Open Range for Fulltiming? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

3rawfedweims · RV-Dreams Community Member

Open Range for Fulltiming?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jo and I considered the Open Range, but decided against it. There is a difference between a "four season" unit and a "full-time" unit in my view.

We did like several of the features of the Open Range, but after I crawled underneath and looked at the frame and underbelly covering, I wasn't impressed any more.

Now, to put things into perspective, Jo and I are looking at selling our home and living in a new RV, specifically a Mobile Suites (by DRV Suites) fifth wheel. It has a 15" triple box frame compared to the 10" I-beam frame of the Open Range. Also, the underbelly is much better enclosed.

While we will live a few years yet in the Oklahoma City area after we sell our home, we will then travel the country after we retire. I want a unit that has a good foundation (think frame here) that will hold up to a lot of moving around.

You can find an owner's forum for Open Range at the link below. However, keep in mind that since the Open Ranges are fairly new, there has not been a lot of comments from people that have been in them for that period of time. Most people on the forum (from what I could tell) are fairly new owners.

http://openrangervowners.forumco.com/

Good luck in your search. There are a good number of full-time units out there. You just have to do the research. I have been researching for over a year and a half and have pretty well narrowed down the brand and model of fifth wheel that we want. We just still have to research a few options.

Terry

EDIT: I just noticed that you mentioned Open Road instead of Open Range. I had heard that Open Road was out of business, so correct me if I am wrong on that. They might have gotten back into the business of building units again. If it is truly Open Road instead of Open Range, then ignore what I said. I haven't looked at any Open Road information.

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 28th of January 2010 11:43:50 PM

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Since Pilgrim is gone therefore there are no new Open Roads I'm gonna assume Open Range.

While yes it's touted as a four season coach I'd want to see a statement from the company that it's a full timers rig before assuming such.

Even if the company doesn't tout the product as a full timers rig that doesn't mean you can't full time in it. The Montana is not billed by Keystone as a full timers rig but there are a lot of full timers in them that love them.

To me though the Open Range had a lot of flash but not a lot of depth (the Paris Hilton of fifth wheels as it were.). There was a lot of shinies but I didn't feel it had the storage or the solidity that I was looking for in a unit we planned to have for at least 10 years.

Mallo

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi there and welcome!

We also were initially impressed by the Open Range rigs; however, we decided against them and purchased a Montana by Keystone. We plan to make the jump to full-timing March 2011.

From our point of view...

PROS
We both really liked the floorplan and features, including the 4-door fridge, the use of common sense in storage features and layouts. It was also within our weight considerations. I'd love to have some of the storage features on our Montana!

CONS
1. On corresponding by email with Open Range, they specificially declined to insinuate at all that the rig could be used for full-timing and it probably would negate the warranty if used for "housing" of any kind. Thought this was odd, because the unit was being touted by the dealer as a full-timer's rig. Open Range even used the term "Residential" in the name of the rig.
2. Much of the interior trim was plastic.
3. When compared to the Montana we purchased, the welds on the frame were not nearly as solid and the overall construction of frame, etc. was so much more solid on the Montana.
4. The slide-outs on the OR are cable-driven versus hydraulic on the Montana.
5. Open Range is a new company, only in business for a couple of years. We opted to go with a product that has proven itself over a longer time.
6. Independent sources we asked about how the Montana performs all rated it as a very dependable, solid, and comfortable fifth wheel.
7. We really did not care for the dealer who had the Open Range.
8. We purchased our Montana at RV Station in Nacogdoches, TX and we liked the entire staff right off the bat.
9. We got a much better deal on the Montana than we would have on the Open Range and got a higher quality product.

Again, just our opinion and experience. Good luck with whatever you decide!