Think we have found it....Grand design Solitude 365 DEN

[DeezPanthers1]

Hi again everyone. So after looking at just about everything, we happen to come across Solitude 365 DEN , we think it may be perfect. We do have 3 kids and had been looking at bunkhouses, but really didn't like the small living space. We also looked at the mid bunk designs, but they didn't offer a 2nd bathroom or much storage in kids room. So then we found this. It has a living area for hubby and I to have a kid free area(after kids go to bed), but when we want to spend time together, we can hang out in the den (kids room), to watch a movie or play a game.

Ok so I want some opinions from seasoned RVers. Do you think this would work long term for kids? Are there some things that I should keep in mind? What is everyone's opinion on GD? I know they are pretty new, and that kind of worries me.

[pawatt]

41 foot long will really limit where you can camp. Most state and national parks will be out of the question as well as many of the older but more reasonable RV parks.

[Family__Guy]

Here are several bunkhouse models I've found with 1&1/2 baths and an outdoor kitchen:

http://www.lifestylelrv.com/page/249/385BH

http://www.westernrvcountry.com/inventory/408083/New-2015-Dutchmen-RV-Infinity-3710BH.aspx

http://www.westernrvcountry.com/inventory/445675/New-2015-Jayco-Eagle-Premier-375BHFS.aspx

http://www.haylettautoandrv.com/rv/coldwater+mi/crossroads+fifthwheel/5618/crossroads+redwood+cypress+38bhr

http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Athens-RV-Sales-728570/listing/2015-Kz-Rv-Durango-D358BHK-112821951

http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/RV-Supercenter-2819952/listing/2016-Forest-River-Blue-Ridge-F3715BH-115390584

http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/RV-Land-2989766/listing/2016-Heartland-ElkRidge-38RSRT-114631560

http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Haylett-Auto-%26-RV-Supercenter-2940398/listing/2016-Jayco-North-Pointe-375BHFS-115102998

http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/American-Family-RV-2972100/listing/2015-Keystone-MONTANA-HIGH-COUNTRY-356BH-113952614

http://www.lifestylelrv.com/page/249/385BH

http://www.highlandridgerv.com/products/2016/open-range-3x/fifth-wheels/3X427BHS


I am looking for one without the outdoor kitchen, and here's what I've found:

Keystone Avalanche 360RB
https://bend.craigslist.org/rvs/5398986884.html

http://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Camper-Kingdom-2941350/listing/2013-Open-Range-OPEN-RANGE-427BHS-117106565

http://www.usedrvsforsale.us/detail/Used-2015-DYNAMAX-TRILOGY-37BH/IBHzUhWWBUIHhhCrIhW.html

I'd appreciate any other links to bunkhouses without the outdoor kitchen.

Thanks,

Family Guy

[ependydad]

Me Again wrote:
With a family of 5 how many weeks or months do you think you will make it before throwing in the towel? Chris

A family of 5 seems to be small to average for what I'm seeing. Lots and lots of families of 6+ do fulltime RVing in a variety of rig sizes.

Personally, it's just 4 of us- but adding one more doesn't change things.

As for the OP- I like the 365DEN. It's a shame that they got rid of it. You're finding everything that I'm finding- there just isn't a good floorplan that offers 1 1/2 baths, has an outdoor kitchen, and still has a bunkroom/house.

I've been kicking around drawing one up myself, but I wouldn't have anyone who would listen and take the idea on. I also debated the idea of picking a custom builder and having a go at it- but price-wise, it's a hard pill to swallow.

[FWBFL]

I was comparing the Montana to the Solitude. I felt they were very close competitors, each had pluses and minuses. I was having trouble deciding until I ran the AC in each unit. The Solitude AC was unbearably loud compared to the Montana (Montana air return is fully via duct work - Solitude return air is direct into the unit).

[2008Wildcat]

Many differences in a HC vs Solitude.

Thinner walls, shorter slides, not a wide body, very different R values, electric vs hydraulic leveling.

[topjimmy]

Well heck they must of changed that this year with the Level up because I did not see it on the option list and if they are now on the 12in frame this year like the Big brother Legacy the Heck with the GD Solitude they are still on a 10in frame and with the same cheaper Furrion/Jensen DVD/stereo and whatever cheap TV they are using now and no rear cap etc..just like the High Country now shoppers can save their money and buy a Montana High Country instead of the GD Solitude if you do not mind the Fake wood on the HC:B

NWKomfort350 wrote:

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
Nothing wrong with a Montana HC and to tell ya the truth they are not far off being about the same as a Solitude BUT there is a reason they weigh less than a Solitude or My Montana Legacy and the Montana High Country's cost ALOT less and No the CRE3000 is not better than the Equa-flex and since when did the H/C go with a 12in frame ??? they have always been 10in, their Big brother the Legacy is on a 12in frame,Solitudes have 6 point auto level,better insulation and the list goes on on :B

topjimmy wrote:
The Solitude has Real wood cabinets ,better suspension ,better pin box,nicer furniture,beefier frames and axles just to name a few,it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy, not that a Chevy is bad but you get the Idea

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
The Montana High Country's are nice 5er's BUT your are looking at GD Solitudes and The Montana HC is Montana's "entry" level 5er that is like the GD's Reflection line, The Solitude competes with the Montana Legacy and Heartland Big Horn Etc...

What makes the Solitude better than a Montana HC?
I've been mostly looking at Montana HC and OR Roamer.
I don't think the den floorplan is for my family, personally.
I will go traditional bunk or Mid bunk.

Hard to find out about furniture without calling or seeing both in person.

Montana HC has a 12" drop frame.
Solitude has a ?" Drop frame.


HC has Mor/Ryde 3000
Solitude has equa-flex.
I was under the impression Mor/Ryde was better.

Both have 7k axles and 16" tires.

The money you save on a HC you can buy any pin box.

I prefer Chevy to Cadillac anyway. :B

Montana High Country frame depends on each model. Without searching, I cant remember, but I think it is any model GVWR over 14k.
It was 2015 I believe.

Also, every High Country I have shopped has a 4 or 6 point level up. :B

[NWKomfort350]

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
Nothing wrong with a Montana HC and to tell ya the truth they are not far off being about the same as a Solitude BUT there is a reason they weigh less than a Solitude or My Montana Legacy and the Montana High Country's cost ALOT less and No the CRE3000 is not better than the Equa-flex and since when did the H/C go with a 12in frame ??? they have always been 10in, their Big brother the Legacy is on a 12in frame,Solitudes have 6 point auto level,better insulation and the list goes on on :B

topjimmy wrote:
The Solitude has Real wood cabinets ,better suspension ,better pin box,nicer furniture,beefier frames and axles just to name a few,it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy, not that a Chevy is bad but you get the Idea

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
The Montana High Country's are nice 5er's BUT your are looking at GD Solitudes and The Montana HC is Montana's "entry" level 5er that is like the GD's Reflection line, The Solitude competes with the Montana Legacy and Heartland Big Horn Etc...

What makes the Solitude better than a Montana HC?
I've been mostly looking at Montana HC and OR Roamer.
I don't think the den floorplan is for my family, personally.
I will go traditional bunk or Mid bunk.

Hard to find out about furniture without calling or seeing both in person.

Montana HC has a 12" drop frame.
Solitude has a ?" Drop frame.


HC has Mor/Ryde 3000
Solitude has equa-flex.
I was under the impression Mor/Ryde was better.

Both have 7k axles and 16" tires.

The money you save on a HC you can buy any pin box.

I prefer Chevy to Cadillac anyway. :B

Montana High Country frame depends on each model. Without searching, I cant remember, but I think it is any model GVWR over 14k.
It was 2015 I believe.

Also, every High Country I have shopped has a 4 or 6 point level up. :B

[NWKomfort350]

topjimmy wrote:
Nothing wrong with a Montana HC and to tell ya the truth they are not far off being about the same as a Solitude BUT there is a reason they weigh less than a Solitude or My Montana Legacy and the Montana High Country's cost ALOT less and No the CRE3000 is not better than the Equa-flex and since when did the H/C go with a 12in frame ??? they have always been 10in, their Big brother the Legacy is on a 12in frame,Solitudes have 6 point auto level,better insulation and the list goes on on :B

topjimmy wrote:
The Solitude has Real wood cabinets ,better suspension ,better pin box,nicer furniture,beefier frames and axles just to name a few,it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy, not that a Chevy is bad but you get the Idea

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
The Montana High Country's are nice 5er's BUT your are looking at GD Solitudes and The Montana HC is Montana's "entry" level 5er that is like the GD's Reflection line, The Solitude competes with the Montana Legacy and Heartland Big Horn Etc...

What makes the Solitude better than a Montana HC?
I've been mostly looking at Montana HC and OR Roamer.
I don't think the den floorplan is for my family, personally.
I will go traditional bunk or Mid bunk.

Hard to find out about furniture without calling or seeing both in person.

Montana HC has a 12" drop frame.
Solitude has a ?" Drop frame.


HC has Mor/Ryde 3000
Solitude has equa-flex.
I was under the impression Mor/Ryde was better.

Both have 7k axles and 16" tires.

The money you save on a HC you can buy any pin box.

I prefer Chevy to Cadillac anyway. :B

Montana High Country frame depends on each model. Without searching, I cant remember, but I think it is any model GVWR over 14k.
It was 2015 I believe.

[topjimmy]

Nothing wrong with a Montana HC and to tell ya the truth they are not far off being about the same as a Solitude BUT there is a reason they weigh less than a Solitude or My Montana Legacy and the Montana High Country's cost ALOT less and No the CRE3000 is not better than the Equa-flex and since when did the H/C go with a 12in frame ??? they have always been 10in, their Big brother the Legacy is on a 12in frame,Solitudes have 6 point auto level,better insulation and the list goes on on :B

topjimmy wrote:
The Solitude has Real wood cabinets ,better suspension ,better pin box,nicer furniture,beefier frames and axles just to name a few,it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy, not that a Chevy is bad but you get the Idea

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
The Montana High Country's are nice 5er's BUT your are looking at GD Solitudes and The Montana HC is Montana's "entry" level 5er that is like the GD's Reflection line, The Solitude competes with the Montana Legacy and Heartland Big Horn Etc...

What makes the Solitude better than a Montana HC?
I've been mostly looking at Montana HC and OR Roamer.
I don't think the den floorplan is for my family, personally.
I will go traditional bunk or Mid bunk.

Hard to find out about furniture without calling or seeing both in person.

Montana HC has a 12" drop frame.
Solitude has a ?" Drop frame.


HC has Mor/Ryde 3000
Solitude has equa-flex.
I was under the impression Mor/Ryde was better.

Both have 7k axles and 16" tires.

The money you save on a HC you can buy any pin box.

I prefer Chevy to Cadillac anyway. :B

[NWKomfort350]

A nice rv with an interesting floor plan.

Lifestyle LS395SH kids room

[jsr21]

Solitude is a 101" widebody

[NWKomfort350]

topjimmy wrote:
The Solitude has Real wood cabinets ,better suspension ,better pin box,nicer furniture,beefier frames and axles just to name a few,it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy, not that a Chevy is bad but you get the Idea

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
The Montana High Country's are nice 5er's BUT your are looking at GD Solitudes and The Montana HC is Montana's "entry" level 5er that is like the GD's Reflection line, The Solitude competes with the Montana Legacy and Heartland Big Horn Etc...

What makes the Solitude better than a Montana HC?
I've been mostly looking at Montana HC and OR Roamer.
I don't think the den floorplan is for my family, personally.
I will go traditional bunk or Mid bunk.

Hard to find out about furniture without calling or seeing both in person.

Montana HC has a 12" drop frame.
Solitude has a ?" Drop frame.


HC has Mor/Ryde 3000
Solitude has equa-flex.
I was under the impression Mor/Ryde was better.

Both have 7k axles and 16" tires.

The money you save on a HC you can buy any pin box.

I prefer Chevy to Cadillac anyway. :B

[topjimmy]

The Solitude has Real wood cabinets ,better suspension ,better pin box,nicer furniture,beefier frames and axles just to name a few,it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy, not that a Chevy is bad but you get the Idea

NWKomfort350 wrote:

topjimmy wrote:
The Montana High Country's are nice 5er's BUT your are looking at GD Solitudes and The Montana HC is Montana's "entry" level 5er that is like the GD's Reflection line, The Solitude competes with the Montana Legacy and Heartland Big Horn Etc...

What makes the Solitude better than a Montana HC?
I've been mostly looking at Montana HC and OR Roamer.
I don't think the den floorplan is for my family, personally.
I will go traditional bunk or Mid bunk.

[NWKomfort350]

topjimmy wrote:
The Montana High Country's are nice 5er's BUT your are looking at GD Solitudes and The Montana HC is Montana's "entry" level 5er that is like the GD's Reflection line, The Solitude competes with the Montana Legacy and Heartland Big Horn Etc...

What makes the Solitude better than a Montana HC?
I've been mostly looking at Montana HC and OR Roamer.
I don't think the den floorplan is for my family, personally.
I will go traditional bunk or Mid bunk.