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Re: Montana vs. Arctic Fox vs. Grand Design
We have the exact model and year 5th wheel as yours. There have been issues along the way but we have pulled this trailer across the nation into the Rockies 6 times. It has a lot of miles on it. What I'm upset about most is the how the rear wall of the trailer is not fastened very well to the floor. This allows the entire wall to move back and forth an inch or more when it's being towed. The reason we know this is because the aluminum skirt on the bottom side wall is bent or bowed out on each side right where it meets the corner trim where the rear and side meet. After removing this short section of trim between the slide and rear wall I could actually grab hold of the ladder and push/pull really hard and see the rear wall move!! I removed the sofa and saw the method they used to secure the rear wall to the floor. They only used a thin 3/4 inch aluminum angle and where it was screwed into the back wall was just lauan with no metal support behind it. All the screws had came out of the thin wood and were laying everywhere under the sofa. This trailer is well beyond the 3 year structural warranty so I performed my own repair. Heavy 3 inch angle and screws going into the internal aluminum studs behind the lauan. Now I have no movement. Check your trailer for a bow on each side in the back near the rear wall. I've seen a youtube on this and it's common on Reflections and also other brand of trailers.23Views0likes0CommentsRe: Non-halfton fifth wheel
I could be wrong but from what I have read the frame issues have mainly been on larger 5th wheels. We have a 31' 2017 Reflection by Grand Design and at this writing there have been no frame issues. We have pulled this 5th wheel across the nation into the Rockies 6 times so it has some miles on it. There have been other issues but considering how the Interstate system is such poor condition in many states I'm not surprised at what I've seen on ours and read on the Internet about others.181Views0likes0CommentsRe: No flow from hot water tank Nautilus P1 system
UPDATE ON PROBLEM....... The check valve on the outlet port of the hot water tank has failed. The spring is missing and presumably rusted and now probably inside the tank. When the spring is missing the plunger on the check valve will block flow from the tank preventing any hot water supply. Easy fix and available at Amazon.357Views0likes0CommentsNo flow from hot water tank Nautilus P1 system
No hot water Our 2017 27RL Reflection 5th wheel has the Nautilus p1 water distribution system. Once last year and then again a few days ago after filling the fresh water tank we had absolutely no hot water. For clarity I will say the water in the tank is very hot and our problem is we have no flow. This problem starts out with a slow flow and then progresses to absolutely no flow at all fixtures including the outside shower nozzle. So I know the water is hot. This problem occurs when we are on a city water connection or on the fresh water onboard tank. I bought this RV new and have filled and winterized the plumbing several years so feel confident I'm not doing something wrong when filling up and preparing for a trip. The only way I can get the hot water tank to provide water is to shut off the pump or city water valve, release pressure on the system by opening a faucet, drain the hot water tank by removing the drain plug outside. Then refill the tank. As the tank is refilling I have a hot water valve open somewhere to release the air as the tank fills. When a steady stream of water is observed I then shut off that valve and consider the hot water tank properly filled and ready for use. It seems things are fine until next time we prepare for a trip and I experience no flow again from the hot water tank! In troubleshooting today I have suddenly realized that if I turn the RED HANDLE sideways (allowing water to go to hot water fixtures without going to the tank first) I have a flow.....not hot of course....but a flow. Then when I turn the handle back to UP I notice a gurgle sound then I have water flow from the tank!! In looking on the Internet I have found some information about the Nautilus system and something about a Vacuum breaker/ check valve somewhere but I can't seem to locate it or determine exactly what it does. I can see the check valve on the output port of the tank and it's not hard to remove. Now my thinking is that a check valve on the hot water tank output connection is hanging up and not allowing flow. Does this make sense??? Appreciate any help or advice to solve this problem. Leaving for a 3 week trip!! Wife expects hot showers while we are on the road.Solved453Views0likes3CommentsRe: Introduce Yourself!
Thru the years I have owned 4 truck campers before moving into a 5th wheel when I retired. Now on my third 5th wheel but would go back to a truck camper in a heartbeat if the wife would agree!! Apparently when a woman experiences counter space and closet space she is reluctant to give it up. Truck campers are easy for many reasons. You don't have to do much planning with a truck camper. Any state or national park can accommodate you and there is no issue with length ! Many parks were constructed before people traveled with long tall trailers. Generally I've found most private parks will find somewhere to put you up for a night. Not so with a 5th wheel. Traveling on narrow roads is no issue with a truck camper. Switchbacks and steep curvy roads are not a problem. Pulling a boat trailer or horse trailer is no issue. I generally plan weeks ahead of a trip with my 5th wheel. I research routes, road conditions, campground availability and all other aspects of traveling with a big rig. We are reluctant to travel the back roads for fear of getting trapped. Scenic pull offs are a big concern for fear of not being able to get in a out easily. Thus we have missed some beautiful views in our travels. Buying fuel is a major concern with a 5th wheel. Most stations now have the pump lanes facing the building instead of being parallel to it. This can cause major issues trying to get in and out in a limited space! No problem with a truck camper. Basically you drive like you do without the camper onboard or with a car. Of course there is a downside to a truck camper. Limited space is the number one issue for my wife but I like the ability to go anywhere without considering any restrictions except possibly height. Truck campers in my opinion are profanely expensive considering they are much smaller, have no axle or frame or brakes and must be easier to build. Yet they cost as much as a 5th wheel !! If you have a dually already you have the ability to carry a good size truck camper with no problem. It's all about how you travel and how much pre planning you want to do. We have changed to reserving a campsite for a few nights in an area we want to visit, dropping off the 5th wheel, then driving around for a few days site seeing the area. It works well in a place like Grand Tetons or Glacier National Park where you can spend several days in one area and be entertained. I'm very cautious about getting into an area I'm not familiar with while pulling the 5th wheel. The truck campers we've owned were not a concern. You can be spontaneous in your travels and exploring!!1.8KViews0likes0CommentsQuality control ?
Purchased my Reflection 5th wheel in 2016 as a 2017 model. I noticed a bulge in the lower aluminum skirt in the extreme back between the slide and the back wall of the trailer. It felt like something very solid was behind the skirt. I dismissed it and never complained to the dealer. There were several other issues needing attention so this one was not mentioned. However through the years It became an eye sore to me and when we returned from our Fall trip this year I decided to remove that 4 foot section of skirt to see what was pushing it out. To my surprise the trailer wall was not centered on top of the floor and what I saw was over one inch of flooring sticking out beyond the wall.!! The vinyl floor and plywood were visible. I sawed off the protruding floor and now the skirt fits smoothly and properly behind the molding on the back wall of the trailer. It's common knowledge that RV's are constructed very quickly with little attention to quality control but this is unbelievable. How could they mount the walls crooked onto the floor and not see it? Someone plainly did not care what they were doing!! u9RD9xEl.jpg755Views0likes3CommentsPicture of cargo box
Someone ask to see more pictures of my cargo box. Here are a couple I can find in old photos. This box just plugs into the 2 inch receiver on the back of my 5th wheel. It's used to put leveling blocks, water hoses and other gear I don't want to store in the basement of the trailer. It's made from aluminum (homemade) and has been significantly useful in my travels. It's also a great place to put all my travel stickers without messing up the back of the trailer. I can remove it easily and put my bike carrier on if we decide to take the bikes. I've seen these or similar boxes on the internet. [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/1CNhb33l.jpg[/IMG] and [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/GXCcrgZl.jpg[/IMG]726Views0likes3Comments
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