Cougar vs. Wildcat 5th Wheels

[Big MAK]

Anyone compare Cougar (http://www.keystone-cougar.com/index.html) 5th Wheels with Wildcat (http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?page=wild&nav=rec&choice=brochure) 5th Wheels?



The dealer tells me they're essentially equivalent; but the Cougar has very little detail available on construction, etc.



Anyone have experience with them?



We're trying to decide between the Cougar 281 EFS and the Wildcat 29 BHBP. Both with a 'rear garage'.

 

[Tony T.]

Originally posted by Big MAK

Anyone compare Cougar (http://www.keystone-cougar.com/index.html) 5th Wheels with Wildcat (http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?page=wild&nav=rec&choice=brochure) 5th Wheels?



The dealer tells me they're essentially equivalent; but the Cougar has very little detail available on construction, etc.



Anyone have experience with them?



We're trying to decide between the Cougar 281 EFS and the Wildcat 29 BHBP. Both with a 'rear garage'.

Big MAK we also have been looking at both brands and have decided on the Cougar for our choice between the two. Wish my wife was here to type this she has researched them both, and looked at both on the dealers lot and found to her liking the Cougar best. I can't give you that much details in construction aspect other than there manufactured by Keystone. Construction wise they may be close but from talking to her the Cougar IHO was better of the two along with interior design and colors.

 

[Big MAK]

.....or Jayco?

I just found out about this new, not even in the brochure, Jayco model from my local dealership. Big shed-like doors on the back sides big enough to put an ATV through. The bunks fold to the ceiling.



Really neat arrangement! Jayco 325 BHS



http://www.jayco.com/html/catalog/floorplans.php?prod_id=35&mod_id=256



It's only about $2000 more then the 29 ft Cougar or Wildcat (Jayco's 2 ft longer plus a bedroom slide); so I think I'm going to get it.

 

[yogibear]

Mark, last Jan. , a friend of mine and I took the 2 trls. in that ad. (or 2 just like them, 28'TT & 32. 5' 5er) to Winterhaven, Ca. on a photo op. We were in the desert and foothills of Yuma, Az. for 3 days while they took pics. with motorcycles and 4 wheelers. The 5er was real nice, but didn't care for the 28' TT, the floor plan on it was real poor, I thought. They have a screen room add on that is real nice also. They both towed real nice, good brakes, and real well built. A dlr. came down from Quartzite, Az. and took the 5er, but I towed the TT back to the Jayco fact. in In. They said the flyers on that won't be out till Mar. or Apr. Thought you might like to know.



Larry

 

[Big MAK]

yogibear; nice to hear from someone with hands-on experience. I'm partial to 5ers; I tend to drive the speed limit and don't want to be hindered by a poorly behaving tag-along. Semis are just things to pass (carefully; of-course) not to dread!



Did you make a note on the weight of the 325 BHS by any chance? That info isn't out yet.

 

[yogibear]

No, neither of these units even had a data plate on them. The trl. #'s, which we had to have on our freight papers, were stensiled on the front. I pulled the TT, and didn't need the equalizer bars. We picked up 3 motorcycles, which I had in the TT, and 2 4wheelers from a dlr. in Yuma, they towed real nice, 70mph down I-8. The 5er was towed with an 04 Maxipad, so you know it pulled easy.

 

[Rosco]

I too would appreciate any info since I am strongly leaning toward a Wildcat 28BH but still have an open mind.



Big MAK,



Check out the Open Roads Forums over on RV.net. That is where I have been asking a bunch of different questions regarding this topic.

 

[lawdog]

I am going to chime in even though I know nothing about either... . However... . I attended the Novi Michigan Camper and RV show last weekend and looked around at different campers. One thing I noticed on some Forest River Brands was poor workmanship.

I will say that i was LOOKING for defects just becasue it was made by Forest River.

I personally just bought a new 29' Snowmobile trailer from Forest River. . An Amera-lite I have copied the "ISSUES" I discovered in this new trailer... ... ... I used to think Forest River made nice stuff, but I would never buy ANYThing from them again.

I paid nearly $8000. 00 for this trailer that I spent 2 weeks fixing...





Ameralite Model 7-29





Problems and issues with this trailer... ... .



1: Side entry door in wrong location (wrong side- should have been on C/S) Door was installed on R/S (Road side)

2: C/S window in wrong location (Should have been BEHIND C/S door -

window is in center of C/S)

3: Extra Clearance lams in wrong locations

($500. 00 check sent as rebate to take trailer as it was built / also I was provided an additional (6) clearance lights for me to install)



4: Roof insulation missing - did find (2) pop cans between finished interior and roof skin (1) Mountain Dew and (1) Mountain Dew Live Wire Orange



5: Trailer wiring - POOR WORKMANSHIP -

A - Trailer harness joined in galvanized steel box attached to trailer frame in front. The wiring was NOT protected from sharp edges of box and all connections were made with "Scotch-Locks" in an area that will be exposed to water and salt.



B - The trailer Brake wires were minimally secured to frame and were hanging down below bottom edge of trailer between securement points. More "Scotch-locks" attaching brake wires to brake.



C - Break-away brake wires hanging off bottom of trailer tongue. Wires unprotected in metal box under trailer and thru front interior diamond-plate panel to battery. No grommets.



D - Back - Up lights wiring was woven thru 3 unprotected sharp edged holes in metal box then rung zig -zagged thru floor cross-members along top of frame. Wire then went into hole in bottom left rear of trailer held in with a piece of Duct Tape. Could have been run with the rest of rear light wiring thru inside of trailer thru roof.



6: Lower Exterior trim loose and flapping, both sides, behind tires. No fasteners.

7: Front ramp door spring assist - Pulley had less than half of width on bar.



8: USED SPARE TIRE??????? Tire has marks from lugs and has a plug in the tire.



9: Warranty on floor??? Floor plywood wavy and possibly warped or delaminating.



10: Poor workmanship - several, better than 60% of screws holding finished interior to wall posts are stripped. Also stripped screw holding floor and ramp plywood on (a few in floor, 2 side-by-side on front ramp door leaving corner of wood 1/2” high.



11: Roof had 2 cross bows on Big angle... . Most spaced at 14 1/4 to 14 1/2” one was 15” on one end and 18 1/2 on the other side?????

 

[Sticks]

What did you expect for south of the border temp labor. Every 5'er that I have looked at has some serious construction issues.

• Screws missing the cross members underneath
  
  Poor cuts on interior panels (gaps)
  
  Spooky wiring
  
  Nasty looking welds (some had the bead, just not on the seam)
  
  Bad exterior seams
  
  Wavy floors
  
  Crooked (not level) interior mounting of plug sockets, switches...
  

You would think for 1/2 of the price of a house, you would get something resembling quality.



I was seriously in the market for one a few years back (before the unemployment stint) and had a sales person start to get down right rude with me when after the third one that I started crawling underneath the trailers and half climbing inside the cubby holes before I said, "Nope. Next. "



"You can't expect perfection. "



"For $40k, I demand it from something that I plan on living in 5 months out of the year, and it had damn well better hold up for at least 10 years. That $80K unit you want me to buy so bad is worse than the $15k that is too small. "



"You don't even know what you're looking at. "



"Buddy, when I see a line of screws sticking out 1/4 from a cross brace, and the ones on either side of it have the screws in it, then there's a problem. When I see a wire that looks like it was installed after the fact and has poor splices in it, and it taped up or wedged into cracks, then there's a problem. When I look at a frame weld, and the bead is off the seam for a couple of inches (READ - wavy) then there's a problem. "

 

[klaybus]

On the Cougar \ Wildcat question ... ... . We chose the Cougar. I liked the Wildcat but the Cougars' Fit & Finish appeared nicer to us. Their both aluminum framed, walk on roofs, etc, etc...

The CFO of course loved the Cougars' interior selections better, I however liked the payload capacity of the Wildcat. I also must admit I liked the appearance of the Cougar over the Wildcat better.

I think both 5vr's are decent rigs but both my brother & my brother in law own Cougars and both were very happy with their choice. And I must admit, so are we!



Good luck on your choice!



Clay