Hello all! We don't post very often but we do visit the forums regularly and enjoy it very much. The wife and I are about 36 mos. from going full time so I will be 53 and she will be 52 when we escape from New York. We have been doing our research on 5th wheels , We have narrowed our options down to The DRV Elite suite and the Carrige Carri-lite also the Excel Limited, Now the real question is on the roofs Fiberglass, Tpo Vinyl and of course EPDM, I have not found much on the pros and cons of each, also does anyone currently own or previously own any of these 3? We would love to hear any "hands on" experiences ! Thank you in advance.... also we will be in Hershey Pa. for the RV show on 16th and 17th it will be like 2 kids in a candy store!
-- Edited by Defiant on Tuesday 30th of August 2011 05:30:13 PM
GENECOP said
06:04 PM Aug 30, 2011
Def, we will be at the show also....we currently have a fiberglass roof, I have had rubber also. Fiberglass I believe is the easiest to maintain and the most durable.......G
igotjam said
08:43 PM Aug 30, 2011
Had an 07 Elite Suite. In our case the fiberglas cracked frequently and the joints pulled apart. I believe the trailer flex was too much for the solid roof. I would never get a fiberglas roof again....but thats just my opinion.
Steve C said
09:13 PM Aug 30, 2011
Hi Scott,
Evin and I owned a 2010 38RESB4 DRV Mobile Suite and we will soon be taking delivery on a 2012 38RESB3 Elite Suite. We considered Carriage both times and have been to both factories. I spent all day today making last minute change orders on our new unit and have limited internet connection in my current location. For this reason it would be better if you sent me a personal email on the RV-Dreams site and give me your phone number and I will call you. I typed this reply once already and it was lost because of my week internet connection I assume.
We also changed tow vehicles this time out as there are several tow capacity changes for 2012. I will share this also.
Steve C
PS: Terry and Jo (Mobile Suite owners), if you read this post, I sent you an email.
Luvglass said
10:39 PM Aug 30, 2011
I think that all of them are good. The days of faulty roofs and black streaks is over on any quality brand.
The TPO vinyl roof on our Carriage has been trouble free for almost 6 years now and I expect it to remain so for a long time. It is still almost pure white despite only being washed about once a year.
Good luck,
Defiant said
04:59 PM Aug 31, 2011
We really like the Carriage Carri-lite thus the question on roofing material, I am sure the Hershey show will answer many of our questions, the roof question is the big one as this will be our home for a long time, fiberglass is the safe bet and we do have one on our motorhome, but its downside is its noisy, so I am hopeful that others will also throw in to the question and make our choice of what we will purchase easier as so many of you have more experience and logged many more miles than we have.....
NorCal Dan said
07:45 AM Sep 1, 2011
Why are you switching from the MH to a FW?
janieD said
08:22 AM Sep 1, 2011
We have been FT in an Excel Limited for a year and a half. We love it. John definitely wanted the fiberglass roof and haven't had any problems with it. Have only had some minor issues and the company definitely stands behind its product. John did lots of research (he's an engineer so research is his thing) and many of the rigs you mentioned were in the mix at the end but this is where he landed. Enjoy the search!
The Bear II said
04:09 PM Sep 1, 2011
Our roof is an EPDM the 5th wheel sits in the Southern California everyday from sun up to sun down. We bought the 5th wheel new in 1995. I wash the roof one to two times each year.
Two years ago I went over all of the seams with Dicor tape and coating due to some cracking. Otherwise the roof has held up well.
Defiant said
04:13 PM Sep 1, 2011
Our motorhome isn't really suited for full-timing in our opinion, its a gasser , its a nice rig and works great for vacations and weekend trips we love it. but for full-timing we would prefer a diesel which is still an option for us, the downside is the costs for the rig, higher maintenence costs, now with that in mind I do 95% of that work myself on our current MH but I do that at home,once on the road it be a little tougher to do ,so a brand new top of the line FW and new diesel to tow it is more bang for the buck.
Defiant said
04:24 PM Sep 1, 2011
JanieD , I'm glad you are enjoying your Excel !! This is why I ask questions On thing I am not sure of, Nice to hear the factory has taken care of you issues, that is VERY important , and with any new rig there will be some issues , but good Customer service makes a big difference , and when they come thru it is not forgotten. Any company that realizes this will probably do well ,happy customers and word of mouth will sell a product better than any fancy brochure..... Good luck and thanks for your input
LibertyLinda said
05:00 PM Sep 1, 2011
Hi everybody, This is the wife of Defiant. I have felt that a 5er has more for the money, and in the searching we have done so far, that seems to hold true. Especially with fulltiming being the main thing- I want a 5er that can withstand the unexpected: cold, wind, lengthy sun. Besides the roof, insulation is a factor it seems - the "R-factor" can make me nuts. Once that is met, then the floor plan we think we can live with will be priority.
Thanks for all your input. We look forward to the RV show to do some comparison shopping ~and meeting great folks!
NorCal Dan said
08:00 PM Sep 1, 2011
Defiant wrote:
Our motorhome isn't really suited for full-timing in our opinion, its a gasser , its a nice rig and works great for vacations and weekend trips we love it. but for full-timing we would prefer a diesel which is still an option for us, the downside is the costs for the rig, higher maintenence costs, now with that in mind I do 95% of that work myself on our current MH but I do that at home,once on the road it be a little tougher to do ,so a brand new top of the line FW and new diesel to tow it is more bang for the buck.
We've been considering downsizing from our coach. Since we have converted to part-timers after full-timing for almost 4 years I am very curious what it is about your rig that you think makes it not full-time compatible?
I can't help with 5er questions, but if you have any MH questions I will be happy to try and asnwer.
Terry and Jo said
08:38 PM Sep 1, 2011
Linda and Scott,
If you are really concerned with the amount of insulation in your RV, look at DRV Suites and another that I think is called New Horizons. While I can't speak for the New Horizon, the DRV Suites (made up of Elite Suites, Mobile Suites, and Select Suites) are all built with 3 1/4 inch walls and have some of the best insulation "R" values.
The Elite is their top of the line with the Mobile Suites in the middle. Both of those are built on 15 inch triple box frames. The Select has a 12 inch I-beam frame.
Should you be interested in used fifth wheels, an outfit in Elk City, Oklahoma buys used DRV Suites models at auction after they have been repossessed. The name of their business is "Rolling Retreats" and they just recently became official dealers for DRV Suites.
We went through two years of researching ourselves, looking at both motorhomes and fifth wheels. Buying our truck used and our coach new let us save about half of the price of the 42' motorhome we were looking at.
Oh, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You will find mostly good friendly folks here that are willing to help. Good luck with all the researching.
Terry
Defiant said
05:47 AM Sep 2, 2011
Norcal Dan, to answer your question , 4 issues with our MH ,1) Insulation or lack there of , fine for moderate weather but wouldn't cut it for extremes for any length of time. 2)Lack of inverter and room for extra battery capacity, now I could remedy this issue on my own by adding more battery space within the frame and adding AGM batteries and installing an inverter but the added cost really isn't worth it in this case unless we were to keep MH for longer period. 3) refrigerator omg I despise those Norcold/Dometic refrigerators , I want a residential refrigerator (now they are becoming more prevelant in MH and FW) 4) Cabinets I also do not like the paper wrapped wood they use ,I want real wood...... Now maybe I am nitpicking but these are things that have been an issue with the 2 MH we have had ( by the way our 1st MH was a class B+ )
NorCal Dan said
09:36 AM Sep 2, 2011
Thanks for sharing. Gives us something to think about should we decide to downsize our rig. We still want to travel and workamp in the summer and don't think we need a 40' coach to do that since we won't need to carry everything we own.
Steve C said
09:29 AM Sep 3, 2011
Hi again Scott,
I second everything Terry said in his post reply to your question. I know of no 5th wheel that has better insulation than DRV. I would encourage you to head West on I-90 toward Elkhart, Indiana and stop in Howe and visit DRV and see the Suites being built. Then go on a factory tour at Carriage (just a little ways from DRV). Insist that the tour is at a time the units are being built. In other works, do not go after 2 PM.
If you have time, go to some of the other major brands and take a tour. We checked out six companies and found it to be a worthwhile and "eye-opening" experience. Check out any other fulltime rated rigs and make your decision after the tours. Don't depend on a salesperson to tell you what is rated "fulltime". Get it in writing from the manufacturer. Try to see a 5 or 6 year old DRV and compare it to a similar aged Carriage. Call me, I sent you my phone #.
I have worked with a great, professional and experienced RV salesman that sold both products for years. If you send me an email on this forum I will share his thoughts. I am not trying to start a "brand loyality debate war" on this forum. You will find that there are Carriage and DRV owners that are very satisfied with their choice and there are those that are not.
Our concern with Carriage was service after the sale. I tried discussing my concerns with our contact person at Carriage and was offended by his response to perfectly legitimate questions. Asked the same or similar questions at DRV and got a totally different response - concerned, positive and respectful. We had some repair needs with our then new DRV 5th wheel and went to the factory for the minor repairs as we were in the area. DRV was great. They even fixed things that were of our doing. They could not have been nicer. This is just one of the reasons were are now having a new DRV being custom built for us. Will take delivery next month if I can stop making change orders. Some of our changes were "H" tires instead of "J", inverter/charger, and MOR/ryde ISS (independent suspension system). Thinking of adding a residential refrigerator.
Again, IMHO, if one is spending this kind of money, go to the factory: "INSPECT WHAT YOU EXPECT!!" Reading my and other RVers' responses on this and other forums is one thing, seeing for yourself is another!!
Steve
kb0zke said
06:23 PM Sep 4, 2011
I'll second Steve's suggestion to tour the DRV plant. We had the opportunity to tour the Airstream plant, the DRV plant, and the Heartland plant this summer. The first two were in production when we toured, so obviously we couldn't get too close to certain areas, but it was quite educational. I'm thinking that we really need to spend a couple of weeks in that area, just touring factories.
We were very fortunate in the DRV tour to have only one other couple with us, so we could all get close enough together in the noisy places to actually hear the question and the answer. At Airstream there were 25-30 of us in the tour group, and I couldn't always hear other people's questions or the answers.
As Steve said, the people at DRV seemed to be quite willing to talk to the customers and explain the various options. For example, one can select the right options on a Mobile Suite and have it be an Elite Suite. The cost is about the same, but when you go to sell it later, you still have a Mobile Suite. Going the other way, by selecting the right delete options, one can turn a Mobile Suite into an Elite Suite (same money), but, again, you still have that Elite Suite logo on the front.
Overall, I was impressed with the DRV product.
Terry and Jo said
10:51 AM Sep 5, 2011
Another thought came to me that I should share, although it deals with the insulation more so than the roof question.
We are living full time in our Mobile Suites in Oklahoma City in a small mobile home park. Our home is parked about 100 yards or less from busy I-44 and about 1/2 mile from busy I-35 and we hardly hear the traffic from them. If a loud truck or motorcycle goes by, we can hear them, but they are not really a distraction.
I think the insulation in the DRV products are extremely helpful in that regard. Before we moved here, I had my concerns about the traffic noise, but no longer is that an issue. We've survived blistering record heat here in Oklahoma City this year with the use of our two 15K air conditioners and two oscillating fans.
I wonder what winter will bring us? But with the DRV "Canadian Package" which includes two 30,000btu furnaces instead of one 42,000btu one, I'm not really concerned with that. I'm also not sure if any other RV manufacturer offers two furnaces with two different room temperature sensors.
Good luck with your research, and I also suggest the factory tours. A number of DRV owners told me that they bought DRV's after they did the round of tours.
Terry
Defiant said
01:17 PM Sep 5, 2011
SteveC, thank you for your offer of answering any questions we might have on DRV, and we will probably take you up on it after we get to touch and explore them at the Hershey show and get a better feel ,we have looked at so many sites and so many pictures I swear I am seeing double ! And now I can honestly say at this point "the pictures ain't cuttin' it anymore" LOL
Defiant said
01:30 PM Sep 5, 2011
And Terry and Jo we will picking your brains as well , all of this hands-on experience is going to make our life so much easier
Steve C said
08:00 AM Sep 6, 2011
Hey Scott,
I know how you feel. Our "new home" goes on the line this week and I still do not have answers to all my questions and concerns. Really struggling with the "should we or shouldn't we" go to the expense of having a residential refrigerator.
I know you will enjoy the Hershey show. DRV is coming out with some new design features that I think you will like. I hope you are also attending the RV-Dreams Rally. You will meet some great people there and make lasting friendships. We often see, talk with and are in contact via email with RV-Dreamers we met at the two rallies we have attended to date. We are going to a "mini-rally" with RV-Dreams friends later this week in Cheraw, South Carolina.
Please remember that it is one thing to see an RV "after" it is built and another to see it "BEING" built. Seeing what is behind the walls and the process and care taken in how they put one together will give you a much different perspective than just walking through a finished RV. Had we not gone on the factory tours, we would have bought an entirely differnt RV. We had been to several large RV shows and thought we knew what we wanted and what was a quality RV. The factory tours opened up our eyes and changed our minds -- BIG TIME!! Again, we took the tours while the assembly line was "in" operation.
Have fun!!
Steve
Jack Mayer said
06:56 PM Sep 6, 2011
I suggest that if you are looking at DRVs at the Hershey show that you also go by and talk to Phil (the company owner) and see the New Horizons. It might be interesting to compare the features and quality of a Custom unit to a production unit. With a New Horizons you can have almost anything you want in your unit, and have it built any way you want. Or, choose a more stock plan and just modify it.
If you go by and talk to Phil tell him I sent you by.....
Defiant said
03:21 AM Sep 7, 2011
Hi Jack , New Horizons is also on our list of "must sees" hopefully we can get a few minutes for any questions we might have , i'm sure its going to be a packed house in Hershey , we will mention that you sent us for sure!
Jack Mayer said
08:21 AM Sep 7, 2011
If you have questions about a New Horizon or what is possible to do, email me and I can answer them. It might help you prepare better for looking them over.
Building a custom rig is not for everyone. But you can do things that otherwise are not possible. (email is jackdanmayer AT gmail dot com)
LibertyLinda said
08:07 PM Sep 16, 2011
Hi folks, We did get to the RV show & looked around for the day. We did not see New Horizon's present there. However, we saw the Carrie-Lite and the DRV Elite & Mobi suites. We have fallen for the DRV at this point. But, we have a few years to look & compare & start our process of what we would like. It was great to see the rigs and really get a feel for them. It'll be interesting to watch how they change over the next couple of years.
We learned that Carrie-Lite will not put residential fridges in their rigs, whereas DRV will. Big point for dear hubby.
We hope to get to a rally or two. Also get to factories as well. Thanks for all of your help!
The Hensons said
07:57 AM Sep 20, 2011
Jack, are you sure New Horizons was there? We did not see them either.
One change we saw in the new DRV (units ordered after mid August) design was the wardrobe. The have enlarged the front cap and made the wardrobe larger...almost a walk-in, but this has eliminated the full width clothing rod. Not sure how I feel about it.
Another difference is they have changed from hydraulic to electric on the bedroom slide out, like the vanity slide out.
There were also some new color schemes we wished were available when we ordered (Jamocha Brown) and a new walnut cabinet!
James and Cindy said
06:58 PM Sep 20, 2011
New Horizons was there. They brought one unit. It was located behind the park models. Nice unit with a Honda Goldwing mounted on the rear.
James
GENECOP said
07:27 PM Sep 20, 2011
We also saw NH, met and had a nice conversation with the owner, they build a quality rig......
Bob and Kathy said
08:19 AM Sep 21, 2011
We saw the New Horizons too. Really nice unit, and I was shocked to see the Goldwing on the back of it! It was a very busy unit and we didn't want to stand around and wait to ask questions, since there was only one there.
I was also impressed with the Mobile Suites and how they added the closet-sized chest of drawers inside the closet. Loved it. The cut down on the cedar lining, didn't they? Or maybe there was no cedar in there at all....I really can't remember since we were in so many.
The only Carri-lite there (that we could find) was such a dark unit inside. I could not live in dark surroundings (floor, cabinets, furniture and even the countertops) like that. Oh it was very pretty, but not my thing. However, someone must have loved it, because it was sold by Thursday!
We also checked out the Heartland Landmark. WOW! Now we have added that one to our top 5. Of course, we only have 4 in our top 5.
The RV Dreams rally was fantastic and we learned a LOT. The Hershey RV show was great. It was easier for us this year, because last year was our very first year at this huge show andwe were totally confused at the end of the 5-day show. After doing our homework and attending the RV Dreams rally that same week, it was much MUCH easier going into the RV Show knowing what we wanted to look at and compare.
Attending the RV Dreams rally solidified our resolve to full-time after our daughter graduates and we can sell our home (hopefully 2013). Until then, vigilance is key in research. After all, there is so much to learn before we "get outta Dodge" ! It's so good to have you all here to answer questions and point us in the right direction.
(Bob and) Kathy
kb0zke said
06:54 PM Sep 24, 2011
I'll second the suggestion of visiting the factories. We were fortunate enough to visit the Airstream, DRV, and Heartland factories this summer. We were going to visit the Winnebago factory, too, but that portion of the trip got an unplanned change, so we weren't able to go. Oh well, there's always next summer. We'll be visiting every factory we can over the next couple of years as we try to decide what we want. Of course, we're buying used, but what was new this year may be what we buy in a couple of years.
Delaine and Lindy said
07:20 PM Sep 24, 2011
We are looking into the new design from Drv. Keep in mind Drv is one of the few who will customize. You have to ask they want volunteer figure out what you want and call Kyle Miller at Drv... Will do more research in the next few months. Its possible we will sell the Stick house and go back to full timing... And if we do we may just be in ordering another Drv Mobile Suites.... The new floorplan we are looking at is the 38PS 3. Happy Trails.....
cherylbrv said
12:33 PM Sep 26, 2011
Terry and Jo wrote:
Should you be interested in used fifth wheels, an outfit in Elk City, Oklahoma buys used DRV Suites models at auction after they have been repossessed. The name of their business is "Rolling Retreats" and they just recently became official dealers for DRV Suites.
This is probably not the place to post this question...
What are some of the concerns or issues one might face when purchasing the RV in a state other than where we are residents? I.e. we currently live in NJ (although plan to establish our domicile in FL when we're ready to start our new chapter... as soon as the house gets sold). Is it wise to purchase it in OK (or any other state, for that matter)? Some issues that come to mind are registration and delivery.
Terry and Jo said
09:07 PM Sep 26, 2011
Cheryl,
I won't have all the answers for you, but others here have purchased RV's outside of their home states. I'll try to give you a bit of information that I recall them talking about.
A lot of times, if you buy out of state, you can get a temporary tag that is valid for something like 30 days or so to let you get home with your RV. You'll need to tell them at the time that you will be licensing in another state. It may be you will have to sign some documents or something indicating that so that you don't have to pay the sales taxes of the state where you are buying.
As for delivery, if you don't have a truck of your own to pick it up at the time of purchase, look into finding an RV hauler that will do it for you. They will be licensed for such things as well as being insured. You will just want to make sure to travel to the location of the RV and inspect it before purchasing. I'm not sure a selling dealer would want to deliver an RV very far from their location, but you can always ask. If they don't, they might be able to recommend an RV hauler.
If you are unsure of what to look for, consider hiring an RV technician to inspect it for you. They know what to look for and can give you ideas as to the RV's soundness and whether or not it may require expensive repairs. A few hundred dollars for the tech will save you a lot later on.
Also, consider your purchase time to be when you are ready to set your domicile in another state for full-timing. I don't know what New Jersey's taxes are, but taxes in your new "domicile" state may be cheaper then New Jersey. If you buy before you set a new domicile, you will have to pay New Jersey's taxes.
Hopefully, others can chime in and give you more details.
Hello all! We don't post very often but we do visit the forums regularly and enjoy it very much. The wife and I are about 36 mos. from going full time so I will be 53 and she will be 52 when we escape from New York. We have been doing our research on 5th wheels , We have narrowed our options down to The DRV Elite suite and the Carrige Carri-lite also the Excel Limited, Now the real question is on the roofs Fiberglass, Tpo Vinyl and of course EPDM, I have not found much on the pros and cons of each, also does anyone currently own or previously own any of these 3? We would love to hear any "hands on" experiences ! Thank you in advance.... also we will be in Hershey Pa. for the RV show on 16th and 17th it will be like 2 kids in a candy store!
-- Edited by Defiant on Tuesday 30th of August 2011 05:30:13 PM
Hi Scott,
Evin and I owned a 2010 38RESB4 DRV Mobile Suite and we will soon be taking delivery on a 2012 38RESB3 Elite Suite. We considered Carriage both times and have been to both factories. I spent all day today making last minute change orders on our new unit and have limited internet connection in my current location. For this reason it would be better if you sent me a personal email on the RV-Dreams site and give me your phone number and I will call you. I typed this reply once already and it was lost because of my week internet connection I assume.
We also changed tow vehicles this time out as there are several tow capacity changes for 2012. I will share this also.
Steve C
PS: Terry and Jo (Mobile Suite owners), if you read this post, I sent you an email.
The TPO vinyl roof on our Carriage has been trouble free for almost 6 years now and I expect it to remain so for a long time. It is still almost pure white despite only being washed about once a year.
Good luck,
Two years ago I went over all of the seams with Dicor tape and coating due to some cracking. Otherwise the roof has held up well.
Our motorhome isn't really suited for full-timing in our opinion, its a gasser , its a nice rig and works great for vacations and weekend trips we love it. but for full-timing we would prefer a diesel which is still an option for us, the downside is the costs for the rig, higher maintenence costs, now with that in mind I do 95% of that work myself on our current MH but I do that at home,once on the road it be a little tougher to do ,so a brand new top of the line FW and new diesel to tow it is more bang for the buck.
JanieD , I'm glad you are enjoying your Excel !! This is why I ask questions On thing I am not sure of, Nice to hear the factory has taken care of you issues, that is VERY important , and with any new rig there will be some issues , but good Customer service makes a big difference , and when they come thru it is not forgotten. Any company that realizes this will probably do well ,happy customers and word of mouth will sell a product better than any fancy brochure..... Good luck and thanks for your input
This is the wife of Defiant.
I have felt that a 5er has more for the money, and in the searching we have done so far, that seems to hold true. Especially with fulltiming being the main thing- I want a 5er that can withstand the unexpected: cold, wind, lengthy sun. Besides the roof, insulation is a factor it seems - the "R-factor" can make me nuts. Once that is met, then the floor plan we think we can live with will be priority.
Thanks for all your input. We look forward to the RV show to do some comparison shopping ~and meeting great folks!
We've been considering downsizing from our coach. Since we have converted to part-timers after full-timing for almost 4 years I am very curious what it is about your rig that you think makes it not full-time compatible?
I can't help with 5er questions, but if you have any MH questions I will be happy to try and asnwer.
Linda and Scott,
If you are really concerned with the amount of insulation in your RV, look at DRV Suites and another that I think is called New Horizons. While I can't speak for the New Horizon, the DRV Suites (made up of Elite Suites, Mobile Suites, and Select Suites) are all built with 3 1/4 inch walls and have some of the best insulation "R" values.
The Elite is their top of the line with the Mobile Suites in the middle. Both of those are built on 15 inch triple box frames. The Select has a 12 inch I-beam frame.
Should you be interested in used fifth wheels, an outfit in Elk City, Oklahoma buys used DRV Suites models at auction after they have been repossessed. The name of their business is "Rolling Retreats" and they just recently became official dealers for DRV Suites.
We went through two years of researching ourselves, looking at both motorhomes and fifth wheels. Buying our truck used and our coach new let us save about half of the price of the 42' motorhome we were looking at.
Oh, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You will find mostly good friendly folks here that are willing to help. Good luck with all the researching.
Terry
Norcal Dan, to answer your question , 4 issues with our MH ,1) Insulation or lack there of , fine for moderate weather but wouldn't cut it for extremes for any length of time. 2)Lack of inverter and room for extra battery capacity, now I could remedy this issue on my own by adding more battery space within the frame and adding AGM batteries and installing an inverter but the added cost really isn't worth it in this case unless we were to keep MH for longer period. 3) refrigerator omg I despise those Norcold/Dometic refrigerators , I want a residential refrigerator (now they are becoming more prevelant in MH and FW) 4) Cabinets I also do not like the paper wrapped wood they use ,I want real wood...... Now maybe I am nitpicking but these are things that have been an issue with the 2 MH we have had ( by the way our 1st MH was a class B+ )
Hi again Scott,
I second everything Terry said in his post reply to your question. I know of no 5th wheel that has better insulation than DRV. I would encourage you to head West on I-90 toward Elkhart, Indiana and stop in Howe and visit DRV and see the Suites being built. Then go on a factory tour at Carriage (just a little ways from DRV). Insist that the tour is at a time the units are being built. In other works, do not go after 2 PM.
If you have time, go to some of the other major brands and take a tour. We checked out six companies and found it to be a worthwhile and "eye-opening" experience. Check out any other fulltime rated rigs and make your decision after the tours. Don't depend on a salesperson to tell you what is rated "fulltime". Get it in writing from the manufacturer. Try to see a 5 or 6 year old DRV and compare it to a similar aged Carriage. Call me, I sent you my phone #.
I have worked with a great, professional and experienced RV salesman that sold both products for years. If you send me an email on this forum I will share his thoughts. I am not trying to start a "brand loyality debate war" on this forum. You will find that there are Carriage and DRV owners that are very satisfied with their choice and there are those that are not.
Our concern with Carriage was service after the sale. I tried discussing my concerns with our contact person at Carriage and was offended by his response to perfectly legitimate questions. Asked the same or similar questions at DRV and got a totally different response - concerned, positive and respectful. We had some repair needs with our then new DRV 5th wheel and went to the factory for the minor repairs as we were in the area. DRV was great. They even fixed things that were of our doing. They could not have been nicer. This is just one of the reasons were are now having a new DRV being custom built for us. Will take delivery next month if I can stop making change orders. Some of our changes were "H" tires instead of "J", inverter/charger, and MOR/ryde ISS (independent suspension system). Thinking of adding a residential refrigerator.
Again, IMHO, if one is spending this kind of money, go to the factory: "INSPECT WHAT YOU EXPECT!!" Reading my and other RVers' responses on this and other forums is one thing, seeing for yourself is another!!
Steve
We were very fortunate in the DRV tour to have only one other couple with us, so we could all get close enough together in the noisy places to actually hear the question and the answer. At Airstream there were 25-30 of us in the tour group, and I couldn't always hear other people's questions or the answers.
As Steve said, the people at DRV seemed to be quite willing to talk to the customers and explain the various options. For example, one can select the right options on a Mobile Suite and have it be an Elite Suite. The cost is about the same, but when you go to sell it later, you still have a Mobile Suite. Going the other way, by selecting the right delete options, one can turn a Mobile Suite into an Elite Suite (same money), but, again, you still have that Elite Suite logo on the front.
Overall, I was impressed with the DRV product.
Another thought came to me that I should share, although it deals with the insulation more so than the roof question.
We are living full time in our Mobile Suites in Oklahoma City in a small mobile home park. Our home is parked about 100 yards or less from busy I-44 and about 1/2 mile from busy I-35 and we hardly hear the traffic from them. If a loud truck or motorcycle goes by, we can hear them, but they are not really a distraction.
I think the insulation in the DRV products are extremely helpful in that regard. Before we moved here, I had my concerns about the traffic noise, but no longer is that an issue. We've survived blistering record heat here in Oklahoma City this year with the use of our two 15K air conditioners and two oscillating fans.
I wonder what winter will bring us? But with the DRV "Canadian Package" which includes two 30,000btu furnaces instead of one 42,000btu one, I'm not really concerned with that. I'm also not sure if any other RV manufacturer offers two furnaces with two different room temperature sensors.
Good luck with your research, and I also suggest the factory tours. A number of DRV owners told me that they bought DRV's after they did the round of tours.
Terry
Hey Scott,
I know how you feel. Our "new home" goes on the line this week and I still do not have answers to all my questions and concerns.
Really struggling with the "should we or shouldn't we" go to the expense of having a residential refrigerator.
I know you will enjoy the Hershey show. DRV is coming out with some new design features that I think you will like. I hope you are also attending the RV-Dreams Rally. You will meet some great people there and make lasting friendships. We often see, talk with and are in contact via email with RV-Dreamers we met at the two rallies we have attended to date. We are going to a "mini-rally" with RV-Dreams friends later this week in Cheraw, South Carolina.
Please remember that it is one thing to see an RV "after" it is built and another to see it "BEING" built. Seeing what is behind the walls and the process and care taken in how they put one together will give you a much different perspective than just walking through a finished RV. Had we not gone on the factory tours, we would have bought an entirely differnt RV. We had been to several large RV shows and thought we knew what we wanted and what was a quality RV. The factory tours opened up our eyes and changed our minds -- BIG TIME!! Again, we took the tours while the assembly line was "in" operation.
Have fun!!
Steve
If you go by and talk to Phil tell him I sent you by.....
Building a custom rig is not for everyone. But you can do things that otherwise are not possible. (email is jackdanmayer AT gmail dot com)
We learned that Carrie-Lite will not put residential fridges in their rigs, whereas DRV will. Big point for dear hubby.
We hope to get to a rally or two. Also get to factories as well.
Thanks for all of your help!
One change we saw in the new DRV (units ordered after mid August) design was the wardrobe. The have enlarged the front cap and made the wardrobe larger...almost a walk-in, but this has eliminated the full width clothing rod. Not sure how I feel about it.
Another difference is they have changed from hydraulic to electric on the bedroom slide out, like the vanity slide out.
There were also some new color schemes we wished were available when we ordered (Jamocha Brown) and a new walnut cabinet!
New Horizons was there. They brought one unit. It was located behind the park models. Nice unit with a Honda Goldwing mounted on the rear.
James
We saw the New Horizons too. Really nice unit, and I was shocked to see the Goldwing on the back of it! It was a very busy unit and we didn't want to stand around and wait to ask questions, since there was only one there.
I was also impressed with the Mobile Suites and how they added the closet-sized chest of drawers inside the closet. Loved it. The cut down on the cedar lining, didn't they? Or maybe there was no cedar in there at all....I really can't remember since we were in so many.
The only Carri-lite there (that we could find) was such a dark unit inside. I could not live in dark surroundings (floor, cabinets, furniture and even the countertops) like that. Oh it was very pretty, but not my thing. However, someone must have loved it, because it was sold by Thursday!
We also checked out the Heartland Landmark. WOW! Now we have added that one to our top 5. Of course, we only have 4 in our top 5.
The RV Dreams rally was fantastic and we learned a LOT. The Hershey RV show was great. It was easier for us this year, because last year was our very first year at this huge show andwe were totally confused at the end of the 5-day show. After doing our homework and attending the RV Dreams rally that same week, it was much MUCH easier going into the RV Show knowing what we wanted to look at and compare.
Attending the RV Dreams rally solidified our resolve to full-time after our daughter graduates and we can sell our home (hopefully 2013). Until then, vigilance is key in research. After all, there is so much to learn before we "get outta Dodge" ! It's so good to have you all here to answer questions and point us in the right direction.
(Bob and) Kathy
This is probably not the place to post this question...
What are some of the concerns or issues one might face when purchasing the RV in a state other than where we are residents? I.e. we currently live in NJ (although plan to establish our domicile in FL when we're ready to start our new chapter... as soon as the house gets sold). Is it wise to purchase it in OK (or any other state, for that matter)? Some issues that come to mind are registration and delivery.
Cheryl,
I won't have all the answers for you, but others here have purchased RV's outside of their home states. I'll try to give you a bit of information that I recall them talking about.
A lot of times, if you buy out of state, you can get a temporary tag that is valid for something like 30 days or so to let you get home with your RV. You'll need to tell them at the time that you will be licensing in another state. It may be you will have to sign some documents or something indicating that so that you don't have to pay the sales taxes of the state where you are buying.
As for delivery, if you don't have a truck of your own to pick it up at the time of purchase, look into finding an RV hauler that will do it for you. They will be licensed for such things as well as being insured. You will just want to make sure to travel to the location of the RV and inspect it before purchasing. I'm not sure a selling dealer would want to deliver an RV very far from their location, but you can always ask. If they don't, they might be able to recommend an RV hauler.
If you are unsure of what to look for, consider hiring an RV technician to inspect it for you. They know what to look for and can give you ideas as to the RV's soundness and whether or not it may require expensive repairs. A few hundred dollars for the tech will save you a lot later on.
Also, consider your purchase time to be when you are ready to set your domicile in another state for full-timing. I don't know what New Jersey's taxes are, but taxes in your new "domicile" state may be cheaper then New Jersey. If you buy before you set a new domicile, you will have to pay New Jersey's taxes.
Hopefully, others can chime in and give you more details.
Terry