Would you...

Option #2

Got to touch, feel, smell, see and lounge around for a bit before committing

Unless I can see the model, I won't buy it.

Thought we knew the model that we wanted but after talking to the west coast rep he suggested otherwise. Told him when we see it, we'll believe it.

Took a couple weeks but one was delivered to Mesa. We saw it and believed it, then that's when we ordered one.

I want to see it, maybe sleep in it if possible.

My neighbors bought direct from the factory, picked up at a dealer 200 miles away (Albuquerque), and said they were given minimal assistance by the dealer upon picking up the unit. When they got it home they found the bed was wrong, some wiring was not attached (I think he said the running lights did not work on one side), saw dust and shavings in cabinets, and several other thing he complained about the RV. The biggest issue was the unit did not fit his truck and hitch. He had to drive with his slider in maneuver position going down the highway coming home.

He had it back for repairs twice in the first 6 months of ownership. Once for a complete bed replacement-he ordered Queen size and they delivered King size-and once for something wrong with the auto leveling system. He and his wife cleaned and fixed most of the issues that were not worth driving to Albu for.

However, after about a year he is happy with it and likes it better than his old unit.

I ordered my chieftain MH after seeing one at a dealer in Anchorage or Fairbanks
bumpy

Too hard of question, can't offer opinion. I will say, I'm not a second choice kind of guy.

Jerry

This isn't a question limited to Fifth Wheel RV's.

Personally, I want to see and inspect anything I buy when I'm spending that kind of money.

But, I would also keep looking until I found what I wanted and not automatically settle for my second choice.

Quality control is lacking in the RV industry. I want to see what I'm buying. Maybe your second choice is the best choice. JMO

After owning our 2004 DRV Mobile Suites 36RE3 for almost 10 years, we purchased a new 2014.5 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSSA from a dealer over 1000 miles away based strictly on 40+ photos on their website. We haven't been disappointed at all. The 2014.5 has never been back to a service facility for repairs in almost 3 years of ownership, and if service had been required, DRV will typically authorize the use of independent service facilities or mobile RV techs. My experience with buying locally and relying on the selling dealer for service hasn't been that good, and we saved many thousands of dollars by purchasing from the remote dealer.

Again, each purchaser must do what's right for them, but each purchaser's circumstances and ability to maintain his/her own rig are different.

Rusty

How often are you going to buy a new rv it is such a large purchase that it may be worth it to find one that fits your first choice and travel to it at least see it in person then order a new one closer to home and get The one that fits your wants and needs . All of our RV's were purchased out of state .
Good luck
Mike

We ordered our HitchHiker directly from the factory and did not see our particular floor plan. However, we were able to see their construction methods and knew their quality reputation. It was built with modifications we requested and we picked it up directly from the factory after build. We have not been disappointed. The "bones" of the RV are outstanding and the floor plan is perfect for us.

Thanks for the info, guys. I think most of you missed the "order" part. I've almost never seen a "lot model" that has =exactly= what I want, and DON'T want. Even if I see something that I like, there are certain things that I want, that are not commonly added to models brought in just for stock; biggest one is probably an auto-level system. A lot of them have solid counter tops, which I couldn't care less about and I'd rather use the $1100-1200 for the leveling system. Just 2 examples of why I'd order a new one unless I "won the lottery" and found my perfect unit used.

Also, the 2 units are near-identical in layout and size.

Lyle