I find your post most amusing! Why? Because we did exactly the same thing you did. We were travel trailer people all our lives. On a fluke we decided to look at an Alpine fifth wheel while at our dealership getting a propane fill up.
When we stepped into that Alpine we almost passed out! It was one of the front kitchen models. The idea of not having a wall between the upstairs and the downstairs was great! That open feeling. It was at that point, we realized, we wanted a fifth wheel.
We then decided to look into the next Alpine beside it. OMG! We were breathless! It was a front living room model, kitchen in the middle, bed and bath in the rear. That was it! We were hooked.
Started looking a front living room models, but nothing compared to the Alpine. But there was one major thing we did not like with the Alpine, and that was the fact, when the slides were "in", we could not get to the refrigerator, bathroom, or bedroom. It had the center island in the kitchen that blocked everything with the slides in.
Lots and lots of internet searching and found the Montana High Country 375FL fifth wheel. Front Living room, middle kitchen with no island, bedroom in the back, and bathroom in a hall leading to the back. PLUS, it had a second door on the opposite side! That was it!
Well, after another long story, we've had the High Country 375FL now for over 2 years and it absolutely WAS the right choice for us.
We love that front living room. We have access to everything with the slides in, including the bathroom (from the back door), the refrigerator, the stove, the kitchen sink and all the kitchen cabinets.
We really enjoy the open feeling between the front living room (upper floor) and the kitchen area (bottom floor). Since we use the camper all year round, in heat and snow, the temperature difference between the upper floor and the bottom floor is still noticeable, but the ceiling fan in the kitchen helps air flow keeping both upper and lower levels a more steady temperature. I simply cannot imagine the temperature differences when the front is a walled bedroom!
We have thoroughly enjoyed our front living room. Although not an Alpine, both are a Keystone company. Before settling on the Alpine, do take a look at the Montana and the Montana High Country (yes, they are different) and compare them with the Alpine. I think the Alpine is a bit more luxurious than the counter part Montana, and the High Country is a bit cheaper than both. But all 3 are very, very nice fifth wheels.
Our Floor Plan:
The next step up is the Montana High Country 376FL and 377FL.
By the way, the only difference between the 374FL and 375FL / 376FL and 377FL is the lower number comes standard with a gas/electric refrigerator. The higher number comes with 2 batteries, an inverter, and a residential refrigerator.
Here's the Montana High Country 377FL floor plan. The difference here is, there is a loft above the master bedroom and some of the bathroom is reduced to accommodate stairs going upstairs to the loft.
Click here.
Anyway, if you go with the Alpine, you WILL thoroughly enjoy it! Front living room fifth wheels are just simply awesome! But consider careful first? Where do you spend the most time? In the living room, in the kitchen, or in the bedroom/bathroom? The front kitchen is very, very nice, but it does take a lot of living space away, unless you enjoy hanging out in the kitchen. ... plus... you have moving water pipes and drains every time you pull the slides out. It's just something to think about!
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