Pulling the trigger on a new Fifth Wheel
My 8 year old Colorado 32QB-M5-BS is no longer mine. After two major hail storms and some flooding this year on the road, the insurance company has chosen to total her as opposed to paying to repair/refurbish her. So, they took her away today. :(
She was a good rig for her time. Her floor plan was perfect for what I needed the past 8 years... top third= bedroom/bath area. center third= living/kitchen/dining area. rear third= office/bunkhouse.
Shortcomings:? 30 amp, one a/c, low/mid-level unit, no washer/dryer.
As I practically 'live' in my fiver for as much as ten months a year for work assignments around the country, I have learned a lot about what I don't want, and what I do want.
Have been looking now for about three weeks at a suitable replacement. Requirements:?
1. Good Insulation / Four Seasons
2. 50 amp electrical system
3. Two a/c units
4. Good size kitchen with good appliances
5. Since the kids are grown and gone, don't need the bunkhouse configuration any longer.
6. Washer/Dryer
7. 30 to 35 feet.
8. Price between 40-48 K.
Problem when searching for a new unit is when you speak to one dealer, he trashes his competitor's comparable models. Other dealers trash their competitor's models also, so you don't get a 'true' picture.
Same thing when you look at the owner forums for each brand. Once you weed through the obvious 'owner-related issues', and check the RV.NET and other websites, BBB, etc.- you realize that no rig is perfect, and you just have to be happy with what you buy.
We narrowed our search down to the following five brands in a 30-35 foot model:
Columbus
Blue Ridge
Solitude
Open Range
Big Horn
After all was said and done, we settled on the 2015 ROAMER
RF337RLS by Open Range RV.
Will post new pictures tomorrow when we hook her up.
Wish me luck
She was a good rig for her time. Her floor plan was perfect for what I needed the past 8 years... top third= bedroom/bath area. center third= living/kitchen/dining area. rear third= office/bunkhouse.
Shortcomings:? 30 amp, one a/c, low/mid-level unit, no washer/dryer.
As I practically 'live' in my fiver for as much as ten months a year for work assignments around the country, I have learned a lot about what I don't want, and what I do want.
Have been looking now for about three weeks at a suitable replacement. Requirements:?
1. Good Insulation / Four Seasons
2. 50 amp electrical system
3. Two a/c units
4. Good size kitchen with good appliances
5. Since the kids are grown and gone, don't need the bunkhouse configuration any longer.
6. Washer/Dryer
7. 30 to 35 feet.
8. Price between 40-48 K.
Problem when searching for a new unit is when you speak to one dealer, he trashes his competitor's comparable models. Other dealers trash their competitor's models also, so you don't get a 'true' picture.
Same thing when you look at the owner forums for each brand. Once you weed through the obvious 'owner-related issues', and check the RV.NET and other websites, BBB, etc.- you realize that no rig is perfect, and you just have to be happy with what you buy.
We narrowed our search down to the following five brands in a 30-35 foot model:
Columbus
Blue Ridge
Solitude
Open Range
Big Horn
After all was said and done, we settled on the 2015 ROAMER
RF337RLS by Open Range RV.
Will post new pictures tomorrow when we hook her up.
Wish me luck
