I realize this is whiney, but I am getting ready to spend upwards of $60,000 for a new RV, and I have yet to find a coach were real thought, engineering and attention to detial has gone into it.
I currently have a Rage'n FS2600, which is great, but I would now like some more room, in the form of a fifth wheel toy hauler. I have been researching for a few months now (the listing in RV.net is great), and am becoming increasingly frustrated. It seems all the manufacturers, for the most part, simply copy eachother. There is nothing different nor originial out there except for perhapes the Weekend Warrior 3505 LED and maybe one or two others...I have yet to visit the dealership on that one though.
I am astounded at how little thought goes into these machines. Most of the fifth wheels have a sofa next to a dinette on the same side of the trailer. This makes it difficult for the people on the couch to have a face to face conversation with the people at the table. Further, with most of these floor plans, when you are sitting on the couch or at the table, your view out of the coach is limited to the kitchen cabinets, instead of the great outdoors.
A number of these coaches literaly have nowhere to get dressed in private, unless you try to cram yourself into the tiny bathroom. A simple sliding or accordian door would solve this problem. Further, closet space in a number of these fifth wheels is a joke....one closet that is maybe 2 feet across??? How are you supposed to live for extended periods with that?
What I am looking for is a 30'-35' (anything more than that is too big, and too hard to get into many campgrounds, forests) fifth wheel with a partioned garage, opossing couch and dinnet, decent sized closet (or at least 2-3 smaller ones), doors to close the bedroom off from the bath, and the bath from the main living area, two exterior side doors (one to the living area, one to the garage), lots of large windows to enjoy the scenery (vice the view of cabinets as seems to be the norm in many of these). Some unique touches would help too...how about a wet-well in the luggage area that you can fill with ice and soda/beer that would drain out on the ground? That way you got your cold drinks on the patio, yet out of the sun; saw this on one Gear Box. How about consolidating all the control switches and system monitors in one panel, instead of strewn hap-hazardly throughout the coach? Double paned glass would sure help in the winter, and blisteringly hot summers when in the desert. I could go on and on.
I will continue searching...perhaps the 3505 LED will do it, otherwise perhaps next year.
Look at the Cyclone line from Heartland . They have some of the things are you looking for, like the universal hook up panel, but not all. I myself am looking at the 3210 which is the smallest one at 35'. I don't think you can get the floor plan you are looking for in 35' and under. The 3950 and 4012 floorplans have opposing couches and dinnettes.
Does New Horizon, built in Kansas, make a toy hauler? They do make 5th wheels. Since they are a custom builder they should be willing to make the designs you want. Also they are close enough to Colorado Springs that you could go tour the factory and see how they are built.
I think you are asking too much for a 30-35 foot trailer in my opinion. If you are looking to spend $60,000 on a trailer, I would go bigger and you can get a lot of what you are complaining about.
I know what you mean by most trailers with the same layout.....but, be realistic as well. There is only so much you can do with limited space and keep the trailer balanced. You can lay out a trailer how ever you feel fit in your mind but, it might not be feasible when you look at the engineering and weight aspect.
Keep looking and either settle for a trailer with most of your options, or build a custom trailer.
I can relate to Barkerkd87's quest for a 35' or less TH. That's about the top length limit for some Forest Service campgrounds we like. Of course, out in the open desert, this is far less of an issue.
The Fuzion 302 by Keystone RV is 35' with a garage and a full closet at the front of the trailer and two slides. I looked at one and liked it. The only sitting area is a "U" shaped dinette that slides out with plenty of windows (4). Plenty of room for 4-6 people to sit depending on belly size. Unfortunately it does not pull out into a bed, might be an option though???? www.keystonerv.com
The Roach's:Jim, Lisa, Jess, Megan, Buddy(boxer), Cujo(mutt), Bella (Pomeranian)and Dolly(Chihuahua).
2007 Ford Super Duty
2006 Rage'n Toy Hauler 2006 KTM 525 EXC 2005 CRF 230 2004 CRF 230 2004 TTR 125L Don't sweat the little things in life
Hey Barker Look at the Heartland Cyclone 4012. We love the layout in the living area. Plus the large seperate bath. Pin weight is approx. 4200lbs so will need more than a 1ton to pull it safely. We take ours all over Colorado National forests.
Have a look at the KZ Inferno. Smallest is 37' so may be a bit larger then you want. Master bedroom has it's own door and a door to the bath, Bath has another door straight off the living space. Plenty of storage under and lots in the bedroom. Even can come with a beer keg frig and spigot. Plenty of sleeping with a perm queen loft and double queen bunks in the garage, and couch is a hidabed. Couch is on the opposite side to the huge dinette. We had a look at a 42' that is in a show here. Even the wife was pretty impressed with it. Seemed to be well made and finished. I was not fussy with the led lit logo on the front that is huge but I think it is aimed at being a gathering place for parties. Some of the fabrics are not really to my liking either but over all I thought it was neat.
Look at the KZ Sportster 33P and the CrossTerrain 34MK. Both are smaller than all the "common" 39 footers, but still have the same couch / dinette situation.
Guess you can't have it all!
Derek
Wife & 2 boys (7 years old & 4 years old)
2007 Dodge 1-ton SRW Quad Cab LB (6.7 Cummins / 6-speed Auto)
2008 Keystone Raptor 3612DS
2006 Honda CRF250X
2007 KTM 50 SX JR
2005 Honda CRF50
1979 Honda Trail 90 (950 orig. miles)
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. Unfortunately it does not pull out into a bed, might be an option though????
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