First, I really don't want to start an argument, but this is the best place to get advice. Would like opinions & reasons for same. We bought a TT last yr.(only had a 3/4 ton gas & didn't want to invest a lot since we didn't know how much we'd like rving. Well, we LOVE it!! Now we're looking at 5th wheels with the idea of going full time in the near future (we already spend more time on the road than at home). We know we'll take a huge hit on our current rig, but we're prepared for that. We now have a RAM 3500 dually so weight isn't a problem anymore. So far Redwood, Landmark & Cedar Creek have floor plans we could live with. Some of our requirements are: a lg. bath with full shower, desk area, bedside table (or at least decent size ledges), washer & dryer space & reasonable storage & work area in the kitchen. What are some opinions on the 3 units I've mentioned, &/or what other units would you recommend. We have a pretty comfy TT (Jayco 2012 330RLTS)now so we don't have to be in any hurry. Thanks for your help!

Arctic Fox, and Cardinal are another two units in tye same price/quality range as your,looking. Personally I like the Cardinal 3550RL

"We now have a RAM 3500 dually so weight isn't a problem anymore". Believe it or not. You can still overload a 3500. there is a reason people tow with 450s, 550s, and MDTs. So take note of the weights. An overloaded 3500 is no better than a overloaded 1500.

Bought a Cameo couple of years ago. Quality is excellant. Ok Cameo is not built but Evergreen bought the design and developed Lifestyle. This is a top quality unit. Take a look.

We owned a cedar creek 5th wheel , which we bought in 2009 new, The model was approx 40 ft long with 5 slides and had doors on both sides. We loved it, towed with a 2005 chevy silverado 3500 dually with crew cab and full bed. We decided to move up to a motor home just two months ago as we travel a lot and I work out of my home state for months at a time. Cedar Creek is a good 5th wheel.

May I be so bold as to ask what model year Ram 3500 dually you have? Just curious. Any of the three you've mentioned are good as well as some you didn't mention that others have mentioned....Just take your time and pick the best one that fit's YOUR needs, after all it will be YOUR money. Someone had mentioned you can still overload a 3500 Dually and that is, to me, a true statement, thus the reason I wanted to know the year of your dually and what gear ratio you're running,thank you

Don't want to open a can of worms, but.... | Good Sam Community

Atom_Ant
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
B.O. Plenty wrote:
Interesting how they can rename something, In this case Falcon and people think it is different. The Falcon brand is wholly owned by Lippert...This means that all the components that are on the Redwood are the same as the Lippert brand components on any other trailer. There is no difference, only the name which is intentionally deceiving..

B.O.
I totally agree - it was one of my initial rubs with the company. A snow job. The only advantage I could see at the time was it eliminated some of the cross talk between manufaturers when you needed something fixed, but that didn't turn out to be true either. There is still a lot of finger pointing between Crossroads/Redwood and Lippert when something goes wrong.

In the end, no better no worse than any other manufaturer in that area as far as the predominate Lippert components and the industry struggles over warranty. The Redwood folks to date have always pulled through for us, and we love the coach.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2013
Interesting how they can rename something, In this case Falcon and people think it is different. The Falcon brand is wholly owned by Lippert...This means that all the components that are on the Redwood are the same as the Lippert brand components on any other trailer. There is no difference, only the name which is intentionally deceiving..

B.O.
Bill1374
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
I'll throw in a plug for NuWa line of fifths. While the factory is not currently in production, they list many new trailers in inventory at Kansasrvcenter. They do maintain their repair center at Chanute. While I'm not a fulltimer, I do spend several multi week trips each year and have been very happy with my rigs. This is my third HH, second new one, with only 3 minor repairs needed on both, one myself and the other 2 at my dealer.

Bill
kakampers
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
We have the Landmark and are fulltiming in it. We could not be more pleased with this and Heartland as a company....their customer service is second to none. We are currently at the Heartland Owner's Club in Goshen, IN and they have a service crew on site making minor repairs regardless of age of unit or warranty status! They have always gone above and beyond for their customers.

In addition, their Bighorn and Big Country lines are also warranted for full time use...but the Landmark also has a 2&5 warranty (2 years bumper to bumper and 5 years on structure)

We also full timed in an 2008 Bighorn for six years and it held up beautifully...
Atom_Ant
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
larry barnhart wrote:
Atom Ant wrote:
All are nice units! I found the frame and major components are almost identical on all of them. Redwood tends to be all Lippert and no Dometic, Landmark tends to go all Dometic. We went with the Redwood because of color and decor that we preferred over the others, and of course the dishwasher. So far it has been a fantastic 5th wheel and it seems to be well put together. I don't like the Schwintek slide mechanism on the bedroom slide, but they are hard to avoid anymore and I think I like it better than cables.

You will get a complainer here soon that will say they are no good (sounds like a flower), but I believe that is a reasonably isolated case with no apparent resolve.

Also give Lifestyle a look. They are a nice unit as well, with a completely different pedigree of frame and leveling (all non-lippert). We did not go with them because they are a startup and production was way behind.

PS - We have a generator and W/D and without water and personal belongings, we quickly pushed that pin weight up to 3500 lbs. The 100 gal fresh water tank could push it over 4000 in a hurry, which would actually exceed the payload for our dually once I load 3 people and fuel. As said above, the 1-ton dually is quickly becoming the lightweight on the street.
.
Happy shopping!
. The trailer life magazine said the Redwood trailers we're using the Falcon frame and all Falcon components not Lippert. Crewman
Trailer Life also said the Redwood had 15" wheels and slide out trays for the propane and batteries (which they do not). They also said you had to delete the fireplace to get a desk (NOT), and a few other snafus that tell me they spent less time in one than most people do at an RV show.

The Falcon Frame Company is located in never-never land and owned by Peter Pan.
Atom_Ant
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
The Mad Norsky wrote:
OK folks, please remember what the OP of this thread said: the idea of going full time in the future

One must recognize that this is immediately going to eliminate some brands, as NOT ALL fifth wheels are warrantied by their manufacturers for full time use.

OP, that is something you are going to have to ask. Is this trailer warrantied for full time use?

Of those you mentioned, the only one I know for sure is warrantied for full time use in the Heartland LandMark. And mind you, not all Heartlands are warrantied for full time use. Just their very top line models, of which LandMark is one. (there are two more, but I forget right now their names :o ).

You'd have to check about Cedar Creek models and Redwoods, I do not know with those brands.
Redwood is a full time unit and is warrantied a such.
The_Mad_Norsky
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
OK folks, please remember what the OP of this thread said: the idea of going full time in the future

One must recognize that this is immediately going to eliminate some brands, as NOT ALL fifth wheels are warrantied by their manufacturers for full time use.

OP, that is something you are going to have to ask. Is this trailer warrantied for full time use?

Of those you mentioned, the only one I know for sure is warrantied for full time use in the Heartland LandMark. And mind you, not all Heartlands are warrantied for full time use. Just their very top line models, of which LandMark is one. (there are two more, but I forget right now their names :o ).

You'd have to check about Cedar Creek models and Redwoods, I do not know with those brands.
MPI_Mallard
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
I think there really are few good fiver' builders out there and when you consider what they ask for them you really need to give any one manufacturer/model a real long look. With that being said a company's best advertiser is going to be its customers both past and present!While travelling we meet a lot of other fiver owners and get their takes on their fivers and man we have heard a lot of complaints,mostly about after-the-sale customer service or out-right absence of it. We own a 07' Cedar Creek Daydreamer and we are very happy with it,Cedar Creek's customer service is outstanding to say the least but they do a great job on their fivers from the beginning. as a master carpenter/finish carpenter their interiors I have seen so far are excellent,they do things in a way that makes sense to me and I would buy or reccomend another CC without hesitation.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
you fail to mention my first make or break cut, no rubber roofs.
bumpy
David_and_Chris
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
We bought our 2005 Cedar Creek used. The prior owner used it year round, he traded it for one with more insulation so he could stay north a little longer. We have had no problems to this point. The Cedar creek owners association is first rate for any questions, help or problems.
David

Forum Discussion

Don't want to open a can of worms, but....

About Fifth Wheel Group

Related Content

Should be simple WiFi question, but???

I Winterized ............. but then this happened.

Minor alignment issue... but a long story

Elephant Butte is best but what's closer?

I know it's Spring , But this is interesting