So, I began my search for my 1st 5th wheel or RV of any type this weekend by visiting a show in West Palm Beach. I've done a lot of reading and am aware or many brands and their quality as perceived by most experienced RV'ers. There are a couple of brands I haven't seen commented on and was wondering what people thought. I'll be looking at 40+ footers mostly and while there are few, I really loved the front living room rear Master bedroom layout. So here are my brands I'd like to hear about. Evergreen, Redwood, and Continental Coach. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. -Steve
Terry and Jo said
01:05 PM May 17, 2015
Personally, I won't be able to help much because I've never been in an Evergreen and the one Redwood that I saw didn't impress me. I've also never been in a Continental Coach, but they are pretty much a custom built coach, so they will be more expensive than almost all the others.
Friends of ours in Elk City, Oklahoma that are DRV Suites dealers have been asked by Forks RV (makers of Continental Coach) to be their exclusive dealer. I've not been visiting with them much, but if you have questions about the Continental Coach, I recommend you call Alicia at Rolling Retreats in Elk City. A link to her website is below.
We also like the front living room, rear bedroom setup. Makes the rig feel like three separate living areas. We have a couple of years before we get down to selecting a unit however. Biggest concern for us in front living room is lack of basement space although seems some rigs are coming with another basement below the rear cap.
Redwood: These folks come right out an say it. According to the first page of their website “Redwood was created for the sole purpose of providing the exploding Baby Boomer market with a high-quality, full-time residential Fifth Wheel at an affordable price.” We toured one in 2015. Really beautiful rig.
Evergreen: Lifestyle is owned by Evergreen Recreational Vehicles which is one of my favorites. Evergreen also build the Bay Hill which is where I noticed how much room there is in a hallway leading from the stairs in their 100″ wide-body rig.
Continental: Have not look at them but will now that you mentioned them.
Stekay said
01:32 PM May 18, 2015
Mark, I don't see much of a difference in basement space whether the front in a bedroom or living room. Am I missing something? My impression of the Redwood and Evergreen were much the same as yours. I have not seen a Continental either. (yet)
On another note, do many owner incorporate in Delaware or New Hampshire to avoid the sales tax?
PD CFK said
02:09 PM May 18, 2015
Lifestyle has a forum where you can read up on what owners have to say about the Lifestyle(formerly Carriage) RV. WWW.Carriage-Lifestyle-Owners.com Pat K
Bill and Linda said
02:28 PM May 18, 2015
These brands cover a rather broad range of prices, true customization - and weight.As you may know Continental / Forks is a totally custom built coach and they are built very sturdy.Much more so than the other two brands and will required a true MDT – a RAM5500 at the least - or even an HDT in the 40 foot+ class to handle them.We spent time on multiple visits to the Forks plant when in the design phase looking for a replacement for our Escalade which we truly loved.Forks, like New Horizons and Spacecraft, will build you whatever you like and it costs appropriately for a “clean sheet of paper,” custom build.So in your thinking keep the cost and the weight factors in mind.
We loved the Forks / Continental Coach product and quality of frame – build -customization – workmanship, etc. but went with a New Horizons custom rig for various reasons.But if you have the right truck Continual Coach is in another category from the other two brands, IMO.
RodandVal said
09:23 PM Jul 18, 2015
We have looked and looked and looked and have finally settled on the brand new floorplan that BayHill (Evergreen) just came out with for 2016. The 375RE is a rear living/entertainment but has opposing slides with couches and also a direct line of sight theater seating facing the 50 inch hide-away tv and fireplace. Kitchen is a slide-out and the dinette is also. The kitchen island has a built in dishwasher next to the dual stainless sinks w/pull out sprayer. The bed is the 5th slide-out. The living area is very spacious and has the main entry door as a patio door! There is also a second entry just to the side of the dinette. Having two awnings (one for each entry) is also a nice feature. We can hardly wait to get our new home!
-- Edited by RodandVal on Saturday 18th of July 2015 09:25:35 PM
So, I began my search for my 1st 5th wheel or RV of any type this weekend by visiting a show in West Palm Beach. I've done a lot of reading and am aware or many brands and their quality as perceived by most experienced RV'ers. There are a couple of brands I haven't seen commented on and was wondering what people thought. I'll be looking at 40+ footers mostly and while there are few, I really loved the front living room rear Master bedroom layout. So here are my brands I'd like to hear about. Evergreen, Redwood, and Continental Coach. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. -Steve
Personally, I won't be able to help much because I've never been in an Evergreen and the one Redwood that I saw didn't impress me. I've also never been in a Continental Coach, but they are pretty much a custom built coach, so they will be more expensive than almost all the others.
Friends of ours in Elk City, Oklahoma that are DRV Suites dealers have been asked by Forks RV (makers of Continental Coach) to be their exclusive dealer. I've not been visiting with them much, but if you have questions about the Continental Coach, I recommend you call Alicia at Rolling Retreats in Elk City. A link to her website is below.
Rolling Retreats
Terry
Redwood: These folks come right out an say it. According to the first page of their website “Redwood was created for the sole purpose of providing the exploding Baby Boomer market with a high-quality, full-time residential Fifth Wheel at an affordable price.” We toured one in 2015. Really beautiful rig.
Evergreen: Lifestyle is owned by Evergreen Recreational Vehicles which is one of my favorites. Evergreen also build the Bay Hill which is where I noticed how much room there is in a hallway leading from the stairs in their 100″ wide-body rig.
Continental: Have not look at them but will now that you mentioned them.
On another note, do many owner incorporate in Delaware or New Hampshire to avoid the sales tax?
WWW.Carriage-Lifestyle-Owners.com Pat K
These brands cover a rather broad range of prices, true customization - and weight. As you may know Continental / Forks is a totally custom built coach and they are built very sturdy. Much more so than the other two brands and will required a true MDT – a RAM5500 at the least - or even an HDT in the 40 foot+ class to handle them. We spent time on multiple visits to the Forks plant when in the design phase looking for a replacement for our Escalade which we truly loved. Forks, like New Horizons and Spacecraft, will build you whatever you like and it costs appropriately for a “clean sheet of paper,” custom build. So in your thinking keep the cost and the weight factors in mind.
We loved the Forks / Continental Coach product and quality of frame – build -customization – workmanship, etc. but went with a New Horizons custom rig for various reasons. But if you have the right truck Continual Coach is in another category from the other two brands, IMO.
We have looked and looked and looked and have finally settled on the brand new floorplan that BayHill (Evergreen) just came out with for 2016. The 375RE is a rear living/entertainment but has opposing slides with couches and also a direct line of sight theater seating facing the 50 inch hide-away tv and fireplace. Kitchen is a slide-out and the dinette is also. The kitchen island has a built in dishwasher next to the dual stainless sinks w/pull out sprayer. The bed is the 5th slide-out. The living area is very spacious and has the main entry door as a patio door! There is also a second entry just to the side of the dinette. Having two awnings (one for each entry) is also a nice feature. We can hardly wait to get our new home!
-- Edited by RodandVal on Saturday 18th of July 2015 09:25:35 PM