Better RV Brands?

[Grizzly]

Grizzly,



I looked at Mobile Suites up in Elhart several years ago when they were a fairly new brand. The interior finish quality looked good but I wondered about insulation.



How does your magic RV buyer's guide book rate MS units?

Harvey,



I'm having issues with my computer right now and it's not letting me open my RV Consumers Group guide. I think I have a little virus going on here. I'm going to run my Norton Antivirus software to see if I can clean this thing up. As soon as I've got it working, I'll look up Mobile Suites and let know.



george

 

[Slow Six]

I would like to hear from anyone who has a Carrilite from the last year or two. It is called Carrilite but is anything but light and is not an entry level RV. They are one of the heavier units right up there with the Mobile Suite and Hitchhiker plus all the options (disc brakes etc). The Astro foil is supposed to bring the insulation values up to par with the other units. We are considering these because they seem to be a good unit, have a lot of good features and we have a good dealer. The dealers for the other units are few and far between in our area and they do not seem to be businesses I would buy from. It is hard to sort the wheat from the chaff as every one says theirs is the best plus a lot of owners are the same and others complain if their ice cream is cold. I will continue to follow this topic and see what else comes up.

 

[Shadrach]

Well we went to the RV show yesterday and to be honest we didn't see one that we would buy on the spot. The biggest issue my wife has is no counter space for preparing meals. Of course a floor plan is a personal taste thing. We will continue to enjoy our 24' 1987 Prowler, after all it's paid for. Shadrach

 

[Grizzly]

Harvey,



The Mobile Suites, which are made by Doubletree Mfg. , have mostly 4 star ratings, few have a 3. 5 star and few have a 3 star rating. Last data I have is for a 2006. Was it discontinued after that?



A typical, 2006, 34', mod #32TKS has a rating of; Reliability 82, Value 84 and Hwy Control 94 for a 4 star rating. It is made for Fulltiming. Has a curb weight of 13,235 lbs, GVWR 17,500 lbs and a Capacity of 4,265 lbs, which is considered good. Comfort Zone is 0 to 100 degrees F, so it must be well insulated. It recommends that it be towed with a medium duty truck. The report contains much more data, however I'm giving you the more important data,



george

 

[Grizzly]

I would like to hear from anyone who has a Carrilite from the last year or two. It is called Carrilite but is anything but light and is not an entry level RV. They are one of the heavier units right up there with the Mobile Suite and Hitchhiker plus all the options (disc brakes etc). The Astro foil is supposed to bring the insulation values up to par with the other units. We are considering these because they seem to be a good unit, have a lot of good features and we have a good dealer. The dealers for the other units are few and far between in our area and they do not seem to be businesses I would buy from. It is hard to sort the wheat from the chaff as every one says theirs is the best plus a lot of owners are the same and others complain if their ice cream is cold. I will continue to follow this topic and see what else comes up.

Slow Six.



Carri-lite by Carriage is mostly a 4 star rated and is for Snowbirding. Some are rated as low as 2 stars. They have a Reliability of 80, Value 81 and Hwy Control 81 with a Capacity of 3,014 lbs, which is acceptable. Comfort Zone is 30 to 90 degrees F. This is just a randem picked average.



george

 

[Slow Six]

Thanks Grizzly, appreciate the info.

 

[HBarlow]

Grizzly,

Thanks for sharing the info on Mobile Suites. Doubletree was a young start up company when high fuel prices then economic downturn began. I think the company shut down and never started up again.

 

[HBarlow]

SlowSix,

A friend has owned a CarriLite fiver since about 2000. He has told me more than once that it is not a fulltimer's or all weather trailer.

The temperature rating provided by Grizzly confirms that as it shows a comfort zone of 30* to 90*.

 

[HBarlow]

George,

What is the "comfort zone" rating of my HitchHiker DA? I was not aware that the buyer's guide offered that data until I read your post this morning.

When I started looking for a new fiver in 2007 I was real spoiled by the quality and insulation value of my old second hand Travel Supreme that I had lived in during Indiana winters with overnight lows of 0* and wanted a TS but couldn't afford the price of a new one and really didn't want the towing weight of a TS to drag around.

I liked the strong and dense blue foam Dow Corning insulating material the HitchHikers are built with as well as their reputation for quality and customer service but have never seen a comfort zone rating for one. I had entered several on dealer lots in the hot sunshine in AZ and could feel the temp difference when I entered so assumed the insulation worked.

Just to make sure mine is comfortable in all weather I ordered it with dual pane windows, an upgrade to a two speed 40k btu furnace instead of the standard 35k btu, insulating fabric ceiling instead of panel, and dual air conditioning units for summer. So far it has been very easy to heat and cool but I haven't used in down to 0* like I did the old TS.

 

[HBarlow]

Correction:

A friend and fellow TDR member e-mailed me to tell me that the Carriage CarriLite owned by a friend (his and mine) I referred to in an earlier post is actually a CarriLite Cameo. There may be a difference in insulation between those two models.

The same friend also advised me that he knows someone who purchased a new Mobile Suites fiver in the last year or so. Apparently Double Tree is still manufacturing trailers.

I stand corrected on both earlier statements.

 

[Grizzly]

George,



What is the "comfort zone" rating of my HitchHiker DA? I was not aware that the buyer's guide offered that data until I read your post this morning.



When I started looking for a new fiver in 2007 I was real spoiled by the quality and insulation value of my old second hand Travel Supreme that I had lived in during Indiana winters with overnight lows of 0* and wanted a TS but couldn't afford the price of a new one and really didn't want the towing weight of a TS to drag around.



I liked the strong and dense blue foam Dow Corning insulating material the HitchHikers are built with as well as their reputation for quality and customer service but have never seen a comfort zone rating for one. I had entered several on dealer lots in the hot sunshine in AZ and could feel the temp difference when I entered so assumed the insulation worked.



Just to make sure mine is comfortable in all weather I ordered it with dual pane windows, an upgrade to a two speed 40k btu furnace instead of the standard 35k btu, insulating fabric ceiling instead of panel, and dual air conditioning units for summer. So far it has been very easy to heat and cool but I haven't used in down to 0* like I did the old TS.

Harvey, the Comfort Zone of your DA is 20 to 90* F.



george

 

[mwilson]

Grizzly,

Does the rating guide allow a user to factor in options and upgrades such as Harvey added to his new trailer into the calculations to get a more accurate temperature rating for example???



I am finding this whole discussion very informative and the guide sounds like a worthwhile purchase if a fella' is in the market for a new trailer. I will most definitly buy one before I upgrade to a better unit in the future.



It is very good of you to keep checking stats for people and it is bringing up some big differences between the various manufacturers.

 

[Grizzly]

Grizzly,

Does the rating guide allow a user to factor in options and upgrades such as Harvey added to his new trailer into the calculations to get a more accurate temperature rating for example???



I am finding this whole discussion very informative and the guide sounds like a worthwhile purchase if a fella' is in the market for a new trailer. I will most definitly buy one before I upgrade to a better unit in the future.



It is very good of you to keep checking stats for people and it is bringing up some big differences between the various manufacturers.

mwilson, I don't really understand your question. If You're asking if one can upgrade options when ordering a new RV, the answer is yes if the manufacture has those options to offer. I know, this has nothing to do with the ratings.



When I ordered my Arctic Fox I had the option to order Thermo Pane Windows, but I did't because we don't do much winter camping and the cost for the upgrade was $1,000. You can buy a lot of propane for that. Having said that, we do go to our favorite fishing place call Conjilon Lakes in October in Northern New Mexico where the altitude is 10K feet. It gets very cold at night and we usually wake up to snow, but we're only there 3 nights and the fall colors are fantastic.



That probably didn't answer your question and it may be more information than you wanted to know. george

 

[mwilson]

I didn't phrase it very well at all.

In other words, Harvey has most likely changed his comfort zone by adding the options that he did when he ordered the trailer.

Does your guide (and am only curious to see just how thorough the guide is) allow for and adjust for options that would change the comfort zone rating??? For example the comfort zone rating is (x) unless equiped with extreme weather package (for example) and then the comfort zone rating is (y). ??

 

[Grizzly]

I didn't phrase it very well at all.

In other words, Harvey has most likely changed his comfort zone by adding the options that he did when he ordered the trailer.

Does your guide (and am only curious to see just how thorough the guide is) allow for and adjust for options that would change the comfort zone rating??? For example the comfort zone rating is (x) unless equiped with extreme weather package (for example) and then the comfort zone rating is (y). ??

No, there is no allowance for upgrades. Adding thermo pane windows should increase the comfort zone, but how much, I don't know.



Again, if you're going to winter in Wyoming or spend the summer in Arizona, that may justify all the insulation upgrades you can get.

 

[Grizzly]

What is the best Internet Security Software? Currently I have Norton 2009, which has let me down with a virus. The laptop is fine. Norton has always worked for me in the past.



george

 

[HBarlow]

George,

Thanks very much for responding to our many questions about trailer ratings.

Are any fivers rated for a comfort zone of, for example, 0* to 100*?

Tetons had a reputation for being perhaps the best of all for year round full time living. Lots of oilfield hands and construction workers such as pipeliners reportedly own and live in Tetons. Was Teton rated as well as I think they were? How about New Horizons which are very expensive custom built units for fulltimers? Which brand has been the best rated for comfort zone?

 

[Slow Six]

The Double Tree units are now called DRV Suites as there was some conflict over use of the name.

 

[Grizzly]

George,



Thanks very much for responding to our many questions about trailer ratings.



Are any fivers rated for a comfort zone of, for example, 0* to 100*?



Tetons had a reputation for being perhaps the best of all for year round full time living. Lots of oilfield hands and construction workers such as pipeliners reportedly own and live in Tetons. Was Teton rated as well as I think they were? How about New Horizons which are very expensive custom built units for fulltimers? Which brand has been the best rated for comfort zone?

Harvey, The only two 5th wheels that have a Comfort Zone of 0 to 100* F are the Mobile Suites and Teton.



The best rated 5th wheel is the New Horizon and has a Comfort Zone of 10 to 90*F.



Travel Supreme also has a Comfort Zone of 10 to 90* F.



Royals International has a Comfort Zone of 0 to 90* F.



King of the Road and HichHiker have a Comfort Zone 20 to 90* F.



Most other quality 5th wheel have a Comfort Zone 30 to 90* F.



Note; There are many other 5th wheels and TT that I couldn't get to that may rate as good. It would take me three or four weeks to go through all of them. I only look at the ones that I though may have a good Comfort Zone.



george

 

[DHayden]

What is the best Internet Security Software?



george

Take a look into Zone Alarm Grizzly, excellent fire wall and anti virus.