Looking for 5th Wheel Camper

[Ozymandias]

Hi there

I'm looking around for the Best Quality 5th Wheel Camper Brand.

Which Brand is in your opinion the Best on the Market for longevity and durability to live the whole year in it and in every climate.

Price isn't in the first, I do pay for good quality.

 

[RustyJC]

Everyone is going to have their own opinion of what is the best - like an oil or tire thread. One manufacturer you should consider is DRV - HERE is their website where you can look over their construction methods, models, floor plans, etc. We've owned two DRVs - a 2004 Mobile Suites 36RE3 that served us for 10 years, and our current 2014.5 38RSSA that we picked up this May. Are you planning on using this RV in the United States? It is built for North American highways and probably wouldn't be very suitable for Europe because of its size and weight - the Mobile & Elite Suites are 102" (8'6") wide, which is the maximum legal width on North American highways, and our current MS is within a couple of inches of being 40' long and 13'6" high.

If you want to check out interior and exterior photos, here's a link to RVs for Less in Knoxville, TN. RVs for Less is the #1 DRV dealer in the United States based on sales volume, and their prices and service are top notch in our experience, to the point that we traveled from Houston, TX to Knoxville to trade for our current MS. Just click on the Inventory link and select the DRV product that interests you.

A word of warning, however. The Mobile Suites and Elite Suites are HEAVY. Our MS has a 19,000 lb GVWR and a pin weight approaching 4,000 lbs - too much for a 2500 SRW truck. These RVs require, as a minimum, one of the newer higher GVWR/GCWR duallies to tow them.

Rusty

 

[Camperman]

Excel, made by Peterson Industries makes a fine TV also. We ordered ours in late 2005, and was delivered early 2006. We are as pleased today, as when we purchased. We looked for over 2 years at RVs, till we decided on the one we own. A thought if I may, if you come across a RV, and you think, "it's doable", keep looking. Reason being, you will find little things you do not like later on. We first owned a pull behind 27', it was doable at the time. Found many things we both disliked. Main reason it took 2 years to find RV in signature. Many manufactures concentrate on pretties, or eye candy to make you ooh & aahh, and then skimp on what is important. Many make fancy RV's, and skimp on tires, or other areas that they figure you will not look at. Having the right truck matched for the weight of the RV you decide on is VERY important. To many times, a RV is purchased, without consideration of what the tow vehicle is capable of. Better off having more truck than needed, than just enough to get by with. Best wishes, and happy shopping.

edit: Excel makes a 4 seasons coach.

 

[Ozymandias]

A little more information, I'll use it in Europe too, so 98" width is the Maximum that is possible.

Yesterday I was at a camper exhibition center and looked at a Rockwood Signature 5th, my wife and I liked what we saw, but the quality of the interior didn't match the standard we are used to. Well, it looked cheap at a second look.

But we liked the space inside with the high roof and the slideouts, its like a little house.

Thanks for every information you gave to me.

 

[RVTRKN]

Check out Arctic Fox, excellent quality, reasonable in cost, and they have stout frames. The Silver Fox edition has four coaches in the 96" width, look at pg.32 (last pg.) to find the four versions in 96". (8').

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/images/rsync/brochures/Arctic_Fox_Brochure.pdf

 

[DAN V]

Arctic fox

I have to agree with the AF. I am going to be getting rid of my MS in a couple of years. It is just too big and heavy for my truck. Besides you can't fix the windows on the MS unless you bring in a carpenter to replace all the wood trim on the inside. Worst mistake I ever made was buying the MS. Just my opinion.

 

[Grizzly]

I purchased a new Arctic Fox in 08. My wife and I couldn't be happier.

Completely agree with RVTRKN and DAN V.

george

 

[Ozymandias]

I like how arctic foxes built their trailers, but if I read the PDF right then there are no 5th Wheels in 96" width.
Otherwise it would match my expectations perfect.


Excel does also look really good.


As I said, the size 31' long would be perfect.

We looked at this one http://www.rockwoodtraveltrailer.net/rockwood-signature-ultra-lite-8288ws/

But now sit down, if I buy that in Switzerland (there is an Importer) I would have to pay 85'000$ for it. Crazy. I saw that the US Price is around 30'000$ ...... so I better come to US und buy it by my self.

 

[RVTRKN]

Look again, these four AF, Silver Fox Edition 5vers are 8'/96" and is under your 98" restriction.

 

[Ozymandias]

Then I'm reading it wrong but this four columns stands under Travel Trailer????? Is that Brochure wrong or am I?

Otherwise the 32er would be perfect.


I appreciate every help.

 

[Ozymandias]

Ha haa, now I found something that fits!

Are this Trailers the same as good as the Arctic Foxes?

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=model&make=mountain&id=1087

Same Manufacturing - same Quality???????

 

[Jim W]

Hi, Northwood Manufacturing Company is the manufacture of the Aortic Fox 5ft Wheel. So to answer your question, yes they are one in the same. They also build their frames in house so the manufacture can control the quality of the frame better.

The only item I would change on the trailer would be the tires I would run Michelin XPS Ribs tires; these are an all position LT (light truck) tire. I have them on my trailer now they were installed in April 2012 and I now have over 12,000 trouble free miles on these tires. My ST235/80R/16E tires which were manufactured in China had only 6,000 miles on them when I had a catastrophe tire failure. Cost over $3,000 to fix the trailer but my insurance picked up most of this cost. The XPS Rib tire size for my camper is LT245/75R/16E and supports my trailer with no issues what so ever.

Jim W.

 

[Terry Jay]

Two Custom builders are Spacecraft and New Horizons. You can spec out exactly what you want in floor plan, finish, and so on.

Arctic Fox (Northwood) has a good reputation. To my knowledge, most of the other high-end builders do not offer a unit in the 31' class. There is (was?) a discussion forum at AFNASH for Northwood owners.

 

[RVTRKN]

Then I'm reading it wrong but this four columns stands under Travel Trailer????? Is that Brochure wrong or am I?

Otherwise the 32er would be perfect.


I appreciate every help.

You were right about being trailers, I apologize for that. The reason I thought that, is that only a few years ago Arctic fox was a 5ver, Desert Fox was a toy hauler and thier trailers were labeled by the name of Nash.

 

[Kirwin]

I have to agree with the AF. I am going to be getting rid of my MS in a couple of years. It is just too big and heavy for my truck. Besides you can't fix the windows on the MS unless you bring in a carpenter to replace all the wood trim on the inside. Worst mistake I ever made was buying the MS. Just my opinion.

Dan V, you are the first one I have heard that is not happy with their DRV Mobile Suites. What did you need to do to the windows? Did you consider asking DRV to fix what ever the problem was? I am seriously considering a DRV Mobile Suites (actually the floor plan in Rusty's MS above) if you don't mind, can you please send me a PM with more information that I should consider before a plop down $100K for something I won't be happy with? Thanks Ken Irwin

 

[Ozymandias]

Ok, to set a resume the Fox Mountain is the way to go in the 8' class and the 45k$ Range.
Custom Builders are over my price range.


Any other thing about 5th Wheelin I absolutely need to know?
Any hitch that shouldn't be bought because its crap?

 

[Jim W]

I have a couple of question for you; the trailer you are planning on buying will the trailer be used in the EU? If so do you need a certificate for compliance that the trailer meets the EU requirements? I know that this is a requirement for Canada and the manufacture provides this when the trailers are shipped to Canada for sale. Another question is: What are the power requirements for the EU counties? Will the camper you are looking at be able to conform to the EU power requirements?

Most5th wheel trailers built for the North American market use 110/120 volts with a 50 AMP AC power requirements that you plug into at the camp ground. The trailer will also have a converter and or inverter/charger 50 AMPS or higher rating that is wired into the system to allow charging of the house batteries and provide 12V power to the required circuits when plugged into shore power (camp ground power pedestal). So this may need to be changed in order to use this in the EU countries if this is the intended use.

Jim W.

 

[RustyJC]

I have a couple of question for you; the trailer you are planning on buying will the trailer be used in the EU? If so do you need a certificate for compliance that the trailer meets the EU requirements? I know that this is a requirement for Canada and the manufacture provides this when the trailers are shipped to Canada for sale. Another question is: What are the power requirements for the EU counties? Will the camper you are looking at be able to conform to the EU power requirements?

Most5th wheel trailers built for the North American market use 110/120 volts with a 50 AMP AC power requirements that you plug into at the camp ground. The trailer will also have a converter and or inverter/charger 50 AMPS or higher rating that is wired into the system to allow charging of the house batteries and provide 12V power to the required circuits when plugged into shore power (camp ground power pedestal). So this may need to be changed in order to use this in the EU countries if this is the intended use.

Jim W.

In the United States, smaller RVs have single phase 30 amp, 120vac, 60 hz service; larger RVs have 50 amp, 120/240vac (split phase), 60 hz service. This is NOT compatable with the European standard single phase 240vac, 50 hz or split phase 240/480vac, 50 hz power. Perhaps some U.S. RV manufacturers have access to 240vac, 50 hz appliances, power converters and other components and would be willing to build an RV to meet applicable Euro standards, but if I were you I'd do some CLOSE checking and verifying before placing an order.

Rusty

 

[Bob V]

Rusty, the "Split phase" isn't used like in your house. AFAIK, they all still use just one phase 120 for the main trailer and the other 120 phase is used for the second AC unit. that is how my toy hauler is and I have been told that is how all of them are. That way every thing will still work when plugged into a standard 120, just not the second AC.

 

[RustyJC]

50 amp RV service has 2 hot legs, each with a maximum ampacity of 50 amps, for a total ampacity of 100 amps. Measuring from either hot leg (L1 or L2 to neutral) gives 120 volts; measuring from L1 to L2 gives 240 volts. L1 and L2 are 180 degrees out of phase. Split phase power such as this is produced by a 240 volt transformer with a center tap neutral. Most RVs don't use 240VAC appliances as they wouldn't work when plugged into 30 amp 120VAC service, but a few high end RVs do. Instead, the RV's power distribution panel has 2 hot busses (L1 and L2), and the 120VAC loads are powered by either the L1 or L2 bus. Most manufacturers will try to balance loads across the 2 busses to utilize as much of the 100 amp theoretical ampacity as possible while minimizing neutral leg current. Neutral and ground are NOT bonded together in the RV's power distribution panel but are bonded upstream of the power pedestal at a main shore power breaker panel - that's why the 50 amp RV power cord has 4 conductors: L1, L2, N and G.

When plugged into 30 amp single phase 120VAC service, the 50 to 30 amp adapter jumpers the L1 and L2 leads in the 50 amp power cord together so that the 2 busses in the RV's power distribution panel function as a single hot bus. The RV's power distribution panel does NOT have a dead bus when on 30 amp service.

50 amp RV service is explained HERE.

Rusty