We currently own a Forest River Hybrid camper and we are contemplating upgrading and a Fifth wheel is what we are looking at getting. I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 5.9 l Cummins engine. Once I started modifying my current camper I was a little bit disappointed with the quality of the workmanship and how poorly they were put together. Things that couldn't be seen until I was dismantling.
I know absolutely nothing about fifth wheels and the manufacturers. Everyone has their opinions about every brand that's out there but is there anywhere that lists the manufacturers and trailer are better than the next one?
Thanks in advance
2003 CTD Dodge 2500
Reese Class 3 hitch with friction bar sway control
2005 23 foot Shamrock
3 Kids, no pets (ones they dont sneak home)
Hoping sometime to upgrade..... (Prays for the day the Kids are on their own)
Ditto on Rv consumers Group. However, visit their website at: http://rv.org/ . You can read so much there for free and a lot easier. If you want a 5'er, you can buy the CD and book that rates them for safety and also compares everything. worth every penny and the best research tool I had when I researched for 2 yrs. Also, http://www.rvreviews.com/. Read reviews on any brand out there by owners. They also rate the dealer they purchased from and give details of their experiences with that particular dealer. Invaluable information! We ended up with a Used 1998 Newmar Mountainaire 35 ft. 5'er in excellent shape. Found out that Newmar is the cadillac of 5'er's and used was the way to go.
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
The quality of workmanship that you observed will be the same on any camper, any brand. Going to Elkhat, Ind and touring the different plants to observe how they are constructed is a real education.
No quality control in rv's from all the problems folks are having.
chevman
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy
easyrider/reese airhitch
trailair center point suspension
JT Strong Arm Stabilizers
KSH 55 inbed fuel tank
Garmin 2720
scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
First, you want some quality, look at a Nuwa product
Factory website at http://nuwa.com
Owners forum (set up by owners and not the factory, but the CEO and several of his staff members participate at http://nuwaowners.org
Or visit the factory - Nuwa is made in Chanute, KS.
Second, Us the RV Consumer's Group as a starting point, but remember, the RV Consumer's Group does not test RV's like consumer reports tests other products. RV Consumer's Group's ratings are based on mathematical equations. They've not gone out and pulled a trailer to see how well or how poorly it handles.
Greg
Full-timing and soon to be retired US Navy Master Chief
Enjoying Champagne on the King Ranch!
'06 King Ranch F-350 Dually Diesel 4x4 Long Bed Crew Cab w/ Tow Boss
'07 Champagne Edition NuWa Hitchiker 3 axle 4 slide 37CKRD /w TrailAir all around
I agree that QC sucks in the RV world but there is a huge difference between brands. Most of them look about the same on the surface but when you dig a little (or use them a lot) is when you really notice the difference. I've had a couple of new (cheap) RVs that turned into never-ending fixer-uppers... and I'm dead serious about the never-ending! That's why the cheap, low end stuff fall apart and the higher $$ stuff holds up. That's just natural but there can be some exceptions with anything. You still have a lot better odds if you avoid the cheap stuff. Craig
2003 Dodge HO CTD, NV5600, 4.10. Real 1Ton - pregnant with twin spare tires, 4WD - all on the rear. Aurora 2000 turbo, Diablo Predator, 4" muffler. 98 Sunnybrook 30RLFS 5th wh. WHOEVER INVENTED WORK DIDN'T HAVE AN RV!
Offline
