Evergreen RV is a brand new company with an industry changing plan.  We were so impressed with the floorplans and features that we actually purchased this one before it even arrived at the dealer.  We saw one of the other models and he told us about this one being on order to arrive in a couple of weeks.  We loved the floorplan and all of the other features so much that we bought it on the spot and waited for it to be completed and delivered.

We just got our new Ever-Lite31DS last Wednesday, just in time for a Labor Day weekend shakedown!  This trailer replaced the old Timberlodge with water leaks and rotted flooring from said pipe leaks within the walls that went unnoticed until it was too late.  We were going to just repair it and keep going until we found this brand with NO WOOD IN THE STRUCTURE!  All Composite and aluminum and with good features and a fair price for the size and equipment.

Pros:
EXTERIOR
1.) Only weighed 5500 lbs. with 2 LARGE slide outs, and all options.
2.) Radial tires and nice suspension system towed like it wasn't even there!
3.) Aluminum wheels with grease fittings so no removing wheels to repack bearings. (Thank you Evergreen)
4.) Exterior finish is automotive grade with clear coat and cleaned up with ease.
5.) Power awning.  New to me, but I loved it!
5.) Large pass through storage at front.  PLENTY of room for my gear.
6.) Stabalizers are STRONGLY welded to frame and gave GREAT support.  Trailer felt like a house once leveled and stabalized.  No shaking or rocking.
7.) All exterior windows, door, w/h, fridge and furnace, and all other outlets are either BLACK aluminum or BLACK plastic.  WILL NOT SHOW MOLD/MILDEW as they age. (Very smart design for ease of maintenance.  Thank you again Evergreen!)
8.) Built in BLACK TANK FLUSH OUTLET!  Only took a couple of minutes and VERY little water to do a GREAT job flushing out the black tank. GREAT feature.
9.) Spare is at front under "A-Frame" allowing bumper free for bike rack (We put a black "Spare Tire Cover" over the spare and cut a small hole in the center for drainage to keep the tire out of the sun)
10.) Nice and VERY BRIGHT L.E.D. lights at front for hitch/unhitch/work on propane at night.
11.) Ultra Fab 3500 power tongue jack with adjustable foot!  GREAT OPTION!
12.) Outside bracket to hang TV and nice "Jensen" A/V system with high quality outside and inside speakers with zoned switching.
13.) LPG Quick Connect port for use with gas grill / coleman stove etc. Nice touch.
14.) Storage compartment door, and all other door and window seals are automotive grade door seals with aluminum framing!  NO leaks, swelling, or seals dry rotting.  These should last forever if properly maintained with a little silicone spray or armor all.

Cons:
EXTERIOR
1.) LOVE the composite storage doors, but they are VERY heavy, and one is already out of adjustment and difficult to close.
2.) Steps arrived out of alignment and had to be adjusted.  Would not open without hitting under door frame.  Fairly easy adjustment.
3.) Screen was not attached on one side.  Cut too short.  Had to have dealer replace the screen.
4.) When door is opened, port side bedroom window can not be opened.  Window should be moved forward about 6" if structure would permit. This would make the 2 bedroom windows not line up directly across from each other, but would add to functionality.
5.) Graphic stripes go across the windows!  While this looks good, it's annoying.  I think they could come up with a stripe design that did not cover part of the window.

Pros:
INTERIOR
This coach is a dream.  You really need to see the website to see all of the features.  Here is a short list of our favorites:
1.) VERY comfortable mattress
2.) TV rotates for viewing in bed or in living area, and sound system is amazing!  4 speakers in living area, 2 in bedroom, and 2 outside.  Can be turned on or off by section.  Built in DVD player.
3.) GIANT slide outs make it feel like a home.
4.) Large storage area under bed easily accessible with hydraulic lifters.
5.) PLENTY of pantry, cabinet, and closet / clothes hanging space.
6.) Convection microwave so you don't NEED a stove, (but we got one anyway)
7.) Strong table system doesn't have to be lowered and stowed for towing.
8.) Privacy curtain for the "Kid's Sweet" in the back where they can watch tv, play and sleep.
9.) Floor is also not wood.  It's a composite with a rubberized cover that looks like tile and has a very soft feel to it. 
10.) ALL LIGHTS HAVE WALL SWITCHES so I don't have to turn lights on and off for the children when they need to go to the bathroom at night! (The old camper had all ceiling switches)
11.) The light fixtures are upgraded high quality and plentiful.  They add a lot of beauty to the room.
12.) Plenty of countertop space with stove cover and sink covers to add to the work space.
13.) Countertop material is beautiful.  It looks like quartz, but of couse it's a formica type I think.  Still very pretty and seems very durable.
14.) Decorative interior is just beautiful.  The website pictures can't do it justice.  The fit and finish of the interior is excellent.  I had never seen an RV with crown molding, but this one has it throughout and it adds a very finished look.  The color scheme and fabrics are very nicely done.  Windows all have curtains or a cornice board with pleated shades and all are elegant.  My wife is extatic over the overall "Look" of the coach both inside and out. 
15.) House grade water fixtures.  Also very elegant.
16.) FULL SIZE porcelin toilet.

Cons:
INTERIOR
Remember, so far we absolutely love this coach, but since this is a new company with a new product, and they shout about their great quality, here are a couple of small concerns.
1.) Kitchen sink drain was cross threaded from factory and poured water into the cabinets like rain the first time we washed dishes.  This was NOT inspected / tested at the factory or it would have been easily seen. 
2.) Kitchen faucet was hooked up backwards. Hot on the right (with a white tube) and cold on the left (With a red tube)  this is just poor workmanship on the part of the plumbing department.  This also could have been easily detected if the system had been tested prior to shipping. 
3.) The water heater drain plug was cross threaded and so much so that it was leaking and ruined and had to be replaced.  Only about a $5.00 repair, but again, it shouldn't be this way. 
NOTE:  Frankly these items DO concern me.  If the plumbing team was this slack and I have already discovered these errors, what may be behind the walls where I can't see or reach?  Given the nightmare we had with our previous coach, I am not happy with the quality of the plumbing.  The manufacturer should be more diligent and or hire better people.
4.) Had the dealer call the factory to verify this.  The fabrics are not "Scotchguarded" or any other protector applied.  This is no problem.  We spent $20.00 for a few cans of high quality scotchguard and took care of all seating surfaces, but buyers need to know this in advance.  The interior is very beautiful and we don't want a "Koolaid" motif in the future because of the fabric not being protected.
5.) There are a few "Soft" spots in the floor.  It feels like the composite 1 piece floor may have some dips in it and the rubber / linoleum type covering gives ever so slightly over these spots.  Time will tell if this is an issue.  For now, it's merely an observation.
6.) I would have GLADLY paid a few extra dollars for a power vent in the bedroom that had 3 speeds instead of the one that comes standard with only one speed... FULL BLAST WIDE OPEN.  Too noisy for use while sleeping.
7.) The window in the door has no curtain or cover.  We put a "velcro" strip at the top and made a curtain to hang over it for privacy at night.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this product and consider what we got for the money to be a GREAT value.  This coach has the look and feel both inside and out of one of those $250,000 motor homes!  It's hands down the most elegantly appointed and well engineered product on the market and is a great value at about 1/3 the price of a comparable size and equipped airstream which I would consider to be the only real competitor to this line.

The company website is www.goevergreenrv.com if you would like to see their other floorplans and specifications.


-- Edited by MrPiper on Monday 7th of September 2009 05:49:59 PM

-- Edited by MrPiper on Tuesday 8th of September 2009 07:26:38 PM

-- Edited by MrPiper on Sunday 14th of March 2010 06:53:56 PM

Very nice to get to report this post:

Less than 24hrs. after the original post, I received a very nice private message from the VP of sales for Evergreen.  He took my review seriously and included a tip for removing the graphics from the window if desired. 

Of course, they can't monitor and respond to everything ever said on the web about their products and company, but this was very thoughtfull and appreciated.  I like what I am experiencing with both my new camper, and the company that made it. 

I'll keep you updated...

It's refreshing to read a review that does't gloss over the problems and just extoll the virtues.  The problems that most folks face when buying a new rig need to be addressed too in reviews.  Thanks for a honest and detailed list of things, and glad the company responded to you!

Hello MrPiper,
My wife and I are in the search mode for a new travel trailer.  The Evergreen Ever-lite trailers are at the top of our shopping list now that we spent some time yesterday at our local dealer looking at the 31RLS on display.  Thank you for your post and sharing your experiences.  Hopefully an owners website will be created in the near future as more Ever-Lites are sold.  With the Fall /Winter / Spring RV shows forthcoming more people will be able to check out the Evergreen line up.
     What towing vehicle are you using to pull your 31DS ?  Thank You.

We tow with a 2004 Dodge Durango LTD. w/ a Hemi.  Tow rated witha 3.55 gear for 7,500lbs.  We have about 800 lbs. to spare fully loaded.  Any 1/2 ton pick up shoud be a great tow vehicle.  If you want to tow with an SUV, you DO need to double check the tow rating.  Isn't it AWESOME that a 31 ft. RV w/ 2 slide outs can weigh only 5500lbs.!

I too hope an owners group will form.  Here is the first thing I would share with the group... Interestingly, our gas mileage while towing has INCREASED by about 1.5mpg. This RV is about the exact same weight as our old one.  The suspension, radial tires, and the fact that this RV is almost 1 vertical foot shorter (better arodynamics) all work to make for a better experience towing. 

Other than the acknowledgement by the VP of sales for Evergreen mentioned above, I have not heard anything else in the way of follow up.  I also left a note with all of my concerns and my personal email address on their websites "Suggestion Box."  I will be taking the RV to the dealer in a couple of weeks to have the faucet repair made.  I could do it myself, but I want them to do it under warranty to have a record in case there are any future issues. 

If you purchase an Ever-Lite, please let us know!  We are still loving this one, and our next trip will be a 4 night trip early in November.  I will follow up then as to the heat retention / insulation and what we learn about the heated underbelly as it is almost certain to be freezing at night by that time in the mountain area where we will be traveling.



-- Edited by MrPiper on Monday 21st of September 2009 08:47:49 AM

Thanks for the towing information. Hope you have a great trip in November. I'll be waiting to hear how your service repairs went and anything else you can send along about your Ever-Lite. Thanks again for all the info. -George Johnston-

Another feature note:
Winterizing is easy

Our next camping trip is not for 3 more weeks, but the weather man says we are about to get some seriously cold weather, so we will have to go ahead and winterize now and again after our November trip.

I just finished winterizing the new Ever-Lite.  The water pump is easily accessible in the bathroom under the sink.  There is a "Quick Connect" on the inlet side of the pump.  You simply snap the release back, pull off the hose and attach the winterizing hose (which is supplied) and snap the release back in place. This is a great little feature on the pump that I didn't even know existed!  I had to install a bypass kit on the old RV and it didn't work nearly as well as this little setup!  Next, put the other end of the winterizing hose in your jug of RV grade antifreeze, turn on the pump and open your valves 1 at a time to get plenty of antifreeze in every line, and of course don't forget the potty.  You're done in about 5 minutes or less.

Don't forget to bypass the water heater.  There are 4 screws and a panel to remove to get to the water heater.  It would be nice if this were a cabinet type door or other cover that didn't require tools to open and close. 

Don't forget the outside shower!!!!! This is exposed to the outside more than any other part of the water system and is highly susceptible to freeze damage.  A little anifreeze run through both the hot and cold side is all it takes, but it's easy to forget so put it on your check list for winterizing.

On the outside, the low point drains and the fresh tank drain plug are very easy to get to and can be easily removed and reinstalled by hand.

You will have to have tools to drain the water heater.   

Again, I will post again after our November trip to discuss hard winter use and the heated underbelly!

     We just got back from 3 nights at Cloudland Canyon State Park in NW Ga.  The dealer made every requested repair and thus we were on our way.
     Everything worked beautifully this time.  The weather was cold.  Around 35 at night so heated underbelly was not needed to prevent freezing.  Perhaps there will be a chance to report on that before winter is over. 
     This coach is sealed VERY TIGHTLY!  It really stayed warm.  With the heat set to about 65 degrees we were more than warm with the gas heat.  The seals and isulation are a total plus, but be aware that this resulted in a LOT of condensation on the insides of windows and vent covers.  Each morning, we had to take a towel and dry the windows and vents.  Not a big deal, most coaches will do this, this one just seemed more severe than our previous coach.  That is likely because the other one was not sealed very well at all.
      Here was a nice surprise we discovered.  This coach came with a beautiful and high quality Down Filled Comforter on the full sized 60" X 80" queen bed.  We thought it was so light we would need an additional blanket.  We were so wrong it was unbelieveable.  We only had the sheet and the comforter and stayed HOT all night with the heat set on 65!  This is just another small attention to detail by Evergreen.  We keep finding pleasant surprises.  We used the storage under the bed as a clothes hamper which worked out great.  It kept all of the smelly clothes out of the way until we got home.
     Before this trip we bought, and we HIGHLY recommend, a 12.5 ft. "Telesteps" telescoping ladder.  This turned out to be a big help.  Before we left, I took a damp cloth and towel and cleaned the top of the slides and the bubble seals all the way around.  Even after only 3 nights/ 4days,  the top of the slide had a lot of debris and the seals were dirty.  Simply wiping them down at the end of each trip should maintain the slide out's high quality seal and lifespan.  The ladder was also very usefull for putting on the ADCO cover after a quick washing.  The coach does not have a ladder on the back, not even as an option, and while the dealer offered to install one, I didn't feel comfortable being the "first" to try this on the Ever-Lite.
     Lastly, we are still in love with the suspension and towing feel of our new Ever-Lite 31 DS.  We got about 10.3mpg over this trip which is WAY better than 8.9mpg we used to get with the old Timberlodge.  You just have to tow an Ever-Lite to truly appreciate how well it tracks and tows.  You TRULY don't really even feel it back there and that is towing with our Durango as mentioned above!  If anyone else here buys an Ever-Lite, we would love to hear from you, and know how things work out for you.  This will be my last post until we have a reason to camp in sub freezing temps to evaluate the heated tanks.  Everything else seems to be working great.  We will also post if anyone has any question.

Regards, and happy camping!
     
    

Your review of your Ever-Lite 31DS is close to how I would rate our experience with our Ever-Lite 31RB (purchased 9/30/09).  Our water heater plug was loose as well.  It would be of great help if Evergreen would provide a manual that actually shows where the various components they discuss are located by model.  I plan to take every cover off over the next few weeks just to see what's there.  Condensation is an issue; we have a 1" line on the floor along the wall behind the toilet that appears whenever the temp drops below 43.  The dealer couldn't locate the source of the cold air that is causing this.  I suspect it lacks insulation between the black tank and the back wall.  The positives are many, as you described - the furnace works too well, so we use a ceramic heater to take the chill off.  Overall we are very happy with our 31RB, which we live in full time.  We missed Cloudland Canyon SP, but have hit Red Top Mountain SP, McKinney (great Corp facility) at Lake Allatoona and Joe Wheeler SP in Alabama.  Wintering at Birmingham South (GoodSam).

Wayne:
     Thank you for your reply.  You are the first fellow Ever-Lite owner I have met.  Cloudland should deffinately be on your "to do" list.  Its uniquely beautiful.  Please post and let us know what you find out about the condensation in your bathroom.  Did you purchase your coach in Georgia?  We got ours from Three Way Campers in Marietta.  We have bought from them before and have found them to be FABULOUS to deal with and for service work.
     Please post often and let us know how things are going and if you find anything about your coach that we fellow owners need to know!
     Thanks!

MrPiper, I agree about Three Way and yes we got ours there as well. We visited Cloudland several years ago just for the day. It is beautiful and on our list to visit again. Although we just ran across a copy of "The Most Scenic Drives in America - 120 Spectacular Road Trips" and have a lot more places we wish to visit. We are in Indiana and my wife saw a EverLite 5th wheel going south on I-65. I didn't think they had released it yet. I'll kepp trying to figure out the condensation.

With this cold snap in the south, have you had a chance to use this in sub-zero yet? Evergreen now has the 5th wheel on their site. Not a bad looking rig. Thinking about one for when we retire in a few years. Don't know how it would hold up to being on the road at least 6 months a year though.

Yes, it has gotten down to the low teens several times this month here in Birmingham. We forgot to turn on the furnace and it dropped to 59 inside one night. Our ceramic heater can only keep it about 40 degrees above the outside temperature. The furnace will run you out. Our thermostat is mounted on the wall next to the refrigerator and doesn't react very fast. I put a foam electrical outlet insulator behind it and that helped, but I'll probably change it out with a digital. Condensation has been a issue, but we're learning to handle it with the vents and furnace. I've traded several emails with the folks at Evergreen and they have been very helpful.

Thanks!

Do you have the double pane windows?  How about the rest of the rig?  Any further problems or anomalies? 

I like the look of their 5er.  So I figured that picking the minds of owners of their TT's should tell me something regarding Evergreen's construction practices, workmanship, etc.

Thanks for your reply.

No we have the single pane. I don't think double panes were an option at the time. We are very pleased. Our shower head broke off and a fan knob broke (the vent got stuck and I turned a little too hard), but both Three Way Campers and Evergreen have been very responsive and helpful. They replaced both.

That could be the root issue with condensation. 

I hope that Evergreen is at the RV Show here in Virginia Beach next weekend.  I would really like to get a close up look at them.

Once again, thanks for the answers.  Look forward to more reviews regarding this product.

I noticed they are also not doing the Tampa show which claims to be the biggest show. Maybe it's because they are fairly new. I am very interested in the Evergreen for a couple of reasons. Overall weight and no wood construction. While those are the two factors that attracts me to them, they are also the two factors that concern me! Will it be as durable as other RV's? Anyways, for those of you that own one, keep posting, it helps those still doing the research on which way to go...

My 2 cents worth on mid teen temperature camping in our 31DS...
We spent a week from Christmas til' new years in the everlite.  The temp got down to 18 and not above 35 for 3 days in a row.  Of course the standard rules apply:
1.) Disconnect and drain the hose from the city water source when not in use so you don't creat a 25' ice blockage in your hose!
2.) Ventilate and wipe down the windows daily to remove condesnation.
3.) If you have an enclosed and heated underbelly, you MUST run the propane furnace at least enough to keep your tanks from freezing up.

The everlite performed GREAT in the cold.  We found that our tiny little 1500 watt electric catylitic heater kept the inside very warm.  We actually had to turn it down.  During the night, I agree that the small heater was not enough and the 40 degree mark mentioned above sounds about right.  We ran the furnace at night for both warmth and to keep the tanks from freezing.

Our tanks never froze.  The vent into the underbelly from the propane furnace does it's job at least down into the mid teens as we experienced.

As for concern about not having wood and how that may affect longevity, I am convinced, based on current experience, that the composite construction is WHY this coach is going to last years longer than the old one with the wood construction.  (See the beginning of this thread for what happened to the old rig) 

A final thought on the floor plan of the ever-lite 31ds and some similar floor plans:
The ability to "rotate" the TV around for viewing in bed is a really fun feature.  We enjoyed snuggling up in bed with our little girl and watching disney movies in the evenings.  This is yet another one of the MANY simple little details this company thinks of to make their vehicles more user friendly.  They didn't have to do this to make it good camper, but so many little things like this combine to make it a GREAT camper.

Favorite features in practical use so far:
1.) Rotating TV for viewing in bed or at breakfast / on the couch.
2.) "Kid Suite" in the back with privacy curtain and separate cable hook up and TV mounting bracket for daughter's tv & video games.  The extra cabinets back there hold a WEALTH of board games and toys!
3.) Can I praise the black tank flush again?  I have to here, because in this cold weather trip, I was able to completly flush the tank before leaving just by hooking up the hose and turning on the water.  Completly cleaning / flushing the tank after each trip keeps the tank odor under control better as well.
4.) HEATED UNDERBELLY!  No frozen waste tanks or big chunks of ice that block the exit valve.  Full tank emptying. This DID cause problems in our old camper.  We could not use it below 33 degrees because we had FROZEN waste tanks and valves.
5.) Super tight and well insulated construction.  We NEVER got cold inside.  We actually had trouble getting too hot!
6.) DVD system with TONS of speakers.  We have LOVED having the ability to transfer the TV & Stereo sound to the outside with the exterior TV mounting bracket and speakers. (although not on this particular freezing cold trip)  I don't think this is a "surround sound" set up, but the sound quality is great, and the stereo value when watching movies feels as close to surround sound as I need it to.
7.) Lights in the pass through storage compartment.  VERY handy when you need to dig stuff out at night.
8.) I used and was grateful for the front, high power LED lights when changing out a propane tank at night.
9.) We are still LOVING the power awning!  Just push a button for in / out.
10.) Their promise of lighter weight and better aerodynamics are for real. We are saving money on gas with significant improvement in towing mileage vs. our old camper which actually weighed about the same! 

I hope others will post as they become owners.

M

Thanks! Nice to know about the cold weather capabilities from someone who has used them!

Hello Folks,

New to this forum.  Wanted to say hello and say we should be taking posession of our new 2011 31DS probably in March, weather permitting. :)  Our two boys, 5 and 10 are so excited to start camping and going on vacations in the new travel trailer.  In the past we have mostly tent camped close to home, or stayed in cabins at some of the local lakes here in Iowa. 

Back in the day my wife and I owned a 77 popup (Starcraft I believe), but this will be just awesome...We will most likely camp in the state this coming year, but plan to take some longer trips, after that...

We ended up ordering from Terrytown in MI, as nobody else could even come close.  Actually, there aren't very many dealers close right now anyway, maybe 4-5 hours is the closest...

Anyway, we can't wait, and glad to find this thread to share ideas and advice on our first real travel trailer. :)

Randy

Congrats on the purchase and WELCOME!

Thanks Gary, I hope other Everlite members join this forum. Curious what the rest of you are using for WDH's for your Everlites? I'm thinking I might spend a little more and get the new Husky Centerline. I've been studying up on it and talked to a few dealers about how it is diffent then some designs that have been around for 20+ years, and even to some new designs like the Equilizers..

Curious what everyone's opinion is on extended warranty on the Everlite. The dealer I'm dealing with is offering a 7yr warranty for about $1800, that is refundable after the 7 years if not used, or midstream if you sell the camper, or it is also transferable. They say it is different than some of the other online offerings, as labor rates don't change each year with there warranty. Also, if your in an area that does not support Everlite, your covered. I guess, I'm looking at it like even if something does go wrong, will it really cost $1800 over time... just curious of everyones thoughts...Randy

Hi Randy
Several thoughts here.
1.) Check to see if there is a thread here about extended warranties.  You may find some really good insight there.
2.) Is this your FIRST RV purchase?  If so, you are more afraid of the future because you don't have a past to draw from experientially.  We have been "RvIng" for years and have seen a LOT of what CAN go wrong.  We have found that patience, tools, and an occasional bill at the dealer for a few hundred dollars goes a long way.  I personally would NOT buy any such warranty because there isn't much I couldn't figure out how to fix.  There are also GREAT resources on the web for "how to" guides to rv repair. There are also several good books available on the subject. Most everything that we have ever encountered out of warranty has been a fairly easy repair, and I promise you that I am not a real "Mr Fixit."
3.) Finally, most of what needs to be done to an RV is maintainence.  I personally would put the $1800 aside and use it for that.  If you don't get a "sealed wheel" hub, you will have to have the bearings repacked every couple of years for about $250.  You will want to treat a rubber roof with quality sealer which is about $100 every couple of years (not needed on ever-lite compositek roof w/ 12year warranty)  Tires should be replaced every 5 - 7 years regardless of tread wear.  They degrade and become dangerous with age.  $6 - 800.  If you don't have an RV garage, you will be VERY glad you bought an SFS Aqua Shed cover or equivalent $250 - 400 depending on size and type.  This will keep your RV roof in shape for YEARS longer and your rig will be CLEAN AND READY everytime you prepare to leave.  Also, if you don't get a cover, AT LEAST cover the A/C unit on top or you will have dirt dobbers living in there and the weight on the fan system will throw it out of balance and you will not be a "happy camper."  In our 8+ years of traveling, we have only had one MAJOR issue (described in the opening post of this thread) and that was covered by our insurance.

That's my very long winded 2cents worth, and it is only the opinion of one guy, and of course it's not MY money.  I just know from my personal experiences, I wouldn't buy the extended warranty.

Good luck and be sure to post back and let us know what you buy!

m

In another thread here on the forum someone is asking about TT's but also wants to boondock. How much battery do these come with since it is not in their brochures or websites? Is there room for 4 batteries, which is what I would recommend as a minimum for boondocking?

what does an extended warranty of an rv cover by the way, i am curious...is it just the structures or does it include appliances and interior or are those a separate warranty? seeing what Howard and Linda went through with their axles and brakes, he mentioned some parts were covered under warranty, i am assuming it is this type of warranty. if so, it kind of makes senses. one other thing, are these warranties the same whether you FT or PT in the rv? i would think that would make a difference...

Bill,

In my experience, new campers generally do not come with a battery at all.  There is a tray and wiring, but the battery or batteries are usually supplied by the dealer.  Usually they include one.  As for my particular ever-lite 31DS, the battery tray on the front, behind the propane tanks could easily hold 2 and probably 3 full size batteries, but could not hold 4.  Still, you can take them with you and hook them up tandem.

Thanks M,

My wife talked about the warranty, and came up with some of the same points you made.  We will just put that money aside for a rainy day.... This is our first large RV, we have owned a pop-up trailer in the past. 

We live in Iowa, and are pretty sick of all the snow this year.  We purchased the Everlite in MI, so have a bit of a trip when we go get it, probably in late March or April..  The family is pretty excited. :)

I am waiting on the chance to see one of their 5ers. They look nice in the pictures on their site but to see it with one's own eyes is better.

Hi, New to forum and trying to plan for spring '11 or fall '11 fulltime living. Have had TT,Class A,& Class C. Choice is probably between new TT, or used MH. Ever-Lite interests me greatly. I live in Nevada,nearest dealer is in CA, but I can't get an idea of pricing, as that dealer's website has "call for price", which of course means come on down and I'll tell you. Since that's a five hour trip each way, would any of you who have purchased one tell me what I should expect to pay? Looks like We'd be looking at a 31RB, but any range would be helpful.

If you google used ever-lites you will get a host of websites that give you the going price for that brand on the market and get an idea what the range is

We are also looking at the 31RB here in Michigan.  The last price quoted was $24,000.  Good luck with your shopping.  Hoping all of us return back to this web site to report on our experiences with our new Everlites.

Thank you very much. Needless to say, the initial prices I got were much higher than that. Your input helps me plan, and to make comparisons vs. other units, as well. Since we'll have to get a proper tow vehicle, (our 08 E-150 van taps out at 6400 lbs), we are considering the 5th wheel, as well. Lot's to consider,starting early! Best wishes for your future plans, as well.

31RL

We are seriously looking at a 31RL.
Anyone out there with more info on either this unit or Evergreens in general.
 We have been looking for almost two yrs and think that this unit is the best built in it's class. Airstream, our other consideration is significantly more expensive and it's build thechnology is dated---except for the riveted body.
I plan to use an Equalizer 4 point hitch with a Ford F250 Supercab, gas ( we have the truck).
I also specify two batteries, electric front jack, an awning over the slide.
Any suggestions for other eqpt.?
CCC

I saw the Everlite 5th wheel at the Hampton Roads RV show in Hampton, VA this past weekend.  They had it sitting outside and no one there to explain things.  They had their travel trailers inside.

I did a walk through of it and wasn't too impressed.  At first pass, it looked pretty nice, good storage, etc.  However, with one slide, there wasn't much room and no one could tell me if it was rated for just weekend duty or possible 3 month excursions or full time. 

Looking below the range, the panel there was just screwed in like it was an afterthought.  "Gotta cover that hole somehow" look and feel. 

First opinion was that I could spend a little more money and get a much nicer unit.

My wife and I also saw the 5th at the Virginia RV show in Hampton. We too found nobody there to talk to. We have seen the trailers and really liked the whole package. Not so much with the fifth wheel. Sounds silly, but the first impression was the chairs in the rear living area. Just looked very low-end and uncomfortable. That "look and feel" carried through the interior. Bedroom was not impressive when compared to almost anything we saw inside the convention center. Jacks were down on concrete, and it still shifted and creaked with every single step. Possibly just not adjusted correctly. On the positive side, the outside looks great. And it is a fifth wheel with a lot of great high tech to improve longevity and functionality. The very low weight for at 5th wheel may translate into savings in the size of truck you'll need too. All that fades into the background though when the DW just says, "Hmmph".

We did it. Subsequent to looking at TT's for over a yr and visiting many shows, including what is billed as the nation's largest in Hershey, Pa. we ordered a  new
EVERGREEN 31RLS.
We were impressed with the NO wood construction of the house and the aluminum frame throught. Coupled with the up to date methods utilized in the fabrication.

Reading the numerious forums rot, seems to be the big problem in the industry--even with the highly rated AIRSTREAM which was our other choice, based on quality and contruction techniques. Secondarily it does not look like every other rv!

Of course we shall see when we have a few thousand miles on the old odometer.

One salesman, I do not recall the particular brand that we were looking at, commented that he never had customers ask such questions about construction and the like. Oh well, I am interested in the axels, springs and shock eqpt. also the seal enclousure on the bottom and the route of the thru ceiling ducts as well as how the furnace is ducted in the floor. It all makes a difference.

Another unit that piqued our interest is the ARTIC FOX but the nearest dealer is nearly a 1,000 mile away.

VaVet96 wrote:

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Jacks were down on concrete, and it still shifted and creaked with every single step. Possibly just not adjusted correctly. On the positive side, the outside looks great. And it is a fifth wheel with a lot of great high tech to improve longevity and functionality. The very low weight for at 5th wheel may translate into savings in the size of truck you'll need too. All that fades into the background though when the DW just says, "Hmmph".

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The rear stabilizing jacks weren't down which attributed to the shakiness of it.

I got the same feeling as your DW, Hmmmmmph.  I was really looking forward to this unit for the weight and price point but upon further review, I'll look at others.

However, I'm still a few years away from buying and Evergreen may still be able to change my mind. 

That first impression wasn't a good one though.

 

Fred, I don't think Charles was talking about the framing being made out of wood but rather what the sides are made of that goes over the framing. I was under the impression that the sides and floor are still made out of wood and that is what he was alluding to. I have no RV 'owning' experience but I try to compare that to boats as they evolved and I would tend to agree that if you can get away from wood in framing, sides and floors and it is as structurely sound, I would lean towards composite materials. Thats why the Evergreen fascinates me to this point. It may not be a FT rig yet but I think that is where the industry will eventualy migrate to.

You're right, I wasn't thinking of the flooring and ceilings, and yes, most of them still use plywood. My point still remains though - I have never heard of wood rotting as an RV problem. What am I missing?

Wood in RV construction.

Many rv manuf use luan plywood as underlayment for walls and floor and worst of all roof systems. Further many still use wood truses in the roof, example Cougar by KEYSTONE and KEYSTONE is supposed to be a better line. Note thier Passport line uses all alum framing. Go figure. Ck the specs, if it does not state 6 sides of alum framing then one is wood.
The Cougar has a wood roof and wood truses the sides are alum framed and then luan panneling on the inside. We saw several lines that actually use OSB type "plywood", that I would definaltely not want. NOTE this is a personal preferance only.

On the AIRSTREAM site much discussion of rot in the floors which are wood and AIRSTREAM still uses old style fiberglass batts of insul instead of an alternative such as blown in that would work well on the curved surfaces.

I have several freinds with rv/motor homes who have had leak problems resulting in mold and or rot.

**This is all that I have experience with and do not make a categorical statement.**

 It is just my preferance that the unit have no wood in the composition of the walls or roof systems. I could live with real plywood floor but since the EVERGREEN uses NO  wood in the floor so much the better, if it aint wood it cannot rot!

This will be my first rv as we are immigrants from the boating world!

The vacuum const. technique intrugues me as this has been used on high end boats for years.

Charles,

You are ABSOLUTELY correct about the rot issues.  Fred, please read my original review and look at what happened.  Almost all of the campers still being made that have aluminum lapped siding have luan walls, ceilings, and floors under and behind them.  Unless EVERY seem is CAREFULLY inspected and repaired when the slightest cracking appears, water eventually gets in and the wood begins to swell.  You will notice this very often on the front, right and left corners about 3 inches below the roof line on the sides.  The seam will seem to be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wider than it was when the unit was new.  That is because the water is already in and the swelling begun. 

I have a neighbor who had a pine cone poke a 3/8 inch hole in his rubber roof.  He didn't realize it until spring.  He had to tear off the siding for about 4 feet and replace all of the wood, then put everything back together and re seal.  It took about 5 weekends.  The dealer wanted $2500 to do the repair.  The camper was about 5 years old.

I have not seen a 5th wheel in person yet by Evergreen and will likely never own a 5th wheel so I can't comment, but I congratulate you on your purchase and stick to my guns.  I love our everlite 31ds.  These folks make a great trailer.  We will be leaving for a week in the TN mountains in early April.    I know EVERY camper will have a few problems and bumps in the road along the way, but I am already totally convinced that water damage is NOT going to be a problem and just like you, that, coupled with the EXCELENT design, value and amenities, is why I bought it.

I hope we meet you on the road.

Regards,
m

Good point.  I guess we don't really know what poked the tiny hole in the rubber roof, but the camper sat for a couple of months under a pine tree.  Could easily have been a small limb or other debris from the tree I suppose.  The hole looked like someone poked a pencil through the rubber membrane.  We don't really know what poked the hole.  What we do no is that a very small hole, unnoticed for several months during southern rains, rotted the roof, trusses, and back wall of the camper in a fairly short amount of time.  The water got under the roof and into the walls and couldn't get out.  It was like putting a piece of wood in ziploc bag with water and sealing it.

Either way, whether wood rot in campers is common or not, I think you will find on this and many other forums under "Maintenance" recommendations to inspect all seals and seams for leaks every three months and to make repairs immediately if needed.  Similar statements are almost universal in RV owner's manuals.  There must be a reason. 

Finally, I LOVED our first camper and we spent over 150 nights in it before it got ruined.  While we bought it new, it was a low priced "entry level" unit.  We feel that we more than got our money's worth from it.  If the floor had not rotted out from under us, we would still be using and loving it.  I just hope anyone who reads these posts and owns a camper with a wood roof, walls or floors might benefit from a reminder to carefully maintain all of the seals. 

I am a absolute newbie in the world of Rving, and still looking for my first TT, but I have been doing a bunch of research for about the last 5 months online. The only problem was I got tunnel vision on a particular line that seemed to be one of the top choice's and one of the highest talked about TT out there, and it was the Arctic Fox, now keep in mind I haven't been to a single dealership yet all the information I was getting was off the internet. Well a few days ago I decided to stop in a RV dealership and at least look around, the salesman was pushing RockWood, he had some good points about the line so I put them under my hat and went home, got on the PC and started doing research, looked like I had another one to consider. The very next day my neighbor told me about a small dealership that had a Arctic Fox slide-in, so I said lets at least go take a look at it so I could at least see something they had made, there isn't a dealership anywhere close to me, or as a matter of fact in the state of Florida that sells Arctic Fox, at least that I could find. When we pulled in immediately what caught both of our attention was a Ever-Lite TT. The color scheme was different and looked like a high end coach, we went in and looked around and we were soon met by a salesman. He started off talking about how the Ever-lite was constructed, he said no wood was used in the exterior construction...now this caught my attention as I owned a commercial fishing boat for 12 years, and if there is one thing for sure, water and wood is a problem when they get together. Matter of fact the 1st dealership I stopped at told me of a TT that one of his customers owned, he said the owner had neglected to put a hard protective cover over his skylight, well the TT was parked under some trees, a limb fell and busted the skylight, it wasn't till a few months later that the owner discovered the damaged skylight, but by this time the rain water had started the process of wood rot. The floor was ruined. And I even got a story from the Ever-Lite salesman where a simple running light, mounted toward the top, on the rear of a TT, brand unknown, had been broken and the owner never gave it much thought, well same story, water found its way in and totally ruined the rear wall. So composite construction sounds like an extremely strong buying or selling point to me. Thanks to this thread I feel that I have learned a bunch through the experiences of owners of Ever-Lite TT's, and from those that did there homework on different models and have found there paths leading to Ever-Lite. Whether or not I pull the trigger and purchase one of these TT is yet to be known. But if I do purchase one I feel confident it would be a wise purchase and would be a long term and sound investment. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experiences and if I do purchase one I will surely post it on this site.

Hi Folks, We purchased an Everlite 29 FK about a month ago and will take delivery in May. Real excited about our 1st camping adventure. For now we have seasonal site in the White Mountains of NH and the 29FK will make an excellent home base. Before this we had a 17 FT Casita, ended up being alittle small with our Choc Lab stretched out. The 29 FK has the prefect floor plan we were looking for and I fell the fit, finish is great. I will be towing with a Tundra and I go the Reese stright line included. Feel good about my choice with all the positive experiences I have read here. Will let you know the good, the bad and ugly once we start using it. thanks alot,

Well, we will be heading off to Grand Rapids, MI in a few weeks to pick up our new 2011 31DS. It is about an 8hr driver from Iowa, so we will most likely camp somewhere on the way back. Now I just need to find a nice place for our first maiden voyage. :)