5ver Comparison

[Rick_MC]

Hi all. Trying to narrow our search for a new 5th wheel. Wanted a rear entertainment with a booth dinette. Not an easy find. We are considering the following: 1st got a great price on a Jayco 327ckts. No dinette but I am handy and am willing to change it out. 2nd is a Grand design reflection 337RLS. Not the rear entertainment but has a booth dinette and seems well built. 3rd RF347RES Open Range problem looks great online but there are none around my neck of the woods so haven’t seen one in person. Of these which do people prefer? Likes or dislikes? Thanks in advance.

[ACZL]

^^^^^^^^ Like & LOL ^^^^^^^^

[Rick_MC]

Hahaha. If I had that budget I would be ina Landmark or Mobil Suites. 🙂

[ACZL]

Okay Rick, here is the solution. You posted above that you like 1 brand and the Mrs another. Just buy another truck and the Mrs and drive that w/ her trailer and you drive your truck w/ your trailer. Problem solved. May be in the poor house for awhile but...........

Just picking on ya. With both of you liking 2 different units, then it WILL take you sometime to settle on 1 you both like. May have to consider other mfrs/brands.

[Rick_MC]

Thanks for all of your posts and I mean all. The more people that have an opinion the better. My wife and I are not perfect and we always learn from other peoples perspective. We did go to the Hershey show last Sept. but we really had no clue of what we wanted. I have a 40 foot bunkhouse now that has given me zero problems other than the usual easy fixes. I love the floor plan of the GD and my wife loves the Jayco. There in itself is the problem. We are in no rush so we plan to visit some out of state dealers to see what they have. Thanks for all your help!

[SparkDr]

We have a 2016 Jayco. Our best friends have a 2017 Grand Design. They have much classier or modern finishes if you will and a lot of nice creature comfort features. Our Jayco styling and decor does seem a bit dated compared to theirs. However, our Jayco has been rock-solid mechanically and Jayco seems to have a much better handle when it comes to getting things right for usability and functionality. Their GD has had plumbing leaks, falling trim, and a couple of “what were they thinking” design elements on the mechanical side. We’re both jealous of each other’s camper in some way, but neither would give up their own for the other. This is our 2nd Jayco and the 2nd GD for them and it has come down to dealer experience for us all. We never had any luck with their dealer of choice nor them with ours, honestly. Spend some time in both units at dealerships and shows, follow your instincts, and find a dealer you are comfortable with. One unit will eventually separate itself from the rest when all things are considered.

[Butch50]

SugarHill,

Not trying to change his mind, they are the ones spending their money but there are things that they might not have thought of. I guess we shouldn't give anyone any suggestions and maybe open their mind to other things.

I guess other people are not supposed to express an opinion unless it agrees with exactly what the OP are looking for and no exchange of ideas.

There are just not many of rigs like he is looking for.

I have read posts were you gave suggestions to OP contrary to what they were asking about. That is the beauty of forums like this. Please do not stifle open communications when people make other suggestions.

I know there have been times I asked a question and got answers that were not strictly asked but opened my eyes to other things and I welcomed hem.

[Butch50]

2012Coleman wrote:


Rear Living layout of the GD 337 puts you directly across from the TV - and has a big window on the back end.

I know and if you look at my signature I have a Reflection 303RLS. Just a little shorter and reversed from the 337.

[goducks10]

SugarHillCTD wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

Butch50 wrote:
Grand Design in the Reflection line comes stock with a booth in it. We ordered ours with the dinette. I think most dealers order the dinette in place of booth.

I think manufacturers finally got smart and put the TV on the side with some of the seating straight across from it.

Rear Living layout of the GD 337 puts you directly across from the TV - and has a big window on the back end.

Except that the 337 has an empty weight of 10500+ and a GVWR of 14,000#

Which means what?

[SugarHillCTD]

2012Coleman wrote:

Butch50 wrote:
Grand Design in the Reflection line comes stock with a booth in it. We ordered ours with the dinette. I think most dealers order the dinette in place of booth.

I think manufacturers finally got smart and put the TV on the side with some of the seating straight across from it.

Rear Living layout of the GD 337 puts you directly across from the TV - and has a big window on the back end.

Except that the 337 has an empty weight of 10500+ and a GVWR of 14,000#

[2012Coleman]

Butch50 wrote:
Grand Design in the Reflection line comes stock with a booth in it. We ordered ours with the dinette. I think most dealers order the dinette in place of booth.

I think manufacturers finally got smart and put the TV on the side with some of the seating straight across from it.

Rear Living layout of the GD 337 puts you directly across from the TV - and has a big window on the back end.

[SugarHillCTD]

Me Again wrote:
Or sit in an uncomfortable dinette?

Just saying!

Chris

As opposed to uncomfortable chairs? That need to be tied down when towing? That eliminate two large storage areas?

Having come from a history of many truck campers, when we were looking for a short 5th wheel, we only wanted a booth dinette.

Uncomfortable dinette? Change the cushion foam.


The funniest moment during our search was when a salesman showed us a trailer with free standing chairs and table and tried to change our minds. He thought that by showing us the tiny "storage" space under the flip up chair cushion we would be impressed. We weren't.


OK- back to the OP's thread. Rick has his preferences and asked about models they were interested in, not for others to try to change their mind about layout.
We wanted JUST a booth dinette and couch- no additional seating AND under a true 30'. Not easy to find and sales people showed us longer units because they thought that we would be OK with those.

Good luck on your search Rick & Co.

[Butch50]

Grand Design in the Reflection line comes stock with a booth in it. We ordered ours with the dinette. I think most dealers order the dinette in place of booth.

I have had rear entertainment centers and would never have another and I'm not joking and I have had 2 of them (didn't learn the first time. There is no place in it that has a comfortable viewing position. Also you lose the big window across the back and sometimes it has a great view out it. Everybody has to crane their necks to watch TV. I think manufacturers finally got smart and put the TV on the side with some of the seating straight across from it. Also if the TV is in the rear and you have 2 slides in the rear on the unit you won't be able to see the TV if you want to spend a quick night like in a Walmart with slides in. We can use our unit in with the slides in except cooking but for quick stops we usually have something cold in the fridge for diner or run into Walmart to their deli and get something. We can sit in our theater seats and still watch TV straight across from us and if I fire up the generator I can even use the fireplace, try that in a trailer that has slides that close off the TV and if you have a fireplace. The slides are in most cases not going to allow you to use the fireplace.

The reason in most cases you aren't seeing them is because most people don't want that layout.

This IMO

[ACZL]

If you can hold on until Sept, go to the Hershey show and spend a a couple days there looking at all 5ers on your list from the mfrs you want to see them from. If not, visit as many local dealers lots. Once you get past the glitz and glamour, look to see how it fits the bill as to what your looking for and access to things either sitting or w/ slides in. Make a mental note of what both of you want, and when you go looking at RV's take a notepad (each of you and write things down separately), and jot down likes/dislikes of each RV you look at. Then compare later. Don't get something w/ the premise "we'll make it work", Get the one that closely matches ALL your criteria. Once you settle on 1 (if you order it), see what you can/can't do for options/add ons or changes. Example: we asked if carpet can be added to the LR area instead of the linoleum, it could for a few extra bucks, but it's not mentioned in brochure. Or switching out a small diameter fan (ie bath) for a larger one. Have factory do it.

[RollandB]

X2 on checking out Northwood’s Arctic Fox line. They have 3 ear living areas to choose from depending on length and what you need. You can order a Dream Dineete (booth dinette), if you want a better choice furniture you can order it without furniture and they build their own stout frames. We were looking at several other makes before purchasing ours, looking past the glitz lead us to Arctic Fox and haven’t been disappointed.