full timer rigs?

[forkedhorn]

Help Folks,
Buying a new rig and found these Columbus models. Does anyone know if they will hold up well when we go fulltime? Compared to Montana or maybe Landmark? Need your help before we narrow this decision down in a week or so....

[Pop-Pop_C]

For full timing there is also Mobile Suites, Excel, and Nu wa.
But Nu Wa may be out of business. Have heard conflicting reports.
The designers went from Carriage and starte Redwood. There are QC.
ISSUES WITH BOTH, SO I HAVE READ. Course New Horizon,
Which are only custom.
IMO!!!!!!

[Atom_Ant]

bobbyterri wrote:
atomant

the rv consumer list does not list the redwood.

guess the list is not accurate.

[bobbyterri]

atomant

the rv consumer list does not list the redwood.

[bobbyterri]

homefor2

where did you get the information that redwood and others i did not mention are for full timing? i just purchased the report and only the ones i mentioned were in their list as full time. what others do you know that are warranted full time? thx.

[kakampers]

bobbyterri wrote:
according to the rv consumer group ratings, the only fulltime 5ers are: blackwood, elite suites (DRV), Excel, hitchhiker (someone said not in production, although i did get a response that they are still producing but only in kansas), and mobile suites (DRV). columbus has "terrible" ratings and i would not recommend that for fulltime. we did like the cedar creek (someone mentioned about not ruling that out), but it is not warranted for full-time.

is anyone out there full-timing in anything else from above? any warranty issues? we have been doing research for about 6 months (so far) on what to purchase for full time.

Yep...fulltimed for six years in a Heartland Bighorn. Currently full timing in a Heartland Landmark...both are warranted in writing for full time use, and Landmark has a 2&5 warrany...2 years bumper to bumper and 5 years on the complete structure.

[homefor2]

Both Blackwood and Redwood are on the RV Consume full time list along with several others not mentioned. When making a major purchase like an RV it seems that buying the information from the known authority RV Consumer Group would make sense. I have no affiliation just like to do my research.

[Atom_Ant]

bobbyterri wrote:
according to the rv consumer group ratings, the only fulltime 5ers are: blackwood, elite suites (DRV), Excel, hitchhiker (someone said not in production, although i did get a response that they are still producing but only in kansas), and mobile suites (DRV). columbus has "terrible" ratings and i would not recommend that for fulltime. we did like the cedar creek (someone mentioned about not ruling that out), but it is not warranted for full-time.

is anyone out there full-timing in anything else from above? any warranty issues? we have been doing research for about 6 months (so far) on what to purchase for full time.

was it Blackwood or Redwood? I know the Redwood is, not sure about Blackwood but Blackwood is no longer in production anyway as of this year.

[bobbyterri]

according to the rv consumer group ratings, the only fulltime 5ers are: blackwood, elite suites (DRV), Excel, hitchhiker (someone said not in production, although i did get a response that they are still producing but only in kansas), and mobile suites (DRV). columbus has "terrible" ratings and i would not recommend that for fulltime. we did like the cedar creek (someone mentioned about not ruling that out), but it is not warranted for full-time.

is anyone out there full-timing in anything else from above? any warranty issues? we have been doing research for about 6 months (so far) on what to purchase for full time.

[Atom_Ant]

We have the Splendide Ariston separate units. The are now 7 years old and we just re-installed them in this rig. They work fantastic in my opinion. The washer spins down 1200 rpm so the clothes are near dry when you take them out. The 110V dryer can dry 6 beach towels from the washer in a little over an hour.

Residential units may be faster, but I like the option of being able to do a load while dry camping if I want, or even in the parking lot if necessary.

[mayorna]

Having a washer and dryer are very convenient, even though they are not as efficient, hanging out and watching your laundry at the facilities is an inefficient use of time. I lived in mine for a year here in northern IL, and for me it was well worth it.

[Acei]

If you can afford it, then the best new full-timing units currently sold new are DRV, Excel, New Horizon and Lifestyle. Very hard to choose between these....

Don't let people fool you that DRV uses Lipert frames hence they are******- not all Lipert frames are created equal.

Choosing washer/dryer for RVs seem a bit tricky. I'm thinking of 2-in-1 Splendide unit, but I've seen more than few people complain about the dryer producing lots of wrinkles. Some people use portable residential units successfully, but this requires your trailer to be plugged in, unless you have incredibly large bank of batteries.

[beetle1]

Thanks guys, we will look some of these over closer. We hear that the washer/dryers are in-efficient and could be left off the want list?? I expect any heat element on 110v current would be slow to dry my jeans!!

[beetle1]

Thanks guys, we will look some of these over closer. We hear that the washer/dryers are in-efficient and could be left off the want list?? I expect any heat element on 110 current would be slow to dry my jeans!!

[beetle1]

Thanks guys, we will look some of these over closer. We hear that the washer/dryers are in-efficient and could be left off the want list?? I expect any heat element on 110 current would be slow to dry my jeans!!

[RedF-350]

I believe the Columbus is pretty close in quality to the Montana.