Perhaps a New Trend? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Perhaps a New Trend?

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

To me a garbage disposal seems like a really bad idea in an RV. I can find lots of fault in the idea, especially the high water use and ease of clogging up the grey water system. But we also find hand washing dishes for two to not be that bad.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree, Bill. As much as we like the Mobile Suites that we have, we would also pass on the garbage disposal, the dishwasher, and a residential refrigerator that is as big as the one listed. When we converted over with our refrigerator, we felt that 18 cubic feet was plenty big enough. No way we would need, nor want, one that was 23 cubic feet. Another of the changes with the Estate models is the straight line roof, allowing for more storage space inside the back overhead cabinets. That would also let the fiberglass roof be a one piece unit instead of being in two parts.

Terry

Defiant · RV-Dreams Family Member

Great ! Thanks Terry and Jo ...just when I thought I was narrowing down my list you have to throw a new wrinkle into the mix....by the way is there info anywhere (pricing and more specs)? The wife is going to kill me for throwing ANOTHER possibility into the mix.....but I like what I see so far!!

travlingman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Are you saying they are going to have where everything is standard on the rig and do away with options like Dynamax did with the Trilogy?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Defiant wrote:
Great ! Thanks Terry and Jo ...just when I thought I was narrowing down my list you have to throw a new wrinkle into the mix....by the way is there info anywhere (pricing and more specs)? The wife is going to kill me for throwing ANOTHER possibility into the mix.....but I like what I see so far!!

I will be in touch with Alicia and Slade on this one, but not because we want one. According to the text message I got from Alicia this morning, the Estates was just announced yesterday. So, pricing and full specifications will likely come later. I was just on DRV Suites' website and didn't find any mention of it there. Evidently, their webmaster is running a bit behind.

As soon as I can, I'll see if Alicia and Slade can get me a list of standard features, options, and pricing. I told Alicia that we weren't pleased with the kitchen sink and bathroom sink. The bathroom sink looks to be smaller than what we currently have in our 2010. The 2010 kitchen sink has both sides the same size, so one can have a fair sized dish drainer in the "off-side" sink.

If they do the Estates as they've done with the regular Mobile Suites with residential refrigerators, the units will have inverters installed as well.

Terry

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

travlingman wrote:
Are you saying they are going to have where everything is standard on the rig and do away with options like Dynamax did with the Trilogy?

I suspect that there will still be the option of "modifying" one's coach if one chooses to order. When I mentioned that we didn't like the sinks, Alicia told me that one could still order specific sinks if they didn't want the standard one. In that regard, I've noticed on Rolling Retreats' website that some of the models they are ordering are equipped with three air conditions instead of two. Who knows what other options are out there. I haven't researched the Suites models for a couple of years.

Since I don't know what Dynamax did with regards to options, I'd hate to say that they would be the same. I do know that DRV Suites has always been easy to work with when one orders. When we ordered ours, I specified that any inverter that was installed had to be a pure sine wave one instead of a modified sine wave unit. Ours is a Xantrex SW3000 which is a 3000 watt unit with a 150 amp charger.

Terry

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

The "Estate" model is likely intended for stationary use in a Resort Park. Some (many) do not allow park models, either for their own reasons or because of local ordinances. If you have a permanently positioned unit in a snowbird park you do not need the typical things associated with a mobile unit. Things like automatic leveling, RV toilets, holding tanks, high-end running gear, disc brakes, etc. And the addition of standard residential appliances makes a lot of sense. They cost less and perform better than the RV counterparts. The quality is far higher too....as many of you have heard me say, RV-specific appliances are mostly "junk" (MY opinion, obviously).

New Horizons will offer a "Resort" model for those that want a high quality coach that will sit in an RV park and not go down the road. Instead of spending money on items you don't need for a stationary coach, you can put the money into other amenities, or back into your pocket :)

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I posed the question to Alicia as to whether the Estates had holding tanks or were they park models. She replied that the units do have holding tanks. I would have thought that if DRV was going to build park models that they would be offered in the 43-foot models.

I also noticed the Estate has the door at the compartment for the LPG cylinders, so I presume that they are true RV's, but with some more modern amenities for those that seldom ever get out of RV parks. The page linked to also had a notation that there was an LP "quick disconnect," so I'm wondering if that is a new connection for the tanks or is it an external "port" for hooking up external LPG grills.

Since they don't have any in stock yet, I can't run over to Elk CIty to their dealership and take pictures like I really would like to do.

Terry

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most of the "estate-type" models intended to sit in parks have holding tanks. That is usually required in the legal definitions between park models and RVs. One thing that is common to do is to put in a residential toilet and to bypass the holding tanks. The tanks are there if someone wants to take the unit on the road - it is easy to replumb it and put in an RV toilet. Each manuf. is a little different in how they build these.....

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't disagree with you, Jack. However, just because some are named "Estate" doesn't mean that they are park models. However, I will wait for more information from DRV Suites or Alicia and Slade as to their actual use.

Terry

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I had a Hi-liner that had holding tanks only because of legal issues.........a unit without holding tanks is considered Mfg.housing and does not fall under the same build codes

or title requirements ..........spent alot of my career building rv 's and manufactured housing.............

R12 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have been in the prototype Estate at the DRV plant in Howe, IN. It is definitely a unit designed to travel the same as the rest of the DRV line up. It is intended for those that full time and seldom are off the grid and should be priced between the MS and the ES series.