Forum Discussion

Stclairm's avatar
Stclairm
Explorer
Oct 19, 2020

Checked out a Vibe 26RK, Mallard M25,Grand Design Imagine

I must say, I don't get the hype about the Imagines. After walking through the Vibe and opening and closing cabinets, etc, the Grand Design felt flimsy to me. I opened one cabinet door and it wouldn't shut afterwards. It also had a very odd odor in it for being new. Little things go a long way on a first impression. The Mallard M25 was pretty nice, just not the right floor plan for us. I really liked the very curved roof.
A lot of positives on the Vibe. We liked the small dorm style frig and slide out convection cook top outside. The cabinets were real wood and the drawers themselves were all a type of plywood on metal roller sliders. The oversized 12V frig is awesome. Unless those are absolutely junk for some reason, I think that's the only kind I will buy in our next trailer, which will probably be in the next few months. Tons of storage, huge tv that you can watch unobstructed from the recliners. Decent bath, great bedroom with a closet. It just felt really good inside, one of those things you don't know until you're in them.
Negatives for me, roof was only slightly curved/arched. Big windows behind the dinette and couch don't open. Piece of **** mattress, which is odd considering all the videos showed a Denver Mattress or Evergreen Mattress. The salesman said it had to do with Covid supply and demand. This one weighs 6348 unloaded, a tad on the heavy side for my taste. We were at the Camping World in Hope Mills (Fayetteville) NC.
Any other ideas for similar trailers we should check out? I also really like the Vibe 24RL, but it's nowhere near North Carolina.
  • richardcoxid's avatar
    richardcoxid
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2020
    Check out tho Outdoor RV Timber Ridge line of TTS. Made in La Grande, OR, don’t know if they have any dealers in your area.
  • Stclairm's avatar
    Stclairm
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2020
    Yea, I've looked online. Nowhere near me and probably a little too heavy for our truck.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2020
    Others will disagree but I have a `thing' against rear kitchens. Our TT bounces around so much in the rear that the wear and tear of rear kitchen appliances would be detrimental.
  • ford_truck_guy's avatar
    ford_truck_guy
    Nomad
    Oct 19, 2020
    My co-worker purchased a Vibe 28RL, an any daughter purchased a Vibe 26RK.. BOTH are really nice units for the cost.

    The only issues after 1 season were the 3 items listed at PDI... and a broken shelf in the back Pantry - self induced ! :-)

    If I were looking in that price range, they would be my only look...
  • goducks10's avatar
    goducks10
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2020
    Some nit pics for me on the Vibe 26RK.
    The booth looks like it blocks the pantry door from opening fully.
    With the slide in it looks like no access to the fridge and possibly the whole kitchen.
    Only one night stand in the bedroom.
    Outside kitchen is not under the awning.
    Low CCC.
  • Stclairm's avatar
    Stclairm
    Explorer
    Oct 20, 2020
    It might be a tad too heavy, but we only bring clothes, food, outside chairs, and necessities when we go anywhere. We only use FHU's. I don't really care where the kitchen is located, I really want two recliner chairs, a good booth dinette, a big tv that's unobstructed, good counter space, and a walkabout queen bed. One night stand is enough as we have been used to none. This line feels like it is made with some better materials than most I've been in. We really like the Nucamp Avia, but it's back up to $45-50k now and there are no chairs inside. It just seems like it's made to last for quite a long time. It does have a craftmatic type electric lifting bed though.
  • gaymeadowsman's avatar
    gaymeadowsman
    Explorer
    Oct 22, 2020
    We just bought the 2021 Vibe 26RK. We have only been able to take it out for a long weekend but that was enough to know we are going to enjoy this trailer.
    The extra counter space over our last trailer is what hooked us, but the details are what sold us. We have only found one thing that I have to do and that is caulking around the base of the shower enclosure.
    Yes the Slide and dinette do block the pantry doors from opening fully, but it for small item storage because it is actually not large enough for a pantry. The rear overhead cabinet is more than enough to hold all our pantry items and is in easy reach of the prep area.

    We bought the 50amp, dual A/C unit and in the Alabama heat and humidity, I wish we had done it sooner. I put large deep shelves in the bedroom closet because there is no linen cabinet, but we have plenty of room in the wardrobe closet for hanging items.
    Our 2010 Silverado pulls the Vibe easily and it's a nice combo.
  • Stclairm's avatar
    Stclairm
    Explorer
    Oct 22, 2020
    ^ Wow, thanks for that info. I would think our Ram 1500 Hemi etorque should have no problem, but we do have some pretty serious mountain grades in the NC mountains. They have that exact unit at a CW near me, but they're asking crazy money at $36900. I've seen it for $27-28k at several dealers online I also just checked out the Freedom Express 279RLDSLE. I would need to see it in person to see if it compares. Now I'm also hooked on the 12V frig idea. Both have them.
  • ford_truck_guy's avatar
    ford_truck_guy
    Nomad
    Oct 22, 2020
    Stclairm wrote:
    ^ Wow, thanks for that info. I would think our Ram 1500 Hemi etorque should have no problem, but we do have some pretty serious mountain grades in the NC mountains. They have that exact unit at a CW near me, but they're asking crazy money at $36900. I've seen it for $27-28k at several dealers online I also just checked out the Freedom Express 279RLDSLE. I would need to see it in person to see if it compares. Now I'm also hooked on the 12V frig idea. Both have them.


    My daughter pulls hers with a 2017 F150 with the 2.7 eco boost.. traveled from PA to Florida to Gatlinburg TN, to Luray TN and home. no issues with either the truck or the 26RK Vibe..

    SHe got the 50 amp and 2nd ac.. paid $26,000
  • gaymeadowsman's avatar
    gaymeadowsman
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2020
    ford truck guy wrote:
    Stclairm wrote:
    ^ Wow, thanks for that info. I would think our Ram 1500 Hemi etorque should have no problem, but we do have some pretty serious mountain grades in the NC mountains. They have that exact unit at a CW near me, but they're asking crazy money at $36900. I've seen it for $27-28k at several dealers online I also just checked out the Freedom Express 279RLDSLE. I would need to see it in person to see if it compares. Now I'm also hooked on the 12V frig idea. Both have them.


    My daughter pulls hers with a 2017 F150 with the 2.7 eco boost.. traveled from PA to Florida to Gatlinburg TN, to Luray TN and home. no issues with either the truck or the 26RK Vibe..

    SHe got the 50 amp and 2nd ac.. paid $26,000


    We paid $28,900 for ours at Johnston RV in Cullman Al. We looked at a "left over"2020 unit a couple of weeks before we bought that had been used as a parts unit for sold trailers that had items that didn't work. They were asking full retail price($25,995) on that trailer and no delivery date on the replacement parts that were missing.

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