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Old 01-10-2020, 08:15 PM   #1
sourdough
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New Cougar 315RLS questions

Well, here I am....20 questions.

I have posted numerous times about looking for a new 1 ton and new 5th wheel. I've narrowed that down to a Cougar 315rls and a GD 337 rls?

I am leaning, and pretty much inclined, to go with the 315rls. Like the Cougar vs the Reflection. Price is almost identical. Cougar seems, to me, a little nicer inside; Reflection is a GD...but don't know what that means anymore?

My question would be to anyone on the forum that might own the 315rls. Problems, situational things that didn't work, lack pass thru space, AC ducting, etc. The GD has a super nice stove top that I love...the Cougar does not. The Reflection still retains "switches" vs In Command,which I've never had but hate before I do.

Thoughts/insights would be greatly appreciated. Talked to the GM of my CW back in TX and he will make me a heck of a deal on a 315rls. Will take me a 6 day round trip to get it and return plus transferring....but I want to know if the trailer is worth it. Your thoughts are really appreciated.
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Old 01-11-2020, 05:43 AM   #2
hondapro87
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My wife and I are also comparing the same two models. Both of us thought the Reflection was nicer inside and seemed to be put together better. and I was glad it still had the switches, I just don't trust the in command system.
We have not made a decision on witch way to go yet,if we had to decide today it would be for the Reflection, but we are still in research mode.
Sorry I did't help you with your decision but I will be interested in what you decide.
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Old 01-11-2020, 06:15 AM   #3
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I've had mine for almost a year now, besides the small cosmetic items the only real issue was the Furrion bat wing blew off the roof and was hanging from the cable and replaced under warranty. but haven had it out since. I love the in command its nice to turn on the hear before getting out of bed. if it would only turn on the coffee!
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Old 01-11-2020, 04:52 PM   #4
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Well here's a little twist that goes back to all the things we say about keeping your dealer close.

Got a good number on the GD 337 and was kind of leaning that way....that was in GA. Warranty work, general mtce. etc. came to mind. Looked at the website for the dealer nearest us back in TX that sold them and he had a 337 in stock. Called him (owner) and explained the situation and told him the number I had been given but would drive back to TX for one if we could get close; he was quiet, then said "no way"! I said oh yes. He told me there was no way that any dealer in TX could get close then asked for the dealer. I told him plus the website; he pulled it up and looked at the deal....and my price was lower than the one on the site. He said the one on the site was unbeatable and the one I had been given was unbelievable - to not walk, but run and get it before it was gone. Now the hiccup....

I told him about the issues of buying an RV elsewhere and then getting them worked on at another dealer....how would they feel about that if I brought it in to them....long pause.....well.....we pride ourselves on taking care of OUR customers. We won't refuse to work on it but it will be put behind everything that comes in from our customers. We have 10 techs and at times those "other" trailers have sat 5-6 months...…

All that to point out that the things we say on the forum about saving money vs the hassle of trying to get a unit worked on "back home" is real....and they actually do that to people....and I understand completely and told him so. The difference was around 5k. I am now working on a 315rls Cougar again even though I don't like the slides or In Command. They will take me in same day if I need it....that means something to me. Just to make anyone that thought it really wasn't that way aware that it is.
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Old 01-12-2020, 04:45 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough View Post
Well here's a little twist that goes back to all the things we say about keeping your dealer close.

Got a good number on the GD 337 and was kind of leaning that way....that was in GA. Warranty work, general mtce. etc. came to mind. Looked at the website for the dealer nearest us back in TX that sold them and he had a 337 in stock. Called him (owner) and explained the situation and told him the number I had been given but would drive back to TX for one if we could get close; he was quiet, then said "no way"! I said oh yes. He told me there was no way that any dealer in TX could get close then asked for the dealer. I told him plus the website; he pulled it up and looked at the deal....and my price was lower than the one on the site. He said the one on the site was unbeatable and the one I had been given was unbelievable - to not walk, but run and get it before it was gone. Now the hiccup....

I told him about the issues of buying an RV elsewhere and then getting them worked on at another dealer....how would they feel about that if I brought it in to them....long pause.....well.....we pride ourselves on taking care of OUR customers. We won't refuse to work on it but it will be put behind everything that comes in from our customers. We have 10 techs and at times those "other" trailers have sat 5-6 months...…

All that to point out that the things we say on the forum about saving money vs the hassle of trying to get a unit worked on "back home" is real....and they actually do that to people....and I understand completely and told him so. The difference was around 5k. I am now working on a 315rls Cougar again even though I don't like the slides or In Command. They will take me in same day if I need it....that means something to me. Just to make anyone that thought it really wasn't that way aware that it is.

I completely understand. We bought our current trailer from our local Keystone dealer that is about 50 miles from our home, our local Grand Design dealer is about 30 miles away.

Whatever unit we end up deciding on will come from either one of those dealers. I am sure I could get better pricing at larger dealers, but like you if I need service I don't want the thing to sit there forever just because I did not buy it there.
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Old 01-12-2020, 06:20 AM   #6
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It’s very real. We bought our Alpine from camping world, year old model that didn’t sell, so it was a smoking deal.

CW was 150 miles away, brought the Alpine home and when it came time for warranty, local dealer laughed at me. Thankfully that same dealer has another lot close by and they got us right in as they don’t have the same sales volume being a smaller town.
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Old 01-19-2020, 06:25 PM   #7
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2020 Cougar vs Montana High Country

Left a dealership in Lake City FL today. We've narrowed our search down to either a 315RLS or the 330RL? High Country. This isn't a done deal but some notes on this journey;

I am concentrating on the Keystone line because; my CW back home carries them not GD. My conversation with CW corporate (Marcus office) told me a purchase in FL carries the same weight with a CW dealership in TX for maintenance/warranty....if it was otherwise they were in conflict with corporate direction for owners.

FL has better prices than TX as best I can tell. So, we may be moving on this in the next few days if I can figure out how to get all our "crap" from here to there.

Question(s): for those that own either the new Cougars or High countrys and have had an opportunity to compare; obviously you chose whatever you have due to your preferences, but, what drove those choices to you? I like the Cougar better, I think, but the 330 HC feels better to DW which means a lot; especially the larger bathroom. Last year (maybe 2) when I walked thru them all the HC seemed "cheaper" than the Cougar. Today they pretty much seemed the same. HC is bigger, heavier and has a bigger pass thru and LRF tires. In reality I'm not sure if there is any reason to go with the HC other than DW likes the room....and I'm happy with what makes her happy, but, I'm the guy that has to make it all "work". So I reach out to anyone that has any input on this. We LOVE this trailer, but the TT design leaves us feeling "cramped" with the low roof over time. The woodwork and amenities are better than either the Cougar or HC but we're trying to position ourselves for the "end game". We don't see another RV in our future, will sell the last of our vacation homes this summer, just divested ourselves of about 4-5 months of luxury timeshare to....end up with the primary home and the RV. Bought the new truck so limited by gvw of the trailer and our desire to keep the size of the trailer manageable and stay within the brands that our CW dealership sold (keystone primarily). That's the story as it unfolds.

Thoughts on High Country vs Cougar from personal experience. Probably get close to pulling "a" trigger tomorrow or the next day...gonna get cold here.
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Old 01-19-2020, 06:38 PM   #8
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Happy wife, happy life....good luck in your decision, glad we aren’t looking for a new trailer. Have you and the boss been able to actually sit inside and pretend in both?
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Old 01-19-2020, 06:56 PM   #9
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Sat in both today. Sort of hard to spend time and pretend because the rain would not stop so we were inside, outside, crouching under the front trying to read weight placards etc. I've told them the numbers I want to reach and they will let me know tomorrow when the GM comes in. Unless they are different from the other FL dealers I've spoken to it should be a workable deal although I am pretty aggressive. We'll see if we have common ground tomorrow but - who knows in these things. Funny thing is that for all these years DW said she had zero use for a w/d and then today, in the middle of talking to the sales guy, she says she wants a w/d. I was incredulous and just blew her off because I thought she was pulling my chain....not good. Seems she's been having some issues with the laundry having machines being down and frustration etc. - bad call on my part, so, I told her to tell me what she wants and to prepare for a new one ton diesel after the one I just bought....well, that conversation is sort of "in flux".
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Old 01-19-2020, 07:21 PM   #10
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Gotta love the wrenches they can toss!! BTDT, I had to very “diplomatic” with my answer. Did I win? Not sayin, just sayin I didn’t lose.
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Old 01-19-2020, 07:47 PM   #11
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Gotta love the wrenches they can toss!! BTDT, I had to very “diplomatic” with my answer. Did I win? Not sayin, just sayin I didn’t lose.

Yep. Not sure I got a win on any of this. Wrenches? DW just usually "helps me along", the W/D thing? And, you were very diplomatic.
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Old 01-20-2020, 01:39 PM   #12
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I purchased a 2019 Cougar 315RLS and my best friend a Montana HC 330RL. We are both super happy.

The dual sink bathroom in the HC was the clincher for them.

For us it was all features, including iN-Command, the bigger TV, wider fireplace, LED tail lights and the dual awnings. We don't care for a big bathroom.

Comes down to personal choice.
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Old 01-20-2020, 06:30 PM   #13
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I purchased a 2019 Cougar 315RLS and my best friend a Montana HC 330RL. We are both super happy.

The dual sink bathroom in the HC was the clincher for them.

For us it was all features, including iN-Command, the bigger TV, wider fireplace, LED tail lights and the dual awnings. We don't care for a big bathroom.

Comes down to personal choice.

You are totally correct and the perfect example of different strokes for different folks. Like your friend, DW got tired of the more compact bathroom sink. I don't like nor want InCommand. The size of the TV in the HC is plenty large. I like a larger TV; we have a very large one at home for the two of us but the room is about 30' x 40' - RV sizes don't need to be like to IMO. The Cougar has a larger TV but DW told me she has no use looking at a 55" TV at 5'. The HC has the "quiet air conditioning" vs just regular units plus other things. I've been a Cougar guy for many years. The clincher? Just found out by me yesterday? DW now wants a washer/dryer (has said "never forever")...stacked, not the "combo" unit that everyone advises against. The Cougar only does not offer it, the frame can't support it.....so, here we are (me) pushing every limit I have ever said for a gas engine...but, will try it. Thankfully if it fails they make a diesel!!! No diesel/gas comments please.
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Old 01-20-2020, 06:36 PM   #14
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I won’t make any comment until you pay your fees and join the 1ton DRW diesel club.
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Old 01-20-2020, 07:18 PM   #15
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I won’t make any comment until you pay your fees and join the 1ton DRW diesel club.

Stop!!! Loved my 1/2 tons and HD trucks killed my back (until I found I had multiple gallstones causing it....for 30 years). Loved my 3/4 ton gas, LOVED it, but went to a 1 ton GAS, 4.10, 8 speed tranny to get to a higher tow rate/payload and planned on, as I said, about a 12-13k loaded unit (max tow about 17k).

Though doing this for some time we are sort of redefining our lifestyle toward the "older age style". I didn't know what that was years before. I never thought about divesting ourselves of all of our free time options but we have found the cost/benefits just don't work out for us long term so that's what we are doing. After so long looking at Keystone and other products, I was sold on Cougar. Could not get to that other "level" going to the Montana line with the costs, size etc. So, zeroed in on the Cougar.

Determined I would by a new unit as we got older....no more after this one. I was set on Cougar and so was DW; had the unit located 315rls. Right on the line to buy and what? DW says she wants a washer/dryer? Thought about a washer/dryer combo. Every single person we know said "no way" -they're terrible - get the stackable. NOTE: the Cougar will not support a stackable unit...it must be the combo unit...a no go.

So here we are; for those thinking things "won't change"; "can't happen"; got it nailed; know it all (that might have been me until DW intervention)….etc. Until 2 days ago a washer/dryer in the RV was laughed at by both of us.....now.... What the heck happens???? And there I was....fat, dumb and happy....
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Old 01-20-2020, 07:23 PM   #16
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It’s ALL GOOD my friend!!!!
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Old 01-20-2020, 07:42 PM   #17
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Looks like the 331 & 330 are about the same except for the fridge.
We like our 331. We put W/D in too, wife wouldn't have it different.
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Old 01-20-2020, 07:47 PM   #18
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It’s ALL GOOD my friend!!!!

Thanks Chuck. I post this stuff because, at my age, which I thought could not happen, I continue to learn. What is that to me? Totally fixed in my thoughts? That ain't what it is. I KNEW what I wanted and was gonna get it. DW? DW has NEVER said a word about a washer/dryer, never wanted one, and now we are looking at a larger 5th wheel, which we said we never wanted, with a W/D??? For the members, things change. Of everyone I ever knew I would say I KNOW what I want and what I will do....but DW now wants to be involved...after 52 years. I'm good. Just gotta find the thing that works as we move toward that "older stage". I appreciate your and everyone else's input.
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Old 01-20-2020, 07:53 PM   #19
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Looks like the 331 & 330 are about the same except for the fridge.
We like our 331. We put W/D in too, wife wouldn't have it different.

Thank you. 331 has the residential fridge which I said I would never have. We have changed our habits and only stay in improved campgrounds with AC. The unit has the inverter so we should not have an issue when traveling which puts me OK with it. Hoping it all goes well.

Question?? Does the 331 have a stove/oven vent? I did not see it in the youtube video and have not heard back from the dealer.
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Old 01-20-2020, 08:39 PM   #20
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Danny,

If I remember, there were a couple of issues with the HC stackable washer/dryer cabinet. I'm not certain about the exact details, but there was some issue with the cabinet not being deep enough ??? Maybe it was that there wasn't enough room for the dryer vent behind the units and the door wouldn't close on the cabinet ??? I just don't remember, but you might, if you're looking at a stackable washer/dryer, have it included in the deal, that way there's no surprise after you drag it off the lot, and find there's an issue. In other words, if Keystone hasn't got the problem resolved, let them deal with it, not you

Nice floorplan, BTW, I think you'll love towing a fifth wheel and, once you get over the "stairclimbing" every time you go to the bathroom, you'll love the added "concept of space" that the tall ceiling provide.
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