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HaulinBass02's avatar
HaulinBass02
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015

Cyclone vs Vengeance (long)

So my friends are about to buy a TH and fulltime for at least a year, starting next week, in Casper, WY, with 5 kids. Unfortunately they jumped off half-cocked and put some money down on a Vengeance Touring 39R12 without looking at other options out there. When they started asking me some questions and I started to look into the Vengeance, I wasn't too sold on it for a 4-seasons trailer. I suggested the Cyclone 4000 Elite because I know Heartland quality from my parent's having owned one and doing TONS of research into the Cyclone as we were going to upgrade to one.
Once I actually put my hands on a Vengeance and then the Cyclone, there were SEVERAL MAJOR quality differences in the trailers. Flooring, lack of full main A/C ducting in the Vengeance, slide out construction, poor insulation in the storage area, lack of heat in storage area/ water pipe exposure. Granted they both have similar MSRP but I don't feel the Vengeance lives up to the high MSRP compared to the Cyclone. Not to mention the dealer for the Vengeance flat out lied to them about several items on the Vengeance that through other research and hands on looking closely at it found to be lacking.
Long post short, money aside, does my hands on research stand to be true? Is the Cyclone more deserving of the nod to purchase? Is it that much better of a trailer? Especially given the optional Arctic package that the other dealer is going to add on to the Cyclone (NOT available on the Vengeance).
  • coolbreeze01 wrote:
    Do they plan to stay in Casper for the winter, in a trailer, with 5 kids?


    It's either that or they don't see daddy for 6 months. He is an oilfield electrician and has to keep everything from freezing. He can't go home during this time and the extended stays and hotels are full and not conducive to family living. So a trailer is one of the only ways to go. Its going to be set up and skirted for the winter. They did good research into the living part just not the rv part.

    I'm not a TH guy yet so I went strictly off my research and my oponions towards the Cyclone. The Vengeance wasn't even around when I first started looking several years ago so that's why I asked. The dealer fed them the classic line of the Vengeance being on the same plane as the Cyclone, Fuzion, Voltage etc. It apparently is not and the dealer fed them a lot of BS and was doing some back handed stuff I won't go into.

    The straw that almost killed someone was the fact that the dealer was going to put a Reese goosebox rated for 16k on a trailer that grosses over 18k and let them drive away like that. Yes my friend should have done more research but you wonder how many other people who don't know any better were put out onto the road with completely unsafe equipment a dealer assured them would work. I know it happens far more than we hear about which is honestly very scary.

    Off my soapbox but they ended up going with the Cyclone now and I think it will be a good unit for them. They will basically be full timing this winter then doing extended stays during the rest of the year.
  • Well thats a toughie really. I know Cyclone is Heartlands top tier TH. However They are very problematic. We sell lots of them for sure, we get every one of them back (over and over and over again) Actually "right now" on our lot for repair, we have 5 Cyclones. Only have 6 5ers and 5 are Cyclones. The 6th 5er is a Cougar with an inop Suburban furnace. The Cyclones have a laundry list. 1 has 127 line items, another has 52 items. One just has one problem - 5 different spots of delam. The other 2 just a few minor things that we should complete by weeks end.

    The only Forest River product we sell is Coachmen Sports Coach DP. We do service everything though, and as a general rule, we get more Forest River repairs than we get Heartland, but Cyclone is our exception, without Cyclone, we wouldnt get hardly anything from Heartland.

    Having very little experience with Vengeance "most common" problems, and a firm understanding of Cyclones biggest problems. ---- I would buy the Cyclone still.
  • +1 on the Grand Design Momentum. We ARE full-timing in one and thus far the company had stood behind and corrected all of the minor issues we've had. We had looked at a myriad of other brands including all mentioned here, but the Momentum had the right layout and livability for us. With that said, it's just the wife and I. I cannot imagine doing this in any rig with us +5!
  • Cyclone and Vengeance aren't on the same level. Cyclone is Heartland's top tier hauler and Vengeance is Forest River's second line. Apples to Apples would be to compare Cyclone to XLR Thunderbolt. Then you will get the same level of options and equipment.
  • HaulinBass02 wrote:
    So my friends are about to buy a TH and fulltime for at least a year

    Make sure they read the warranty. Most all RVs, with a few exceptions, do not warranty full time use. One of the few Toy Haulers that is standing behind is the Grand Design Momentum. Just make sure they understand the warranty, and if they go with an extended warranty verify it as well.
  • Howdy!

    We fulltime in a Cyclone 4000 elite. I did a lot of research before we purchased ours and Cyclone came out on top. I would have them look at the Heartland owners forum for further research it might help.

    Heartland Cyclone owners forum

    "Happy Trails"
    Chiefneon
  • We have had our Cyclone for 7.5 years now and would buy another one if we ever upgrade.