Opinions on Gulfstream B Touring Cruiser 5230
Greetings, Been using my TT since 2007 and rented a Class C MH a few times and borrowed a Class A once. I love camping/travelling but think I might prefer something small and found a 2004 B Touring...
Forum Discussion
When we bought our 2003 BT Cruiser 5230 there were two identical units on the lot. One was about $700 more than the other. The sales guy told us to look over both, take our time and he would leave us alone unless we had questions. After a couple of hours of sitting and thinking, we had a question: what is the difference for $700. Dummy me. One was on a 350 and the other on a 450 chassis.
We bought the 450 and were always glad to have the heavier chassis. The unit was well built and essentially an entry level. Yes, it had a Generac 4000 on it. We loved the big windows and we had two opposing couches each of which made a bed. The kitchen was L shaped and very nice as was the bath area.
Beware! The SQUEAK. That was what it was called on these forums back when these rigs came out. It seems that the overhead bump out that made it a "B+" (I think Gulfstream actually invented the term with the BT Cruiser)was improperly torqued and poorly designed so there could be a heck of a squeak in that area. I remember taking out the headliner panel and tightening the large bolts up there and that stopped the squeak.
I also remember reinforcing and modifying some of the cabinetry. The water fill inlet to the tank from the outside was poorly positioned and the unit burped back water when going down the road and I put in a longer hose with a loop in it to eliminate that problem.
There was a TSO issued by Ford for the seal in part of the firewall construction where two parts joined. In a heavy rain, water would come into the driver's side below the dash. I got the TSO and fixed that myself.
This rig gave us good service and we enjoyed the heck out of it. When they reintroduced BT Cruisers a few years ago, I looked at a new one at an RV show and the layout was identical to my recollection and pictures of ours a dozen years earlier.
If we did not love our Phoenix Cruiser, I would be perfectly comfortable buying a new BTC 5230.
If the 2004 you are looking at meets your inspection levels and you like the layout, go for it. I would be surprised if it did not have have genset and if it does not, I think you will find it was wired for one. Also, I bet the 2004 is virtually identical to the 2003 models.
Paul
We bought the 450 and were always glad to have the heavier chassis. The unit was well built and essentially an entry level. Yes, it had a Generac 4000 on it. We loved the big windows and we had two opposing couches each of which made a bed. The kitchen was L shaped and very nice as was the bath area.
Beware! The SQUEAK. That was what it was called on these forums back when these rigs came out. It seems that the overhead bump out that made it a "B+" (I think Gulfstream actually invented the term with the BT Cruiser)was improperly torqued and poorly designed so there could be a heck of a squeak in that area. I remember taking out the headliner panel and tightening the large bolts up there and that stopped the squeak.
I also remember reinforcing and modifying some of the cabinetry. The water fill inlet to the tank from the outside was poorly positioned and the unit burped back water when going down the road and I put in a longer hose with a loop in it to eliminate that problem.
There was a TSO issued by Ford for the seal in part of the firewall construction where two parts joined. In a heavy rain, water would come into the driver's side below the dash. I got the TSO and fixed that myself.
This rig gave us good service and we enjoyed the heck out of it. When they reintroduced BT Cruisers a few years ago, I looked at a new one at an RV show and the layout was identical to my recollection and pictures of ours a dozen years earlier.
If we did not love our Phoenix Cruiser, I would be perfectly comfortable buying a new BTC 5230.
If the 2004 you are looking at meets your inspection levels and you like the layout, go for it. I would be surprised if it did not have have genset and if it does not, I think you will find it was wired for one. Also, I bet the 2004 is virtually identical to the 2003 models.
Paul
