2007
Add to the list our next RV, Newmar's 2008 Torrey Pine 5th wheel =
Roof: R-22 Floor: R-26 Sidewalls: R-11.
House has been listed two days ,already 4 showings !!! Cant wait
debken said
10:36 AM Jul 4, 2007
Wow, 4 showings in 2 days??? It took us 6 months to get 4 showings. Hope you sell quickly.
Froggi said
10:42 AM Jul 4, 2007
Some areas are definitely moving faster than others....I'm at two weeks with one showing. But since where I live is fairly rural, I know it will be slower. Sigh...
D and J said
11:39 AM Jul 4, 2007
We have had 3 showings since 5/1/07, but no offers Nj market is real slow right now.
A few months ago, I had to sell my mom's house up in Sequim WA, We had a contract in 11 days, and we even turned down the first two offers!
Wish I had that luck here!!! we would be full-time right now!
ken and cindy said
02:15 PM Jul 5, 2007
debken wrote:
Wow, 4 showings in 2 days??? It took us 6 months to get 4 showings. Hope you sell quickly.
Thanks, us too !! Open house this weekend , hope it generates a few offers.
I have been looking at weights and insulation R factors. Here is what I have come up with, W=wall, R=roof, F= floor.
Doubletree W-13, R-23, F-27
Excel W- 7, R-14, F-14
Teton W-10, R-25, F-?
Carriage W-7 , R-16, F-30
Big CountryW-8, R-14, F-21
Landmark W-8, R-23, F-38?
Montana W-9, R-14, F-21
Big Sky same
Cardinal W-?, R-14, F-8
Everest W-9, R-15, F-29
Nu-Wa Doesn't "hype" on there R factors???
AS you can see with the 3-1/4" walls the Elite Suites should
keep up warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
FYI
travelinbob, southwestjudy, and our 2blackdogs
2006 Heartland Cyclone
18000 GVWR
R-9 Sidewalls
R-16 Roof
R-24 Floor
2006 CrossTerrain TF34MK (34')
15500 GVWR
R-7 Sidewalls
R-14 Roof
R-14 Floor
2006 Dutchmen Victory Lane
15500 GVWR
R-? Sidewalls
R-? Roof
R-? Floor
2006 Raptor 3612DS (36')
15500 GVWR
R-9 Sidewalls
R-10 Roof
R-17 Floor
2006 Pilgrim Puresport (38')
18000 GVWR
R-10 Sidewalls (1" block foam insulation)
R-12 Roof (1-1/2" block foam insulation)
R-12 Floor (1-1/2" block foam insulation)
2006 Sunnybrook Titan 391K (40')
18000 GVWR
R-7 Fiberglass Insulation in Sidewalls
R-11 Fiberglass Insulation in Roof
R-7 Fiberglass Insulation in Floor
2006 K-Z New Vision Sportser
16940-18000 (37'-41')
R-7 Sidewalls
R-7 Roof
R-7 Floor
Sidewall: R10
Roof: R17
Floor: R17
Excel offers a Zero Degree Guarantee that holding tanks, water tank, etc won't freeze all the way down to zero degrees. You must have dual pane windows and a working furnace for the guarantee to apply!
As with most claims, I think you have to take a lot of them with a "grain of salt"!
I think I read somewhere that the R factors may be accurate for the insulation before it's installed. During installation and completion of the RV assembly some insulation gets squeezed so it no longer offers the full advertised R factor.
-- Edited by wmalefyt at 12:52, 2007-07-01
-- Edited by wmalefyt at 13:00, 2007-07-01
We have dual pane windows and bought the extra astrofoil insulation for our
Carriage, and we've been in below zero temperatures a number of times without any problems at all.
They can be built to use in any weather, you just have to shop carefully.
FredOne thing we found when hunting for the 5th wheel we are going to live in is that most manufactures don't tell you that their rated R factors do not include the slide outs!!!!. Some do not insulate the tops, floors, and walls that are not exposed to the outside when the slides are in.
Excels numbers are for the insulation only!! their number does not include the fact that the fiberglass roof insulates better than a rubber membrane roof, (no black streaks!) and that the wood construction insulates better than aluminum construction.
I don't know about 0 degree or -10 degree (we don't want to be in places that cold!) but we were in an ice storm last December and our heater only turned on twice that night! We were boon-docking in a Flying J parking lot to wait out the storm, and I am a light sleeper when we are not parked in a campground. Our last trailer (keystone) heater would have been running all night long.
in our well exhausted search for a well built and insulated RV, we felt Excel and New Horizon, and Nu-Wa did it best, but we didn't want to "show the money" while we are driving down the highway, and we found that the Excel line just doesn't stand out like a "flashy" 5th wheel.
We are very happy with our Excel, and we love our 4500 pound carrying capacity! so my opinion might be a "little bit" biased!
Doug
-- Edited by D and J at 07:59, 2007-07-02
Bob
-- Edited by travelinbob at 16:28, 2007-07-03
Add to the list our next RV, Newmar's 2008 Torrey Pine 5th wheel =
Roof: R-22
Floor: R-26
Sidewalls: R-11.
House has been listed two days ,already 4 showings !!! Cant wait
A few months ago, I had to sell my mom's house up in Sequim WA, We had a contract in 11 days, and we even turned down the first two offers!
Wish I had that luck here!!! we would be full-time right now!