Best Toy hauler for winter living?

[Slicks]

Any recomendation on a toy hauler for 4 season use? I have seen many guys complain about qaulity on forest river(I was contemplating the All American Sport) and many others. I want about a 40 ft fifth wheel with a 13 ft cargo area with seperate garage, been looking last few weeks and hear all kinds of stuff. Would like guys with cold weather experience. This will be used for full-time living 6-8 months a year by only my wife and I in all climates(mostly concerned with the cold weather though) Thanks, Jason.

 

[KSears]

I too considered All-American Sport and also Keystone Raptor , but decided on one made by KZ,,Check out KZRV. Com,,,,,, you may like them, they have several model lines

 

[Bug Out]

K-Z, yes Forest River?????

At this point, based on my recent Forest River purchase, I'd say DO NOT buy Forest river if you want quality.



K-Z has heated tanks which you'll need in colder weather and forest river I believe does not offer that on TH's . K-Z's Just a much better unit, but you pay on average 10,000 more.



If I could turn the clock back 3 weeks, I would not own a Forest River right now and would be saving for the 41KGX2 K-Z TH. Nice unit.



I'd explain the deal with the new FR, but I have to wait and see if the factory will go to bat in Rialto this week.



I will never buy another RV from Van's RV in Surprise, Az ever again...

 

[Silver600]

The Holiday Rambler Next Level I have is supposed to be good in the cold. I have only had it in the mid 30's for 2 nights but it did great, the furnace ran but not a lot, the heat is ducted up to the bedroom and the tank area is heated. It is well insulated too. Mine doesn't have the seperate garage but the wall is available as an option. It is a good quality unit and I haven't had any problems with it. KZ also makes real nice units.

 

[Slicks]

Went to a small local RV show and am leaning pretty heavy on the KZ vision sportster 41Kx2. The guy I talked to deals Forest River and KZ and showed me the differences in fit and finish(funny thing is I am picky and already noticed, but wondered if it was just these two units). The KZ is nicer, but sometimes I wish I could just go to the factory and play general contractor for a week or however long it takes to get it done. More info is appreciated though..... let em fly good and bad...

 

[KSears]

Slicks ,, what area of the country are you in? I have the 38' Sportsman Sportster and think it is very nice. it was considerably cheaper than both the FR and Keystone. The Vision is a step up, so I don't know how the pricing is on them, but KZ seems to be a very good value for the money. There is a very competative dealer in Southern Va. if that is anyhere close enough to be realistic.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

IMHO, anyone who is buying a new RV should read the article on RV quality by G. R. Whale on page 234 of the August TDR. It is spot on in regard to the quality issues experienced in RVs. While he does not name the manufactuers that have low quality, he does give a list of those he thinks have higher quality (probably still not to automotive standards). Also mentioned is the importance of the dealer. I have a Gulf Stream 5er, I would say that the quality is average for an RV (read pis*-poor), but I have a dealer that has been great about working with me.

 

[Todd T]

Bug Out, its odd you say you have problems with your Forest River. We bought ours last march and have had only one problem where a circuit board came dislogded and shorted out the AC Unit. Cant hardly blame that on FR though, it was an internal problem to the AC unit.



I believe heated tanks were an option on ours when we ordered it but chose against them. I guess I'm not as picky or realize the value and don't complain.



The KZ's and Raptors are high on my list when we repurchase an RV

 

[Slicks]

IMHO, anyone who is buying a new RV should read the article on RV quality by G. R. Whale on page 234 of the August TDR. It is spot on in regard to the quality issues experienced in RVs. While he does not name the manufactuers that have low quality, he does give a list of those he thinks have higher quality (probably still not to automotive standards). Also mentioned is the importance of the dealer. I have a Gulf Stream 5er, I would say that the quality is average for an RV (read pis*-poor), but I have a dealer that has been great about working with me.

I read it twice, and had all his brands wrote down in my notebook, but can't find one with 14ft cargo(for a home gym, 2 quads, xt600 enduro, canoe, and mountain bikes, tools, grill, etc) and affordablish(new word)lol



KZ is looking pretty good in its class.

 

[Slicks]

Slicks ,, what area of the country are you in? I have the 38' Sportsman Sportster and think it is very nice. it was considerably cheaper than both the FR and Keystone. The Vision is a step up, so I don't know how the pricing is on them, but KZ seems to be a very good value for the money. There is a very competative dealer in Southern Va. if that is anyhere close enough to be realistic.

Central IL, and actually I'm talking to a dealer in Elkhart(RV Headquarters lol)

so far KZ New vision 41Kx2 basically loaded with everything except garage loft, right about 50,000 custom built must order type deal, generator included. Same one was quoted 70,000 at that show (big price margin in my opinion)

 

[SHobbs]

Got to defend Forest River here. I have had my 5er for three years and it has been to the shop twice. One time was a leaking slide out, the other was an awning adjustment. Both were no biggie and the dealership has taken great care of me. I did have a problem with the recliners ( not Forest River's fault ) and the dealer took two recliners out of a new one to swap them with. Most dealerships will not let you back in the service bays, mine has invited me to work with the tech both times. The leaking slide was a combined effort of the two of us to solve the problem.



I have an appointment to have a second a/c installed at Camping World. When I told them I had a Forest River 5er they were all over it saying how well they are built. I do have the heated enclosed underbelly with heated tanks ( three tanks) as well. I have noticed that some models from Forest River are not equipped as well as the others, not sure, why price I guess.

 

[Bug Out]

cont: Forest River

I called Forest River today in Rialto,Ca. As I expected, they went to bat and said bring it( New Sierra 40" 3x slide) back in with a list and they will fix it no questions



The dealer, on the other hand, has been less then helpful. I spoke to the owner of Vans today, who seems to not be in the "loop" at all.



He gave me the company line of BS, they can fix this that etc... . Yet my unit sat on their lot for a week and nothing, not one thing got done. My punch list is 2 pages long.



SHOBBS, I'm not knocking FR, I'm just stating the facts. There are higher quality units out their.





Ed

 

[BDeMartile]

look at www.warriormfg.com great quality can order any way you want em and they have tank haters for freezing weather. I have one without heaters (an oversight on my ordering part) have been in 20 degree weather and had no problems tanks are between frame rails and all plumbing is in the floor or heated cargo area.

 

[SHobbs]

Ed,



Sounds like a bad dealership. I dealt with that when I had a Terry and that dealer was horrible. The awning adjustment that I needed was simple and was not repaired properly by the dealership before I even saw the coach. The factory backed me up and had the dealer take care of the problem with out charging me a cent. So far all my dealings with Forest River have been positive, I would try contacting them directly and see what happens. Sounds like the factory needs to know whats going on.

 

[JPS]

Slicks, just sent an e-mail! Hope you received it. jps

 

[jeomelia]

Take a look at the Desert Fox by Nash



http://www.northwoodmfg.com/2006/desert_fox.htm

 

[EricBu12]

I have the 36' keystone Raptor with the separated 12' garage.



The build and such is pretty good, the wall thickness is OK... . there was 3 problems with insulation that I fixed myself...



1. In the cabinet under the bedroom, there is only the flooring and the only insulation was the thin door... Plus the heat from the generator came up through the floorwhen running the A/C..... I put 2" foam block R-10 value... . between the frame rails and then covered it with the thermo roll stuff. a little more R value... .



2. the pantry beside the fridge is short in depth as well as the cabinet above it... . because the vent for the fridge is behind them. in the hot weather, it radiated heat into the cabinet... . put 2" block on the back wall of those as well... .



3. the front wall of the closet in the bedroom was not insulated. . took a narrow panel off from near the top and was able to see the fibreglass cap. Put 3 Strips of normal R-16 batting in there to make it good.



Trailer is wired for 2nd A/C so I got a regular 13. 5... . Gen is able to run both on low.....



Now trailer is insulated pretty good except the dump valve for the kitchen grey is exposed

 

[IN T GR8]

I'm in my research stage for TH also . . This one catches my eye for now...

http://www.glendalerv.com/2006/Titanium/36e41mprv.html