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 ?

[NC_Hauler]

Dtank wrote:

md_procouple wrote:
LOL all the personal choices !! Been there done it. I will put our 2 cents worth as far as tires... SAILUN Hands Down !! have 3 yrs on ours this season, not a problem... not a fear, these are the ONLY tire I will put on the 5'er. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!!

Sooooo..... if it has Sailun tires it MUST be "high end"??..:R

An RV salesperson's dream customer!!..:W

:B

One of the FIRST things I look at is the tires... if cheap no name tires, or tires known to fail.. it's a BIG NEGATIVE in my list of things to look for, along with Independent suspension and disc brakes, residential appliances, insulation, dual pane windows.. as well as its construction. As someone else stated.. weight can mean it's better built.. I previously owned a 39' unit with a GVW of 16,500#. The 5er I now have is 37' and has a GVW of 19 K... Quality of build means a lot.

Jim

[waltbennett]

Almost all makers are having quality issues today. Jayco and Northwood may be the exception. This means that there will be problems with anything you buy, especially new. And that means you've got to inspect any potential unit very, very carefully.

There's also no such thing as 'entry level' in my opinion, only more capable or less capable. There's also just so many things anyone can design into a 5er, although some have gotten really creative, so there's not a whole lot of different floor plans. First you need to figure out a size and floor plan you like - there will probably be several that make them. Then you've got to look at carrying capacities, and holding and fresh tank sizes. So called 'ultra light' units scrimp on these and that means you can't camp without hookups for long. 5ers all have much more storage than bumper pulls, but some models cut that back or don't have enough carrying capacity for you to put anything in it.

Everyone seems to be making dark, grey or tan colored units today. That means you'll probably need a second AC as these get a lot hotter if you settle on one of them. Don't expect much insulation or cold weather capability either no matter what marketing verbiage is attached.

[tdsxt51]

kohai wrote:

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.

:B

[Mel_B_]

I think the most important thing on any RV is the tires. So that is the first thing I do when I get a new (TO ME) 5th wheel, I never buy new. Not that we can't afford to but I don't choose to. I have my reasons and others have theres for buying new. Either way your rig needs good tires.I just pulled the plug on these, for our 2004 2955RL Montana 5ver
Sailun S637 235/85R -16 - 235/85R 16 - L (245.2 lbs) 5540993 4 $131.93 $527.72
Commercial Tire Summer 17
Shipping
FET
- $52.77
$89.01
$34.04
Total $598.00
Another $60 for mount and Balance and still cheaper then buying direct from Les Schwab or Big-O
Mel

[ChuckV1]

Like Veebyes when were were looking at new 5th wheels I would crawl under them and look how they were made.

At a RV show I ask a young salesman how well the trailer was built, he said let me show you, thinking he was going for the door I was surprised when he got down on his hands an knees and said "take a look at the bigger frame and the springs along with the Dexter 7000 axles" He also explained about the underbelly instillation and the water drains an a few other points even before we went inside the 5th wheel.

That whole day he was the only one who did this, other salesman didn't even think about showing me the under side of the their units, they always went for the door to go inside. I am not talking about low end units, I'm talking about the upper end units of $100K that think they are so great...

We went back an bought the unit the young salesman showed us, not because of what he did but because of how well the unit was made, not much bing or glitter but what it was well built with no press board, no plastic slides on the draws, lights that were well placed and not for just show a glow and it was priced well below those $100k units with all the same features they had...

Have we had some problems, yes, but they are minor an I was able to fit them myself, like any trailer rocking an rolling down the road you will have some minor problems from time to time and as well stuff that needs tweaking to make it your own.

When we did our PDI it took over 4 hours, I ask for a creeper, the tech said he had work there over 6 years or more and I was the only person he had did a PDI with that had ask for a creeper to look under a trailer. He also said I was one of the very few that had turned on all the Faust's and shower at the same time to see if there was any leaks under the sinks an shower an the bottom of the trailer 🙂

[Veebyes]

Dtank wrote:

md_procouple wrote:
LOL all the personal choices !! Been there done it. I will put our 2 cents worth as far as tires... SAILUN Hands Down !! have 3 yrs on ours this season, not a problem... not a fear, these are the ONLY tire I will put on the 5'er. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!!

Sooooo..... if it has Sailun tires it MUST be "high end"??..:R

An RV salesperson's dream customer!!..:W

:B

I must be his nightmare then. I am the guy who gets down on the ground & crawls underneath the trailer to check stuff, like how many leafs in the spring packs & frame reinforcement in the spring hanger areas, BEFORE the sales guy has a chance to open the door & show me all that nice bling inside. If the running gear passes inspection, only then do we have a look inside.

[Dtank]

md_procouple wrote:
LOL all the personal choices !! Been there done it. I will put our 2 cents worth as far as tires... SAILUN Hands Down !! have 3 yrs on ours this season, not a problem... not a fear, these are the ONLY tire I will put on the 5'er. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!!

Sooooo..... if it has Sailun tires it MUST be "high end"??..:R

An RV salesperson's dream customer!!..:W

:B

[Marysdad]

One difference, due to the heavier construction, is that higher end units often have more payload capacity. Some of the lower end units have minimal payload, so very easy to max out the tires, frame, suspension. That contributes to tire issues, broken springs, frame cracking, etc.

We didn't care about the bling, but wanted a well-constructed unit. We ended up ordering an Arctic Fox fiver. Should take delivery early August. Like others have said: 12-inch frame, offroad suspension, solid wood cabinetry, porcelain toilet, 4-season insulation, full-size microwave. Only 29.5 feet, but grosses out at 13,400 lbs. 3750 lbs. payload capacity.

[bcbackroad]

Scary are the number of people that recommend a RV based on the number of issues they've had vs. the facts about what make the RV better.

Even more scary are the people that buy a trailer without inquiring what the issues were or how the trailer is being used i.e. weekends only or full time.

Most people don't know that the low end trailer use .050" thick alum to make the sidewalls/floor/roof while the high end trailer use .125".

This may not seam like much but a person can pull apart 2pcs of .040" aluminum that are welded together while the .125" alum would have to be smashed apart with a hammer.

[ChuckV1]

I agree with Veebyes, we looked at a few well know brands when shopping for a new 5th wheel, didn't like any of the layout nor construction even in the high end 5th wheels...

We then stepped into a lessor know manufacturer in the RV market and were surprised at the quality of the workmanship and the price range. Where the higher end 5th wheel we looked at were in the hundred thousand dollar range, these were in the mid sixty thousand dollar range an were built just as goo if not better. We felt as if we were getting a better bang for the buck thus we went with the lessor know brand and are very happy with our pick..

So it go's to show you not always high end an price is always good, some times looking around at lower or lessor know brands may be just as good 🙂

Safe Travels

[Veebyes]

With boats or RVs the policy has been to buy a lightly used quality builder. It does not have to be the top builder but I like to have less clutter in front of me so that I can see the top builder from where I sit.

Often this means buying a less than well known brand. A builder with deep marketing pockets is not necessarily a good builder. He has simply made himself well known. If you buy from such a builder I always wonder how much of the cost to the customer is marketing cost vs actual build cost?

A good builder will get lots of referrals from happy customers. Referrals are free.

[Itinerant1]

A little homework and a few year older, better built structural model can be $$ ahead than a newer model being built on an essmbly line with number of units is more important than quality of units.

[memtb]

Buying used doesn't mean there'll be no problems, but, if you do your homework, buy quality, save big $, then spend a little of those savings on tires, batteries, and small incidentals. You'll be lots of $ ahead, and have a quality, well made unit for 1/3 to 1/2 of original price. JMO

[troubledwaters]

If by high end you mean high quality, then that comes at a higher price. But, that isn't the be all. You can also get mid level quality at a fair price. Some people want a Rolls Royce, for some people a Ford Edge will do. Cabinets can be plywood/veneer, you don't necessarily need solid wood; as long as you know what you are getting for the price your paying and understand the differences. The point is: "A Fair Days Pay for a Fair Days Work".

Some people just want to take the kids out camping and not spend their life savings to do so. The won't worry about the nicks and scratches; they understand stuff happens. Some people want the polished real wood and wouldn't dream of setting their coffee cup on it without a coaster. Nothing wrong with either choice.

I have grandkids I take camping. I'm not going to stop em at the door to take their shoes off every time they run through. Sometimes they just need to be kids and run in and get the ball so they can play some more outside with their new friends.