cedar creek 5th wheel options

[231jasonS]

Well I think im going to order a Cedar creek 31LBHBS to replace my wrecked Wildcat bunkhouse which was totaled last summer.



I am considering ordering the "thermopane windows" for $1000. 00 extra, but am not sure if they are worth the extra $. I had single pane tinted glass in my old one and they seemed ok. I think the hot weather in CA this summer might make the extra $1000. oo worth it.



Anyone have these windows and are they worth the extra?



The other option im thinking about is the 30" convection oven. Any thoughts?



How about the "TRAILAIR 15,500 air ride hitch coupler" and the "TRAILAIR center point air ride suspension system"



I suspect both the TRAILAIR products would help the ride and will more than likley order them. any thoughts.

 

[chazj]

I have double pane windows on my Arctic Fox. I notice that the single pane windows, in the other trailers here at the park, will get heavy condensation on them during the summer months and even frost in the winter. The double pane also appear to cut down on some of the outside noise.

 

[Jeepinjason]

I also had them on my Artic Fox and they do prevent condensation. They are also heavier.



A little off topic, but why are you switching to Cedar Creek. I am about to order a 2007 Wildcat 32QBBS.

 

[231jasonS]

Im switching because cedar creek is higher end. Both made by forest river which i have mixed feelings about. But a least its a little better forrest river product.

 

[LEPage]

I think the thermopanes are a great option, but more so in the cold. While they will help with the A/C, I think window awnings would do more. Keeping the sun off the windows makes a major difference. Thermos won't sweat either. The electric convection ovens are great in the summer time, as the heat generated is directly vented to the outside as compared to the gas oven heating up the inside of the rig. We always get both, the gas oven does double duty in the winter. The Sharp convections are far better than the other makes. We got a GE in our new trailer, and found that we prefer the Sharp a whole lot more... for the same money.

 

[JRMora]

Well I think im going to order a Cedar creek 31LBHBS to replace my wrecked Wildcat bunkhouse which was totaled last summer.



I am considering ordering the "thermopane windows" for $1000. 00 extra, but am not sure if they are worth the extra $. I had single pane tinted glass in my old one and they seemed ok. I think the hot weather in CA this summer might make the extra $1000. oo worth it.



Anyone have these windows and are they worth the extra?



The other option im thinking about is the 30" convection oven. Any thoughts?



How about the "TRAILAIR 15,500 air ride hitch coupler" and the "TRAILAIR center point air ride suspension system"



I suspect both the TRAILAIR products would help the ride and will more than likley order them. any thoughts.

Don't have thermopanes (we thought about it but didn't get them). We used the trailer for 9 days last summer thru the hottest part in the California desert and Las Vegas area (110°+ each day). we saw as high as 120° near Barstow. We did fine (but we also have the 2nd AC unit in the BR!)



We have the Trail Air Pin Box and Centerpoint suspension, and they work very well. Lots of rough roads and never any spills or upending in the trailer.



We also have the convection over. When ours was built there were still shortages of ovens nation wide. We don't have a gas oven (just the convection), so we are limited a little that way. We do have extra storage space, though, under the range. It's an Amana, and it has a large cooking volume (needed when all five of us travel).



Other options we really appreciate: Euro Leather recliners (much lighter and easier to move than the regular Lazy Boy types), 12 cu ft refrigerator (again, with 5 of us it comes in real handy), an Onan 6500W generator (great for dry camping in the HOT climates as well as those roadside stops for lunch), and the King Bed option (we're big/tall people so extra space helps here, too. )



Other, less important, options: Central Vacuum, fireplace, booth dinette, etc.



The biggest complaints - the concertone stereo system has died three times (dealer has made good even out of warranty), and a couple of prblems with the systems - converter died (warranty), one front jack came apart (the day we were going to leave for LA - dealer fixed), and there is a cable support under the curbside slide that keeps breaking (dealer has taken care of).



On the whole, it's been as good a unit as many others we've owned or that friends have owned. I am a true believer that the dealer's service and support will make or break any brand of RV (or car or truck for that matter).



Anyway, my two cents worth.



Juan

 

[231jasonS]

I guess ill half to keep asking. I will probally use it more in hot weather, but the cold is often a factor. We dry camp at the beach and it gets pretty cold at NO CA beaches in the spring and fall. I wonder how much weight these windows would add.



Does the 30" ammana convection replace the oven? or the microwave? i thought it was the micro/convec combo like we have in our house. I don't want to be without the gas oven, we use the heck out of that thing. Plus its great when dry camping and I don't wont to run the generator.



Can I replace the microwave with a convec/micro compo after purchase? I know i want to replace the "stereo" with an automotive style DVD/cd/amfm with a built in monitor (12V for dry camping). The concert tone stereo I had in my Wildcat was junk. I was just about to replace it when we had our little wreck.

 

[LEPage]

The convections are a combo(microwave & convection), & they have a quiet stove vent built in instead of the noisy 12v jobs, altough you may want the 12v if you boondock. Either way, be sure it is vented to the outside, & not just through a filter & back inside. The dual panes are about twice the weight of the singles :-laf !!! Be careful if you do order a convection, a lot of manufactures eliminate the gas oven when you order that option. I personally wouldn't pay for the suspension. I have a air ride hitch in my truck & love it, but have not tried the pin box version.

 

[RustyJC]

Regarding the convection oven, our RV has both the microwave/convection oven and the standard propane oven. My wife hasn't taken the time to learn to use the convection oven - she still uses the propane oven for what little baking she does. Therefore, the convection feature really goes unused.



If your wife is already a convection oven user or has enough interest to learn to use it, that option would probably be fine. In my case, we would never miss the convection oven and could get by just fine with just a microwave oven.



Rusty

 

[Okie-Go]

We are in the process of getting a new trailer also. The current one is a 2001 model and the stove or oven has never been used. Wifey has an electric skillet and also uses the microwave.

 

[SHobbs]

Thousand bucks aint bad for thermo panes. When I bought my 5er it was a $2200 dollar option. Right now I am currently replacing the standard windows one at a time with thermo panes. Everything I have read says that thermo panes are worth the money also another thing to do is use heavy curtains along with the day/night shades or whatever shades the 5er has in them. I have been having installing rubber backed curtains made for each window as well and in the bedroom they have helped alot with heat and cold as well as privacy and darkness in the coach. I would have gotten the thermos for $1000 for sure.

 

[231jasonS]

I just found out to upgrade the axles to 6000lbs instead of the 5200lbs it will cost $2800. This would put the gross cargo cap up to 4000lbs compared to 2400 lbs. Plus i would suspect the brakes might be larger on the bigger axles.



It might be over kill but I think i might go for this option. I suspect with the options im considering and the household stuff i would load I could reach the 2400 lbs without to much trouble. Maybe Im over estimating hom much all the clothes food bedding generator bikes and misc crap would weigh. I never weighed my old trailer so i really dont know.



This is an insurance deal so i think Im getting the options at wholesale cost.



Any one ever upgrade the axles aftermarket?

 

[LEPage]

That's ridiculous! For $2800 you could buy enough axles to go from the front of the trailer to the rear. And that's an upgrade? So they are saying the 6000# axles cost over $1500 a piece? Call Dexter & get prices, I'm betting you can save at least 2 grand... Unless they are adding the electric over hydraulic disc brakes in the upgrade, than it's not bad at all. . I do know the 12 1/4" X 3 3/8" drums are available on the 6K Dexters. Swapping axles is very easy, just pull the 4 bolts out of the spring eyes and you're half done. And while you're at it, be sure to go with 16" rubber, load range E minimum, I think you'll find with 15" you can only get LR D. The 16" E tires WILL save you trailer damage from a blown tire.

 

[Grizzly]

Well I think im going to order a Cedar creek 31LBHBS to replace my wrecked Wildcat bunkhouse which was totaled last summer.



I am considering ordering the "thermopane windows" for $1000. 00 extra, but am not sure if they are worth the extra $. I had single pane tinted glass in my old one and they seemed ok. I think the hot weather in CA this summer might make the extra $1000. oo worth it.



Anyone have these windows and are they worth the extra?



The other option im thinking about is the 30" convection oven. Any thoughts?



How about the "TRAILAIR 15,500 air ride hitch coupler" and the "TRAILAIR center point air ride suspension system"



I suspect both the TRAILAIR products would help the ride and will more than likley order them. any thoughts.

Go for an Arctic Fox, they are 4 star rated. The Cedar Creek 31LBHBS you are considering is only 2 1/2 star rated. I'm not convinced on thermo windows. How much extra weight do they add to the trailer?

 

[LEPage]

Head on up north in the sub freezing temps, you'll soon be convinced. By the way, where are you getting these ratings?

 

[231jasonS]

I would love to go with an Artic fox i have looked at and researched over 30 different models. Aortic fox impressed me the most, BUT they dont offer a bunkhouse model in a fifth wheel. Nor do they have a slide in the bedroom or a king bed option.



The RV industry on a whole is ****-pore quality and workman ship, unless you go to the big boys. I dont want anything over 33' and you cant get a bunk house in the higher end trailers. Once the little ones are grown, ill up grade to a nicer unit.



I even called the factory to find out if they had any plans to produce a bunkhouse or if they could build one semi custom, but they wont.



Those were the only reasons. I am not impressed with the Forrest river products, but this one is the nicest of the ones i've seen. K-Z durango is a close second.



$2800. 00 seemed way to high to me as well, but ive never priced axles. I would expect to pay the price difference between 5200 lbs and the 6000 lbs not pay for both. If there going to charge 2800, then i would expect to have a discounted overall price for giving them back the 5200lbs. But i suspect the factory has the chassis already set up and they would half to go backwards to change the axles. At least thats the only reason to justify the $2800.



How much weight have any of you guys loaded into a fifth wheel?? Lets say four persons on a two week trip with a couple of bikes, generator, food and drinks, so on and so on.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Our Day Dreamer has done a great job with insulation. The dual pane windows are worth every minute and ounce of weight. Our 06' 36' Cedar Creek was cold and drafty. The Day Dreamer is not. We also like the fire logs. It has a heater built in and we often use it to heat that end of the RV and that is all we need. The DDreamer has a front a/c which is also nice when it is hot and we shut the front inside door for privacy. It keeps it kool up front.

 

[Grizzly]

Head on up north in the sub freezing temps, you'll soon be convinced. By the way, where are you getting these ratings?

You are absolutely right, if you go camping in Montana in the middle of winter. I go to Arizona in the middle of winter and to Montana in the summer. I purchased the RV Consumers Guide, which rates every 5th Wheel and TT made from 1993 till 2007 and has a full 5 page report on each unit. It is a little spendy. I'm also in the market for a new 5th Wheel and I have decided on a Arctic Fox. Problem is I haven't got much of a deal on one from any dealer I have tried so far, But we are in no hurry.