holiday rambler alumascape 5th er

[TerryLittle]

does anybody have one and can you tell me the goods and bads about it.

 

[jwduke]

Terry, we have a older model HR (Back when they were called Alumalite), and about all I can tell you that is wrong with them is, they are built like a sherman tank.



We love ours, pulls like a dream! I think we have had very minor problems with ours. I think the total for repairs we have had to do to ours is under $50!



Good luck, and enjoy!!!!

 

[KBalzuweit]

They pull nice, delivered a few last year. Never here any drivers complaining about hauling them either.

 

[jimnance]

Generally, you get what you pay for. I think the H. R. line is an example of this. You pay a bit more than for some other coaches, but in the end the old adadge of "you can pay me now, or pay me later" come to mind.



We've had our H. R. Next Level (Toy Hauler) for two years now. Very few issues on the shake down cruise and none that I can think of since. Toy Haulers suffer from a combination of high loads and are often dragged off road. If they build their other units like the Next Level then the term "Sherman Tank" probably applies.



I did a 2,000 mile round trip to Glamis Ca. last spring. No issues with my H. R. , while the Nomad Toy Hauler in our group lost an axle hanger while towing on the interstate. The other party in a Weekend Warrier only reported a TV that was not well secured.



Anyway, I haven't run into many people that haven't had good things to say about the H. R. Line. Like all RV's a bad one will come down the line from time to time. They now have a new line of "cheap" travel trailers called Savoy. I'm not sure how those are holding up.

 

[Silver600]

I agree with jimnance, you get what you pay for. We also have a H. R. Next Level toy hauler, no problems so far and it tows very well. It is not the cheapest trailer but it is very well built. I did a lot of research before buying it and most people had nothing but good to say about Holiday Rambler. Most of the opinions I found were about other H. R. trailers because the Next Level was brand new. Try your questions on www.irv2.com

 

[JMetzger]

Agree with everyone. We have a 32 ft Alumalite TT & it has been across the US 8 times,NV to CT & figure it has around 100,000 miles on it with no problems, just normal maintenance. Have talked to a few people who have the Alumascape 5th wheels & no one has had any problems. Great trailers. Good Luck

 

[Larry Willard]

I have a '98 Alumalite. With over 100000 miles it has been a great trailer. In my opinion the newer ones (early 2000) have been cheapened. The frames don't seem as well made as the older units. I was looking at the new ones and I think their quality is improving in that area. One of our memebers has a Alumascape, and had quite problem with the frame cracking a couple years ago. We were traveling together and ended up leaving the trailer in Tenessee for the factory to pick up on a drop deck to haul it back to the factory.



We are now starting to look for a new unit and Travel Supreme is now at the top of our short list.

Larry

 

[BHanks]

We have a 04 HR Presidential 33' that we have towed 25k miles and have had no problems so far. Don"t even get any sway when we pass those 18 wheelers. .

 

[ralbert]

Purchased a 2002 30rld in 2003 and have had no problems. Have compared other 5th wheels at the Tampa super show and comparing apples to apples I always come away smiling that I have a HR. Would be nice to have a 4 seasons camper but is it worth the extra $40,000 plus my HR. At this time, I say NO. Also have a freind that has an old HR TT. Always loved it. Went a bought a new Big Ski and it has been nothing but problems. His wife does not want to us it do to past problems. Mostly axle and brake troubles. They kept the old HR so they still camp and travel. Give HR a good look. Rob

 

[RPotter]

We've been looking and investigating over the last year in preparation to purchase our first new 5'ver and we have decided on the HR Alumascape 32' as well. Just can't find anything out there that is priced as competitive, and can't beat the quality from what we see. I think it's a good choice. I'm sure there are others, but this is our decision. Go get 'er and enjoy!!

 

[Dieselnerd]

We bought a new HR Alumalite that we loved but it was a '88 with no slideouts so we traded for a new '98 HitchHiker with 3 slides that has served us well so far (we stay in it all winter). We are looking for a new fiver again and are seriously considering another HR based on how well the first one was constructed and how well it towed.

 

[Grizzly]

You can't beat a Holiday Rambler. I had one for 10 years. I bought it new and when I sold it, I got 64% of what I paid.

 

[Loren]

We've had two Holiday Ramblers and now own an Airstream. The HR's are every bit the equal in quality to the Airstream, and in some cases, superior.



The reason we went with Airstream is because we found a really good deal on a used one and because you can't buy a late model HR without a slide-out (I don't like 'em. ).



You can't go wrong with a Holiday Rambler.



Loren

 

[Grizzly]

We've had two Holiday Ramblers and now own an Airstream. The HR's are every bit the equal in quality to the Airstream, and in some cases, superior.



The reason we went with Airstream is because we found a really good deal on a used one and because you can't buy a late model HR without a slide-out (I don't like 'em. ).



You can't go wrong with a Holiday Rambler.



Loren

I have to agree with you, I have no use for a slide out either. I had problems with my 29' 88 HR Alumalite coming back from Alaska in 1995. I had to replace an axle near Prince George, BC and the second one as soon as we got home. On the 88's the axles and wheels were too small for the weight of the trailer. The Alcan highway was also very rough in '95.

 

[Kirwin]

HR Trailers

I'm biased. There, its out there so now I can say what I want. With the single exception of the fact that trailers and 5th wheels often have the bare minimum load rating of tire required to carry the trailer (like all RVs these days it seems) I think that HR makes the best trailer for the money. I wish that the RV industry would wake up and build there trailers with suspensions that can handle the LOADED trailer within the tires capacity. I do know that you can upgrade the suspension if you order one from HR though. I've got 235-85R-16s LR E to prove it. They make a product at least as good as the others in the Savoy and Next Level line and usually better when you start looking at the higher end of their available models. IMHO Ken Irwin

 

[HBarlow]

Holiday Rambler is one of the oldest names in the industry and is still a quality product. If you can afford or are willing to pay the price, the Presidentials are as good as anything on the market. The Alumalites, Alumascapes, and Savoys as well as the McKenzie line are good but a step or two down in content and quality. Most purchases involve compromise. It's not really fair to blame the manufacturer for some quality compromises like 15" tires and lighter suspensions. They'll sell you the best if you want it but in order to compete, manufacturers have to build some entry level or stripped models in an attempt to reach a wider market. The HR Presidential that cost $30k 20 or 30 years ago probably now retails for $90k or $100k. Not everyone can afford that much money.



There are at least two fundamental ways to approach the purchase of a travel trailer/fifth wheel. Some folks won't buy anything less than a brand new one from the dealer but cannot or will not pay the price of a top of the line unit. They compromise by buying a lesser quality unit. Some then complain about the 15" tires, light suspension, poor or non-existant insulation, cheap cabinetry vs. oak, etc.



My approach is not acceptable for everyone but works well for me. I buy top quality but used units. I've owned four Airstreams, an Avion, and most recently a nine now ten year old Travel Supreme fifth wheel. I wouldn't dream of paying the price of a new TS but I am enjoying all the features of a top of the line unit on a poor man's budget. TS, Hitchhikers, HR Presidential, Mountainaire, and others are very high quality units with heavy suspension, 16" LT tires, oak hardwood cabinets, quality furnishings and carpet, protected plumbing, and all weather insulation. I've slept comfortably in my TS fifth wheel in Goshen, IN in January when the overnight low temp was 0 degrees Farenheit. No, it's not a creampuff. It showed some wear when I bought it but is completely serviceable. I paid cash for it. I don't feel bad when my feisty little female German Shepherd tracks mud and snow on the carpet or sheds dog hair around. If I had paid $100k or had a fifteen year note on it I'd be troubled when Gertrude tracks mud on the carpet. I just chuckle and shake my head and plan to get out the vacuum cleaner.



Buying used is not for everyone and I'm not trying to persuade anyone to buy what I did to justify my own decision. I'm comfortable with my purchase. Just offering a thought for someone contemplating an RV purchase who appreciates quality as I do but lives on a lesser budget.



Harvey