Forum Discussion

frogfan's avatar
frogfan
Explorer
Jan 20, 2014

Advice needed on new 5er

My wife and I are in a stand off on picking new 5er. We currently have a 29TT with BH.

I want a RL or FL 35-39' with 4-5 slides. She wants a BH 35-41'. Our daughters are 18 and 21 and usually bring a friend when we camp (lake). I reluctantly agreed to a BH on the condition we get nothing over 39', outside cooking, ceiling fan and a kitchen slide out. She wants a lot of storage in kitchen, place for towels in bathroom and an island.

We have spent days looking, all over DFW. We really liked the:

Silverado 36TB with Stainless Appliances, double refrigerator.
Sierra 301OK (kinda basic, but has large pantry)
Open Range 367BHS with table in bunk area for our kids to play game.
Gateway 3650BH, has most everything we want, but looks over priced.

All of them have their good points, our favorite was the Open Range. It had everything we liked.... Open living area with the tables that can be removed, and the dinette/table in the rear. It has great storage but is missing a door for the bedroom between the step and the bed.

The Gateway was nice, but for the price it seems to be built on the cheap.

The Sierra was ok, but looks too basic for the price.

Silverado was nice too, but she'd rather have the storage as opposed to the 1/2 bath.

My question is, does anyone have any other ideas for us to consider? Or any experience with these models? If there were a bedroom door on the Open Range, we would have bought it. As you can see our price points vary depending on unit, we have a 2012 Ford F250 so TV is not a huge concern.

Thanks in advance for any input.

20 Replies

  • I agree with the fact that your daughters are at that age... the one that they will not be camping with you very soon!!! Ours are 15 and 20.. The 20 year old just last year just started staying back maybe a few times and has already stated that between work and school that this year may be less.. Life happens.... Don't drop that type of coin on a trailer based on that... And besides,, bunks get confining for an adult..
  • 2008Wildcat wrote:
    Have you seen the new Grand Design Reflection 323BHS?



    If anything looks familiar, it is because the guy that designed the Open Range is now designing the Reflections...


    Well he must have forgotten to put in countertops. For a trailer that large there is very little counter space.
  • Have you seen the new Grand Design Reflection 323BHS?



    If anything looks familiar, it is because the guy that designed the Open Range is now designing the Reflections...
  • I agree with twins89. You are about to make a purchase that should last you years down the road. I am surprised your daughters still want to go with you, Usually at that age it is just not "cool" to go camping with your parents lol lol..... So even if they do they may only be going for another year or two but you will have the trailer for longer then that. You still have the sofa bed and if necessary get a blow up bed for friends. Just get one with the opposing slides for lots of floor area. Or better yet get a toyhauler which had bunks in the garage and then you can buy toys too lol lol
  • Take a step back and ask your kids how much longer they are going to camp with you. I would get them a nice tent or a popup they can tow themselves (we did) and then get the rig that will suit you and the spouse for many years. I've seen too many friends get a BH and then complain they have no space and no kids to use the bunks.
  • Here is a link to the trim around the slide.

    http://i1.rvusa.com/wm/showimagerv.ashx?id=13461989&t=4
  • I thought about doing a slider, but it would go on the outside of the bedroom/bathrrom door and would not really work. The bathroom hall in to bedroom has a slide that when closed will almost touch the wall where the door would need to go.

    Only option I can envision would be an accordian door, but then again, due to the slide/trim it would not completly close in the bedroom. They are going to see about removing the trim for the slide, and trying to make something work, but I think it is going to look "rigged".
  • Sounds like the Open Range fits most of your needs/wants list. Any way a bedroom door can be added?