As for adding your signature to your posts, go to My Forums and select My Profile from that menu.
Why do a lot of threads turn in a weight debate, such as this one seems to be? Unless the OP specifically asks about weights, as this one did not, I think people should keep thier opinions to themselves. Keep you answers keyed to the question. Otherwise start your own thread about weights to amuse yourself.
ryoung
2004 Dodge 3500 Dually HO 6 sp 4.10, Jordan Controller
2005 SunnyBrook 31BWKS
2004 Lance Lite 915
Big Horn has the best floor structure now, IMO. Storage area, dressing area in 3580 is great. Kitchen doesn't have the cabinets other floorplans offer. Put the juice box on the back and use the generator storage for other things. You can't have enough storage space when fulltiming!!
Consider an air hitch for you PU. A bouncy ride gets old. There are good reasons for every 5th wheel manufacture out there but only one floorplan that you see fits most of your needs. Please consider the CCC weight its important for fulltimers.
An air hitch and the CCC were great suggestions.
Your 1 Ton Dually should be OK. I've seen MS being
pulled with 3/4 Ton trucks.
Doubletree makes a good product, but of course I
would say that...look at my sig.
Bob
All 3 brands on your short list are well built and honestly it all depends on what your budget will allow. The Mobile Suites will be on the higher end, Cameo in the middle and Big Horn at the lower price point. Each differs slightly from the other when it comes to construction (rubber vs. vinyl roof, type of frame). The Big Horn offers quite a bang for the buck.
Another thing to consider is warranty. Double Tree and Carriage offer a 2 year end to end warranty, and Heartlands is a 1 year. Mobile Suites & Cameo are rated full time units so the warranty isn't voided if you are a full timer; I'm not sure about the Big Horn, and this might be something you'd want to investigate further. Lastly, Carriage doesn't sell thru wholesalers, so your best bet if interested in a Cameo is to compare dealer prices. As suggested by another poster, contact Tiara in IN and Ideal RV in AR; both gave the best pricing when we were shopping. Good luck!
2008 Carriage Cameo 35sb3
2008 Ford HD F350 6.4 diesel 4x4
"the Schnauzer Hauser"
One patient husband, One crazy wife
5 very spoiled schnauzers
The GAWR on the Carrilite/Cameo (made by Carriage Corp)is 18,000 lbs because Carriage Corp uses a very heavy frame, suspension, wheels, and axles as standard. They are fully warranted for "full timing" use as your home 52 weeks a year, unlike the other brands. "CJ Yoder" (Carriage Corp's founder in 1968 and owner until he sold and retired a few years ago) always mandated the very heavy foundation with which to build his coach upon. That's why he always built their own frame chassis. I know their products very well having owned 3 and still owning a great 29 ft Carrilite today and also because of my interaction with the Carriage Corp. We have just sold our 36 ft Carriage Commander, 3 axle, 2 slides, as noted in our signature for way over the NADA book value as we are contemplating a new one. Yup, it had the 18,000 GAWR also but handled great behind our GM 2500HD D/A and the 3500 DRW pickups we had. Almost exactly like the loaded to go 29 ft at 12,800 lbs GVW, including the pin weight. Contrary to what so many have said on this forum, it didn't handle any different with the DRW 3500 or the SRW 2500HD truck. I have noticed few of these size/weight "expert" posters have or had any personal experience pulling the SAME 5'er and different 5'ers on various sized trucks, 2500HD SRW, 3500HD SRW, and 3500 DRW but they are always telling others what to do! How the 5'er is engineered and built make a world of difference! Ours have been extremely stable and the one with the 6 wheels meant 6 brakes plus 4 on the truck. 10 wheel brakes!!! Unlike the others on this forum. I won't try to dictate to someone what size truck they must buy for their pulling. Each of us loads and drives differently. We have never had even ONE problem or quality issue with any of our Carriage Corp 5'ers since our very first one in 1991! Excellent insulation and built properly. Carriage Corp RV's really hold their value well. As a Buyer, you need to buy what rocks your boat while knowing darn well what you have actually purchased. Big differences in 5'ers on the market today as there always has been. It's your money and you'll be using what you purchase.
You'll not likely ever load your Carrilite/Cameo 5'er to it's max weight rating as they have a huge CCC (cargo carrying capacity) reserve over the "weight as shipped" actual completed unit. Also, bear in mind that the Carriage Corp brochure model spec weights are listed as the actual average axle/pin weighs when shipped from the factory including all options that were added. Not the stripped down basic model weights other manufacturer's brochures list. Yes, Cameo is expensive and there's a very good reason for it. You can only expect to get what you pay for! No "magic" tree out there to pick an RV from at half price! There are a few good brands of 5'er that are actually up to "full timing" use and an awful lot of "wanna be's". "Full timing" use is very demanding of an RV!
Carriage/Cameo and Mobile Suites are in a different league than Bighorn and/or most other brands. Take the time to look in real detail at the structure, insulation, years experience of engineering and build expertise, resale values, and warranty's of all the RV units that you may have an interest in. It will be YOUR HOME! All RV's are built from the ground (wheels) up. Doesn't matter how solid the house is. If a house is built on poor soil (foundation) rather than solid soil, it will sink or be in need of repair soon. Simple physics! Try to talk openly to as many actual "full timing" owners as you can and ask them about any and all the good and bad of their own RV units, no matter the brand. Ask for details. Remember that if you were to buy the same model/brand they have, you are likely to see much of the same both good and bad. There are very happy and very sad full timing coach owners and they are the ones that should know. They live it and so will you! daily! You want to be one of theos "happy owners" and would like to do it right the first time......
* This post was
edited 05/17/08 12:16pm by travelnutz *
2004 Chev 2500HD D/A crew cab LB 4X4 - Air Bags - Loaded
915 Lance Camper with 2'X 8' rear porch (my own design n build)
29 ft Carri-lite 5th wheel - 1 large slide - specially built
36 ft Carriage - 3 axle 5'er -NOW SOLD- Looking at some new 5'ers
Hunter11 wrote: Horsepower has nothing to do with the legal weight limits of the truck. My truck is not stock but that does not mean I can leagally haul more weight with it.
The chart at my dealership says that I can pull a fith wheel up to 16,500 lbs so long as the pin weight is not over 3500 lbs. It help to have the horses when towing in hilly country.
2006 Chevy 3500 LT3 D/A LBZ CC LB Dually. Xtreme floor mats, Luverne Side Steps with Dually Box Extendtions, Banks 4" Monster Exhaust (no muffler), Banks Ottomind 6 Tuner, Cameo F36FWS, full timing with our 3 Shelties
ryoung wrote: As for adding your signature to your posts, go to My Forums and select My Profile from that menu.
Why do a lot of threads turn in a weight debate, such as this one seems to be? Unless the OP specifically asks about weights, as this one did not, I think people should keep thier opinions to themselves. Keep you answers keyed to the question. Otherwise start your own thread about weights to amuse yourself.
ryoung
Took the words right out of my mouth, weight police out in force, My only other comment ,he left out the Montana, but to answer his question if the Carriage is the top of the list whats stopping you??buy it. I liked the Montana I bought it. Is there better yes is there worse yes. GET WHAT YOU LIKE AND IF IT FITS YOUR NEEDS
I don't have any of those, but we're considering Carriage and Double Tree. The Mobile Suite is probably a step up from the Cameo -- closer to the Carri-Lite or Carriage but still a very nice unit. We found the "asking price" from Daltons RV in Sheridan, WY to be pretty reasonable. Nice people, small town and small dealership. I'd give them a call.
Offline
