Fifth wheel investment

[milo71]

We are contemplating on purchasing a 2013 Dutchmen Denali 262RLX (27') in Alberta and are a little concerned as to whether this is truly a good unit to invest in. Previously, we were looking at the Jayco 26RLS due to presently owning a 2011 24FB travel trailer which has proven to be a truly marvellous unit. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might a good fifth rv as we are retiring and want to see Canada during the summer months. Certainly appreciate any assistance in this.

[Artemus_Gordon]

Paul Clancy wrote:
Also be aware that build "quality" often equals high weight requiring heavy tow vehicle and more fuel to travel. There is no free lunch when it comes to quality. If your needs are for full time 4 season use this is a reasonable way to go. If not it makes little sense unless you are wealthy. This is something few Rv buying guides will tell you.

There is no proof in your comments. "Build quality and weight" have little to do with each other with todays technology advancement, engineering developments, advances in materials! When you produce limited volumes of trailers each year, there is not a great deal of room for R&D or inovation. Any extra budget money is used to try and "convince your customer base" your product benefits from low tech heavy construction and outdated building techniques! Read many brochures over the years when certain "out of business" manufactures trying to tell the public "wood frames are superior to metal"! Then out of nowhere they went to "all metal frames" then and only then was it superior to wood! What? Lighter weight stronger units are on the road because of innovation not "shabby workmenship or inferior construction"! But you can't get hard liners to give even an inch!

[rock077]

Dutchmen RV makes many lines of RV besides the ones labeled as "Dutchmen" - to market across all price points. The Dutchmen model itself has a bad reputation, but other models seem to be well built.

I haven't seen an unusual amount of complaints about the Denali line. Our Colorado was made by Dutchmen and we have had no issues with it, yep I said it, 4 years and no issues. Maybe I got an oddball, but I am very happy with it.

Nothing wrong with Jaycos either.

[Bumpyroad]

Paul Clancy wrote:
Also be aware that build "quality" often equals high weight requiring heavy tow vehicle and more fuel to travel. There is no free lunch when it comes to quality. If your needs are for full time 4 season use this is a reasonable way to go. If not it makes little sense unless you are wealthy. This is something few Rv buying guides will tell you.

cept welded aluminum framing should be lighter than 2 x 4s and I would consider aluminum to be of more "quality".
bumpy

[Paul_Clancy]

Also be aware that build "quality" often equals high weight requiring heavy tow vehicle and more fuel to travel. There is no free lunch when it comes to quality. If your needs are for full time 4 season use this is a reasonable way to go. If not it makes little sense unless you are wealthy. This is something few Rv buying guides will tell you.

[btritschler1437]

I was an owner of a 262rlx, up to Feb 2013. Last year we traveled out West for nine weeks and found the unit worked for us. However in Feb we traded up. The reason we traded was: limited storage, wanted a larger bathroom, 50 amp service, 16" wheels, more windows on the curb side, more counter space, quieter A/C, more room for the grandkids. The Denali was our first 5th wheel so after two years we know what we liked and would change if we did change. It worked because we did not want to sink a lot of money into a unit and then not like RVing.

What did we like: the Norcold frig, Carefree Colorado awning, TV, stove/oven, the way it towed, and it being 30/31'.

If you like the floorplan, look at the Crusader 27rls. Our new unit is a Crusader and I can see the difference between the two in construction. So far I'm very, very pleased with the Crusader. I think it has "value", not the most expensive, not the least expensive just nice.

[Pop-Pop_C]

IMO. THE DUTCHMAN , PROWER,and WILDCAT ARE entry level. Great fo weekends, and week long vacations . If you are looking at a more permanent
Living I would look at the Montana,Bighorn, pinnacle level. For the ful timing
mobile Suites, Hitchhiker and Excel line . And of course the New Horzons.
All depends on your hip pocket !

[restlesswind]

Check out the Hitchhikers,a gently used one will be a better buy that a lot of new SOBs on the market.
NuWa (Hitchhiker manufacturer) is no longer building new units but they are still doing an excellent job of supporting the units on the road and they
have some new unused models available it the factory.They also sell refurbished units and other brands.
I am a fan,see sig.

[Allworth]

I had an owner tell me one time that all Dutchmen come from the factory with a built in roof leak!

[Artemus_Gordon]

travelnutz wrote:
We do not own a Jayco RV as we only purchase the higher end RV's but I sure can tell you Jayco has a very fine history of over 40 years of very happy owners and many time repeat buyers. We've been RVing since 1965 and can't remember a single Jayco owner we've met or talked to that was unhappy with their Jayco build quality. Not talking about a floorplan as RV'ers wants and needs change as the family grows up in age and different layouts are wanted. I'm sure there are some who have had quality issues with their Jayco as no manufacturer is perfect but some manufacturers are much better than others and their reputation and years in business says something very well.

On the other side of the question, Dutchmen has a very poor history of quality over their dozen or so years of producing RV's and many unhappy owners and many of the forums are ripe with them. They are known for cheap cheap cheap and it shows up in a few years and I doubt that's what you want in what you had termed as "an investment". An investment into your fun future, yes. However, an RV is really not an "investment" but rather a depreciating purchase just like a vehicle. No reasonable comparison in quality of build between a Jayco product and a Dutchmen any where near the same model levels!

In all honesty, jayco can be considered as medium level quality and Dutchmen would be low level build or low end. It's your money and lucky for you, the decision is all yours.

Why that first statement says it all! Wow and just think your so called high in coach went belly up! Takes guts to talk smack like that?

[Beefer]

You might want to check out Sabre REQS6 alot of bang for the buck.

[cekkk]

WoodGlue wrote:

cekkk wrote:
Would the OP, Milo, please clarify whether the question was addressing the financial definition of "investment" or simply asking as a matter of construction quality? I cannot believe he wouldn't know these things lose value from the get-go.

I've been hammered on the forum because I refer to a RV as an investment. What I didn't do was to specify that I was talking about construction quality.WoodGlue

Just as I thought. Don't feel bad, I thought it was pretty clear. Only a moron would have thought it might be a good way to increase one's monetary assets. But I wasn't surprised that so many took you literally.

[kennethwooster]

Over a period of 10 years I've learned a lot about rv quality. I've had Alfa, Allegra Bay MH, and two Fleetwood Quantums. All of these units are out of business except Allegra. One reason they are probably gone is the lack of quality. What I learned there is only a few companies that are true quality. You can do a search on RV Net and read about them. In 2011 we say our first Carriage product. Even though they are out of business I would not mind buying them. I know very little about Jayco. I've just read they are not up there with Carriage Hitchhiker and etc. However I would buy it before I would buy Dutchman. We use out Cameo for about 5 months out of the year. If you are not going to use it very many months go with a cheaper unit and enjoy. Rvs should be for one majoy purpose. Go and have fun seeing our great nations. USA, and Canada.

[WoodGlue]

cekkk wrote:
Would the OP, Milo, please clarify whether the question was addressing the financial definition of "investment" or simply asking as a matter of construction quality? I cannot believe he wouldn't know these things lose value from the get-go.

I've been hammered on the forum because I refer to a RV as an investment. What I didn't do was to specify that I was talking about construction quality.

WoodGlue

[cekkk]

Would the OP, Milo, please clarify whether the question was addressing the financial definition of "investment" or simply asking as a matter of construction quality? I cannot believe he wouldn't know these things lose value from the get-go.