Entry level vs high end

[batavia02]

Question while we think we know what we want I do have a few more questions,I will use forest river has a example what is the difference in a wildwood heritage glen or a sabre. Vs a high end model is it the difference in the quality of the mattress I can replace the mattress. The brand of tv I can go to Best Buy and get a better quality, we all know the quality of the tires are poor I can put in higher quality tires and rims .I can put in better furniture so what is the difference overall ?

[bcircus]

Memtb, Great info about do your research. Been camping for 30 years. With some common sense and education you get what you pay for. Started out in pop up... had 2 motor homes... been in 5th wheels for 20 some years. Bought two brand new, a carri-lite and a Montana, both very good units. Very pleased with both relatively few problems. Do your research and talk to campers. But still just opinions. Every unit/brand has good and bad experiences.

[goducks10]

memtb wrote:
Sooooo..... But a well maintained $120,000.00 used (excuse me "previously owned)unit for a great savings. Let the first owner " take it in the shorts", and buy a far superior unit at mid range or low end prices.Unless of course, you have to buy new, then let the next owner of yours, get the good deal! 😉

Never bought new... ain't start'n now! 🙂

How can you guaranty that problems were resolved? I've read many stories on here and other forums of owners trying to get repairs done and still having some problems and deciding to just trade it in.
I can see buying used but that doesn't guaranty that the teething problems were fixed.

[memtb]

I agree 100% on looking past the "bling"...and I failed to mention the most important issues in my original posting. 25+ years ago when we first started shopping for 5th wheels, if it didn't have 16" wheels/ tires, We never even looked at it. That was a good indication of the manufacturer's integrity of construction. The 16" 's meant larger axles/brakes, which likely indicated a heavier frame. If the manufacturer couldn't supply r-values, We moved on! No insulated/heated underbelly with inclosed plumbing/dump valves...We moved on! And.... We looked at weight. You can't build a really strong unit and build it really light...Unless you can afford a titanium frame constructed unit ;)! We wanted a "true" 4 season unit!!!

Then...you go to the inside,solid wood, dove-tailed drawers, carpet weight/quality, counter top material, shelving strenght, dual pane or storm windows (helped with cooling/heating and minimizes outside noises),porcelain tolet. Then look at fit and finish of the "woodwork", quality of mitered joints and finish of the woodwork. These were but of a few things that a high end unit should have.

Soooo.... just because it has a high price tag, it doesn't mean that it's quality.

You can paint and chrome plate a pig....But it's still a pig!! 😞

[Veebyes]

Shame that the most difference people see is the bling. It is the often hidden stuff that makes the difference.

[JIMNLIN]

I would ask FR which one has the more robust main frame rails/cross members/out riggers and sidewall/roof construction.

[bcbackroad]

batavia02 wrote:
Question while we think we know what we want I do have a few more questions,I will use forest river has a example what is the difference in a wildwood heritage glen or a sabre. Vs a high end model is it the difference in the quality of the mattress I can replace the mattress. The brand of tv I can go to Best Buy and get a better quality, we all know the quality of the tires are poor I can put in higher quality tires and rims .I can put in better furniture so what is the difference overall ?

Thousands of items

Pinbox deflection 1/2" or 3/4" or 1" or 1 1/4 or 1 1/2" or 2"
Chipboard vs. Plywood
A screw vs. a staple to hold items together
Vinyl flooring .050" vs .100"
Printed veneer on MDF vs wood veneer vs solid wood
0.060" vs 0.080" vs .100" aluminum
wood blocking for screw retention in the alum tube or none at all
Screwed & glued vs welded alum
8" or 10" or 12" I beam frame
.060 sheet metal cross members or full I beam
fiberglass vs. gel coat sidewall
1lb vs 2lb foam insulation
1/4" vs 3/8" vs 1/2" thick tank walls
1 1/2" vs 3" dump valves
6 gauge vs 4gauge wire
10gauge vs 12gauge wire to the slide motors
Shwinteck vs steel under mount slide mechanism

......an endless list

[memtb]

Sooooo..... But a well maintained $120,000.00 used (excuse me "previously owned)unit for a great savings. Let the first owner " take it in the shorts", and buy a far superior unit at mid range or low end prices.Unless of course, you have to buy new, then let the next owner of yours, get the good deal! 😉

Never bought new... ain't start'n now! 🙂

[danrclem]

My son's friend's dad and uncle both bought new toy haulers that were the same brand at about the same time. His uncle got a fancier one and he's had problems with it while his dad hasn't had any problems with his. Probably coincidence but spending more money doesn't guarantee less problems.

[JAC1982]

Our experience is with Toy Haulers, but we have a Keystone Impact by Fuzion, which I would say is their "mid-grade" model. Right after we got ours, our neighbor went and bought an actual Fuzion, their "high-end" model, in about the same size as ours. The only differences I've seen so far is that they have way fancier stuff, like bigger TV, extra speakers, fireplace, nicer countertops, bigger fridge, fancier light fixtures, fancier cabinet hardware, fancier bedding, and massagers in the couch (ours are just heated). Oh and their exterior steps are nicer (which we are already planning on replacing). Also their systems are controlled via a touchpad that he can operate from his phone if needed. They also have an extra half bath, but we don't have kids and they do so that's neither here nor there IMO. Our main bathroom setups are exactly the same, only their counters are solid surface and ours are laminate. Even the door is the same.

But when you look at stuff like the "guts", ie, dump valve setup, leveling system, generator, etc., they're all exactly the same as ours. All I could think when I was looking around his was "all this stuff's going to break at some point, and it'll just cost more to fix it". I also know that our tie down systems in the garage are the same. All his extras also make his trailer much heavier, and also mean his carrying capacity is less.

That being said, if we were going to full time, I'd probably go for the fancier one. But this is just a weekend/vacation trailer for us, so what we have is exactly what we need/wanted.

[goducks10]

Difference between a low to mid range vs a high end unit is after 3-4 years you've lost more money in depreciation with the high end unit. They all depreciate rapidly. A $120,000 5th wheel after 5 year will be worth less percentage wise than the low end unit you paid #22,000 for.
All that better construction and bling goes out the door.

[Veebyes]

By the time you have replaced all that low level stuff you have spent more than what you would have if you had bought the 'deluxe' model in the first place.

Design does not mean much. How it is built & the quality of hardware put into it does. I am looking at hinges, drawer slides, door & drawer handles, light fixtures, microwave type, stove model, plumbing fixtures, running gear, pinbox, quality of fit & finish.

Who made the TV is very low on the inspection list.

[ACZL]

If you compare The Cedar Creek Hathaway to the Cedar Creek Silverback, this would give you a better comparo. Same company and name, but different designs. Inside furnishings are the same and are of good quality and workmanship. The Silverbacks have cathedral ceilings which help differentiate itself from the Hathaway's. Hathaway's have a swing up curbside basement door, Silverbacks open back to front. Hathaway have a flat basement floor, Silverback doesn't (used to--and told by having a raised floor in basement of the Silverback also helps keeps cost down due to not having a drop frame floor). Hathaway has a divider at dock station to aid in the separation of the docking station and basement, Silverback doesn't. Despite the design differences, Cedar Creek is rated tops in the FR line and that the Silverback doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the Hathaway and the Silverback is "marketed as the entry level CC". Compare the CC's to other FR's 5ers and see for yourself. We owned a Silverback BH for 12 years and was a jem. With the kids gone (or just about), it served it's usefulness for us and decided to upgrade. Wanted another Silver, but didn't care for their floorplans and wife didn't like some designs in the Hathaway's. Still, all in all, I'd rate the CC's as "high end", with Cardinal right below it. and others below that.

FR has come out w/ some new lines and very few models targeted moreso for full timers. Best thing to do and I think was suggested is to go look at the units and write down what you like/don't like and then make a list once home.

[pickjare]

The answer will vary from one brand to another, but to me the difference is everything. To continue with the idea of weight as one poster mentioned, the 500 lb trailer may also have heavier axles, a heavier frame, and higher load range tires to carry the extra weight. The axles may be placed different, brakes may be bigger. Batteries may be bigger, maybe two rather than one. Heavier tongue jack, heavier coupler or pinbox. Perhaps the higher end model has roller bearing drawer slides and real Coubard doors that stay shut while driving. Bigger holding tanks in a top of the line model possibly. I read about a new Timber Ridge trailer by outdoors RV on another thread here which came with greasable leaf spring bushings. Basically less focus by the manufacturer to save money to meet a certain price range.

I do not know if all the above examples apply to the specific scenario with the two trailers weighing 500 lb different, you would have to check. But do you get the idea? There are many things you can change yourself. But if it just isn't built right to begin with, don't bother upgrading anything. Then there's resale which will be higher on the trailer that cost more to begin with. This is especially noticed when talking about super high end brands like Airstream.

[time2roll]

We take care of our stuff and use it gently. Entry level Springdale has held up just fine.
BTW the screen door still works great with no repairs. 😉

[kohai]

korbe wrote:
If you slam the screen door after you enter or exit, the handle will not last very long. If you close and open the screen door latch without slamming it, it will last for a long time.

This sounds like something from a fortune cookie.