Carriage Carri-lite

[TFlewitt]

Looking for feedback on Carriage 5th wheels. Looking at an '04 Carri-lite CL36XTRM5. Anyone used Carriages in really cold weather - 0-10 degrees? How do they tow? What is the quality like? Suitable for full-timing? Are their advertised weights realistic? Problems with this brand? What other coaches would be comparable to Carriage? Thanks!

 

[Grizzly]

I know that Carriage make a good 5th wheel. Not sure about a Carri Lite, but if it's made by Carriage it has to be good. Check with RV repair shops that fix them, but don't sell any. They should be more honest with you,

 

[Dieselnerd]

Carriage makes a good trailer and they are high quality. Some are quite heavy but the Carri-Lite is usually a reasonable weight. Comparable trailers would be Holiday Rambler Alumascape and Presidential, HitchHiker (My favorite) some higher end Montana's, Excel and a few others.



Check here for their website: http://www.carriageinc.com/

 

[RJOL]

Carriage makes a pretty good product, but all trailer lines usually have options to make them work better in cold weather.



Almost all quality RV's have sealed and heated underbellies that will keep your tanks and interior water supply from freezing, as long as you have the heat on. The weak point is usually the hose from the water source to the RV.



One option that you may want to look at is an RV with double pane windows. Single pane windows will "sweat" like crazy in the cold.



Get an RV with the best "R" value that you can find/afford. You're going to be burning a lot of propane to keep most trailers warm at zero degrees... . JMHO...

 

[LEPage]

We had a '94 Carri-Lite 532 & the best part about it was when I traded it in they never looked at it before the deal was done. I would hope they have solved these issue 10 years later but I don't know if they changed the wall construction or not. Never in my life have I ever seen a trailer sweat so bad on the inside as this did. There were times when there were literally drops of water on the ceiling & walls everywhere there was an aluminum stud. I'm talking put on a rain coat! They bragged on using square tube instead of 3 sided tube in the walls, much stronger, but there was no insulation in the square tubes. Some of the drawers in it would swell so tight in the winter that you could not get in them till spring, when you could open windows to dry the thing out. We broke leaf springs 2 different times pulling it, almost killing a fellow following us one time when a 6" piece of spring hit his windshield bulls eye in front of his face. The other broke on the front axle at highway speed & allowed it to roll back till the front tire & back tire where touching & neither one could turn, this was fun to fix along the Jersey turnpike. The aluminum studs or a weld in the wall between the superslide & the bathroom window broke, busting the inside wall, & putting a big knot on the outside, but we got rid of it before it came through the outside. It had 15" L/R D tires on it, after I bought 16" wheels & E tires for it they weren't a problem anymore. Main thing with fifth wheels is so many manufactures think that because the so much of the weight rides on the hitch, they don't need axles that will carry the trailer. If a trailer weighs 12K, & the hitch weight is 2K, they seem to think 2 5K axles are fine. Thats bull****. What do you think the weight is when you hit a bump & it bounces? I'm betting a WHOLE lot more. Elkhart will skimp on anything they think they can, & they do it every day. Carriage is one of the better manufacturers out there, so give it a good going over, check the wall construction, & make sure the running gear is up to the job.

 

[RVnwithRAM]

carrage-carri lite

I have a 1987 32 ft. carri lite 5th. wheel that I bought new in 1987 and still own it. It has served me well and have traveled many mile with it. Every thing is orignal except I replaced the frigd. ,furnace and I wanted a more comfortabe mattress so I replaced with a new one. I have the extra insulation that came from the factory but I don't have storm windows. The windows do sweat in cold weather some. I haven't had any problem with the interior walls or ceiling sweating. I do some camping in the winter but I live in Al. so the winter months are not that bad. I did go to St. Louis in mid Dec. in 1992. My co. I worked for sent me for a couple of weeks. Being from Al. It was cooooold to me. I think it got down to around 10 degree a couple of nights. We were comfortable. The windows did sweat a lot. If you are going to camp a lot in really cold weather I would suggest the artic package. Get the heated tanks and insulated windows but as far as quality with the carri lite I am well pleased. Never had any major problems.

Arlon







1995 Dodge 2500 SLT 5 spd. 4:10 TST #8 plate afe air filter running boards

Lunde lighted visor. egt & boost west tec gauges

cb, 5 cd sony player

 

[Diesel Nut]

I have a 2002 Carriage Cameo LXT and Its a nice coach. However, it has been a NIGHTMARE! The thing spent more time in the shop then on the road. Tons of reoccuring problems, and after the 24 month warranty was up washed their hands of me. No matter that I had been in multiple times with the same complaint. Now, cabinets are coming apart and the roof leaks. Would I buy another Carriage product? Never.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

Diesel Nut, you say it's a nice coach, then mention serious problems. I guess I am confused.



I have a 2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk. While QC would not pass the mustard if it were in an auto, I think it is pretty good for an RV. Gulf Stream no longer makes the Sea Hawk name, but the same coach is now labeled Prarie Schooner. A buddy of mine bought one under that name, and he is happy with it.

 

[litespeed]

Carriage is one of the best around. Hard to go wrong. It looks like the quality control has dropped on some of the lower end models. But still a very good camper.



Look for campers that have an "artic insulation" type package for camping in very cold or very hot weather. You will be very thankful for that. Also... . Good glass is just as important.



The tops would be Carriage, Royals (part of carriage), Travel Supreme, Newmar, Nu Wa, Alpha and Excel. All of these brands carry models that vary dramatically in price, weight and features. Lots to choose from. You can really "see" and feel the quality in these brands.



You really need to go put your hands and eyes on them. You will quickly see how cheap some of them are.



I guess your first decision would be how, where and how often you plan to use it. Then go from there.



Good luck...



AJ

 

[Kvic]

We have a Carri-lite 34KS3, and have been really happy with it so far. No major issues, but a couple of minor ones, with that much going on a problem here and there is to be expected. We had a Fleetwod product, and would NEVER buy one again. Any manufacturer can have a lemon, so do your research, and hopefully find a dealer witha a service department you like.



Kris

 

[Diesel Nut]

It is a nice unit meaning it is nice. Layout is thoughtful, the ideas are there. There are things included with the coach you don't normally see. (even though this is a whole different price range compared to the run of the mills rv). The interior is taseful, but the customer service and quality sucks. An RV can be a nice unit but still a thorn in your side. That is where I'd like think I am being objective. Yes its a nice unit. No, I am not happy with it. There are reasons why it kicks ***** and reasons why it sucks. But with the sticker price of over 70K this year, I think I would spend my money elsewhere. Hope this clears things up just a bit.

 

[SHobbs]

Litespeed,



Let me add to your list with another name. My Cardinal from Forest River has been the best I have owned. Have had it over 2yrs. with no major warranty issues at all. It has been in the shop twice and both were simple non structural items. The problems I have had were the CO2 detector and a simple awnining adjustment and a leaking slide. All were fixed with no problems and my dealer allowed me to be with the tech while he did the repairs.