Hello everyone, DH and I are in the early stages of purchasing a 5th wheel for snowbirding in either this winter or next. I have been active on a few other rv forums. While it appears that this forum is shows some favoritism toward DRV products, I understand there is a wealth of experience and knowledge here to exploit. We plan to buy used higher end. Right now, our preference is Teton followed by Excel. I consider the Excel a step down from Teton, but Excel is still in business. Those are my choices, because I believe wood frame walls to be superior. One of the things that prompted me to join and post was a discussion regarding R-values. I believe that the numbers put out by any of the manufacturers is purely an estimate made up of the sum of the R-value of the components. Only an infrared (or however they do it) examination of the 5er in subzero temps would give one a true measure of a coaches insulation rating.
Having said that, my question to those who have really researched this is which manufacturer(s) insulate the sidewalls of their slide-outs and to what level? Thanks.
Lucky Mike said
02:25 AM May 18, 2013
Welcome to the Forum....Good luck on your Venture
Terry and Jo said
02:39 PM May 18, 2013
Andy,
First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You are right in that there is a lot of knowledge within the minds of the folks here on the forums. So, feel free to ask all the questions that come to mind. The only "dumb" questions are those that don't get asked and the individual finds they made an expensive mistake, simply because they didn't ask the question.
Both brands you mentioned do have good reputations with respect to their quality. What their insulation rating is with regards to full-timing, possible in climate extremes, is best left to those that may have had experience with those brands.
With respect to the DRV's, the Elite Suites, the Mobile Suites, and the Select Suites models all have 3 1/4" walls, so they have a bit more insulation than the others. We purchased our Mobile Suites because of two things. One; we knew that the RV would be our ONLY home for some time to come, and two; we would still be living for a while in Oklahoma City where the temperature extremes run from 115 degrees down to 14 degrees. (At least, those are the extremes that we have personally experienced in our own case.) Some of the other DRV models, like the Tradition and Full House (toy-hauler) have thinner walls, if I remember correctly.
Should you decide to look for used fivers, there are a number of dealers that are likely to have some. You can also look for forums associated with specific brands and see if there are any mentions of selling a used fifth wheel or perhaps a Classified section where members can list their own unit for sale. For instance, SOITC (Suite Owners International Travel Club) has a forum area for classifieds, with one member currently trying to sell his 2007 model.
Keep in mind when looking at owner's forums that forums tend to draw a lot of folks looking for answers to problems with their trailer, or one of its associated systems. If one sees all those "problems" one can get the idea that "maybe that brand isn't so good," when in reality, there are a lot more owners who aren't even members on the forums that are happy with theirs.
Now, with respect to insulation in the slides, I wonder whether any manufacturer builds their products with really good insulation in the slides. Even in our Suites, if it really gets cold outside, I have to make sure I wear my slippers if I'm going to be sitting in the La-Z-Boy in our living room slide. Otherwise, my feet will get cold. All in all, though, we have been very pleased with ours in the winter.
Also, NEVER trust the word of a salesman or dealer. ALWAYS do your own research, even if it means registering on an owner's forum so you can ask questions of the owners about specific things for those brands. We were on SOITC for two years before we purchased our DRV and were then eligible to become SOITC "members." On the forums, though, we were considered as family by the other participants.
I can't recommend strongly enough to be sure and choose one's RV first, before buying the truck. I've known of cases where folks bought a truck because it was really a good deal only to find out it wasn't heavy enough to safely handle the size of RV they ended up purchasing, or wanting to purchase. Quality-wise, the heavier trailers tend to be the better quality built ones.
Good luck in your research and planning, and we're glad to have you as a part of the forum "family."
Terry
kb0zke said
11:35 PM May 18, 2013
"Quality-wise, the heavier trailers tend to be the better quality built ones." Terry, I've got to tease you a bit on this one. Shouldn't it be the better quality trailers tend to be the heavier ones? Anyone can build a heavy trailer, but that doesn't make it a quality one. A quality coach, on the other hand, will be heavier just because of what goes into it.
For the OP, one of the advantages of buying a higher-end coach is that more of the stuff you want is standard, and therefore included in the empty weight. Many lower and mid-level coaches, for example, include only one air conditioner and prep for a second one. Of course, most people order the second a/c, and it may or may not be included in the empty weight of the coach. If not, a couple of hundred pounds of your cargo capacity just went away. The higher end coaches also usually have larger water tanks.
As for the truck, if you are going to use the one you already own you will need to find out the exact weights for it. Your dealer can help you find out the GVWR, axle ratings, and GCWR. You will have to weigh the truck as it will be loaded for your travels. Those numbers will give you the information you need to pick your trailer. DON'T OVERLOAD ANY COMPONENT!!! On the other hand, if you are buying a new truck, pick out the coach first, and then spec the truck to handle that weight plus a safety margin. Again, make sure that no component is overloaded.
Good luck!
WestWardHo said
05:44 AM May 20, 2013
Don't forget Jack Mayer's New Horizon if its still for sale. That will be one beautiful coach with ALL your questions answered honestly.
Sherry
Knights Watch said
04:23 PM May 20, 2013
WestWardHo wrote:
Don't forget Jack Mayer's New Horizon if its still for sale. That will be one beautiful coach with ALL your questions answered honestly.
Sherry
That is considerably more than would I think would be prudent to spend on our first 5th wheel. I am giving some thought to his truck though. Thanks.
Bobbi said
04:19 PM May 29, 2013
Knights Watch wrote:
WestWardHo wrote:
Don't forget Jack Mayer's New Horizon if its still for sale. That will be one beautiful coach with ALL your questions answered honestly.
Sherry
That is considerably more than would I think would be prudent to spend on our first 5th wheel. I am giving some thought to his truck though. Thanks.
I can understand your prudence. The only way I would ever drop that kind of money on a depreciating asset is if I was going full-time. Even then I would have a hard time justifying over a certain amount, but that's just me.
Yes, the tow vehicle is a huge consideration. I would think you would at least need an F-450 or something larger for an Excel or Teton. They are heavy rigs.
I am one to bring up insulation values in RVs as I believe it is important, but I do acknowledge that those numbers do not tell the whole story and yes, the numbers represent a cumulative value. Whoever suggested actually talking to owners of well insulated RVs is right. They are the ones who can tell you exactly how well their RV performs in extreme temps.
I haven't really researched the insulation in high end RVs too much. Don't know about the newer ones. It's harder to find info on used RVs. You really have to go and do the digging to find it. Teton, for example, is one I can find next to no info about regarding insulation. Good luck in your quest. You are at least on the right track.
Hello everyone, DH and I are in the early stages of purchasing a 5th wheel for snowbirding in either this winter or next. I have been active on a few other rv forums. While it appears that this forum is shows some favoritism toward DRV products, I understand there is a wealth of experience and knowledge here to exploit. We plan to buy used higher end. Right now, our preference is Teton followed by Excel. I consider the Excel a step down from Teton, but Excel is still in business. Those are my choices, because I believe wood frame walls to be superior. One of the things that prompted me to join and post was a discussion regarding R-values. I believe that the numbers put out by any of the manufacturers is purely an estimate made up of the sum of the R-value of the components. Only an infrared (or however they do it) examination of the 5er in subzero temps would give one a true measure of a coaches insulation rating.
Having said that, my question to those who have really researched this is which manufacturer(s) insulate the sidewalls of their slide-outs and to what level? Thanks.
Andy,
First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You are right in that there is a lot of knowledge within the minds of the folks here on the forums. So, feel free to ask all the questions that come to mind. The only "dumb" questions are those that don't get asked and the individual finds they made an expensive mistake, simply because they didn't ask the question.
Both brands you mentioned do have good reputations with respect to their quality. What their insulation rating is with regards to full-timing, possible in climate extremes, is best left to those that may have had experience with those brands.
With respect to the DRV's, the Elite Suites, the Mobile Suites, and the Select Suites models all have 3 1/4" walls, so they have a bit more insulation than the others. We purchased our Mobile Suites because of two things. One; we knew that the RV would be our ONLY home for some time to come, and two; we would still be living for a while in Oklahoma City where the temperature extremes run from 115 degrees down to 14 degrees. (At least, those are the extremes that we have personally experienced in our own case.) Some of the other DRV models, like the Tradition and Full House (toy-hauler) have thinner walls, if I remember correctly.
Should you decide to look for used fivers, there are a number of dealers that are likely to have some. You can also look for forums associated with specific brands and see if there are any mentions of selling a used fifth wheel or perhaps a Classified section where members can list their own unit for sale. For instance, SOITC (Suite Owners International Travel Club) has a forum area for classifieds, with one member currently trying to sell his 2007 model.
Keep in mind when looking at owner's forums that forums tend to draw a lot of folks looking for answers to problems with their trailer, or one of its associated systems. If one sees all those "problems" one can get the idea that "maybe that brand isn't so good," when in reality, there are a lot more owners who aren't even members on the forums that are happy with theirs.
Now, with respect to insulation in the slides, I wonder whether any manufacturer builds their products with really good insulation in the slides. Even in our Suites, if it really gets cold outside, I have to make sure I wear my slippers if I'm going to be sitting in the La-Z-Boy in our living room slide. Otherwise, my feet will get cold. All in all, though, we have been very pleased with ours in the winter.
Also, NEVER trust the word of a salesman or dealer. ALWAYS do your own research, even if it means registering on an owner's forum so you can ask questions of the owners about specific things for those brands. We were on SOITC for two years before we purchased our DRV and were then eligible to become SOITC "members." On the forums, though, we were considered as family by the other participants.
I can't recommend strongly enough to be sure and choose one's RV first, before buying the truck. I've known of cases where folks bought a truck because it was really a good deal only to find out it wasn't heavy enough to safely handle the size of RV they ended up purchasing, or wanting to purchase. Quality-wise, the heavier trailers tend to be the better quality built ones.
Good luck in your research and planning, and we're glad to have you as a part of the forum "family."
Terry
For the OP, one of the advantages of buying a higher-end coach is that more of the stuff you want is standard, and therefore included in the empty weight. Many lower and mid-level coaches, for example, include only one air conditioner and prep for a second one. Of course, most people order the second a/c, and it may or may not be included in the empty weight of the coach. If not, a couple of hundred pounds of your cargo capacity just went away. The higher end coaches also usually have larger water tanks.
As for the truck, if you are going to use the one you already own you will need to find out the exact weights for it. Your dealer can help you find out the GVWR, axle ratings, and GCWR. You will have to weigh the truck as it will be loaded for your travels. Those numbers will give you the information you need to pick your trailer. DON'T OVERLOAD ANY COMPONENT!!! On the other hand, if you are buying a new truck, pick out the coach first, and then spec the truck to handle that weight plus a safety margin. Again, make sure that no component is overloaded.
Good luck!
Sherry
That is considerably more than would I think would be prudent to spend on our first 5th wheel. I am giving some thought to his truck though. Thanks.
I can understand your prudence. The only way I would ever drop that kind of money on a depreciating asset is if I was going full-time. Even then I would have a hard time justifying over a certain amount, but that's just me.
Yes, the tow vehicle is a huge consideration. I would think you would at least need an F-450 or something larger for an Excel or Teton. They are heavy rigs.
I am one to bring up insulation values in RVs as I believe it is important, but I do acknowledge that those numbers do not tell the whole story and yes, the numbers represent a cumulative value. Whoever suggested actually talking to owners of well insulated RVs is right. They are the ones who can tell you exactly how well their RV performs in extreme temps.
I haven't really researched the insulation in high end RVs too much. Don't know about the newer ones. It's harder to find info on used RVs. You really have to go and do the digging to find it. Teton, for example, is one I can find next to no info about regarding insulation. Good luck in your quest. You are at least on the right track.