Need a better fifth wheel fir full timing

[steadypraying42]

So I'm stationed at Fort Lewis and I just entered the full time lifestyle, and what a bumpy road it has been. First off, I believe I purchased the wrong rv (2015 Keystone Hideout 308bhds) to start full timing. Two slideouts, not nearly enough storage and not an ounce of insulation I know this is going to be a rough winter. So next year this time I am planning to trade this one in and go for a front living room arrangement. I'm looking at Wana rvs in Indiana for my next purchase. Unfortunately, they do not accept new rvs as trades.

I'm just stressed out. DW doesn't like that the dogs are under her feet all the time, the kitchen is right across from the ONE sofa we have, the air conditioner feels like it's blowing out heat, and the no space among other things! We love the full time lifestyle, just chose the wrong fifth wheel.

Any of you fine ladies and gents know of any rv wholesale dealers that will accept a new trade?

[billy79]

We went full time as of May 1 this year, so been at it about the same amount of time.

We went with an Artic Fox 29-5K and I must say that we LOVE the build quality of the AF. The factory tour in La Grande amazed me. We hit the road from N. Idaho but first saw this rig last fall at the Seattle RV show and then ordered it from Sumner RV in Sumner...not far from you.

I can't offer a ton of advice, but just wanted to echo what some here said...and that is that Artic Fox's are great rigs (though heavy) and that Sumnner RV is a great dealer to buy from. We also talked to Mike at Thunder RV in La Grande a few times and he is a great guy as well.

If you want to stick with it and get a new rig I would just say to walk through as many as possible. My wife and I went to three large shows and walked countless dealerships. Sometimes it was uplifting and exciting and sometimes near dreadful...but we saw enough variety that we knew that we made the right choice for us and that there wasn't something better out there (for our needs in our price range).

My other big tip would be to truly try any rig on for size. Sit on the throne and pretend to wipe (I know it sounds silly but that is how you are going to know if there is enough room). Sit in the couch and see if you can relax while your wife prepares dinner or vice versa. Try to picture yourself living in it as you spend time in it at the dealership.

The rigs that we liked the best we spent 3 and 4 hours in (And sometimes going back to do it again)....and I think that is why we were "lucky" enough to get a rig we are so happy with on the first go.

Also the Grand Designs rigs are well bit and have really nice interiors.

[CarlT100]

GoinThisAway wrote:

steadypraying426 wrote:
Unfortunately, they do not accept new rvs as trades.

Unfortunately, your "new" rv stopped being new as soon as you drove it off the lot. Newer maybe, but not new. So you'll likely have to take a sizeable loss to change to another unit so soon.

In the meantime, there are some things you can do to make your life in your current unit more comfortable and I'm sure folks here will share a lot of tips. Here's one my Dad learned that may work for you. If you sit near a large window install a baseboard heater under it and run it on low. This stops the draft that can make sitting next to a window uncomfortably cold.

I bought three small electric heaters. We use one in the garage (which is our dinning room), one in the living room/kitchen, and one in the main bathroom - which we only turn on when we shower. These heaters plus the furnace kept us warm and comfortable in 20F weather. The heaters also cut down on propane usage. The furnace did not run nearly as much as it did without the heaters.

[GoinThisAway]

steadypraying426 wrote:
Unfortunately, they do not accept new rvs as trades.

Unfortunately, your "new" rv stopped being new as soon as you drove it off the lot. Newer maybe, but not new. So you'll likely have to take a sizeable loss to change to another unit so soon.

In the meantime, there are some things you can do to make your life in your current unit more comfortable and I'm sure folks here will share a lot of tips. Here's one my Dad learned that may work for you. If you sit near a large window install a baseboard heater under it and run it on low. This stops the draft that can make sitting next to a window uncomfortably cold.

[Roy_Lynne]

I don't think the Class A would ever tip, it just felt top heavy.
The Phoenix isn't for everyone that is for sure, and the comments that I have read is if your over 6' the beds are to short.

[DallasSteve]

Roy&Lynne

Thanks for the reply. That's an interesting comment about a Class A being top-heavy on curves. I was waiting to turn left at a light a few days ago and a city bus came around the corner fast and started to lean a lot. I thought it might fall on me, but it stayed upright. Comparing Class A and Class C, I like both, but I do like having a little more "crush zone" in front of my driver's seat and I like having a truck like a Ford E-450. That Phoenix Cruiser 2551 is a very unusual floorplan. I don't think it would be right for me because I would rather have a queen slide-out than a bunk house, but it's a lot of home for only 25 feet. I'm probably getting close to 35 feet with the Class C plans that I like.

[Roy_Lynne]

Steadypraying, you might want to wait until fall as the Tacoma Dome will be having the end of season show and they have some great prices. I would avoid looking at Forest River and instead look at Winnebago, Jayco or something on that order.

[Roy_Lynne]

DallasSteve wrote:

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Don't feel to bad about choosing the wrong RV as we bought a Class A and after our first trip, we decided we didn't like it at all and traded it in.

Roy&Lynne:

I'm considering options for a fulltime rig and I would like to avoid a big case of buyer's remorse. Maybe your experience would help. Do you mind explaining why you didn't like the Class A? What did you settle on after you traded it in? I looked briefly at your blog, but I didn't see your rig.

LOL, There were a couple of things. First it didn't have a drivers side door and that scared the heck out of me, also I didn't like how it took curves, it felt top heavy-ish, so we bought a Class C, which was going to be our last. Well, now I'm looking at a another one as we should have bought one with a slide. I'm currently drooling over the Phoenix Cruiser 2551 Clicky I hate the dinettes in most RVs, I think they are uncomfortable to sit in.
Happy Travels.

[DallasSteve]

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Don't feel to bad about choosing the wrong RV as we bought a Class A and after our first trip, we decided we didn't like it at all and traded it in.

Roy&Lynne:

I'm considering options for a fulltime rig and I would like to avoid a big case of buyer's remorse. Maybe your experience would help. Do you mind explaining why you didn't like the Class A? What did you settle on after you traded it in? I looked briefly at your blog, but I didn't see your rig.

[Roy_Lynne]

Hi neighbor, we live just east of you in Roy. Don't feel to bad about choosing the wrong RV as we bought a Class A and after our first trip, we decided we didn't like it at all and traded it in. There are a few things you can do to add insulation to warm up your rig, lots of rugs on the floor, vent stuffing, and insulating your windows with that plastic, and heavy curtains.
Can't think of much to do with the dogs except if they are small, building a fence and having them stay outside during the day.
You sure have to downsize when you move into an RV, and keep at it, Every year I look at what we have and if I didn't use it, out it goes. None of them have a lot of storage.

[sheff69]

DallasSteve wrote:
The DRV Mobile Suite Estates 38RSB3

$100,0000+ for a trailer. I'm not saying it's not worth it. I'm just saying you could buy 4 new Keystones for that price. I hope it lasts 4 times as long.

It's the difference between staying at Motel 6, and the Hilton.
It's the lifestyle you want and are prepared to pay for.

[grandma_lynn]

Check out a glacier peak, they are made in LaGrande, OR. I looked at one, better insulated, heated tanks, 1 solar panel with plug and play capabilities for 2 more panels. If I were trading our cardinal off I would sure put it on the list to seriously consider.

[Ray-EOD]

steadypraying426 - Welcome to the FT club. My wife and I are loving it, with 3 dogs. We went the toy hauler route, and it works great for us. We can put the dogs in the garage and come and go as we please or keep them out with us when we want.
Lots of storage in ours, we have a 2014 Torque 380, but no RV will have a great amount.
There are some rear living also, which will allow you to close off the living area with doors while leaving the kitchen and bedroom open for you without the dogs or the other way around.
I would suggest getting on RVtrader.com and just look around and find the one that works or you. There are lots of great ones out there.
I can tell you no two of us will agree on what RV is the best, but some are built better than other.
Stay safe out there and enjoy the RV'ing lifestyle.

[DallasSteve]

The DRV Mobile Suite Estates 38RSB3

$100,0000+ for a trailer. I'm not saying it's not worth it. I'm just saying you could buy 4 new Keystones for that price. I hope it lasts 4 times as long.

[hitchup]

10 years ago in FL, we decided to go fulltiming. Wanted a Teton, but they were too expensive to buy new. But after very little research, got suckered into a Fulltime RV (said so on the front of their brochure), a 2005 Open Road by Pilgrim 40' 5thW. While it was a great floorplan, had plenty of room for the 3 (had a 4yo GD w/us) of us, and we added a cat, it only had 1 non-ducted AC.

It only took us 10 mos of being in FL, SC and then moving it to NC that we decided to take the hit and buy a real fulltime unit. After just a little research, found a fairly local dealer that sold Doubletree Suites (now known as DRV). We went to the RV Show and bought a 36' they had on display. Kept it for 2.5yrs.

We are now in our 3rd DRV. The first one turned out to be a leaker, the 2nd one, 38', we special ordered and it had only a few issues, but cost of improvements and upgrades, we thought we'd be better off trading after 5yrs. The 3rd one also had issues, some small and some big (all 3AC's replaced under warranty last week), but the insulation and livability is so much better than many on the market.

We've always been comfortable in 100+d heat (AL, MO, OK, TX) and -7 and under (KS, IN). I hate extreme temperatures, but it's easy to control my comfort level with R-16 walls.

Arctic Fox, some older Tetons, and a few newer ones with R-11 walls or higher are going to be much better. If we were to buy one more, I think we'd go to Continental Coach by Forks RV. Went through the factory tour earlier this year and they looked better made than the DRV (2 factory tours).