buying new 5th wheel

[RSeymon]

Greetings one and all. .



The wife and I have sold are slid in camper unit. We just started to look at 5th wheel units. going to stay with a 29-30 foot unit.



Question 1 are units with slid outs worth the extra money ? (we like the extra space) or are people having problems with the slids breaking down ?

We plan on using our unit for long weekends and vacations.



Looking for a unit that will last and use once I retire in 5 years.



So let me hear from the group on which units they like.



Does anyone have a Cruiser unit by Crossroads rv mfg. ?



Thanks In advance

Mr. Lucky

 

[WHazelwood]

Get the slid out! I have a Wildcat with one slide out and no problems in 3 yrs. Just libe the slides with a dry lube so they don't collect dirt. Its worth the extra room.

Be sure to check the tires on the 5th wheel, seems like a lot of manufactureres skimp on tire capacity. I'd recommend 16" wheels and "E" rated tires.

Keep grinnin,

 

[Bertram65]

I also have a Wildcat with a slide, night and day when compared to a trailer without a slide. Mine is Hydraulic I think the newer ones are a screw drive, probably less complicated though I have not had any trouble with it yet.

 

[SHobbs]

Look at Forest River, one solid unit I love mine. Defintely get slides and remember a bedroom slide above the truck bed adds 500 lbs roughly. All three slides in mine are hydralic and operate off of one switch, one moves out then the next and so on and come in the same way. One other thing if it is offered get a black water flush system. Just hook a water hose up to the outside of the trailer open dump valve and turn the water on, no fuss no muss. Really helps keep the black tank clean. The bedroom I highly recommend and a living slide as well. Good luck in your search

Scott

 

[Slow Six]

By all means get the slides. Also my experience with RVs is you pretty well get what you pay for. The higher end units usually have better quality and withstand heavy use a lot better. As stated above be sure of suspension and tires. I will not have a trailer with 15" tires and wheels. A lot of the manufactures are really pushing the limits on tires and springs trying to be price competitive. I think that for the most part slides are reasonably trouble free. Look at different makes and get down under and look at slide mechanisms, seals etc. I am presently in a Citation Supreme which is built in Oliver B. C. and we are satisfied with it. If this is to be a one time purchase take your time and look for what you want and then enjoy it.

 

[LYoder]

well... there are so many out there that it can be confussing. but my experience is cedar creek are nice... montana are but look at the craftmenship. this is what i have done in thought. . if i where to stay in this for several weeks would i be comfortable if it rained. bathroom size. . let the ladies decide that. and tow ability. . can you tow it. have fun looking

 

[RChase]

Look for a ARTIC FOX 29. 5e by Nortthwood i got one 4 years ago and just got back from east coast tour after leaving Ca in April took it across country and back now I am waiting to go again. It is a hard one to find but well worth it. It has two slides and well worth it. It has a bed up front in a bedroom you CAN stand up in.



tipcret

 

[McCRam]

I'm looking for one myself. Going to live in it while I build our house. If I were going to get one today I would probably get an arctic fox. I have looked at quite a few lately and they all have good and bad points. My best advise is to shop around and figure out what you need your trailer to do for you. And as said before you are going to have to pay for good quality.

 

[rubberneck]

I have had my alpenlite 30rk for 3 yrs now and i have to say it is a very good unit. It was a bit spendy, but I agree with what was stated ealier you tend to get what you pay for. It is a triple slide unit, and we have not had a single issue with the slide outs. Only thing to keep in mind is the more slides the heavier they get. my unit is awfully heavy for as short as it is. but I have no issues with pulling it. Probably pull too fast 90% of the time honestly.



On edit, i want to modify my earlier statment. You dont always get what you pay for. My inlaws had horrible luck with a 35 ft alfa. that trailer was over $50K and IMHO, alfa is absolute garbage. they have had so much trouble with that thing, i wouldn't own one if you gave it to me. My best advice is take a look at the things that dont show (wiring plumbing etc. ) that will give you a good idea of how the rest of the trailer is put together. After their dealings with alfa, i went for the alpenlite, i had always heard good things about the alpenlite, and if i were to buy again today i would go straight back to the alpenlite dealer.

 

[kelly4463]

We have a 35 ft CrossRoads 5er with two slides . its good quality inside and out. get the slideouts, night an day difference take your time and look at a lot of trailers. go to the RV shows, have fun doing it . what ever you do do not buy the first trailer you think is the deal of the century look and take notes and compare good luck

 

[dzldpatriot]

We have onlyhave had our Wildcat 27BH for one season, but love it. Seems well made and has met all our needs. Tows nice as we've gone to Florida and NC as well as local trips. As others have mentioned, get the bedroom slide. We didn't and really notice the lack of room. Otherwise, we only have the one slide and it does open it up quite a bit. Forrest River products seem to be well built, check out their website for all the models (Wildcat, Cardinal, etc) that they make. Have fun!

 

[kelly4463]

RSeymon -its and Paradise Pointe by Cross Roads

 

[Rd.Runnr]

5th wheel with slides

You definitely want the slides. I towed a 29' Alpenlite fiver without slides for 5 years. I was so impressed with the quality I bought a 29' rear living (Alpenlite) & towed it for another 5 years. Still impressed with Alpenlite I bought my current trailer. It is a 30' Rear living triple slide Alpenlite. There are people in our travel club who are towing their 4th or fifth Alpenlites.



Do your homework before spending your money!



See signature for my rules.

 

[JLitton]

No question, get the slides. They will make the inside of unit much more livable. I know you probably aren't thinking about getting rid of it since you're just now buying, but a unit without a slide will not hold its value like a unit with slides. I have a 2003 Cougar by Keystone and not had any prblems at all with any thing on my 5th wheel. Also, as someone suggested earlier, get the "No Fuss Flush" blank tank cleaning system. Well worth it.

 

[SHobbs]

Also stay away from rear kitchens, try to get a kitchen above the wheels or forward. Things get thrown around alot in the rear and you don't want your dishes shattered or scattered. I was told by numerous fultimers to stay away from them. Also get 50amp power 30amp is too small.

 

[klenger]

It's pretty tough to buy a new 5th wheel without slides anymore. In the midrange models, I like Arctic Fox and Sunnybrook. On the high end stuff, there's lot's to pick from.

 

[rweis]

Seperate A/C for the bedroom. I have an Alfa basement air. Does NOT push far enough to get the bedroom cool. I carry a portable A/C (roll around kind) for the bedroom, can just about make it snow if I want



Mine can run 30 amp or 50 amp. I also recommend 50 amp, BUT not all parks have 50 amp. A lot of ralleys (also a Good Sam Member) are in fairgrounds and you are lucky if you get a good 30 amp service.



Kudos on the black tank flush system, definitely.



Disc brakes if you are towing in the mountains alot or are pretty heavy.



BRAKESMART Controller (here come the controller wars )



Look at the axles and tires. Make sure the tires can support the trailer loaded. You would think the RV mfgrs would chose smart, but they have a bottom line to watch. I had the Alfa axles flipped to give me more road clearance (+6"). A lot of Alfa's had very bad experiences with Carlise tires. I do not have Carlise's, but I would not want Carlise's either.



Look at the truck and make sure it can start and STOP the RV. Exhaust brake?, Stick? Auto transmission with lockup system?



IF you want slide "toppers" (sliding covers for the slides) some mfgrs do not put the reinforceing structure in for them UNLESS you order this option when it is brand new, ie you can not add them later and have the sidewall structure that will attach them correctly.



The new Alfas use 3 20# propane tanks instead of of 2 30# tanks. Reason is you can get a 20# swapped at Home Depot, WalMart, convience stores and the tank is not so awkward and heavy. Pricey to swap it at HD, WM etc, BUT if you HAVE to you can.



While you are traveling can you stop at a rest stop and get to the refridgerator?, get to the table to eat lunch, get to the bed for a nap?, get to the potty? (wait till you travel with grandchildren or pregnant women), without puting out the slide(s).



I have a equipment slide in mine that the equipment slide is on rollers. Nice, but limits storage to the slide, and you lose probably 6" on either side of the slide because the slide has to be able to move and not get caught. If it did not come with a slide I would not have gotten one.



REWIRE the brakes as soon as you pick it up. The mfgrs wire the brake wiring with plain ol wire nuts. There are self sealing wire nuts now (Lowe's, Home Depot). Same wire nuts but they have a resin glue in them that seals them from moisture (ie corrosion). Grease the axle piviots early in your ownership. Check the running gear (axles, brakes, wiring, shackels, tires) frequently. The whole RV is depending on them to keep the shiney side up.



A bugaboo I have had is getting the refridgerators to light (gas) after it sits a while with the gas off. What I do is light a stove top burner (or what ever is downstream from the refridgerators on the gas line) first. That will ensure the refridgerators have a gas supply and not air in the lines. Then I found out the ignitors on the gas ignition on the refridgerators were not sparking after about a year. The ignitors depend on the gas tube they spark to is GROUNDED. I ran a seperate ground from the gas tube to the common ground point of the refridgerator electronics and it works like a champ now.



We found nice ACRILIC glasses at Crate & Barrel (shopping mall store). They do not break and look nice.



That's about everything I can think of to help you on your way.



Bob Weis



I looked back at the thread. I agree with being leary of an Alfa. They are either good or a real headache. Mine has been good. The basement A/C can be a GIANT PITA. Works for us, but. I would stick with the conventional roof mounted units, but one for the bedroom (or some way to absolutely control the temperature there. If you do not sleep well in the Rv, you will not like it regardless).



edit - In our Alfa the livingroom TV was on a shelf that would not support its weight going down the road. On the Alfa owner thread several TV's had fallen off . I put colonial table spindle legs under the TV shelf (from Home Depot) to properly support the TV. ie check the TV shelf for good weight bearing construction and the TV is STRAPPED in for travel.

 

[corprimo]

We've put 38,000 miles on our 2000 model Cardinal with no slide out problems - that includes 3 round trips over the Alaska Highway. Things that I recommend: 16 inch wheels, torsion axle suspension, exhaust brake, 2 golf cart batteries, standing head room, Garmin Nav system.



Fuel mileage is something else again...

 

[SHobbs]

One other note anything you want that you can do your self do it. My unit came built ready for a 2nd a/c, all that was needed was to drop it in and wire it up. I did the install myself total cost was $600. Do the math on the price of that a/c unit over the length of the note on the trailer if it was installed at the factory. Same goes for slide toppers and such, if you can do it go for it.

 

[CajunDieselMan]

Another vote for slides... the only regret we have about our Mobile Scout is that we didn't get TWO slides (one in the living room and a bedroom slide). Even if the power goes out you can always crank them in or out in an emergency.