Why do Cameos sit on the dealer's lots for so long?

I bought a 2011 about a year before they went under. I do not regret what so ever. Finest trailer I ever owned. It's still solid and almost no repairs to the unit itself. I have had some heater, and hot water heater problems. They have nothing to do with Carriage. I take to an independent RV service once or twice a year to keep maintiance up to date. Really don't need a Carriage dealer. This guy can do everything a Carriage dealer can do.

I enjoy having something rare & different. Here, east of the Mississippi, my Alpenlite is a very rare one indeed. Must be my nature.

In boating I have always owned something different from the rest of the pack of cookie cutter boats like Bayliner, Sea Ray etc. I tell the average boater that I have an Albin 32 & they have never heard of Albin & have to go look it up to see what it is. Another orphan full of parts that can easily be replaced.

covenantbro wrote:
We own a 2010 Carriage Cameo 36 FWS. We haven't had any major problems. It tows great and is often a campground conversation subject. We've had no problems getting required replacement parts. We purchased the rig in 2014. We owned a TT prior to the Cameo. We have no regrets with our purchase. We plan to keep for more years.

Have you found that the length has limited your access to CGs? Like NPs?

Veebyes wrote:
There is nothing wrong with owning a quality orphan. With the right floorplan, if I was in the market I'd buy a Carriage, a Teton, an Alpenlite, a pre sale of Double Tree Mobile Suite in a heartbeat.

These are quality rigs, not just because of the builder, but because of the better components in them. Chances are those component makers are still in business, or another manufacturer can be found.

No, replacement panels cannot be had from a builder who does not exist, but try getting replacement panels, or any other unique part, from a builder after a couple of years when that model is no longer in production.

No builder, no dealer, no problem. There are ways of fixing anything.

If you really like your rig, we do ours, & it is an orphan, ours is, no matter. Keep it for the long haul, get to know it well, do your own mods & repairs & it will be much cheaper than flipping for something different every couple of years just because some minor thing is new & different.

I agree there is nothing wrong with owning or buying an orphaned unit.
However I do believe there is a smaller market of those willing to take on an orphaned unit.
Sort of like a house with a swimming pool,Having a pool is great if you are a pool person but it will limit the number of prospective buyers come resale time.
For better or worse the masses prefer units from companies that are still in business vs. orphaned units

We own a 2010 Carriage Cameo 36 FWS. We haven't had any major problems. It tows great and is often a campground conversation subject. We've had no problems getting required replacement parts. We purchased the rig in 2014. We owned a TT prior to the Cameo. We have no regrets with our purchase. We plan to keep for more years.

There is nothing wrong with owning a quality orphan. With the right floorplan, if I was in the market I'd buy a Carriage, a Teton, an Alpenlite, a pre sale of Double Tree Mobile Suite in a heartbeat.

These are quality rigs, not just because of the builder, but because of the better components in them. Chances are those component makers are still in business, or another manufacturer can be found.

No, replacement panels cannot be had from a builder who does not exist, but try getting replacement panels, or any other unique part, from a builder after a couple of years when that model is no longer in production.

No builder, no dealer, no problem. There are ways of fixing anything.

If you really like your rig, we do ours, & it is an orphan, ours is, no matter. Keep it for the long haul, get to know it well, do your own mods & repairs & it will be much cheaper than flipping for something different every couple of years just because some minor thing is new & different.

Janegowest. Here is a link to the original Carraige brochure and you will see why Carriage owners stand by their units, especially the frame construction and slides.
Cameo Brochure

travelnutz wrote:
The frame has to be able to handle the FWS weight, twisting action, and have solid secure slide mounting areas for the slide mechanism to be mounted on. Small slide outs of up to 16' put much less stress on frames. LS has gone to a cheaper generic purchased frame now to cut costs and be more competitive with other like size 5th wheel model prices. The cheaper generic frame will not handle the stresses inherent to the FWS so it has been discontinued. The average buyer wants cheap, cheaper, and cheapest and their wallet controls their thinking as to what wins their signature on the purchase contract.

And light, lighter, and lightest!!

Thanks! So wonderful to have someone on board who has a tremendous knowledge base! :B

The frame has to be able to handle the FWS weight, twisting action, and have solid secure slide mounting areas for the slide mechanism to be mounted on. Small slide outs of up to 16' put much less stress on frames. LS has gone to a cheaper generic purchased frame now to cut costs and be more competitive with other like size 5th wheel model prices. The cheaper generic frame will not handle the stresses inherent to the FWS so it has been discontinued. The average buyer wants cheap, cheaper, and cheapest and their wallet controls their thinking as to what wins their signature on the purchase contract.

JW of Opechee Shores wrote:
I recently traded our 2008 Cameo 35SB3 for a 2010 Cameo 36FWS and was happy with both the trade in value and the purchase price from RV's for Less in Knoxville TN. I will keep this one a long time, the quality and amenities mean that I don't even waste my time looking at new ones. Any issue can still be taken care of by me or a good RV repair place. Most all parts are available through after market dealers. You can get a lot of support on the Lifestyle-Carraige forum. Lifestyle has finished using the Carraige frame as of 2016 so a full wall slide will no longer be available and the rear storage has dissapeared. Thor is producing new Carraige and Cameo fivers because they bought the name. Lifestyle took most of the employees and the design equipment. If I were you I wouldn't discount looking for a Cameo and work hard on the pricing, there are dealers like RV's for Less who just deal in high end units and move them quickly.

Has the full wall slide given you any problems? I really like that design! I viewed the 2016 Cameos online, and they look just like any other 5er today...boxy interiors, with no distinction or style like the older ones! I just love the sweeping curvy style of the FWS series!

I wonder why LS has quit making the FWS? Problems??