I'm back searching around again now that time is allowing it. We are down to 2 5th wheel models and I'm interested in some opinions on the R-values.
Model #1--Forest River Wildcat--R10 in walls, R14 roof & floors
Model #2--Northwoods Mfg Fox Mtn--R7 walls & floors, R18 in roof
Which would be a better insulator for 4 season traveling and knowing that we would not winter in AZ or TX, probably more like 50 degree temp places
Thanks as always, your info is soooo valuable!
Felicia
GENECOP said
03:53 PM Nov 8, 2011
My vote would be Northwoods for sure, I just purchased a TT Artic Fox from Them. Four season capability is more than just R-Value, IMO Northwoods overall has the most experience building four season units. In addition the reputation they have regarding customer service is top notch..
Racerguy said
05:24 PM Nov 8, 2011
I'm a big fan of Forest River products but agree with Gene.Heat rises, so to me it makes sense that the higher R value in the roof is what you want.Artic Fox is a great trailer.
Mike n Angie said
10:13 PM Nov 8, 2011
You might even look at Open Range. Our 393RLS has R-38 floor and ceiling. Heat vents in lower area too (basement) She has been a great unit so far!
Exceptional manufacture support also.
Good luck with your search.
-- Edited by Mike n Angie on Tuesday 8th of November 2011 10:15:48 PM
felicia said
11:42 PM Nov 8, 2011
THanks for the suggestions. After searching hundreds of floorplans these two units seem to work the best for us. I really like the Open Range, but their smallest bunkhouse starts at 38ft and from everything I've read we need to stay under 35' if we want to us National Forest campgrounds most of the time. Please do correct me if I mis-understood. We don't have kids but the bunk models will allow us extra storage and a place for a small solar chest freezer for the 4-legged children's food! Priorities :)
Mike n Angie said
08:58 PM Nov 9, 2011
Our first RV purchase was a 28ft Bunk House travel trailer. What a terrible mistake! We gave up useable space to have bunks that would RARELY be used by Grandchildren. We have since talked with several other people that made the same mistake. We had the trailer for two months and traded up to the Open Range 5th Wheel. What a wonderful change. Should any grandchild want to go .... there are two recliners and a sleeper sofa!
Regarding the Open Range.... my DW spent many days online comparing makes, models, weight, floor plans, dealer and manufacture support and Price (value). That is how we ended up with the Open Range 393RLS. It is 36ft long and tows like a charm with our f-250 super duty.
Hope all this helps. Good Luck with your choice!
Mike
Tim & Robyn said
09:28 AM Nov 10, 2011
... and there are inflatable mattresses you can put on the floor in your living room for those occasional visits... When I was doing my research R-values were important to me. Your mileage may vary, but there may be times when you can't move - a workcamping job commitment for example.
Or if you stay in places where you have to pay separately for electrity for heat/AC.
As small as it may be in an RV, as was said in 'The Wizard of Oz' there's no place like home... and to me that's one place, above all others, where I would want to be comfortable.
felicia said
01:26 PM Nov 10, 2011
OH we're not using the bunkhouse for visitors. I have neices and nephews but I highly doubt they would stay with us longer than a day here or there and once in a blue moon at that. i would definitely use the couch or blow ups for them.
My thought on the bunkhouse is this--we would be travelling with 2 large dogs and 2 cats and they are raw fed. They require alot of food and an RV doesn't have sufficient freezer space for them and us. I would like to get a small chest freezer & I've been researching them to use for their food plus my husband still wants to hunt here in Montana in the fall so we need game space in the freezer also. so I thought the bunkhouse would allow for storage of that freezer plus we would put some shelves in there and use it for bulk purchase of grocery items when we're parked somewhere for 30 days. I'm the wife of a 18yr Costco manager, I don't know how to not think in bulk :)
Felicia
felicia said
01:54 PM Nov 10, 2011
OH, we wouldn't be using the bunk house for visitors. I have neices & nephews but I doubt they would spend more than a couple of nights a year with us and then they can definitely have the couch or blow ups.
Here was my thought for the BH. We will be traveling with 2 large dogs and 2 cats. They are all raw fed and require a large amount of food, additionally, my husband still wants to hunt here in Montana and we will need game meat storage. So my thought was, get the BH model, put in a small chest freezer back there and also shelving units that can be used for stocking up on food items whenever we are parked for 30 days at a time.
We could also put a washer back there at some point if we want it.
good thought/bad thought?
Felicia
Workinrvers said
03:09 PM Nov 10, 2011
if it's just space you want, have you considered a toy hauler? One of the smaller seperate garage models 36' or so would fit the bill nicely. I would be a little concerned about the weight of a freezer, food stuffs and washer dryer all in the rear or to one side of a bunkhouse.
The toy haulers are designed to carry the extra weight in the rear. Hubby could even slide in a 4x4 for those hunting trips if he wanted.
just food for thought.
Phil
felicia said
12:24 PM Nov 11, 2011
I have considered a toy hauler but stopped short because they just didn't seem to have a very homey feel. They seemed more like something to take out riding but not a full time unit, my personal thoughts of course.
I re-visited the idea last night after your suggestions and it does look like some companies are trying to get away from the edgey look and go more for the homey feel. The Montana Mountaineer TH was a good example and maybe one that would work for us.
I like everyone's opinion and I am very grateful for this board since I don't think of all these things.
So I looked at the weight, the freezer is 145lb empty and the washer is 172lb and I would guess we would have 100lb of game meat in the freezer at any given time, the shelves would be empty before travel. do you think 417lb in a bunk house on the back end (not to the side) would cause a big weight issue?
Felicia
Workinrvers said
01:54 PM Nov 11, 2011
Filicia,
your question has a lot of variables. The weights of the trailer would have to be known to see what kind of impact it would have. Any weight put on the rear does have an effect on the pin weight (think of a teeter totter) and that does effect how the 5th wheel tows. Is 417 lbs significant, well not sure, a lot depends on your rig but it is something that needs to be considered.
On my 5th wheel the Unloaded Vehicle Weight subtracted from the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating leaves me 1400lbs for my "stuff" inside my 5th wheel. Sounds like a lot but it adds up pretty fast with food, clothes, full tanks etc. The 400lbs you talk about would take away from the amount of "available" weight you could carry.
Perhaps Howard or someone with a little more experience with weights and their effects will chime in.
Phil
felicia said
02:20 PM Nov 11, 2011
gotcha, ok, see this is why I ask all you smart folks these questions :)
FWI, Northwood makes the Desert Fox, True Four Season Toy Hauler. nice garage that can Morph into bedroom with the touch of a switch...Northwood will also make some custom alterations based on your needs, the garage can have a warm homey feeling.....keep us posted.
I'm back searching around again now that time is allowing it. We are down to 2 5th wheel models and I'm interested in some opinions on the R-values.
Model #1--Forest River Wildcat--R10 in walls, R14 roof & floors
Model #2--Northwoods Mfg Fox Mtn--R7 walls & floors, R18 in roof
Which would be a better insulator for 4 season traveling and knowing that we would not winter in AZ or TX, probably more like 50 degree temp places
Thanks as always, your info is soooo valuable!
Felicia
You might even look at Open Range. Our 393RLS has R-38 floor and ceiling. Heat vents in lower area too (basement) She has been a great unit so far!
Exceptional manufacture support also.
Good luck with your search.
-- Edited by Mike n Angie on Tuesday 8th of November 2011 10:15:48 PM
Our first RV purchase was a 28ft Bunk House travel trailer. What a terrible mistake! We gave up useable space to have bunks that would RARELY be used by Grandchildren. We have since talked with several other people that made the same mistake. We had the trailer for two months and traded up to the Open Range 5th Wheel. What a wonderful change. Should any grandchild want to go .... there are two recliners and a sleeper sofa!
Regarding the Open Range.... my DW spent many days online comparing makes, models, weight, floor plans, dealer and manufacture support and Price (value). That is how we ended up with the Open Range 393RLS. It is 36ft long and tows like a charm with our f-250 super duty.
Hope all this helps. Good Luck with your choice!
Mike
... and there are inflatable mattresses you can put on the floor in your living room for those occasional visits... When I was doing my research R-values were important to me. Your mileage may vary, but there may be times when you can't move - a workcamping job commitment for example.
Or if you stay in places where you have to pay separately for electrity for heat/AC.
As small as it may be in an RV, as was said in 'The Wizard of Oz' there's no place like home... and to me that's one place, above all others, where I would want to be comfortable.
My thought on the bunkhouse is this--we would be travelling with 2 large dogs and 2 cats and they are raw fed. They require alot of food and an RV doesn't have sufficient freezer space for them and us. I would like to get a small chest freezer & I've been researching them to use for their food plus my husband still wants to hunt here in Montana in the fall so we need game space in the freezer also. so I thought the bunkhouse would allow for storage of that freezer plus we would put some shelves in there and use it for bulk purchase of grocery items when we're parked somewhere for 30 days. I'm the wife of a 18yr Costco manager, I don't know how to not think in bulk :)
Felicia
OH, we wouldn't be using the bunk house for visitors. I have neices & nephews but I doubt they would spend more than a couple of nights a year with us and then they can definitely have the couch or blow ups.
Here was my thought for the BH. We will be traveling with 2 large dogs and 2 cats. They are all raw fed and require a large amount of food, additionally, my husband still wants to hunt here in Montana and we will need game meat storage. So my thought was, get the BH model, put in a small chest freezer back there and also shelving units that can be used for stocking up on food items whenever we are parked for 30 days at a time.
We could also put a washer back there at some point if we want it.
good thought/bad thought?
Felicia
I would be a little concerned about the weight of a freezer, food stuffs and washer dryer all in the rear or to one side of a bunkhouse.
The toy haulers are designed to carry the extra weight in the rear. Hubby could even slide in a 4x4 for those hunting trips if he wanted.
just food for thought.
Phil
I have considered a toy hauler but stopped short because they just didn't seem to have a very homey feel. They seemed more like something to take out riding but not a full time unit, my personal thoughts of course.
I re-visited the idea last night after your suggestions and it does look like some companies are trying to get away from the edgey look and go more for the homey feel. The Montana Mountaineer TH was a good example and maybe one that would work for us.
I like everyone's opinion and I am very grateful for this board since I don't think of all these things.
So I looked at the weight, the freezer is 145lb empty and the washer is 172lb and I would guess we would have 100lb of game meat in the freezer at any given time, the shelves would be empty before travel. do you think 417lb in a bunk house on the back end (not to the side) would cause a big weight issue?
Felicia
your question has a lot of variables. The weights of the trailer would have to be known to see what kind of impact it would have. Any weight put on the rear does have an effect on the pin weight (think of a teeter totter) and that does effect how the 5th wheel tows. Is 417 lbs significant, well not sure, a lot depends on your rig but it is something that needs to be considered.
On my 5th wheel the Unloaded Vehicle Weight subtracted from the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating leaves me 1400lbs for my "stuff" inside my 5th wheel. Sounds like a lot but it adds up pretty fast with food, clothes, full tanks etc.
The 400lbs you talk about would take away from the amount of "available" weight you could carry.
Perhaps Howard or someone with a little more experience with weights and their effects will chime in.
Phil
gotcha, ok, see this is why I ask all you smart folks these questions :)
Okay the main units we're comparing
Northwoods Mfg--
Gross Dry Weight - Lbs.: 7955Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) - Lbs.: 9500Wildcat--Gross Dry 9,154 lb.
GVWR 11,820 lb
MT Mountaineer Toy hauler--
Shipping Weight
GVWR 14320