what mid-range 5th wheels are out there w/o lippert?

shadoow wrote:
Issues i've had haven't been with the frame, but more with the suspension/axles. This year I've had a sealed bearing failure and a broke leaf spring. Other springs are soon to fail also by the looks of them.

What year is your trailer. Most with problems I've seen have been 2007-2009. Aren't the bearings the same as used on numerous other trailers and are not made by Lippert themselves?

goducks10 wrote:
FWIW my Northwood Fox Mountain has AL-CO axles. Not sure what the Arctic Fox line uses. One of the main reasons we went with Northwood is because of the Lippert frame issues. Even though it is not a wide spread issue it is an issue. Why by something that may or may not have an issue when you can buy something that has proven to be more reliable? TT's/5'ers have enough issues on their own, why compound them? Does that mean I'm stuck buying only Northwood products because of Lippert frames? Maybe so. Better safe than sorry.

Guess you can't have everything - Al-Ko axles would be a deal breaker for me. Had tons of issues with them on an earlier Montana and Keystone replaced them with Dexter. The next year they changed out the whole fleet with Dexter.

FWIW my Northwood Fox Mountain has AL-CO axles. Not sure what the Arctic Fox line uses. One of the main reasons we went with Northwood is because of the Lippert frame issues. Even though it is not a wide spread issue it is an issue. Why by something that may or may not have an issue when you can buy something that has proven to be more reliable? TT's/5'ers have enough issues on their own, why compound them? Does that mean I'm stuck buying only Northwood products because of Lippert frames? Maybe so. Better safe than sorry.

I am no fan of Lippert but that would not stop me If I were shopping. First place to check are the spring hanger areas of the frame. Have they been reinforced with some sort of strengthening by boxing in the area? If not, figure $1000 to $1500 to do a good job.

Next, look in the bedroom slide bottom left corner. Cracked? Is there a gusset in the side panel to allow for flex of the frame?

Lippert faults can be fixed. Don't let them keep you away from a trailer you otherwise like. Turn them into a price negotiating tool.

Don't know about all, but I'm pretty sure some of the Lippert Frames are built to the RV Mfr's specs and since they're just building the frames they don't know what the Mfr is putting on top of it. So just guessing that maybe some of the frame problems have to do with the RV Mfr putting just too much on the frame and suspension and not that any of us would do it, but owners just packing too much weight on top of that. Again, just thinking out loud, but food for thought.

I would be willing to bet that percentage wise the problems that people have with their frames is extremely low. You have to consider that probably 90% or more of the thousands of frames built for RVs come from a Lippert plant..It certainly won't stop me from buying one. Especially if I have to drive half way across he country to buy something else. If I'm not mistaken even Jayco is using Lippert frames now. If they were that bad why would they change?

B.O.

shadoow wrote:
looking to see what mid-range priced 5th wheels are available that don't have Lippert frame/suspension? Some i think i've found (feel free to correct) are:

- jayco
- kz
- northwoods

You sure about KZ? I'm guessing by "mid-range" you're referring to the Durango series, but I recently inquired about KZ Stoneridge and Goldrush lines and was told the are Lippert.

n7bsn wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
Excel makes a midrange model Winslow. They build there own frames in house.

Couldn't slam Excel for quality, but even their "cheaper" rigs are not what I would call "mid-range".

Given deep pocket, they would certainly be on my list

I would not buy an Excel unless I lived near the factory or it was in my Snowbird route. Most of the Excel owners in our park routinely stop for service at the factory. They are very good about taking care of issues, and that is telling in a way! As most have had issues, leaks and dry rot being one of the big ones!

Chris

What issues are you having with your Creek and Lipert?

mileshuff wrote:
Northwoods is top notch. Touch to beat for the price. However, I've had several RV's with Lippert frames including my newest and never any problems.

Issues i've had haven't been with the frame, but more with the suspension/axles. This year I've had a sealed bearing failure and a broke leaf spring. Other springs are soon to fail also by the looks of them.