Roadrunner275
Tennessee
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Our Son and DIL are contemplating purchasing a toyhauler for full timing. They are currently in a 34' fifth wheel, but changing needs dictate an upgrade. They are looking hard at the Enduramax 4050END. We full-time in a KZ New Vision that we purchased new in 2008. When we bought ours I remember the dealer also carried Gulfstream and he had a couple Enduramax toyhaulers on the lot. When we inquired about them he said he was going to quit carrying them due to having problems with getting Gulfstream to approve and pay for warranty work. Recently we went with son and DIL to look at toyhaulers at a local dealership. They had a Cyclone they wanted to check out and as we walked up to the unit we noticed an Enduramax on the lot. When we inquired about it, the salesman bluntly stated that "you don't want one of those, nothing but problems". I have used the search function here but I really didn't come up with much about Enduramax. There are not alot of them out there on lots to go check out. The nearest floorplan they are interested in is a ten hour drive away. Does anyone have any input on the Enduramax as far as major issue like frame, slides, leaks etc.?
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jmtandem
western nevada
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Roadrunner,
With all the toyhaulers available why look at something two dealers have shared with you are potential problems? There are many toyhaulers that owner experiences have been favorable like Desert Fox, Fusion and others. Why even look at something that dealers are telling you are problematic? Unless the deal is a killer price thing, I would stay away from those no longer being made with the possible exception of Weekend Warrior as they seem to have been reincarnated and new 2012's are available.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed airbags overload springs bumpers
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Bigburd
Tennessee
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Been eyeballing a 2011 Gulf Stream Enduramax 31MFW. Good price. Curious as to where this thread goes.
12' Ford F-450 CCDRW 6.7L
08' Keystone Sprinter 250 RBS
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Roadrunner275
Tennessee
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As far as I know they are still making the Enduramax. Even if they are not going to continue the line, that in and of itself isn't enough reason to not consider them. Our New Vision was the last year KZ made them but we have had no issues with it even after living in it for almost four years straight. We are trying to guide them but of course ultimately they are the ones paying and will make the decision. I don't like to put too much weight on what a dealer might say about one unit when you are looking at purchasing a different unit that might potentially net the dealer more profit. That's why it would be nice to get some real world experience here. We are not ruling out any brand or manufacturer yet, but rather are in that very process. The final decision is still the kids.
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jmtandem
western nevada
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Quote:As far as I know they are still making the Enduramax. Even if they are not going to continue the line, that in and of itself isn't enough reason to not consider them. Our New Vision was the last year KZ made them but we have had no issues with it even after living in it for almost four years straight. We are trying to guide them but of course ultimately they are the ones paying and will make the decision. I don't like to put too much weight on what a dealer might say about one unit when you are looking at purchasing a different unit that might potentially net the dealer more profit. That's why it would be nice to get some real world experience here. We are not ruling out any brand or manufacturer yet, but rather are in that very process. The final decision is still the kids.
Why not go to the dealers and ask about the problems with the Enduramax? Is it too many minor quality control issues or way more major stuff like too light duty axles, wheels and tires. Some things are way more important in my mind than others. I would think a toyhauler at or around 40 feet and 18,000 pounds gross would want triple axles, 16 inch tires and (if available) hydraulic disk brakes. Keystone, Forest River and Weekend Warrior all went to triple axles for their larger toyhaulers and that would be major for anything I would consider. Even Airstream's toyhauler at 11,000 gross and 34 feet long is a triple axle.
* This post was
edited 02/09/12 10:50am by jmtandem *
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Roadrunner275
Tennessee
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That's part of the problem. Gulfstream's dealer network is marginal. We have just one here in Tennessee. The major components that make up the trailer are what we are most concerned with. When you full-time, taking the rig to the dealer for warranty work is really only an option for major issues, as you are losing your house in the process. The little stuff you deal with yourself. The kids need to go big so that does rule out a few of the manufacturers such as Artic Fox as they dont have a suitable size/floor plan. Any thing they buy wiil be triple axle and really heavy. They have ruled out customs, such as New Horizons due to cost. They are also leaning towards only buying off the lot as opposed to ordering. For now they plan on contracting the hauling of the rig done professionally by utilizing ubid, as they currently own a 3/4 ton SRW and will need time to upgrade. I just don't know if it's better to go with one of the big toyhauler makers such as Keystone or Heartland that cranks out many more units and has a large dealer network or take a chance with a company that makes far fewer, like we did with KZ.
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jmtandem
western nevada
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Quote:like we did with KZ.
From everything I have been able to learn, KZ has a better than average reputation for their toyhaulers. I have a friend with the 33P and he has had essentially no issues with it since acquired in '05 except for the refer board but that is fairly common and not a KZ issue. He did have a multitude of tire issues as that model is only a tandem axle. One one trip he lamented that he went from one Les Schwab Tire store to another. Time that could have been spent at campgrounds, seashores, mountains and doing better things.
He tows it with a Dodge/Cummins one ton dually.
* This post was
edited 02/09/12 10:45am by jmtandem *
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Roadrunner275
Tennessee
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Here's a link.
We did ask them if they liked the KZ's but they don't care for them. It's kinda funny because in 2008 when we bought ours, we couldn't get passed most toyhaulers "loud" format. We wanted the conservative look. My wife and I commented that we didn't know how they managed to sell the toyhaulers with such, in our opinion, over done graphics and nauseating interiors. Now we know. It seems the theme works for the younger set. We are obviously getting too old to maintain good taste.
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jmtandem
western nevada
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Quote:We are obviously getting too old to maintain good taste.
Yea, my tandem/triple axle bad, I was looking at the wrong picture when I went to the Gulfstream web site. As far as graphics, the Desert Fox and KZ are all toned down from the wild loud graphics that even cover windows that many others adorn their units with. Not really for me, either. In fact, I almost like the plain white wrapper look with perhaps a little graphic here and there.
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Roadrunner275
Tennessee
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In the kid's defense, and I don't mean to offend anyone here that owns one because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but they have sort of ruled out the Forest River toyhaulers based on being a little too over the top in the "loud" department. I advised them not to base any decision on looks alone, as in the long run, the function is far more important than the form. But it is still a consideration.
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