Hello all,I'm new to RVing and overwhelmed right now. I hope you can help me. My husband, Mom and myself are hoping to start full time RV travel in 18 months. I've been doing research for 3 months and went the gamet from Class As to travel trailers to fifth wheels. We looked at used but got worried about financing so concentrated on new them today Camping World showed us some very nice used models. We liked the 2012 Alpine and put in a bid they declined and we left but they called before we go back on the interstate and decided to take our offer. Now I'm second guessing myself. I emailed the salesman we have been working with at another dealership. He had me liking a Sandpiper with a middle bunk so Mom would have her own space but we still had a "real" living area. Very nice but a little over what we wanted to pay. I emailed him and told him of this one and our price hoping he could match it. He came back with a very close price on a 2012 Cedar Creek. The pics look good but I like to touch and feel first. Also I don't know much about these two models. I've been focused on Bay Hill and Montana's....All advice, thoughts, suggestions will be appreciated. I'm not sure where to go to get the best advice on which is the best manufacturers for full time RVing.Thank you in advance!Anna

Link below is a good place to start. Creekers (Cedar Creek Owners) are very loyal to the brand. Visit the CC Forum.RV Manufacturers Survey

Whatever make and model you decide on..shop for it online first to find the best price. Then go back and renegotiate with the printout in your hand from the dealer giving you the best price. You may find you can negotiate them down or maybe you can save enough to make a nice trip out of it and go elsewhere to buy. I'm kid of partial to the Cedar Creek quality myself, but the floor plan needs to work also.B.O.

It is overwhelming when trying to decide which RV to buy. Settle on a type first, then develop a priority list. Since there will be three adults I would think a bunkhouse floorplan would be better for you. Your Mom will get tired of sleeping on a sofa very quickly. Having some private space would be very important to me. You don't mention a tow vehicle, but if you already have one then you have to make sure you are not overloaded on weight.I wouldn't make any snap decisions since you have lots of time before you need an RV. Make a pros and cons list of your favorite models to help you decide. Then spend at least an hour inside the RV without a salesman and pretend like you are living in it. You would be surprised the things you will discover, some of which may be deal breakers for you. Good Luck. You'll find "the one". Take your time.

Wow! You guys are fast! Thank you!!Great input. I've made so many lists I've filled up a 5section spiral notebook.... It comes down to trusting your decisions and I'm not good at that lately. I second, third and fourth guess myself....Thank you all!I'm not giving up!Anna

P.S. We bought a diesel that can pull 15550 and are staying under 13000 dry weight.

Cedar Creek vs Alpine | Good Sam Community

Ford_Man
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
WEll I see you went with the Montana. Great because I have owned 3 of the 2003, 2006, and a 2010 traded the 2010 for a high dollar full body paint Landmark made by Heartland who make the Bighorn and it is a piece of crap. Trading it for an ordered 2015 Montana 3611rl with the Legacy Package. Should be here in a few weeks.
Annaoinga
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
I took some advice from here and climbed in one of the round showers and closed the door and pretended to wash my hair - my elbows were hitting the sides. Not a comfortable feeling and sometimes I shower 3 times a day so I eliminated all the models with round showers and went with only the big showers. My friends had warned me but I thought - "It'll be ok"... wrong!

Thank you everyone!
Anna :)
Annaoinga
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
Great info - you guys are wonderful!!! I love this forum!

We have tentatively decided on a Montana 3725RL. We have a 2006 F250 6.0 diesel with a 6.5 bed. I'm still looking into hitches - it seems like the consensus here is an auto slider hitch isn't "required" with the extended pin boxes and the rounded nose of the new models but its a nice plus just in case... Would you guys agree that I'm reading the threads right? It's an extra $1200 but sounds like a good investment to me. If one time he turns too tight... it might cost us more than the $1200....

Our weight limit via FORD is 15550 and the Montana dry weight is 12900. We aren't packrats and plan to travel light so we think we are good - do you guys agree?

Thanks for all the info and keep the comments coming please! You guys are keeping me sane through this process! :)

Anna
goducks10
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
What diesel truck did you buy. 3/4 ton, 1 ton, SRW, DRW? Not all diesels are rated the same. You'll need a 1 ton diesel for any Big Horn. Sandpiper's aren't even in the same league as a BH. I'd go Gateway or Big Country before Sandpiper.
dblr
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
rattleNsmoke wrote:
We can offer our opinions until the cows come home. You and family will have to physically walk thru each of the ones considered then make your decision.

One of the best answers yet but I would add try to spend some time in the unit and see how things feel, sit on the toilet, stand in the shower, see where things would stow away like dishes and glasses, you would be surprised how many people do no think of things like this until after they buy and then it's to late, just my opinion.
rattleNsmoke
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
We can offer our opinions until the cows come home. You and family will have to physically walk thru each of the ones considered then make your decision.
Annaoinga
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
thanks all!
FlatBroke
Explorer II
Oct 29, 2014
Annaoinga wrote:
The Sandpiper was the only one I found that had a REAL living room. I don't want to lose "our" space for a private room for my mom.

That said we shifted to Montana and Big Horns giving up on a private space for mom...

What would you guys recommend please:

2012 Alpine
2012 Cedar Creek

2015 Montana
2015 Big Horn

There is about $11000 difference between the used and the new but otherwise they are pretty even in options and layouts....

Thanks for all the help! I'm overwhelmed with the choices. Each day I think I've decided and when I go over the list again I change my mind.....

Anna

Big Horn
jsr21
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
Have a look at one of these...

Cedar Creek Silverback
Annaoinga
Explorer
Oct 28, 2014
The Sandpiper was the only one I found that had a REAL living room. I don't want to lose "our" space for a private room for my mom.

That said we shifted to Montana and Big Horns giving up on a private space for mom...

What would you guys recommend please:

2012 Alpine
2012 Cedar Creek

2015 Montana
2015 Big Horn

There is about $11000 difference between the used and the new but otherwise they are pretty even in options and layouts....

Thanks for all the help! I'm overwhelmed with the choices. Each day I think I've decided and when I go over the list again I change my mind.....

Anna