Hi Guys,I'm strongly considering moving up to a higher quality unit and going to a fifth wheel. We've looked around and have found the KZ Durango 296BH to be about the perfect layout for us.Been towing and camping since 2008, we do around 60 nights per year and around 6000-7000KM's towing to destinations so I'm thinking the overall shorter combined length will be nice as well.KZ stuff seems to be put together quite well, my old man has had 2 of them over the last 8 years with no issues to mention whereas I've had nothing but trouble with our Wildwood (cheap, entry level, I know but still shouldn't be that bad).I'm keeping my current F250 CCSB, love the truck. Has 23xx of Payload as per the door sticker, Hellwig airbags and onboard air from airlift - should be under my payload when its all done but even if its close I'm fine with that knowing other than the rear blocks that a SRW F350 is basically the same truck with a different sticker. Mine has the camper package as well with the overload springs and swaybar, I think also stiffer front springs.The Fiver we're looking at ( published dry weight FWIW) 81xxlbs dry, around 12xxlbs Pin weight - both will go up and it will have to be weighed of course. CCC of 18xxlbs as per the sticker on the unit.Thinking of the B&W Patriot 18K with manual slider (just in case right!).LayoutSome pics of it:thoughts?

If you like the floor plan, and the deal is right, go for it. The KZ line should be a nice upgrade for you. The one pictured is nice looking, and has a rounded front, with extended pin box.The Patriot is a very good hitch, but I would not bother with the slider. The regular Patriot in 16K, or 18K, are a great buy! If you have been backing the TT for a while, you know not to turn too short.Jerry

My thoughts on the floorplan. How accessible is unit with slides in? Can you get to fridge and bathroom? Is there a door to the master bedroom?I have come to dislike the 2nd 1/2 bath because I do not want to dump an additional set of tanks. I have a bunk house bath that is slowly becoming a closet!

Just a thought --- B&W companion hitch might be a better choice? I have one and you can assemble it with the pin 4" behind the rear axle. I have a 2010 Ram 3500 megacab with the 6' 4" shortbed and in 10K miles towing have not needed a slider. Tows great and with hitch removed the bed is empty and flat with no rails. 18K lbs rated with 5K max pin weight. Gooseneck rated for 30k lbs. My 2014 Keystone Alpine has the rounded cap. I would not tow a square corner 5ver with my setup.

We visited the KZ factory back in 2004 and bought our first travel trailer back then. Since then we traded up our KZ travel trailer to our KZ 5'er. Very satisfied with both, but our dealer is very good too. I am sure that if/ when we get another 5'er that it will be a KZ product. The new Durango's are very nice. Not sure if I like 2 toilets though. -Bryan

I'm already used to having two dumping locations with our current unit so that's ok by me, with three women in the family I'm thinking a second washroom will be quite nice. The rear washroom is accessible while on the road with the slides closed, the kitchen is not, but neither is my current setup. Good to know I don't 'need' a slider hitch, but would it not be nice to have just in case?

Thoughts on KZ Durango 296bh (2015 leftover) | Good Sam Community

pennysmom09
Explorer
Jan 31, 2016
alexleblanc wrote:
pennysmom09 wrote:
We are on our second Durango, love them both. The few imperfections at deliverynwere taken care of efficiently by the dealership. We live in it for 5 months in the winter, love the space in our 325RL.

how do you find your SRW super duty handles the 2100+ lbs of Pin weight?

A tad late reply??! The SRW handles the pin weight just fine. DH says he can't even feel the trailer and we have lots of space between truck rails and rig. We have an F350 incase I hadn't mentioned that.
alexleblanc
Explorer
Sep 24, 2015
TV Angle was somewhat a concern for us as the Wildwood was awesome that way - but with the fold out wall bracket we will make it work, worst case I'll relocate it to the wall above the door.

Our old Wildwood was officially written off by our insurance company Tuesday due to structural damage that happened during a windstorm and rough roads, so I'll wind up a little ahead on this whole deal. (paid for a whole year sooner than the wildwood was going to be at a lower payment - a whole 10$ bi-weekly! with a FW that's two years newer)
blue_trawler
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
I have a 2008 Durango 325sb and love it. Have put about 65k on it. Some wear and tear which is normal. The warranty was great and now I'm on extended warranty and my motor and gear box broke and its in the shop now.
You will love the super glide hitch, good choice, I had one. When I bought a new F350 nobody told me about the capture plate under the pin box , if someone else tows u for some reason, they better have the same hitch or they will rip the head off their hitch and damage the bed of the truck! FYI
I think you will love the Durango! We talk about moving to a new one but we can't think of a reason to do it!
Wife keeps the interior looking new! I try keeping the outside as best as I can in the hot sun of the southwest!

Enjoy and congrats

Bruce
greg_gurd
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
My only complaint is that our window blinds won't slide under the side decorative covers. We find that with the TV on a wall mount you can pull it out for easier viewing, unlike other trailers we have owned. Oh the luxuries we give up to spend time with our grandkids, worth every minute.
avvidclif1
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
The location of the TV in relation to the seating would kill it for me. I get a crick in my neck having to watch TV sideways.
alexleblanc
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
greg gurd wrote:
We sold our 40' Cardinal with all the bells and whistles for this same model(late 2015)in the spring of this year and have loved it so far. We wanted the extra bed and bath to camp with the grandkids. Our model has the kitchen reversed, stairs on other side with extra door from the bath into the bedroom the one you have shown is an earlier 2015 model. So far so good the only thing we miss is our lazy boy chairs.

good to know. any issues to date that I should look for or fix/upgrade to avoid?
greg_gurd
Explorer
Sep 23, 2015
We sold our 40' Cardinal with all the bells and whistles for this same model(late 2015)in the spring of this year and have loved it so far. We wanted the extra bed and bath to camp with the grandkids. Our model has the kitchen reversed, stairs on other side with extra door from the bath into the bedroom the one you have shown is an earlier 2015 model. So far so good the only thing we miss is our lazy boy chairs.
alexleblanc
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
I've just struck a deal on this unit that i'm very happy, should have it early next week when they are done with the few things I've requested. thanks for all the comments and thoughts.
Also ordered the B&W Patriot 18K slider Hitch for it, looking forward to seeing how towing a Fiver compares to my old Bumper pull with the Propride hitch.
Will post some pictures once I have everything setup and hooked up ready to camp.
laknox
Nomad
Sep 14, 2015
Lynnmor wrote:
alexleblanc wrote:
spadoctor wrote:
KZ is no longer KZ but a part of Thor....my dealer does not like the changes in the company and may drop their lines. We owned a Durango TT that had a major issue which they took care of well past warranty. We traded it a year later for a Spree LTD anniversary edition which we love but when we looked at a 2016 Spree we were VERY disappointed at the quality control. For a TT with a MSRP of over 50K it was piss poor. We walked away very disappointed.

ouch! - this unit was manufactured 04/14 so its pre Thor to my knowledge. Should be the tried and true KZ quality or at least better than what I've experienced from Forest River.

I have a pre-Thor KZ and it is very poor. Some folks on here gave me all kind of grief if I even mentioned anything bad. It's good to see that some may have finally seen reality.

Here are some of the issues and many upgrades: KZ trailer

I didn't go through your entire photo library, but that's just d@mn impressive. Too bad you had to correct so many factory issues, on top of all the cool mods.

Lyle
shum02
Explorer
Sep 14, 2015
Lynnmor wrote:
alexleblanc wrote:
spadoctor wrote:
KZ is no longer KZ but a part of Thor....my dealer does not like the changes in the company and may drop their lines. We owned a Durango TT that had a major issue which they took care of well past warranty. We traded it a year later for a Spree LTD anniversary edition which we love but when we looked at a 2016 Spree we were VERY disappointed at the quality control. For a TT with a MSRP of over 50K it was piss poor. We walked away very disappointed.

ouch! - this unit was manufactured 04/14 so its pre Thor to my knowledge. Should be the tried and true KZ quality or at least better than what I've experienced from Forest River.

I have a pre-Thor KZ and it is very poor. Some folks on here gave me all kind of grief if I even mentioned anything bad. It's good to see that some may have finally seen reality.

I wouldn't go out of my way to buy another one either.

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