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Old 01-04-2022, 11:33 AM   #1
Dkentaz65
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Opinion on my "potential" Upgrade Items

Hi Everyone, we have a 38' 5er, pulling with F350 dually, want your opinion on my upgrades I'm thinking of doing to it.

1. Adding the Furrion S7 3 camera system (~$800). 1st, my current back up camera sucks at night so I definitely want to replace it. but thought the sides may help in backing up - don't get me wrong, the misses does her best.

2. adding FlexAir King Pin vs. std King Pin (~$1,500). Does it really improve the driving experience vs. old std king pins? will I get $1,500 worth of comfort..

3. adding Shocks to suspension. currently has leaf springs but wanted to know if shocks would help ride as well (~$300+)

4. Replacing std range/oven w/ the newer range/oven.(~$700+) Been toying around with this one as it's mostly just me and the misses. I don't think we get much more in cooking space. The only nice thing is having a electric start oven vs. pilot light/matches.

Lots to ponder but thought what the heck - see what the community has to say...

Darin
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Old 01-04-2022, 11:35 AM   #2
jsb5717
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Personally I wouldn't spend $800 for a Furrion camera system. The are better cameras for way less money. Haloview is a popular brand, I would look into that. In fact this one has the side cameras included

https://www.amazon.com/Haloview-MC71...s%2C150&sr=8-6

I bought this one and it works quite well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 01-04-2022, 12:23 PM   #3
JDDilly
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I would go with Haloview camera system. I had a Furrion and it only worked as a backup camera, when driving it lost the signal. I replaced it with a Haloview with the side cameras, love it. I can't speak to items 2 or 3. As far as the oven, our old 5er had a pilot light and I had to get down and light it, our current one has the electronic lighter and I really like it. These old bones don't get back up from kneeling down as before!!
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Old 01-04-2022, 12:36 PM   #4
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I changed out my solid pin box to a Rota flex, and it helped a lot. Stove: measure to be sure the new one fits.
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Old 01-04-2022, 12:57 PM   #5
dutchmensport
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Although I do like my Furrion Observation system (with side cameras), I'd not buy another one for the price. The biggest disappointment is the fact that the side cameras don't stay on with the rear. They all come on for about 20 seconds and then the side ones shut off and it flips back to the rear only. It's very, very annoying. Wish they all stayed on at the same time, always. Then it might be OK.

Night vision? First time I used it at night it truly freaked me out. These orbs kept appearing and floating down the screen. It look like we were being followed by paranormal ghosts or something. It's freeky, but did work well at night, except for the weird orbs.
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Old 01-04-2022, 01:00 PM   #6
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I installed the Furrion camera while it worked well the first year maybe 2, the image now is a bit blurry and the colors muted. Also found I didnt need it as much as I expected after a while and used it mainly in high traffic areas. IF you do upgrade the stove please report on the install as DW really liked one we saw in another camper (believe it was Insignia brand).
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Old 01-04-2022, 01:52 PM   #7
BubbaShoots
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I highly recommend a VisionWorks camera system. Available to plug-and-play with Furion or HaloView brackets (you must specify when ordering). Available as rear camera OR rear and side cameras. No booster or hard wires required. Cameras are Sony and very clear, even more so at night. I have years experience with this brand using in agriculture in harsh conditions. These cameras are very durable. I found the best price and customer support from technorv.com
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Old 01-04-2022, 02:23 PM   #8
Hblick48
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My experience is no camera system is real good at night. Headlights and halos is what you get.

I love the Reese 5th Airborn pin box. Between that and EZ Flex equalizers, you hardly know you are towing.

About two years ago our original Suburban stove/oven died. Replaced with another Suburban as it was the only one available that fit the cutout.
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Old 01-04-2022, 03:23 PM   #9
markcee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
Personally I wouldn't spend $800 for a Furrion camera system. The are better cameras for way less money. Haloview is a popular brand, I would look into that. In fact this one has the side cameras included

https://www.amazon.com/Haloview-MC71...s%2C150&sr=8-6

I bought this one and it works quite well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
X2 on this!

I have the Furrion rear and side cam system....couple of observations:

1. Screen resolution is terrible on full view. When you try to carve it up into three to add in the side cams into the picture it's even worse. Barely passable on full screen, almost worthless split.

2. For my taste, the rear view cam alone adds plenty of side view due to the angle of the cone. If it's someone right next to me (inside the scope of the cam,) I'm looking in my truck mirrors for that anyway.

Although the screen resolution was disappointing from the start, I just figured that's the way these things are. It didn't bother me much until last week, when I turned a friend on to the cheapo LeeKooLuu camera jsb links above. We installed it the other day and it absolutely blows away the Furrion....like watching TV compared to a department store security camera from 1982 or so. Highly recommend that cam at $136!
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Old 01-04-2022, 03:56 PM   #10
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FlexAir King Pin gets pretty bad reviews over all. I'd stick with MorRyde and go with the reviews.
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Old 01-04-2022, 04:22 PM   #11
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Before replacing the pin box, add the shocks, sure smoothed the ride of our 5er.
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Old 01-04-2022, 05:15 PM   #12
Brentw
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Went with Haloview -like it.
Changed solid pin to a moryde rubber block pin,- helped with chucking.
Added EZ -flex equalizers- smoothed the ride.
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Old 01-04-2022, 07:18 PM   #13
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I find the backup camera of limited value compared to my rear observation camera with a narrow (30degree view angle) that simulates a rear view mirror.

In addition to an air bagged pin box and Roadmaster shock kit, also consider reinforcing your spring hangers with x-factor cross braces.
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Old 01-04-2022, 08:41 PM   #14
vampress_me
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Only things I can add is:

1) camera seems great, but when I installed ours I discovered I rarely look at it. I still use my mirrors when driving/ passing and don’t look at the screen for the camera because I don’t like having one more thing to look at. Just give me my big mirrors and windshield, I guess. But, I guess I did find it useful when backing into a parking spot occasionally so I knew when I was far enough back close to a curb behind.

2) for a new stove, our Cougar had a typical camper stove with a pilot light and our new camper has an Insignia stove/ oven with the electric lighter. I really do love our Insignia stove because of that, but also because of a huge oven compared to a typical camper stove (I can make slightly larger pizzas, and I don’t need a pizza stone for temp regulation - yay!). But, if you boondock, you cannot light an Insignia oven with a lighter/ match. You have to be hooked up to shore power/ a generator to light the oven. I did not use the oven while we boondocked this past summer, so cannot say whether the oven works without electricity after you light it using a genny. Some people have stated that you cannot. So, that’s the potential downside to this particular oven versus a standard camper stove with its pilot light.
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Old 01-05-2022, 04:09 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hblick48 View Post
My experience is no camera system is real good at night. Headlights and halos is what you get.

I love the Reese 5th Airborn pin box. Between that and EZ Flex equalizers, you hardly know you are towing.

About two years ago our original Suburban stove/oven died. Replaced with another Suburban as it was the only one available that fit the cutout.
I second the Reese 5th Airborne pin box, put one on the old 5er made a lot of difference https://www.etrailer.com/Fifth-Wheel....html?feed=npn new 5er has Road Armor Trailflex and it seems good too.
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Old 01-05-2022, 06:09 AM   #16
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I know nothing about the Flex Air but I put a 5th Airborne on a previous 5th and it was great. The current Landmark came with a MorRyde rubber block and was terrible. I replaced the 18,000 pound rubber block with a 21,000 and it was no help. I replaced that with the Goosebox that has an air bag and 2 shock absorbers. Greatest ride I ever had. No slamming and no chucking.
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Old 05-22-2022, 08:21 PM   #17
Dkentaz65
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Rick, Sorry didn't reply to your comments. However, I noticed you just purchased an Alpine 3790FK. How do you like it? I've been eyeing that one for a future purchase maybe in a year or two...
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Old 05-23-2022, 01:56 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dkentaz65 View Post
Rick, Sorry didn't reply to your comments. However, I noticed you just purchased an Alpine 3790FK. How do you like it? I've been eyeing that one for a future purchase maybe in a year or two...
We are pretty much happy with it. We are the opposite of the Snowbirds who flock to Florida when it gets cold. We live in Northern Florida and when it starts getting hot we head north, we are on our 4th year of doing that right now, we spend over 5 months traveling every year. Back to the 3790FK it is very roomy and has more underneath storage then we can even use. The front kitchen is great with lots of storage and counter space, the living room is ok nothing special and the bedroom/bathroom are very spacious and the shower is humongous. It tows good but can be a pain sometimes to get into a back in site or even tight turns just because of the length. Had some warranty issues with shoddy construction but, that seems to be the norm rather than the exception nowadays.
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