5ver Comparison

Me Again wrote:
Or sit in an uncomfortable dinette?

Just saying!

Chris

As opposed to uncomfortable chairs? That need to be tied down when towing? That eliminate two large storage areas?

Having come from a history of many truck campers, when we were looking for a short 5th wheel, we only wanted a booth dinette.

Uncomfortable dinette? Change the cushion foam.


The funniest moment during our search was when a salesman showed us a trailer with free standing chairs and table and tried to change our minds. He thought that by showing us the tiny "storage" space under the flip up chair cushion we would be impressed. We weren't.


OK- back to the OP's thread. Rick has his preferences and asked about models they were interested in, not for others to try to change their mind about layout.
We wanted JUST a booth dinette and couch- no additional seating AND under a true 30'. Not easy to find and sales people showed us longer units because they thought that we would be OK with those.

Good luck on your search Rick & Co.

Grand Design in the Reflection line comes stock with a booth in it. We ordered ours with the dinette. I think most dealers order the dinette in place of booth.

I have had rear entertainment centers and would never have another and I'm not joking and I have had 2 of them (didn't learn the first time. There is no place in it that has a comfortable viewing position. Also you lose the big window across the back and sometimes it has a great view out it. Everybody has to crane their necks to watch TV. I think manufacturers finally got smart and put the TV on the side with some of the seating straight across from it. Also if the TV is in the rear and you have 2 slides in the rear on the unit you won't be able to see the TV if you want to spend a quick night like in a Walmart with slides in. We can use our unit in with the slides in except cooking but for quick stops we usually have something cold in the fridge for diner or run into Walmart to their deli and get something. We can sit in our theater seats and still watch TV straight across from us and if I fire up the generator I can even use the fireplace, try that in a trailer that has slides that close off the TV and if you have a fireplace. The slides are in most cases not going to allow you to use the fireplace.

The reason in most cases you aren't seeing them is because most people don't want that layout.

This IMO

If you can hold on until Sept, go to the Hershey show and spend a a couple days there looking at all 5ers on your list from the mfrs you want to see them from. If not, visit as many local dealers lots. Once you get past the glitz and glamour, look to see how it fits the bill as to what your looking for and access to things either sitting or w/ slides in. Make a mental note of what both of you want, and when you go looking at RV's take a notepad (each of you and write things down separately), and jot down likes/dislikes of each RV you look at. Then compare later. Don't get something w/ the premise "we'll make it work", Get the one that closely matches ALL your criteria. Once you settle on 1 (if you order it), see what you can/can't do for options/add ons or changes. Example: we asked if carpet can be added to the LR area instead of the linoleum, it could for a few extra bucks, but it's not mentioned in brochure. Or switching out a small diameter fan (ie bath) for a larger one. Have factory do it.

X2 on checking out Northwood’s Arctic Fox line. They have 3 ear living areas to choose from depending on length and what you need. You can order a Dream Dineete (booth dinette), if you want a better choice furniture you can order it without furniture and they build their own stout frames. We were looking at several other makes before purchasing ours, looking past the glitz lead us to Arctic Fox and haven’t been disappointed.

Rear entertainment! Who wants to look at a TV from an angle on either side, and loose the view out the back window? Or sit in an uncomfortable dinette?

Just saying!

Chris

If you are planning on using a trifold sofa as a bed, be sure to open it up and check out the size. We took a pass on a Grand Design unit because the sofa was only suitable for kids.

The GD doesn't have ducts in the floor in the living area - the ducts are in the walls and island. They come with auto leveling as well. Went into several Jayco's at the Jacksonville show last weekend, and I was sadly unimpressed in comparing with GD. We are most likely going with the GD 303RLS.

Buy the one you like best as they will all have growing pains. Get the warranty repairs handles the first year and learn to fix everything yourself. We looked at both Jayco and Grand Design and liked both. The only tho g that keeps me from buying a Jayco is the electric landing gear and leveling system, I prefer hydraulic.

Bring up Northwood/ Arctic Fox RV's on the forum and read the reviews. Came very close to purchasing one but, found a good deal on a used DRV.

http://northwoodmfg.com/5th-wheels/arctic-fox-5th-wheels/

Some of my info is dated:
Jayco was bought by THOR and the quality appears to have declined a lot.

GD was bought by Winnie and the quality appears to a declined a little.

I was never impressed with OpenRange

Of the three I would be the most serious about a GD