DeepLiquid
Illinois
Full Member
Joined: 07/29/2003
View Profile
|
Recently my thoughts have been turning to fifth wheels, don't know much about them other than they're easier to tow, have good headroom and storage. My folks had a 40' one at one point and loved it (well mom did, dad got sick of parking it at their house... very challenging weird turn around the house).
Just a general question about "best" brands. I know Lazy Days and Born Free for C's, and Airstream for TT's are considered top quality...What is the generally recognized finest brand of fiver available?
|
Dennis M M
Geneva, IL; Tucson, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 11/06/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Been hashed over many times. Changes over time.
New Horizons, Teton (no longer made), Newmar, DRV (Mobile Suites), HR Presidential.
Bet others can add more.
'99 Volvo VNL610 - 425 HP Volvo; Super 10 Spd
'11 smart fortwo on Volvo
'05 Newmar Mountain Aire 35 BLKS
Trailer Saver; Bigfoot; Pressure-Pro.
Our Travel Blog - A New Adventure
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
For what it's worth the RV Rating for Air stream is about average. If there were a single brand that was appreciably better than any of the others, not many would have any of the others.
RV Ratings by owners
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
DeepLiquid
Illinois
Full Member
Joined: 07/29/2003
View Profile
|
Dennis M M wrote:Been hashed over many times. Changes over time.
New Horizons, Teton (no longer made), Newmar, DRV (Mobile Suites), HR Presidential.
Bet others can add more.
I tried to do a search but ended up with some very odd results. 
|
DeepLiquid
Illinois
Full Member
Joined: 07/29/2003
View Profile
|
skipnchar wrote:For what it's worth the RV Rating for Air stream is about average. If there were a single brand that was appreciably better than any of the others, not many would have any of the others.
RV Ratings by owners
Poor word choice on my part, "best" with regards to Airstreams would more accurately be stated as "iconic".
|
|
|
n7bsn
Yes
Senior Member
Joined: 04/11/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
One thing you need to remember is "splash", that is to say fancy appointments, does not make the bones of the trailer great.
For great bones, New Horizon. They can be way short on "splash", since they are custom made only. But they have probably the best bones.
Another solid rig is Excel by Peterson Industries
2008 F350SD V10 with an 2012 Arctic Fox 29-5E
When someone tells you to buy the same rig they own, listen, they might be right. When they tell you to buy a different rig then they own, really pay attention, they probably know something you don't.
|
Devocamper
West Haven CT
Senior Member
Joined: 02/15/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Dennis M M wrote:Been hashed over many times. Changes over time.
New Horizons, Teton (no longer made), Newmar, DRV (Mobile Suites), HR Presidential.
Bet others can add more.
I would add NUWA, the Discover America Line, or the Champagne line. We have been very happy with our DA, keep in mind that you are talking about units that are made and warranted for full time use, many units are manufactured and stated that they are for recreation use only not for full time living.
08 NU-WA Hitchhiker Discover America 339 RSB
07 Chevy 3500HD LT1 EXT Cab LB DRW D/A
|
DeepLiquid
Illinois
Full Member
Joined: 07/29/2003
View Profile
|
Devocamper wrote:Dennis M M wrote:Been hashed over many times. Changes over time.
New Horizons, Teton (no longer made), Newmar, DRV (Mobile Suites), HR Presidential.
Bet others can add more.
I would add NUWA, the Discover America Line, or the Champagne line. We have been very happy with our DA, keep in mind that you are talking about units that are made and warranted for full time use, many units are manufactured and stated that they are for recreation use only not for full time living.
Thanks! That is important to us as we're contemplating full timing when we retire.
|
Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
Senior Member
Joined: 02/23/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Devocamper wrote:
I would add NUWA, the Discover America Line, or the Champagne line. We have been very happy with our DA, keep in mind that you are talking about units that are made and warranted for full time use, many units are manufactured and stated that they are for recreation use only not for full time living.
Wow-
I had no idea of this dividing line!
Do manufacturers actually tell you up front that a rig is for recreation use only, and not warranted for full time use?
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien
|
JRS & B
Florida/Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 05/09/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
The Mobile Suites people tend to use the most superlatives. Thickest walls, greatest R values, Bose stereos, etc.
But it doesn't matter how much you spend or what the ratings are, if the rig does not fit your needs and personal preferences, you still won't be happy with it.
A good friend had a new truck and then went out and bought the biggest, most expensive new HiLo trailer available (obviously not a fiver but applicable just the same). The HiLo's are rated very high and he really liked his rig. However, for their size, HiLo's are pretty heavy. As a result of the weight, his truck had problems pulling it up long hills and he sold the trailer after only one year and really took a beating financially. So while arguably his trailer was the best of its particular type, it still turned out not to be a good choice.
So do not assume because it is the biggest or most expensive high end fiver that it will necessarily make you the happiest.
Maybe a better question would be, If you had it to do all over, what would you have done differently when selecting your fiver?
Then compile a list of those things people found to be the most important to them or that they had wished they had gotten in their fivers, and see which of those things would matter to you as well. Once you have your list of needs and wants, finding the right fiver will easy, as long as your wallet is plump.
|
|
|
