Trading my class a for a 2008 bighorn. Are these units reliable and how is the quality.I'm getting rid of my 02 itasca horizon which I really love but, being a snow bird spending 6 months in Florida I wonder how good it is for the unit to sit for that long without being driven. I rarely use it during the summer months so the only time it's on the road is to and from Florida. Also with the cost of fuel it is not practical any more. I plan on leaving the fiver on site and just drive back and forth in my car.Between the savings in fuel and insurance it's ano brainer so I hope I don't hear too much negative feedback on the bighorn. Thanks in advance
From what I've seen from other posters the Heartland units seem okay. I've been looking to possibly upgrade to a Bighorn or Big Country. I did see a post the other day indicating their frames were made by Lippert, and a lot of people complain about them, but I don't know if all their frames are made by Lippert.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
My frame is a Lippert. It's 8 years old, been towed all over the map, maybe 50,000 miles, and still solid as stone.
Hans, KØHB & Colleen, KØCKB Master Chief Radioman, US Navy -
Prairie Schooner 34FBR Platinum XL Camping Trailer
3500HD Silverado Big Dooley LTZ Go-power by Max & Allie
As an owner of a Class A(that spends 3 months in Arizona) and a farmer, I see now reason to worry about letting equipment sit for six months and then operating them. Farm equipment(diesels) will sit for longer periods of time than that and then work hard for a month and are fine. Motorhomes will sit on dealer lots for similar periods of time. If you like the coach, keep it maintained and enjoy the lifestyle.
box710 wrote: Trading my class a for a 2008 bighorn. Are these units reliable and how is the quality.I'm getting rid of my 02 itasca horizon which I really love but, being a snow bird spending 6 months in Florida I wonder how good it is for the unit to sit for that long without being driven. I rarely use it during the summer months so the only time it's on the road is to and from Florida. Also with the cost of fuel it is not practical any more. I plan on leaving the fiver on site and just drive back and forth in my car.Between the savings in fuel and insurance it's ano brainer so I hope I don't hear too much negative feedback on the bighorn. Thanks in advance
Hey box710,
If your Bighorn has been taken care of by the previous owners, you will have a great unit. Heartland RVs has done a great job of building and standing behind their units. Lippert did have some problems, but I think they pretty much took care of them. Can't say that I hear of any ongoing things now.
Join us at the Heartland Owners Forum where you can talk to lots of owners, where problems are solved and discussed, friends are made for a life time.
I traded from a Horizon Class A to a 5th wheel and it was a great change. You get all the footage is shows for living without losing something to the driver and co-pilot seats. Then you also get to use a the tow vehicle while the 5TH wheel is serviced or use the 5th wheel "home" while the tow vehicle is serviced. I think you will be happy once you tow it for a time and see just how stable the 5th is on the freeway and in the winds.
Frank
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
We've been fulltime in our '08 Bighorn for five years now....towed it all over the country for more than 60,000 miles on it's Lippert frame...only problem we had in the beginning was busted springs which they promptly replaced, and last summer after years of twisting and turning, backing into parking spots, a spring hanger snapped off. It's been replaced and 2" square steel tube welded between the hangers from one side of coach to the other...won't have to worry about the hangers anymore. Plan to tow this puppy for several more years...bet we end up with over 100,000 miles on it before we upgrade to a Landmark.
In addition, just went thru a vicious storm here last Thursday, 70 mph hour winds, driving rain, the hail just missed us...and this baby stayed perfectly dry...don't think we could have found a more reliable 5er!!
P.S. What Jimtoo said...x2
2013 Heartland Landmark Key Largo with Mor Ryde IS and disc brakes
2011 Chevy Silverado 3500 DRW Crew Cab Duramax Diesel
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