How did you choose your fifth wheel brand or type?

kcamp99186 · 08-23-2020, 05:38 PM

I currently have a Premier 30 RIPR and we love the layout. However, the soft floor issue has raised it's ugly head and we are considering a fifth wheel to replace it. Choosing a floor plan and length are the easier issues, but how did you choose brand (ie. Cougar, Montana etc)?

We plan to travel some when the DW retires later this year, not full time but maybe a few weeks at a time. We also camp at a few primitive campgrounds as well with guests (fishing trips mostly).We need sleeping space for 4 to 6.

It would need solid floors, not the styrofoam sandwich we have now. Also a walkable roof and a hitch receiver for bikes.

We like those models that have a center bedroom/office space. That would give us some separation during extended trips as well. lol I think I'd limit length to 35 to 40 feet and no more than 16,000 GVW.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

**sourdough** · 08-23-2020, 06:00 PM

BIG spectrum there. Unless you are going to buy a new truck a 16k trailer is out of the realm of a 3/4 ton. My 3/4 had a 3190 payload and I limited my choices for it at a max of 12k gvw - and didn't buy one. Your diesel can pull it, the payload isn't there.

When you get past that and realize what you can actually "carry" the options drop quickly - Montanas are not 250 territory. Yes, folks pull them with a 250 but that doesn't mean they're not skating on thin ice every time they pull out of the drive - they do. Most Montana HC are not 250 towable if you abide by the weights. That leaves the Cougar which I've always liked.

There is a big difference between the Cougar 1/2 ton 5th wheel and the regular Cougar. My choice, until DW made some mind changes, was the 315RLS; not for my 3/4 ton. Bought the 1 ton to get the needed payload.

A 35' "any 5th wheel" is going to overload the 3/4 so might want to start thinking way smaller and way lighter.

tech740 · 08-23-2020, 06:11 PM

What Danny said is acurate. If you are willing, post your door payload. Multiply that by about 4 and thats a max trailer GVW for YOUR truck. You likley wont find a mid-bunk floorplan that fits the weight you are shooting for. When it comes to name on the side each one has different construction styles and that decides the name on the side. A Montana SHOULD be more residential then a Cougar, and the Cougar half ton should be the lighter less residential version of the regular Cougar line. I cannot tell you the Alpine, Avalanch heirarchy. I just know the heavier and nicer the more expensive usually.

Canonman · 08-23-2020, 06:37 PM

All above is good info. Since we had a 3/4 ton truck we had to first look at weight, which more or less limited length. I wanted something under 30' anyway to fit in our RV parking next to the house and still conform to the city rules. After that it was all about floor plan. The DW is all about counter, cabinet and storage space. The rear kitchen answered most of her wants. We are right at 30' so we can fit in our parking area. The weight of our 279RKSWE is right at our payload limit but at the time we purchased there weren't many other smaller/lighter options. We've had kids (grown) and grandkids stay with us from time to time and made the trifold and dinette work for sleeping arrangements. In the end these events were few and far between and there is still only ONE bathroom

If a new truck is an option, then a 1 ton likely a DRW would be the best option for a 16k 5er. If the 250 is a keeper, then you'll need to scale back on the trailer size and weight.
Best of luck with your decision!

kcamp99186 · 08-23-2020, 06:46 PM

Sorry guys! I've a new TV that I've not yet updated my signature (I'll get that done). Here is the info on it. I believe I should be able to safely tow the weights I'm looking for.

kcamp99186 · 08-23-2020, 06:47 PM

And this label as well!

kcamp99186 · 08-23-2020, 06:55 PM

Yes, thanks! Residential is the term I was looking for. We don't need to live in it, but we will want to spend some good, quality time in it.

**sourdough** · 08-23-2020, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcamp99186

Sorry guys! I've a new TV that I've not yet updated my signature (I'll get that done). Here is the info on it. I believe I should be able to safely tow the weights I'm looking for.

Thank You! So much better. Like others I have spent untold hours trying to parse this from that and figure what would work for us. I'll need to get back to this tomorrow but I've looked at/walked thru many/most of Keystones offerings in the MCH/Montana lines-which I prefer over other brands given weight/cost/quality/layout considerations.

rhagfo · 08-23-2020, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcamp99186

And this label as well!

I thought the Ford Super Duty had gone to all aluminum bodies or was it just the F150’s? I only ask as the 5,436# payload on your XLT is only 25# more than our 2016 Ram Laramie CTD 3500 Aisin DRW, at 5,411#.

Wyldfire · 08-23-2020, 09:00 PM

They did go to all Aluminum, but added the lost weight from body into frame.

tech740 · 08-24-2020, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcamp99186

And this label as well!

Lol. You should be good to go.

larryflew · 08-24-2020, 09:07 PM

One side note: Very few non-sandwich floors out there and if there where the weights would increase quickly with every foot of length.

Wyldfire · 08-24-2020, 09:33 PM

Didn't want styrofoam floor, Coloplast slides, wanted metal over tires, shocks, and bronze bushings. Lead me to Outdoors RV overbuilt by design.

https://outdoorsrvmfg.com/mountain-series-floorplans/

notanlines · 08-25-2020, 05:16 AM

Outdoors RV makes a nice unit, affordable by most, certainly. Not many dealers other than west coast US and Canada might be the only drawback. I believe they are built in Oregon, I might be mistaken....

Wyldfire · 08-25-2020, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

Outdoors RV makes a nice unit, affordable by most, certainly. Not many dealers other than west coast US and Canada might be the only drawback. I believe they are built in Oregon, I might be mistaken....

Made Mountain Tough in Le Grande, Oregon.

ewbldavis · 08-25-2020, 07:51 AM

We used the following factors:

- Reputation
- Floorplan/features and length (I wanted shorter)
- Weight (2500HD, comfortable weight)
- Cargo capacity
- Price/availablility

Biggest factor was we agreed we wanted the outside kitchen. We really liked the Reflection 31MB layout, but wanted full outdoor kitchen.

We wanted to compare the Cougar to a Volante, but the Volante sold and I think we were better off with Cougar anyway.

**hankpage** · 08-25-2020, 08:46 AM

Floorplan was the most important for us. When traveling I do high mileage days and stops for sleep are usually truck-stops or rest areas. Because of this we need access to bathroom, kitchen and bedroom with slide (slides) retracted. At the time most floorplans that met these requirements were shorter and single slide-out and Cougar gave the most bang for the buck. A few mods and it fit our needs for over ten years. We don't spend much time in the trailer when camping so bells and whistles were at the bottom of our list. YMMV, Hank

kcamp99186 · 08-25-2020, 04:16 PM

Thanks to everyone for their input. We are still looking at floor plans and trying to decide if we want to do extensive floor repairs or trade up. I do like the Montana High Country 384BR & 305RL also the GD Reflection 367BHS & 337RLS. I've also looked at Jayco and Forest River models. I have noticed that none of the websites seem to mention floor construction. Walls and roofs, but no floors. Any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Reasons you made your decision for your model may well help me, or someone else, make a more informed decision.

**sourdough** · 08-25-2020, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcamp99186

Thanks to everyone for their input. We are still looking at floor plans and trying to decide if we want to do extensive floor repairs or trade up. I do like the Montana High Country 384BR & 305RL also the GD Reflection 367BHS & 337RLS. I've also looked at Jayco and Forest River models. I have noticed that none of the websites seem to mention floor construction. Walls and roofs, but no floors. Any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Reasons you made your decision for your model may well help me, or someone else, make a more informed decision.

Said I would get back to this and......didn't.

I won't go into why I don't like Jayco, Forest River or Heartland, but for me, they just don't check the boxes I want. GD Reflection vs Keystone MHC? Sound exactly like where I was at the first of the year. I wanted a Solitude or Montana BUT I refused to buy a diesel or a dually so MHC or Reflection it was.

We were initially comparing the Reflection 337RLS or the Cougar 315RLS - we like bed slide and front closet. Almost got there but DW suddenly decided she wanted a stackable washer and dryer and they wouldn't work in either. I then gravitated to the Montana vs Solitude, and even tried to convince myself I might get a diesel or drw....nah. That left the MHC. That's the backdrop.

I might add that I've looked at the 305 as well. Here was my ultimate situation; GD wants a premium for their "name" - they're not built any better and don't have better floorplans. They may have better customer service for some but I don't have that issue. The 337 was a nice coach and so was the 315 but GD wanted a 10k premium over the comparable 315. That was in FL. TX would match the Keystone price but the dealer for GD said I should jump on the elevated GD price in FL because he could not touch it...add at least 5k....and if I bought in FL he would not touch the trailer. Hmmm. The 337 is a mid profile, the MHC is full profile. Might not seem like much but it does make a big difference in that "low, cramped" feel. The MHC should come with a heat pump, the Reflection did not. The MHC came with 16" tires/wheels, the Reflection came with 15s as I recall. Our 331 came with a residential fridge, which after a lot of research, we decided we wanted; I don't recall the 305 nor do I think that is a game changer (i'm thinking it came with a 12cu.ft. RV fridge?). They both should have self leveling which we love. The full profile MHC has a larger pass through if I recall (I'm not pulling up things to refresh my memory).

Long post to probably not say much but it is a big expenditure for a toy. Final thoughts; GDs are nice but not worth the premium they ask. From what I've seen they are no better than a Keystone - they each have their issues. Dealer; My Keystone dealer has been with me for years and I know all of the management and service staff and they know me...as the SM told me on a recent visit when I asked if I expected too much..."you're a VIP to us". The GD dealer I would have had to use could not sell me a unit anywhere near the price point of a comparable Keystone unit and refused to work on anything I bought anywhere else...and, in my discussions with the owner, he said they only had 10 techs to do make readies and repairs so his customers understood they would have to wait. My dealer? 55 service techs.

In the end you are comparing a mid level, mid profile GD against a mid level full profile MHC. As always let the floorplan guide you, dealer is next then dive into the minutia that is important to you and your family. If you want a washer/dryer (stackable) I'm with the MHC. Good luck and ask away.

KingFisher · 08-27-2020, 05:35 AM

Floorplan.

I wanted an outside kitchen and a drop frame, wife wanted a mid bunk so she'd have a place to put her sewing machine when we go full time. she also wanted the loft for storage.
I kind of wanted a toyhauler but none of the living rooms really suited us.

Decided the 384BR fit our requirements and there was one 2 hours away to go look at, we ended up buying it.

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