Tim,

I believe that Dynamax has been in the 5th wheel business for a number of years. I have seen them at the rv shows and they surely look like a quality product. If they are as good as their motorhomes, they'll be great.

Thanks for the replies. We have looked at Mobile suites at an rv show and New Horizons online. The suites unit was ok but seemed over priced compared to the trilogy. The quality did not seem any better and lacked many of the standard features included with the trilogy. New Horizons looks great but is beyond our budget as well.

Tim, I second what Terry is saying, don't get in too much of a hurry when doing your research. With the economy the way it is there are an awful lot of high quality 5ers for sale out there and dealers are willing to negotiate on price. When it comes to "all season" rvs, consider what climate ranges you're actually going to be in. I would say the majority of full timers never spend time in areas where they are forced to deal with temperature extremes, so that may be something to consider. The other thing to take a look at is the warranty if you are buying new, some mfgs state very clearly that their warranty is void if the unit is used for full time!!
Not sure whether you're planning on buying new or used, but there are some great prices on used 5ers right now, and with the RV season buying season winding down prices are only going to get better.
Good Luck what ever you decide, hope to see you on the road.

John

Tim, check the frame construction on the Dynamax against that of the Suites or New Horizons.

Lets get realistic about RV's and their construction. If a unit is priced at an actual selling price of $100K then the dealer is going to have to show a profit of 20K, at least. The manufacturer also has to show a profit....you can figure that one. Then there is financing (flooring), delivery costs, etc. All off the top. That leaves a certain amount for the actual construction of the RV. What sells RVs is "flash".....interior features and other obvious glitzy stuff. Infrastructure does not typically sell RVs - at least in the broader RV marketplace. So in order to provide for the "flash" the money has to be taken from other areas. Typically, the frame and other construction components. There is no magic here....it has to be that way, because there is only so much economy of scale even in high production runs like the Suites - who build over 500 units a year (of the various models). This is not the automotive industry. ALL RVs are hand built.

So my suggestion is to look carefully at what has been traded off in order to bring you the impressive features you see. I'm not saying this is bad at all. It is simply the way the units are designed and marketed. In order to have less compromises you HAVE to increase the price. Especially with a dealer network that has to take some of the manufacturers margin. In theory a manufacturer-direct sale "could" result in a better end-unit being delivered to the customer, because the dealer profit is put back into the rig and it will sell at the same cost as another unit that goes through a dealer network. In theory. Or, the manufacturer could take that margin as profit and not put it into the rig, or could just reduce the quality of the rig and sell it cheaper (not a factor in this scenario). Just remember that all manufacturers are basically working with the same raw products to produce their RVs. Management practices, good design (easy to build) and other factory practices CAN reduce costs over competition but that is relatively minor factor in cost. So you have to examine any particular unit you are interested in carefully to see where the compromises are. All units have compromises, no matter the price. In the end, it is the buyer that has to decide what they can live with, for the intended purpose of the rig.

All good points to consider. In the end though, I would agree with Jack. After looking for the last several months, we havn't found any units that compare with the Trilogy at the same price point. While the Trilogy has many of the same features of the Elite Suites, a closer look at the specs shows it falls short with the framing. This is reflected in the cost difference. 

We will be fulltiming from Canada into the US and will need the increased thermal protection the Elite Suites or New Horizons will provide with heavier framing and insulation. 

 

We have just reviewed the Trilogy at the Dynamax facility. It is just what we need. Priced right if you have a dealer willing to negotiate. Like the paint job, no decals! Now for the final decision. We have a Cedar Creek at present and also visited that facility. They too are very nice. They have some great options that will be standard on the new paint scheme. It too will have no decals. We are not full-timers yet but working towards that phase.

I am just cathcing up on some of the discussion on the Trilogy.  We visited the 

Dynamax plant just this last Friday, Sept. 14.  Also visited the Cedar Creek

plant, both are Forest River owned.  The Dynamax plnat is very modern and

clean.  They have been makiing MH's for some time but they are new to the

5th wheel business.  Just started in the fall of 2011.  They really do have lots

of standard features, more than any that we have seen.  They seem to be very 

customer oriented and willing to make changes as requested, if possible.  We

looked at a specific unit that was still in their inventory.  They pulled the unit

inside for us to view.  Simply awesome.  The paint is one of the features that

really caught my eyes.  No orange peel, and several coats of clear coat.  Also,

NO decals, all exterior is paint.  Of special interest is the size of the shower.  It

is also very different.  Any way, looks like we will be owners soon of this unit.

You can definitely see their motor home quality in this 5th wheel.

-- Edited by ronjoyce on Sunday 16th of September 2012 07:23:04 AM

-- Edited by ronjoyce on Sunday 16th of September 2012 07:24:03 AM

We looked at the Trilogy at The Hershey show on Sat. we liked it, but we couldn't seem to get an answer on the true R-values of the insulation which is important to us,the 2 new models they have out are similar to the Redwoods RL & RE but comparing the 2 we found that the build quality of the Trilogy was better and a residential fridge is standard!!! We also looked at the Lifestyle LS37IK and were VERY impressed with the build quality and we loved the BIG shower, and we were also able to talk to Elliott the mfg. rep who answered all questions we had even the lingering residential fridge issue which is high on our list of important items which they claim could be standard or at the very least an option in the 2014 model also the full body paint was very nice. Overall our list of fivers shuffled a bit #1 Lifestyle #2 DRV #3 Dynamax . We eliminated Redwood for the most part due to our concerns of sloppy build quality, we loved the New Horizons but they are heavy and probably a little more than we might be willing to spend , but we still have time to look into the NH further,

Defiant wrote:

---

Travlingman       Glad you mentioned the AC, thats one thing I forgot to mention... It is a bit noisy, they had it running at the hershey show, I thought the macerator toilet was interesting, and I have been surfing around for info on r values this afternoon ...no joy so far

-- Edited by Defiant on Sunday 16th of September 2012 03:02:38 PM

-- Edited by Defiant on Sunday 16th of September 2012 03:03:09 PM

-- Edited by Defiant on Sunday 16th of September 2012 03:03:43 PM

---

 I asked a dealer I had been talking to find out, and he said the response from the rep was "dont' worry about that, it is good." I  did notice they say dual pane windows where they can. I looked and all of the windows are not dual pane. One in the bedroom and the hallway of the 3850 were single. I liked the MCD shades, felt lined cabinets and the huge residential fridge is a plus.

I have also been trying to get an answer about the r value of the trilogy. This is important to us. Thee has been no response to emails sent to Dynamax regarding insulation. We will be visiting the Dynamax and DRV plants in early spring and hope to get the info at that time.

trimixdiving wrote:

---

I have also been trying to get an answer about the r value of the trilogy. This is important to us. Thee has been no response to emails sent to Dynamax regarding insulation. We will be visiting the Dynamax and DRV plants in early spring and hope to get the info at that time.

---

If you can't get a response from them when asking questions that might promote a sale, I would be concerned about getting a response when you need service.

Thanks Ron, Hope you hear something

Defiant, if a New Horizons interests you, you might want to take a look at the 2010 I have for sale. It is a good way to get into a luxury 5er with all the amenities at a rational price (rational is relative - this is not a "bargain basement" unit by any means). Although my unit does not have a residential refrigerator, one could be added without much issue. It is difficult to match the build quality and ameneties of a New Horison....but it does depend on just what you are looking for.

Jack, are they considered the "LM" model?

Thank You Jack for the clarification....Now back to our regularly scheduled research.....

As some of you already know, we are wannabes and are in the process of doing our "homework".  (I have exactly 44 weeks from today before I can retire!)  Well, I'm on vacation this week and the weather is beautiful, so DH and I left the dear aunt with a caretaker and took off across town to look at Open Range's.  When we arrived, we look at several coaches and then... and THEN we looked at the Triology 3800D3.  My, oh, my!  We fell in LOVE with it!  Not only is it beautiful (which that doesn't really matter), but the amount of storage is incredible!  It seems to fit so many of our requirements.  The pantry is, by far, the best I have seen to date and the drawer/cabinet space in the kitchen/living area is absolutely incredible... not to mention the 250 sq. ft. of storage space in the basement.  What I also liked was that each slide had its own awning encassed in an aluminum housing.  These are in addition to the shade awnings.  We are also trying to think outside the box as far as the bath.  All along we have been in favor of a side bath.  Then, I got to thinking that a mid-bath would open up the bedroom a little more.  This mid-bath model has a full size shower (tub-size, but not a tub).  What is important is that the tub/shower is strong enough on the bottom that it does not "give" with my DH standing in it.  Across from the tub is a very nice sized water closet with a porcelain toilet.  This toilet even had a grinder.   (Terry, it might even be large enough for those sick days!)  The water closet even has a larger sink than I have seen in some other coaches, along with a nice-sized mirror, small window, extra storage, and an exhaust fan big enough to suck up a small human being.  The master closet is a walk-in with built-in shelving and a somewhat small chest of drawers at the end.  Of course, the other end of the closet has washer/dryer hookups.  My DH is 6'-3", so we also love, love, LOVE the higher ceilings throughout.  They are very accommodating and provide a greater sense of space!  Have I mentioned a FULL-SIZE refrigerator?  (We just need to figure out how to keep it running while on the road or boondocking!)  Additionally, the roof is fiberglass and the coach is full-body paint with gelcoat.  The one we looked at also had the TrailAir hitch and 6-point leveling system.  Also included were LED back lights and LED (decorative) lighting up front, as well.  What I also liked were the window shades.  The see-through shades were not the every day pleated shades.  These are like black mesh that with just a quick tug they roll up by themselves.  No hunting around trying to find the day shade or night shade.  Very easy to operate and I like the way the black "mesh" looks and functions.  I do believe this coach also has 8,000 lb. axles.  When I saw only 1 propane tank, I asked where the other one was.  Believe it or not, but this coach is fitted with a build-in propane tank of its own.  The 1 tank I saw was just a back-up.  I thought that was really cool!  The cabinetry... is literally cherry wood.  It is NOT laminate.  We were told that it is so real that if we wanted to sand it down and restain it with another color, we could!

What we also learned today (if I understood correctly) is that Dynamax was once owned by Thor.  We were told that many of the appointments are what we would find in a high-end diesel pusher, for example.  Then, we learned that Forest River purchased Dynamax last year, and we like Forest River.

So, all-in-all, we had a very productive day and learned a lot.  Questions and comments are certainly appreciated.  We still have plenty of time to continue the learning process and, when we can leave home again, want to attend some big RV shows and seminars... namely hosted by Howard and Linda!  Can't wait, ya'll !!!!!  (Yes, I said YA'LL !!!)

Safe travels!

Terry, I appreciate and respect your comments.  All are certainly welcomed!!!  On the Dynamax Trilogy 3800 D3 we looked at, the main 97 lb. LP tank is securely mounted in the underbelly between the frame rails.  The fill and vent valves are located in the docking station for easy access.  Since we have never owned an RV before or had an opportunity to refill, are you saying that we might have issues getting it filled this way?  Sure, we can't conveniently take two tanks by themselves to refill, but I'm OK with the ease of just one tank and storing more in the underbelly.  Planning ahead would be necessary, but I'm an extreme planner by nature.  I'm thinking that when we are between sites we could fill up, or put in as much as we think we might need in order to keep the weight down.  Is this not a good idea?  If there is any chance, as you mentioned, to check this unit out, that would be awesome!  Otherwise, the unit seems absolutely top notch.

The inside headroom in the Living Room is 8' 8", 6' 7" in the Bathroom, and 6' 7" ceiling height in the Bedroom.  Further, the sidewalls are radiused throughout.  As far as the walk-in closet, its dimensions are 81" wide, 36" deep, and it has 70" of headroom.  Part of that 81" wide, however, is for a stackable washer/dryer.  There is PLENTY of floor space for shoes, storage boxes, etc.

And very important, Terry, is the frame is a 12" I-beam with rust prohibitive coating.  Additionally, the unit comes with a 12" self-adjusting brake system.

As far as the inverter, it comes with a 1000 Watt power inverter.  I'm not savvy about what is necessary to operate a residential refrigerator, but my DH certainly understands all of that.  (He's an electronic guru!!!!!)

I don't think I mentioned in my earlier post that this unit IS winterized and the underbelly is heated. Very IMPORTANT is that most everything is STANDARD EQUIPMENT!!!  Available options are:  generator prep, Q bed ILO king bed, and 4-door refrigerator ILO residential refrigerator.

It has a "quick and easy winterization system".  What does that mean?

Here are the specs:

Approx. Hitch Weight:  2,400 lbs.

Approx. Dry Weight: 14,800 lbs

GVWR:  18,000 lbs.

LP Capacity:  97 lbs.

Water Capacity:  64 Gallons

Water Heater Capacity:  12 Gallons

Grey Water:  80 Gallons

Black Water:  40 Gallons

Approx. Overall Height:  13' 2"

Axle Size:  8,000 lbs. (X2)

Approx. Overall Length:  41' 10"

AND, the bathroom, refrigerator, and kitchen sink are all accessible with the slides pulled in.  I know the importance of this has been discussed in this forum recently.

Finally, Trilogy owners are covered by one free year of 24-7 Coach-Net protection.  I'm not 100% certain of the warranty, but this unit IS rated for full-timing and, I believe, has a 2-year bumper-to-bumper warranty (normal wear and tear excluded).

I, truly, cannot find anything I don't like about this unit.  As I have researched (and I have done PLENTY of that!), I have always thought I would have to trade off certain things for other things.  But, there is really nothing I would change. 

IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME?

P.S.  Is a 64 gallon fresh water tank sufficient?  For boondocking?  I have NO IDEA how long that should last 2 people who are conservative.

P.S.S.  We do plan to add solar when the time comes.

I am anxious to hear everyone's comments.  I think we're on to something!!! 

-- Edited by Mary Sunshine on Tuesday 9th of October 2012 03:06:26 PM

Lucky Mike, I love reading your posts... and especially from such an experienced RVer!  Just so I understand, how long do you think a 97 lb LP tank (plus a 30-40 lb. tank) will last?  A while?  If that is the case, then wouldn't it be reasonable to just fill up when we are in transit from Point A to Point B?  I don't see any reason why we would go so long as to run out of propane and have to call a delivery truck.  That just wouldn't be prudent!  Also, where are the best places to get LP?  Do dump stations have it?  Truck stops?  Are they few and far between? And about this umbilical you mentioned... do you mean run a line from the LP tank (not the main one in the underbelly) so we can attach a BBQ pit to it, or are you saying that an umbilical is necessary for refueling the LP tank?  My husband said the coach does have a fill connector built in.  Do you mean we need to consider adding another port?

As far as the totes, are they collapsible?  You say you keep a 7-gallon tote onboard for coffee, etc.  Do they have dispensers?  Do you just pour the water into the fresh water tank (somehow) when it begins to get low?  AND, do you all actually DRINK the water from just anywhere?  (I'm wondering how I'm going to brush my teeth if not with bottled water!!)

Also, this Trilogy does not have a ladder that I am aware of.  Is that a drawback?  The way I see it, if I can keep my husband off the roof we can avoid some serious consequences... and I certainly don't want any accidents, especially when boondocking.  I don't mind paying someone else to get up there and check things out.  Could certainly prove to be less expensive than the ER!!!

Boondocking... that brings something to mind.  Yes, I do dream of boondocking and imagine it almost daily; however, I'm a city girl.  (Even though camping was my favorite thing in all the years I was a girl scout!!!)  Why do I fear being out in the middle of nowhere alone (with my husband, of course)?  I just wonder how all of you do that.  The serenity IS priceless, but I just have a fear of "someone" stumbling upon our campsite... someone up to no good.  Can you help me through this... somehow?

Many thanks!!

-- Edited by Mary Sunshine on Tuesday 9th of October 2012 05:56:33 PM

-- Edited by Mary Sunshine on Tuesday 9th of October 2012 06:05:32 PM

Very helpful info, Mike!  Your reference to DELIVERANCE made me laugh.  Yes, I saw the movie about 75-1/2 years ago (NOT, but I did see it).  The only thing I remember is that guy's face and E-E-E-E-E-E!!!!!  That's all.

Hi, Kevin and Carol!  I'm not really sure what you mean by not taking advantage of the "head space".  In what area are you referring to?  The overhead cabinets across the back end in the living room were the biggest I have seen thus far and that is probably because the ceiling height in this unit is taller than a lot of units out there.  There are even cabinets over the dinette (which are shorter), then go all the way to the back (which are larger than over the dinette).  The cabinets around the TV and fireplace go all the way around, and all the way up and down.  I even pulled out my brochure to make sure.  There is even a floor to ceiling storage unit next to the front door as well as at the end of the kitchen.  Could it be we are speaking of different coaches?

-- Edited by Mary Sunshine on Thursday 11th of October 2012 01:59:18 PM

It is great to get some feed back on the Trilogy from peaple who have seen it and from the experienced RVers on this forum . We looked at it in January of this year but couldn't find anyone with a review because it was  new on the market. As Mary has pointed out, it has many great standard features such as a fiberglass roof, slide toppers, great storage and high end cabinets etc. For the price it comes well equiped. One of the problems, as I have posted before, is getting a straight answer on the level of insulation. The frame is a 1.5 x1.5 box construction according to the specs but the insulation is not really mentioned in detail like the DRV Elite Suites. We will be taking a factory tour in April and hope to get some answers.

Over all, the Trilogy looks good for full timing for the buck( for a wanabee like me!). It's not a New Horizon for sure but neither is the sticker price! I have read that Forest River products may have issues, but this unit is still made by Dynamax. Any comments about Dynamex product quality.

 

Tim

I'm looking at the brochure right now.  "The main frame is constructed with a 12" X 10.8 lb. I-beam."  The framing otherwise seems to be on par with other manufacturers.  As far as aerodynamics, "The Trilogy's curved body contours look amazing and channel air flow up and around the fifth wheel cutting through wind, while increasing the tow vehicle's fuel economy and optimizing aerodynamics."  As far as I'm concerned that's another excellent feature.

Someone mentioned issues with Forest River products.  As many have said, and we should all know by now, ALL units have issues of some kind or another.  

CORRECTION!  I would like to make a correction to something I posted earlier.  Dynamax is NOT (or was not) a Thor company.  Dynamax was and is Dynamax.  Forest River purchased Dynamax!  How do I know this?  I called up to the manufacturing plant this afternoon (888-295-7859) and spoke with a very nice gentleman about the Trilogy, specifically. I asked him WHY Forest River purchased Dynamax and he said because Forest River wanted to get into the high-end market.  That would make perfect sense to me.

During our conversation I asked about the R-factor and he was very honest and told me they do not "rate" for the R-factor.  What he did share is that the walls are of 6-sided vacuum bonded construction with high-density foam block insulation and they do NOT use radiant shield.  The Trilogy IS considered a "full season" unit, down to 0 degrees, easily, and they DO warranty for full-timing.  He reiterated that the underbelly is heated and there are heat pads on the tanks.  He also mentioned that the walls are made the same as in the Super Cs that can cost upward of $500,000.  Shouldn't that say something?

As far as the warranty, it is a bumper-to-bumper warranty excluding normal wear and tear.  A second year is available for purchase.

I believe their painting process is top notch.  They go through a 5-step (full body) paint process.  They spray 3 times, sand, and spray twice more.  No decals here.  EVERYTHING is paint!

I also asked why there was no ladder.  He said (and it makes perfect sense) that because the roof has a radius, they did not want the liability.  I can understand that.  Is this a hill to die on?  And one might ask, what if you're in snow country?  I would suppose that once the snow built up to a certain depth, it would slide off the rounded roof.

And I asked about service outside of our "home" base.  He said what we all already know.  If you live in Youngstown, America, but go all the way to Florida for a better deal, you will not be at the top of the local dealer's list because he was passed over.  Again, we all know there are varying circumstances to getting service outside the territory from which we purchased, but service will be rendered, regardless.

Finally, for those of you who may or may not have noticed, the light dome I saw over the extra large shower was clear.  I asked if this would allow too much heat to come in.  He said they have started tinting those darker.  And the small window in the water closet (toilet room) CAN be changed out to clear instead of the rain glass.  I changed out the rain glass over the garden tub in my S&B master bath, and it is the best thing I ever did.  I can see forever now... not so claustrophobic!

I hope this information is helpful to those on this board who have looked at and might be considering a Dynamax Trilogy.  Truthfully, so far it meets more of my requirements than anything else I have seen thus far.  My research is not over until it's over, but so far, this one is NUMBERO UNO in my book!

 

I hope their fifth-wheel is better insulated than the 26' DynaQuest MH.

My Mom has one and has had some major problems in the summer keeping the frig cool enough to not spoil foods. Has put a LOT of mods in to be able to FT in the rig for the last couple of years, but still has to run to the mountains in summer and south in winter.

There is just isn't enough insulation in the roof or walls to be comfortable in extreme temps.

Not sure of pricing, but I'd highly recommend you check out a New Horizons really closely before making a final decision. They have been rated a 5 star fifth-wheel for many years, and rightly so.