Alliance 5th Wheels

lcseds wrote:
My wife and I drove four hours round trip to look at an Alliance. Wish I had my gas money back....
Nothing special at all. As mentioned, the AC is not ducted. Look at some pics on line. Same AC in the living area as I have in my cheap TT. And if you look at them in person you will find more WTH items.

The kool-aid is strong with this brand. But dig a little, and it's the same old s***.

I totally agree. I'd say they same about Vanleigh.

My wife and I drove four hours round trip to look at an Alliance. Wish I had my gas money back....
Nothing special at all. As mentioned, the AC is not ducted. Look at some pics on line. Same AC in the living area as I have in my cheap TT. And if you look at them in person you will find more WTH items.

The kool-aid is strong with this brand. But dig a little, and it's the same old s***.

ACZL wrote:
This new RV has caught my attention, but like others, want to see how they are after new owners get them. I like their ideas and concepts and for right now seem to listen to people and make changes based on suggestions. We all want to see now what they are going to offer in terms of floor-plans and all but they (Alliance) are keeping their cards close to their chests. As this year goes forward, more models will be released. Big question tho is, are they going to stick to their guns and really be 100% customer focused, take time to manufacture RV's in a quality fashion and not rush them out the door or not? By the time the Hershey show is here, they should have more floorpans to see. Also, folks that have bought them already should as well be offering their take on them..

This is a good observation that is holding thus far imho. They have assembled an interesting collection of big wiggs from other companies (including GD) but what intrigues me is their presumed ability to compete at this price point. So far my observation is that they are no nu-wa (hitchiker) by any means, with no apparent intentions thereunto, either. But they have made the splash and turned some heads so now its time to deliver. Can they reliably laminate to Azdel? Are the seals around the roof perimeter any better than others? Is PVC roof better for the customer or better for the mfg? What industry contribution or claim to fame are they trying to achieve? I hope its more than color coded wires and folding shower seats

Im trying to discern what they are really selling. If its just coach features identified via crowd sourcing then they won't be leaders very long. If its customer engagement then its a me-too grand design company.

But if its a better trailer then they will have to earn that reputation over time, with more than just de-rating gvw below the sum of axle rating and pin weight.

Seems rather ironic or sad that you go to a rally and cheer the very same people that built your RV that you also need to have fixed by rally technicians.

smlranger wrote:

goducks10 wrote:

FlatBroke wrote:
Three ACs and no seat in the shower. :h

3 AC's because there's no ducting.

I believe Alliance uses 3 AC's because someone there recognized that 2 AC's may not be adequate in hot weather. I have a 2019 GD Solitude with 2 15K ducted AC units and we have problems getting it cool in hot and humid weather. That is with awnings deployed and sun shades on all windows exposed to direct sun.

Grand Design should at least pre wire for a 3AC unit on their larger 5th wheels so the owner could easily add a 3rd AC if desired.

What???!!! Even with their "40" R value roof!!

Want a laugh, here is even a dealer making fun of manufacturers claims.
Exposing False R values

Full disclosure, we are in the process of selling our 11 Brookstone (that worked very well with one A/C) to buy a 17 Solitude. But eyes wide open.

GDS-3950BH wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:


Call me a kool-aid drinker - I don't care - that's a term usually given to someone who is very happy with something that is given by someone who isn't very happy with what they have, so all they can do is tell others how crappy the thing they don't have is.

Unfortunately you have to pay your dues to get the moniker lol.

You have to go to the Goshen rally and spend a couple days with your entire family wearing matching GD T shirts and hats. Then you have to sit through listening to the factory big wigs feed a line of BS a few times, while you clap and cheer loudly. Finally each morning you have to get up early and walk out in the road in front of your rig, then let loose with the GD company song. This year its the Darrel Waltrip version of the Kenny Rogers classic " You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel".

Went to a Heartland rally there in 2011 (My last) You are 100% correct. Almost died laughing at some little guy cheerleader who was trying to rally the troops when the big wigs were announced. Sad but true.
B.O.

GDS-3950BH wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:


Call me a kool-aid drinker - I don't care - that's a term usually given to someone who is very happy with something that is given by someone who isn't very happy with what they have, so all they can do is tell others how crappy the thing they don't have is.

Unfortunately you have to pay your dues to get the moniker lol.

You have to go to the Goshen rally and spend a couple days with your entire family wearing matching GD T shirts and hats. Then you have to sit through listening to the factory big wigs feed a line of BS a few times, while you clap and cheer loudly. Finally each morning you have to get up early and walk out in the road in front of your rig, then let loose with the GD company song. This year its the Darrel Waltrip version of the Kenny Rogers classic " You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel".

No - don't go to the rallies (maybe you have attended? sounds like it), but so what? It's not like GD is the only manufacturer that has them, and from what I've heard, they have technicians on hand and let you report any issues that need addressing - this particular person got treated above and beyond that when they took her fifth wheel back to the factory for an AC repair. But they are not the only company that does this - I've read about those too.

If your not happy about your current GD product, I'm betting you would have an easy time getting rid of it - lol.

ACZL wrote:
This new RV has caught my attention, but like others, want to see how they are after new owners get them. I like their ideas and concepts and for right now seem to listen to people and make changes based on suggestions. We all want to see now what they are going to offer in terms of floor-plans and all but they (Alliance) are keeping their cards close to their chests. As this year goes forward, more models will be released. Big question tho is, are they going to stick to their guns and really be 100% customer focused, take time to manufacture RV's in a quality fashion and not rush them out the door or not? By the time the Hershey show is here, they should have more floorpans to see. Also, folks that have bought them already should as well be offering their take on them..

Funny, SWMBO texted me about the company. Looking at their products, it looks nice. Think they are missing the mark on internal storage, and not sure I'm ready for that much glass in an RV. Don't know if they were at Novi MI show, we were pretty focused on looking a just a couple of different models.

I've heard the quality discussion before. Time will tell.

This new RV has caught my attention, but like others, want to see how they are after new owners get them. I like their ideas and concepts and for right now seem to listen to people and make changes based on suggestions. We all want to see now what they are going to offer in terms of floor-plans and all but they (Alliance) are keeping their cards close to their chests. As this year goes forward, more models will be released. Big question tho is, are they going to stick to their guns and really be 100% customer focused, take time to manufacture RV's in a quality fashion and not rush them out the door or not? By the time the Hershey show is here, they should have more floorpans to see. Also, folks that have bought them already should as well be offering their take on them..

smlranger wrote:

goducks10 wrote:

FlatBroke wrote:
Three ACs and no seat in the shower. :h

3 AC's because there's no ducting.

I believe Alliance uses 3 AC's because someone there recognized that 2 AC's may not be adequate in hot weather. I have a 2019 GD Solitude with 2 15K ducted AC units and we have problems getting it cool in hot and humid weather. That is with awnings deployed and sun shades on all windows exposed to direct sun.

Grand Design should at least pre wire for a 3AC unit on their larger 5th wheels so the owner could easily add a 3rd AC if desired.

They use 3 AC's because that don't use ducted AC. The two in the living area are whats needed because of no ducting. The one in the bedroom is ducted to the bathroom since cool air can't go through walls.
It's also way quieter than your GD's ducted AC.