I am hoping some of you 5er guys can help us out. We presently have a Outboack 277RL Trailer, and love the layout, but would like more storage space now that we snowbird for a couple months at a time.Seems like a 5th wheel and a pick up when our van needs replaced would fit the bill, as high powered full size 4x4 vans are getting scarce. We would like a very similar floorplan as we have now. We almost always end up with waterfront sites, and love a big window in the back, so it seems like the rear living layouts similar to what we have now would be a good choice. We have been going to shows, and looking online, and are having a hard time finding a floorplan we like - nearly all the newer 5ers seem to have a slide out on the curb side which we feel would interfere with our outside living and block our view of the water. Here are our preferences:- large rear windows for good view out the back - rear living room or rear dinette would fit the bill - set to sleep two with maybe 2 additional guests once in a while- 2 slides - one in the living area and one in the bed room (none on the street side)- large hanging closet- dresser or table in the bedroom or elsewhere that can be used as a computer desk (we both work part time on the road)- at least 16" wheels- capability for two air conditioners- would like to stay in the 28-34' range and under 15,000 gvwr so we can two with a SRW pickup.The only one we have found so far is a Keystone Cougar 288RLS. Anybody know of any others we could check out?Thanks!

If you are looking at used, try an 2005-2008 Montana. It fufills the requirements you are looking for.

A lot of the light-weight FWs have 2 main area slides and either no front slide or a simple wardrobe slide. Jayco Eagle HT and KZ Durango 1500 lines have these floorplans.Lyle

Nutinelse2do wrote:If you are looking at used, try an 2005-2008 Montana. It fufills the requirements you are looking for. Thanks! You are correct in those floorplans are what we are looking for .... hoping to find a more current model (2015-2016) that will be on the used market in a couple of years when we are ready ...Seems like to current trend is put a curb side slide on everything!

See my signature for the Arctic Fox fiver. It is exactly what you are looking for and one of the best built rigs out there.

Our Jayco HT 26.5 RLS has a living area slide that is pretty generous, holding the couch and dining area. When closed, the stove, bathroom and bedroom is still available. It also has a wardrobe slide with four doors and quite a bit of room. However, in that size FW, there is no room for a desk. It also has the large rear window and a lot of windows on the slide. Not so much on the curb side. We took a 20 day trip two years ago and had more than enough storage room. I haven't looked at the larger Jayco HTs, perhaps they would have a bit more room.

Rear Living Room with only 2 slides? | Good Sam Community

Flapper
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
Bill & Kate wrote:
jalichty wrote:
Our Jayco HT 26.5 RLS has a living area slide that is pretty generous, holding the couch and dining area. When closed, the stove, bathroom and bedroom is still available. It also has a wardrobe slide with four doors and quite a bit of room. However, in that size FW, there is no room for a desk. It also has the large rear window and a lot of windows on the slide. Not so much on the curb side. We took a 20 day trip two years ago and had more than enough storage room. I haven't looked at the larger Jayco HTs, perhaps they would have a bit more room.

Thanks for the suggestion. That Jayco is on my short list, but it has that wardrobe slide looks like it could be a real headbanger - I intend to find one to look at in person. It would be almost perfect if the wardrobe slide was on the street side .......

That was my concern with ours. So I made some corner bumpers with pool noodles. After three seasons, nobody has come close to actually bumping their heads! Look also at the 1 ft longer triple slide version - huge increase in floor space. Wish I had known that version was coming out a month after I bought mine!
jalichty
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
Bill & Kate, in the three years we have had our Jayco, we have yet to hit our heads on the wardrobe slideout. I know it can happen, but a guy/gal just has to be careful when rounding the corner from the front. Also, some folks have taken those swimming noodles and cut them down to fit on the corners to help keep the damage down when contacting the corners accidentally.
stickdog
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
There is no perfect 5th wheel and anyway there are no 2 RVers that have the same requirements.
We scratched one of our "needs" and found that it hasn't hindered or made less enjoyable for the 6 years we've been fulltime.
laknox
Nomad
Feb 11, 2016
Bill & Kate wrote:
Jim-Linda wrote:
Not sure why you feel a curb slide would block view out the back. Our curb side entertainment slide is nowhere near the rear windows, of which we have 5, one large and 4 verticle. the patio area can be covered by the 17' awning, so space is not an issue (with us). This is however a 38' NuWa.

Jim

We spend the vast bulk of our time outside - cooking, sitting, and otherwise enjoying the fresh air. For the type of sites we really like - on the water with the view toward the back - we fell the curb side slide would block the outside view from the patio area to the rear. it's obvious why they are so popular - it really opens the interior up - but at the expense of being in the way when outside.

To follow up on my previous post, the Jayco Eagle HT 26.5RLS has a single living slide and a wardrobe slide, giving you that view you're looking for. As it's very similar to my current Komfort, one of the things we didn't like was the distance from the chairs/soft to the entertainment center. That's one of the reasons we're leaning to the 27.5RLTS. KZ doesn't have anything similar in the Durango 1500 line, though they do have a bunkhouse with slides only on the street side.

Lyle
Bill___Kate
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
DutchmenSport wrote:
I know you said you were looking for a 5er with only 1 slide in rear with a window, but have you considered the Outback 298RE - TT. It does have 2 slides in the rear living room, but it's got windows all around. The television can be lowered into the cabinet so there is no obstruction to the rear window. And with windows in both slides, lots of living space, and the panoramic view from all 3 sides of the rear living room, it's fabulous!

We actually looked at the 298RE before we decided on our 277RL, but decided to opt for the larger bedroom over the second living room slide. We just feel that curb side slide would get in the way of our outside living, and wanted the dresser in the bedroom to use as a computer desk when we have to work. I agree that it is a very nice trailer, and your modifications look great!

We tow with a 4x4 van so we can keep out surf fishing rods inside without taking them apart, but maybe a roof top carrier is a real consideration - although it will be really high of the ground!
Bill___Kate
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
Jim-Linda wrote:
Not sure why you feel a curb slide would block view out the back. Our curb side entertainment slide is nowhere near the rear windows, of which we have 5, one large and 4 verticle. the patio area can be covered by the 17' awning, so space is not an issue (with us). This is however a 38' NuWa.

Jim

We spend the vast bulk of our time outside - cooking, sitting, and otherwise enjoying the fresh air. For the type of sites we really like - on the water with the view toward the back - we fell the curb side slide would block the outside view from the patio area to the rear. it's obvious why they are so popular - it really opens the interior up - but at the expense of being in the way when outside.
Bill___Kate
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
jalichty wrote:
Our Jayco HT 26.5 RLS has a living area slide that is pretty generous, holding the couch and dining area. When closed, the stove, bathroom and bedroom is still available. It also has a wardrobe slide with four doors and quite a bit of room. However, in that size FW, there is no room for a desk. It also has the large rear window and a lot of windows on the slide. Not so much on the curb side. We took a 20 day trip two years ago and had more than enough storage room. I haven't looked at the larger Jayco HTs, perhaps they would have a bit more room.

Thanks for the suggestion. That Jayco is on my short list, but it has that wardrobe slide looks like it could be a real headbanger - I intend to find one to look at in person. It would be almost perfect if the wardrobe slide was on the street side .......
Bill___Kate
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
Earl E wrote:
See my signature for the Arctic Fox fiver. It is exactly what you are looking for and one of the best built rigs out there.

Thanks for the tip about Arctic Fox - I hadn't looked there yet. Unfortunately, they haven't made the 5S in a few years - the newest ones have a curb side slide. The smaller 27 is a possibility, however.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
I know you said you were looking for a 5er with only 1 slide in rear with a window, but have you considered the Outback 298RE - TT. It does have 2 slides in the rear living room, but it's got windows all around. The television can be lowered into the cabinet so there is no obstruction to the rear window. And with windows in both slides, lots of living space, and the panoramic view from all 3 sides of the rear living room, it's fabulous!

We even removed the stand alone kitchen table, chairs, and 2 rocker chairs and replaced with a real household recliner couch. We can turn it cross ways in the living room, facing the rear, and have a spectacular view 24x7!

The bed room also has a wall closet slide, which we have yet to fill up, and 2 closets on both sides of the bed. It does have cabinets all over, which some of ours are still empty. Inside storage is great.

There is only 1 outside pass-through in the front, but it's pretty large. We use the construction topper shell with side shelves on the truck to carry hardware items, and of course the bed of the truck to carry the blue tote, firewood, and such.

I know you're looking at 5er's, but it would be well worth your time to look at the Outback 298RE. It is perfect for 2, camping for extended times. The short couch is a sleeper, with a blow up mattress. My 30 year old son and 3 year old grand son use it sometimes. Here's some photos, not the best, but hopefully will give you an idea:
Jim-Linda
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2016
Not sure why you feel a curb slide would block view out the back. Our curb side entertainment slide is nowhere near the rear windows, of which we have 5, one large and 4 verticle. the patio area can be covered by the 17' awning, so space is not an issue (with us). This is however a 38' NuWa.

Jim