New 5'er Floor Plans....Not happy with choices

[JThiessen]

Went to the local RV Show last weekend, mostly just to see whats new. After walking through about a zillion 5'ers, we noticed that in all but the bunk bed models, the bathroom areas are ALL open in the master bedroom area (ie. , the shower is open to the bedroom). When we got home, I looked at several manufactures websites, and I couldnt find a single model that had a full bathroom that wasnt a bunk model. Since we still have young family members that travel with us, having the shower and sink close off from the rest of the trailer would be nice. Just an observation, and I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed this????

 

[RJOL]

Fifth wheel manufactures try to build to their potential buyer. Unfortunately for you, their target market is usually couples whose kids are older or gone. With that in mind, they build the front of the 5th wheel with a big bedroom (slides) and a big bath area that is really just an extension of the bedroom. A few years ago, you would have had very limited choices if you were looking for a bunkhouse or toyhauler model in a fifth wheel. With that said, do a lot of looking on the internet or join one of the RV forums and start asking questions. You should be able to find something that will work for you... .

 

[EricBu12]

So you want a bathroom that is like a room? With the shower in the toilet room and such?



If you want that, then that is more crowded... . unless you get a 40' motorhome...



I kave the keystone Raptor 36' with 2 slides. The corner shower and sink is in the bedroom but there is a curtain that makes privacy. There is a roomy toilet room and in the transition of the hallway, there is a pocket sliding door. This makes for a bathroom that is the width of the trailer. There is privacy for the whole trailer.



The Raptor is a toyhauler that has a 12' garage that is separate from the living area. I love it... . Just keep looking, they are making new things all the time... .

 

[B.G. Smith]

I too went to the RV show last weekend. I'm not sure who the RV Mfgs. are building the new stuff for. Most of the fifth wheels we saw are in the 33' to 36' range, more like maybe a park model should be, I certainly don't want to be pulling a 36' from coast to coast with what I have. Some of the Motor Homes are now 42'. I believe some of the New Visions had (bathrooms). bg

 

[SSage]

Excel makes a nice enclosed bath:



Look here:

33RSE



Open Road Site.





Open Road has an enclosed bath, the 389RDDS: #ad




I'm not real "old", so a bath room is very important to me. I guess most people don't have freinds or like people taking showers in clear view. I like the privacy. The problem with an enclosed bath is the room they take up. But, on a trailer over 35' you have the room for it. The Excel bath is plenty big to me, but, it's too much for a 2500 truck IMHO.

 

[klenger]

I've noticed the same thing about floor plans. I prefer the separate bathroom that ours has.

 

[tractorseller]

I have a Jayco 5th wheel with an enclosed shower/tub and toilet (yes, with real walls, a real exhaust fan, and a real door).



It has bunks in the rear and the kids have their own TV/DVD/Radio/speakers back there.



Only has one slide though... ... . hope this helps.

 

[J_Melton]

Oo. We know what you mean about the communal bathroom. We have a 2003 33 ft FKT HR Presidential that has a private bathroom. That is one of the major reasons we bought it. The bathroom is big enough to "sit" without banging your knees against the door or wall. The washer/dryer closet, stool, sink and shower are all in the same room.



The floor plan has a hallway with a sliding door into the bathroom. There is a accordion privacy door between the hall and the master bedroom.



The down side is that you loose two drawers and one overhead in the master bedroom. Also, if you are a very large person the hallway into the master bedroom might be a bit tight.



This floor plan is perfect in our opinion, but you just have to afford the Holiday Rambler price. Even after 30 years of marriage, there are times when you want some private time! :-laf

 

[CHinton]

Custom floor plan

I hope to buy a RV from the folks at New Horizons outside Kansas City. They build custom floor plans to your specifications with the amenities you want. Their Site is http://www.horizonsrv.com/. I have not looked into the price as yet, just like the idea of a one-off just for me and the Class 7 I want to pull it with.



Good luck



Chad

 

[juicedcummins]

The layout in the trailer that tractorseller mentioned is the best I have ever seen. My neighbor and good friend has the same trailer and loves the layout. If you wanted the fiberglass sides with that same layout Prowler has it for around 40k canuk.

 

[JThiessen]

Tractorseller: I too have a Jayco Quest with the fully enclosed bathroom - and its only a 27'. Unfortunatley, Jayco no longer offers this model, and in the new line(s), no private privvy!

I noticed while reading the responses, that there does appear to be a significant difference in Clientel. Those of us who are weekenders, and want something shorter (under @32') to allow us to get into State Parks, etc. , are going to have to find a way to make the vendors aware of the ammenities that we like. I have a hard time justifying the 15K I spent on the trailer I have now, let alone >30 grand for one of those park model size rigs.



SSage: Man, that Open Road unit is huge! Unfortunatly, a 38' trailer would eliminate most every one of our favorite campsites, not to mention a trade in on a medium duty!

 

[juicedcummins]

The Jayco layout I mentioned was a Jay flight unit. There are lots of these being pulled by 1/2 tons around here. The 30. 5 only has an advertised hitch weight of 1050lbs with a gross weight rating of 10k. These are still available and so are the Prowlers.

 

[Todd T]

I feel for you Thiessen, we were looking for toy haulers that were condusive to young kids. we have three and figured when they start draging freinds along the bedding will get cramped quick. our issue wasnt over the bath room but the sleeping arrangments.



most have a queen bed up front and then drop down queens or bunks in the back of the trailer. that left us having to stay in the bedroom or outside until we were ready to go to bed. they all would have 2/3rds of the trailer used for the kiddies sleeping area and a 1/3 left to "party" in.



we narrowed our search to two manufacturers that offered bunks in front. and couldnt find ANY with that configuration in a 5th wheel so we were stuck in a TT for that reason. our arrangement has the bath room between the front bed room and kitchen. with an isle through the middle. it has a door to close it off from the kitchen and then one to close it off from the bedroom make one room that stretches across the entire width of the trailer with the shower and tub on one side and sink and toilet on the other. this gives us the middle area to dry off get dressed etc. and its still centrally located and can be closed off from the bedroom after hours to allow the kids to sleep and us have the rest of the trailer (2/3rds) to enjoy "party" while its quiet.



we got the ramp room too, which allows for another 7 feet (60cubic feet) of floor space. our bed is a queen that drops down from the ceiling in back.



Long story short is you may want to look at TT's too.

 

[Big Mike]

Same problem

When my wife and I went to the Harrisburg Show in September, we must have checked out every fifth wheel in the place, only found 1 with a bathroom we liked. American Star by Newmar model 30BKCL. Fully enclosed bathroom that we can fit three people in! I do not like the "open bed/bath", its like sleeping in the bathroom. anyway good luck in your endeavor to find a fiver to suit your needs.



Here is a link to newmar



American Star

 

[tractorseller]

The layout in the trailer that tractorseller mentioned is the best I have ever seen. My neighbor and good friend has the same trailer and loves the layout. If you wanted the fiberglass sides with that same layout Prowler has it for around 40k canuk.

Juiced... ... . The one I have does have the fiberglass sides. It's an Eagle, which I guess is Jayco's top of the line?



Anyway, paid about $24,000 and some change for it here in AZ. Works great for us.



There is also a Holiday Rambler called the "Savoy" that we looked at with a similar layout. The Jayco was a better deal with more bells and whistles though. Hope this helps.

 

[cwsoules]

Log onto automaterv.com and check out their designs. We can seal off the bedroom from the bath & toilet room and also the sink area, and from the living room as well.

 

[YOOPERVIC]

The King of the Road, 36RL has a completely enclosed bath which includes

everything you would find in a residential bath. Walls, solid doors, etc.

 

[Bconley]

Try these

Hi, If you want some more ideas try KZ, Holiday Rambler Alumascape, Dutchmen, and there's more manufacturers that I cant recall. You don't have to go to 36' to get a private bath. The person who has the Holiday 33' is nice but they discontinued that model. Your best bet is to search manufacturers and come to a conclusion. Most of us have our favorite models and makes, but you must first be comfortable with what exactly you want and need, not with what we like.

 

[SSage]

Tractorseller: I too have a Jayco Quest with the fully enclosed bathroom - and its only a 27'. Unfortunatley, Jayco no longer offers this model, and in the new line(s), no private privvy!

I noticed while reading the responses, that there does appear to be a significant difference in Clientel. Those of us who are weekenders, and want something shorter (under @32') to allow us to get into State Parks, etc. , are going to have to find a way to make the vendors aware of the ammenities that we like. I have a hard time justifying the 15K I spent on the trailer I have now, let alone >30 grand for one of those park model size rigs.



SSage: Man, that Open Road unit is huge! Unfortunatly, a 38' trailer would eliminate most every one of our favorite campsites, not to mention a trade in on a medium duty!

You can pull a 14K loaded trailer with a dually, not sure about the single. I've seen a few 40's behind them, but I bet they are over the GVWR. Its the weight I look at, not the lenght. I like the long ones for the room while work camping almost full time some years. I'm buying a new trailer soon, my favorites so far are Open Road and Carriage Cameo LXI. The Open Roads weight is is lite considering it is an all season rig with triple slides or more and long. The 40'4" 396RDDS is 12,360 with options and thats with a rear den, quad slides, solid wood cabs etc. The Carrige bath is open, but the warranty is better. The insulation is probably better, has a soft touch ceiling option. Choices, choices.

 

[SSage]

How about a Hitchhiker II?

Hitch: 2120 ULVW: 10555



32. 5 UKTG Floorplan



32. 5 FKSBG Floorplan



Gulfstream:



A Prairie Schooner Model 34FBR: 11,000 dry, 2,410 dry pin.



Yellowstone Model 34FMT: 11,000 dry, pin is a lighter 1,900 dry.



Sunnybrook:



Solanta Fifth Wheel 3050: 7,848 dry, pin 1,830 has enclosed shower.



What price range are you looking for? Size, weight?