Forum Discussion

trashguy's avatar
trashguy
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2018

Help me choose

Wife and I are about to pull the trigger on a new rig. The two we have narrowed down to are 2018 WINNEBAGO SUNSTAR LX 35F and 2018 Forest River Georgetown GT5 31L5. I do prefer the Winnebago. It's a little more price wise but seems better built and has a bath and a half. It does however have a residential fridge and for the next few years until I can retire, most of our trips are boondocking. I'm concerned that this may be a problem. I know solar can help but I'm guessing it isn't cheap to do. Realistically how long would we have to run the generator to make this work each day. I do have a small Yamaha 2000 inverter genny that I could use. It's quiet and uses next to no gas. Once I retire I see a lot more full hookup traveling so I'm torn.
Class A
  • bullydogs1's avatar
    bullydogs1
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2018
    Go with floorplan you like....Forest River is a crapshoot but Winnebago also could be..Winnebago has much more online resources and you can see every piece and system right online..so online support is top notch..As for residential fridge..2 hours in AM and 2 hours in early evening should cover all (you will have to run generator a bit more if furnace is running consistently)..my vote in the Winne.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    Jan 07, 2018
    Why would you use the Yamaha when the MH has one already set to charge the batteries? I echo the Winnie selection if you’ve already narrowed it to these two.
  • AllegroD's avatar
    AllegroD
    Nomad
    Jan 07, 2018
    If yiou like the Winnie, get it. If you like that floorplan, have you looked at the Tiffin Allegro 36LA.
  • trashguy's avatar
    trashguy
    Explorer II
    Jan 07, 2018
    wildtoad wrote:
    Why would you use the Yamaha when the MH has one already set to charge the batteries? I echo the Winnie selection if you’ve already narrowed it to these two.


    It's super quiet and burns like a gallon in 8hrs. I just figured since I already have it. I'm wondering how long does it take before the residential fridge kills the batteries. Would a few solar panels realistically be able to keep up. I do like the Winnie better but it's about 20k more and then I have to worry about battery life.
  • trashguy's avatar
    trashguy
    Explorer II
    Jan 07, 2018
    AllegroD wrote:
    If yiou like the Winnie, get it. If you like that floorplan, have you looked at the Tiffin Allegro 36LA.

    My garage is limited to 35' 5" and I had a budget in mind of right around 100k, every time I think I found what I want I seem to find one just a little nicer. I wish the Winne had the Norcold fridge because I do like the 1.5 bath layout.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Jan 07, 2018
    With two extra batteries for the home refrigerator you will not need any extra generator time IF you have 100 amps of charging...speck a 2000W PSW inverter which should have a 100A charger. Run the onboard generator whenever you are using a high amp appliance instead of de pleating your 4-6 batteries.

    My biggest mistake was not going residential sooner and we usually boondock 5 out of 7 days.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2018
    trashguy wrote:

    It's super quiet and burns like a gallon in 8hrs. I just figured since I already have it. I'm wondering how long does it take before the residential fridge kills the batteries. Would a few solar panels realistically be able to keep up. I do like the Winnie better but it's about 20k more and then I have to worry about battery life.


    about 25 years ago I made a similar decision and bought a 25 ft. Fleetwood since a Winnie would be about 10,000 more. I quickly traded for a 32 ft Bounder, and two years later I saw the light and bought my Winnebago Chieftain. Night and day difference.
    If I was that worried about running a residential fridge, I'd just swap it out for a RV one and get the better RV. But isn't your other option one that has a standard RV fridge? i can't see myself constantly removing a gen set, charge batteries , put gen set away and repeat. that will get old quickly when you have a decent option.
    bumpy
  • bullydogs1's avatar
    bullydogs1
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2018
    You do not want the Norcold fridge...I won't get started as to why, but you don't want it....
  • John_Wayne's avatar
    John_Wayne
    Explorer II
    Jan 07, 2018
    I'm sure you can probably get the same model with the Nocold frige just have to order it

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