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Anyone own a Pioneer RL250?

Blanco1
Explorer
Explorer
I'm 90% sure thats what I'm buying & yet realize some people will say they love it & other will say they hate it?

But being I have not signed the paper work yet still want to ask?
Most everything We've seen make it look great for the price!
1997 Dodge 4x4, 5 spd manual trans & HotRod 5.9 cummins.
With '85 Lance.
20 REPLIES 20

jerryjay11
Explorer
Explorer
drsteve wrote:
jerryjay11 wrote:
drsteve wrote:
jerryjay11 wrote:


I would have liked more than one roof vent fan other than what is in the bathroom...


Change out the woefully inadequate factory vent fan for a Fantastic Fan or Maxxair Fan. Either will pull enough air to vent the entire TT in no time. My Fantastic Fan makes a breeze coming in the windows on the other end of the TT.

... as well as corner drip edges for the shower when I don't park quite level.


Be aware that parking too far off level is hard on your propane powered fridge.


Yup, upgrading the vent fan would be my next project. As well as installing a vent cover so I can keep the vent open all the time.

Also being off level only affects the efficiency of a propane fridge, not harmful. And you don't have to be perfectly level, just helps to stay within the bubble of your level.


The manufacturers say 3 degrees side to side and 6 degrees front to back is acceptable. But prolonged operation off level can indeed damage an absorption fridge. Cooling units can be ruined by running overnight while extremely unlevel. More than 3 to 6 degrees and for a few hours, you will have some damage. The ammonia coolant will begin to crystallize in the upper tube area, and once crystallized, it stays crystallized. Over time, the crystals build up and cause a cooling problem.


I stand corrected on the 3 to 6 degrees. Though I am using a straight level rather than a graduated arched type. So as long as I can get the bubble in the center mark I am within these limits (I hope). But after reading how to properly use the graduated arched bubble level I think I will order me a set today.

bobndot
Explorer II
Explorer II
As per specs, there is not much payload (725#). I don't know how HL weighs TT's to get a dry weight but sometimes it does not incl any options. If that's the case, then you are not going to have much carrying capacity for your personal stuff.

drsteve
Explorer
Explorer
jerryjay11 wrote:
drsteve wrote:
jerryjay11 wrote:


I would have liked more than one roof vent fan other than what is in the bathroom...


Change out the woefully inadequate factory vent fan for a Fantastic Fan or Maxxair Fan. Either will pull enough air to vent the entire TT in no time. My Fantastic Fan makes a breeze coming in the windows on the other end of the TT.

... as well as corner drip edges for the shower when I don't park quite level.


Be aware that parking too far off level is hard on your propane powered fridge.


Yup, upgrading the vent fan would be my next project. As well as installing a vent cover so I can keep the vent open all the time.

Also being off level only affects the efficiency of a propane fridge, not harmful. And you don't have to be perfectly level, just helps to stay within the bubble of your level.


The manufacturers say 3 degrees side to side and 6 degrees front to back is acceptable. But prolonged operation off level can indeed damage an absorption fridge. Cooling units can be ruined by running overnight while extremely unlevel. More than 3 to 6 degrees and for a few hours, you will have some damage. The ammonia coolant will begin to crystallize in the upper tube area, and once crystallized, it stays crystallized. Over time, the crystals build up and cause a cooling problem.
2006 Silverado 1500HD Crew Cab 2WD 6.0L 3.73 8600 GVWR
2018 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 223RBS
1991 Palomino Filly PUP

jerryjay11
Explorer
Explorer
drsteve wrote:
jerryjay11 wrote:


I would have liked more than one roof vent fan other than what is in the bathroom...


Change out the woefully inadequate factory vent fan for a Fantastic Fan or Maxxair Fan. Either will pull enough air to vent the entire TT in no time. My Fantastic Fan makes a breeze coming in the windows on the other end of the TT.

... as well as corner drip edges for the shower when I don't park quite level.


Be aware that parking too far off level is hard on your propane powered fridge.


Yup, upgrading the vent fan would be my next project. As well as installing a vent cover so I can keep the vent open all the time.

Also being off level only affects the efficiency of a propane fridge, not harmful. And you don't have to be perfectly level, just helps to stay within the bubble of your level.

drsteve
Explorer
Explorer
jerryjay11 wrote:


I would have liked more than one roof vent fan other than what is in the bathroom...


Change out the woefully inadequate factory vent fan for a Fantastic Fan or Maxxair Fan. Either will pull enough air to vent the entire TT in no time. My Fantastic Fan makes a breeze coming in the windows on the other end of the TT.

... as well as corner drip edges for the shower when I don't park quite level.


Be aware that parking too far off level is hard on your propane powered fridge.
2006 Silverado 1500HD Crew Cab 2WD 6.0L 3.73 8600 GVWR
2018 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 223RBS
1991 Palomino Filly PUP

Blanco1
Explorer
Explorer
jerryjay11 wrote:
Blanco1 wrote:
trailer_newbe wrote:
I looked at the specifications. Only concern is it says the ceiling height is 6.67 feet. My neighbor has a 28โ€™ Sonoma that has the same height. Iโ€™m right at 6โ€™ and every time I stand up I feel like Iโ€™m going to hit the ceiling. I believe at the bathroom I actually need to duck because of the door frame. The other issue was the slide out. Because of the low main ceiling the slide has an even lower ceiling which means if you jump off the couch you will likely hit your head. Thankfully I experanced this in my neighbors trailer before we bought ours, so made sure we looked at this issue when getting ready to buy. You might be shorter but you will likely have a guest one day that might bump their head.


I'm actually also right at 6'0" & I didn't notice that?
Of course I also wasn't thinking about that at the time?

I'll pay attention before signing the paperwork & taking it home.


Had me thinking so I went out to the camper and yup, it's ceiling is 80" high. I stood on my tiptoes to give me an extra few inches from my 5'11" and still didn't feel any problem with the height.


Ok cool, I was looking the whole thing over & never noticed seeming to low of a ceiling?
1997 Dodge 4x4, 5 spd manual trans & HotRod 5.9 cummins.
With '85 Lance.

jerryjay11
Explorer
Explorer
Blanco1 wrote:
trailer_newbe wrote:
I looked at the specifications. Only concern is it says the ceiling height is 6.67 feet. My neighbor has a 28โ€™ Sonoma that has the same height. Iโ€™m right at 6โ€™ and every time I stand up I feel like Iโ€™m going to hit the ceiling. I believe at the bathroom I actually need to duck because of the door frame. The other issue was the slide out. Because of the low main ceiling the slide has an even lower ceiling which means if you jump off the couch you will likely hit your head. Thankfully I experanced this in my neighbors trailer before we bought ours, so made sure we looked at this issue when getting ready to buy. You might be shorter but you will likely have a guest one day that might bump their head.


I'm actually also right at 6'0" & I didn't notice that?
Of course I also wasn't thinking about that at the time?

I'll pay attention before signing the paperwork & taking it home.


Had me thinking so I went out to the camper and yup, it's ceiling is 80" high. I stood on my tiptoes to give me an extra few inches from my 5'11" and still didn't feel any problem with the height.

jerryjay11
Explorer
Explorer
bstar1952 wrote:
I was looking at getting that same RV earlier this week from Camping World.Liked the floorplan and the exterior. When I got home did a little research and found out it is a wood framed coach. Wood framing in an RV is not something I want to deal with. Then I found reviews of the Heartland brands - Pioneer; as well as some of their other brands, did not fare very well. What was most glaring to me was all the posts about bad customer service from both Heartland as well as CW. Not bashing Heartland or CW but I decided to look elsewhere and at other brands. By the way, I'm aware that most reviews are posted by disgruntled customers but there were just to many saying the same thing on this brand. Of course all of the above is just my opinion from my research - good luck.


Just to add I have had better service with Heartland customer service, parts and service departments than CW. They are more apt to help than CW.

Blanco1
Explorer
Explorer
trailer_newbe wrote:
The thing Iโ€™ve noticed about my neighbors ceiling is itโ€™s straight across where mine is arched.


Yeah I also prefer arched, but not a deal breaker.
1997 Dodge 4x4, 5 spd manual trans & HotRod 5.9 cummins.
With '85 Lance.

Blanco1
Explorer
Explorer
trailer_newbe wrote:
I looked at the specifications. Only concern is it says the ceiling height is 6.67 feet. My neighbor has a 28โ€™ Sonoma that has the same height. Iโ€™m right at 6โ€™ and every time I stand up I feel like Iโ€™m going to hit the ceiling. I believe at the bathroom I actually need to duck because of the door frame. The other issue was the slide out. Because of the low main ceiling the slide has an even lower ceiling which means if you jump off the couch you will likely hit your head. Thankfully I experanced this in my neighbors trailer before we bought ours, so made sure we looked at this issue when getting ready to buy. You might be shorter but you will likely have a guest one day that might bump their head.


I'm actually also right at 6'0" & I didn't notice that?
Of course I also wasn't thinking about that at the time?

I'll pay attention before signing the paperwork & taking it home.
1997 Dodge 4x4, 5 spd manual trans & HotRod 5.9 cummins.
With '85 Lance.

bstar1952
Explorer
Explorer
I was looking at getting that same RV earlier this week from Camping World.Liked the floorplan and the exterior. When I got home did a little research and found out it is a wood framed coach. Wood framing in an RV is not something I want to deal with. Then I found reviews of the Heartland brands - Pioneer; as well as some of their other brands, did not fare very well. What was most glaring to me was all the posts about bad customer service from both Heartland as well as CW. Not bashing Heartland or CW but I decided to look elsewhere and at other brands. By the way, I'm aware that most reviews are posted by disgruntled customers but there were just to many saying the same thing on this brand. Of course all of the above is just my opinion from my research - good luck.
Bstar1952
Bandera, Texas
2020 Ram 2500,6.4 Hemi
2019 (East to West) Della Terra 29KRK
Fastway E2 WHD Hitch

trailer_newbe
Explorer II
Explorer II
The thing Iโ€™ve noticed about my neighbors ceiling is itโ€™s straight across where mine is arched.
2018 Jayco White Hawk 28RL

jerryjay11
Explorer
Explorer
So I am 5"11" and never hit the ceiling or even feel any as if I would. I have though while removing the table top to gain access to the seat storage hit my head on the light fixtures. After a few of those head bumps I have learned to be more alert to those lights.

I would have liked more than one roof vent fan other than what is in the bathroom and the fresh/hot water tank drains is located inboard of the rear wheel and a bit difficult to get to.

I've made a few mods for our comfort which include spring struts for the 5 overhead cabinets and under bed storage as well as corner drip edges for the shower when I don't park quite level. Added piano hinges to the dinette storage area so we don't have to lift the board out of the seats.

The electric stab jacks, and awning are a great plus.

We've had our camper since 09/17 and love our Pioneer. But is is always a personal thing what you'll love or hate.

trailer_newbe
Explorer II
Explorer II
Iโ€™m just throwing it out there. The first time I entered my neighbors trailer it was very noticeable and Iโ€™m a trailer_newbe. There is a huge difference between his trailer and mine as far as the ceiling height. It could be the link I posted is wrong?

It could be a mis-print because Jayco says mine is similar but I have 12โ€ of clearance above my head.
2018 Jayco White Hawk 28RL