Hi, Terry!  Even though the Trilogy is an awesome unit in so many ways, I do think, Mr. Terry, that you have convinced me the DRV Mobile Suites is the way to go!  Since it seemed Howard sounded a little impressed, I wanted to get his take.  There are so many things to like about the Trilogy, but what changed my mind is the small fresh water tank.  The underbelly is all propane and not enough water!  I believe the Trilogy is only 60-65 gallons.  The DRV Mobile Suites has around 100.  I just don't want to wear ourselves out going back and forth to the dump.  We look forward to boondocking one day and I want more than 60-65 gallons.  Besides, the DRV Mobile Suites has pretty much everything we want and more.  I love the walk-through bathroom (sorry Terry!) for a number of reasons.  One being it opens up the bedroom.  Too many fifth wheels have bedrooms like are too cavelike for my liking.  Anyway, that's my take.  AND, it seems a good price can be had with those folks you know up yonder (in Kansas?  Mississippi?).

Mary,

The Trilogy they had at the show was the 3800RL.  Here are some impressions after looking at it and going over it twice.  These are just our pros and cons and our opinion only.  Some of our likes and dislikes are a big deal and some are minor, even picky.

Note:  There are four floorplans - 3800RL, 3850RL, 3650RE, 3650RL.  "RL" means Rear Living Room and "RE" means Rear Entertainment Center.  The 3800 and 3850 are both 41'10" long (a bit too long for our liking).  The 3650s are 38'10".

Only the 3800RL has a split bathroom with the shower on one side and the toilet/sink on the other side.  Like you, we prefer the split bathroom and that floorplan has two sinks (one in the toilet closet and one in the bedroom) which we think is a minor plus.  The other floorplans have all-in-one bathrooms with the shower, sink, and toilet in one room (no extra sink) and they have corner showers.  Honestly, we prefer the corner shower to the elongated shower in the 3800RL (that big skylight is an issue, and we noticed the one in the show model was cracked).

Pros:

• 17.5-inch, H load range, Goodyear G114 tires (only on 3800 & 3850);  We would request upgrade to those tires/wheels on 3650s
• 8,000 lb axles & Equa-flex Center Point Suspension (although, we would still prefer the Mor/ryde Independent Suspension and request an upgrade, which would eliminate the axles)
• Full body paint
• Huge basement storage
• Slam Latch Doors to basement (they open out to the sides rather than up)
• Water Manifold System (nice, but not as good as the one we have now)
• 6-Point hydraulic leveling system
• Construction seems very solid (although we haven't had time to review that in detail)
• More interior storage than most full-timers would need
• Stainless Steel Deep Sink in kitchen
• Ducted Heating and Air Conditioning
• Independent slide-out controls
• Trailair Pin Box (although we prefer the Mor/ryde pin box)
• Dark Tinted Dual Pane Slider Windows (we prefer the slider windows over the frameless windows)
• Carefree Power Awnings and slide toppers with metal covers
• 50-Amp detachable marine cord with own compartment for plug-in and storage (we currently have)
• Dual battery compartment (we would need more, but most fifth wheels only come with one battery)
• 1,000 Watt inverter (again, not enough for us, but most fifth wheels don't come with an inverter at all)
• 90-gallon gray water tank(s) and 45-gallon black tank
• 12-Gallon water heater
• All LED lights everywhere
• MCD pull-down shades
• 8'8" interior height in living area
• Electric fireplace
• 55" LED LCD TV (not that big a deal to us, but very nice)
• Nice picture windows
• 22.6 cubic feet stainless steel residential refrigerator (although I would prefer it without the ice maker and water dispenser)
• Huge pantry
• Huge drawers and storage space in the kitchen
• Solid drawers and cabinets (although not thrilled with the plastic latches)
• King Bed (option)
• 32" LED LCD TV in bedroom (again, not that big a deal, but nice)
• Generator Prep
• Washer/Dryer Prep (although I agree with Terry, the washer/dryer in the bedroom closet is a mistake)

Cons:

• 3,062 pounds of cargo carrying capacity - a little less in the 3650 floorplans (not quite enough cushion there, especially if you add a built-in generator)
• Bedroom closet configuration - Terry is right, once you get the clothes in there on hangers, it's a pain to get to the wall storage behind and it would be a pain to use the washer/dryer
• City water connection & black tank backflush in basement (a leak at the connection or a busted check valve could be a big problem)
• 64-gallon fresh water tank (a bit too small for us; we currently have 100 gallons)
• No propane oven (big deal for us, but it could be added)

Some have asked us about the stove cook-top and, to be honest, we didn't even take the cover off to look at it.

Regarding the lack of a ladder, we were told it is strictly a liability issue.  If folks are on the fiberglass, rounded edges roof, there are liability concerns.  Of course, proper maintenance requires somebody get up on the roof from time to time.  The lack of a ladder isn't really a "con" for me, as I prefer to use my own, sturdier ladder, that extends a couple of steps above the roof line.

The other big thing is that instead of two 30 or 40 lb propane cylinders, they have a 97-pound propane tank like in motorhomes with a 20-lb cylinder back-up (30-lb cylinder optional).  My first reaction to the built-in tank was negative (inconvenient to have to move the entire rig to have it filled in the places where we tend to park).  But it does give up to 127-pounds of propane capacity over the usual 60 to 80 pounds, so it would last a long time.  However, the part that really bugs us is the location of the tank.  It's right between the axles.  That's good for supporting the weight, but it makes us nervous regarding a potential tire or wheel bearing fire.  We would probably need to talk more with an engineer and fire experts before making a final evaluation on the underbelly propane tank.  But our gut doesn't like it as of right now.

I'm sure I've forgotten or left out some things, but that is what we think upon a fairly quick review.  It's a great unit, but there are some tweaks we would make if they were open to it. 

 

 

 

Mary,

Those folks you referred to Terry about are Rolling Retreats in Elk City, OK. We also want to hear Howard & Linda's take on the Trilogy as well when they have time.

Sherry

A comment on frameless windows vs sliders.

Like Howard we originally did not like the frameless windows, believing that we would have better ventilation with the sliders. While that is "kinda" true, we did not properly evaluate the frameless windows before we owned them. We have now had frameless and framed (slider) windows in two identical RVs. We by FAR prefer the frameless windows.

Why? The only negative that we ever had about the frameless windows was "less ventilation". That is true, but only marginally, in practice. When on shore power it is a moot point, since running a roof vent on low pulls in far more air than an open slider - even all of them open. When boondocking there is slightly less ventilation with the frameless if you do not run the roof vent, but it is negligible, in our opinion. And we still run the roof fans on low without much negative effect on our power usage. That is the only negative we associate with the frameless...

Now to the positives on the frameless. The first BIG one is WAY less air movement inside the coach when the windows are closed. WAY less. The sliders simply do not seal well, no matter what you do. The frameless come down onto a bulb and seal extremely well. This makes the entire coach feel much warmer in cool weather. Air movement in the coach is at least as important as insulation R value in how you feel inside. A coach with less air movement feels far warmer.

The next benefit is that you can leave the windows open when it rains and still use the fan (or not) to pull air through. I did not think this was a big deal until I experienced it.

The look of frameless is much better. More importantly, they are easier to maintain and to clean.

For us, when we sleep with the windows open the frameless allow us to "tune" how much air is coming in far more than the sliders or double hung windows....You have infinite adjustment, vs only certain places where the double hung next to the bed will adjust to.

Bottom line: we will never have slider again (or double hung). The frameless double pane are far superior in our opinion.

Chris,

I have sent you a private message, and I'm posting here in the event you "look into" the forums but don't "log in."  When you log in, you will notice a message indicating that you have received a private message.  Click on that "message notification" to be taken to the private message.

Now for a question, since Dynamax has chosen not to provide a ladder to the roof, is one NOT supposed to access the roof-mounted air conditioners for routine and preventative maintenance?  Thus, if the owner does not do that function, I presume that they must assume additional liability should they then decide to hire someone to perform that maintenance.

Terry Miller

Moderator

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 29th of January 2013 04:31:25 PM

Racerguy wrote:

---

Terry I'd just like to mention one thing.If you talk to the biggest share of full time RVers you will find most don't trust using factory ladders for much more than hanging the REAL ladder you tie to it that you actually use to get up on the roof.As for Liability issues why should Forest River care if you the end user assumes additional liability issues because they didn't provide you a ladder to get on the roof with.Liability issues are probably the reason they left it off in the 1st place.Just saying.

---

 

George,

Forest River probably doesn't care.  And as to the ladder being "untrustworthy," I don't use mine either, even though I have about 75 pounds of leeway between my weight and the ladder's capacity.  However, when I go onto the roof, I do use the top of the coach ladder (and the luggage rail at the rear) to steady myself as I climb onto the roof.

The main thing is that someone does need to do occasional preventative maintenance on the air conditioners.  The reason I mentioned the liability is because some have said that they won't climb onto the roof, thus it becomes necessary to hire the job done.  By my mention of that, owners here will know that they will be liable if their "hired maintenance man" happens to fall.  After all, Chris has already mentioned that the fiberglass roof (which also happens to be curved, not flat) is slick.

One poster here did tell me that Forest River told them that they (Forest River) didn't want the liability, and that was why the ladder was left off.

As for me, I won't tie a ladder to the coach's ladder.  Too much of a chance of motions weakening the rear ladder.  My ladder is a multi-ladder and will be carried in one of the trucks.

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 29th of January 2013 07:09:19 PM

Terry.....Just giving you a little jazz.I have a very good friend who is the "King of What if" also and I kid him a lot about it.He and his Wife are planning on going full time in a couple years and like you  He leaves no stone unturned.

-- Edited by Racerguy on Tuesday 29th of January 2013 10:27:56 PM

Terry I'd just like to mention one thing.If you talk to the biggest share of full time RVers you will find most don't trust using factory ladders for much more than hanging the REAL ladder you tie to it that you actually use to get up on the roof.As for Liability issues why should Forest River care if you the end user assumes additional liability issues because they didn't provide you a ladder to get on the roof with.Liability issues are probably the reason they left it off in the 1st place.Just saying.

Good morning!

"R" values being a topic...

Great question!

Trilogy "R" values:

Walls - R9

Roof - R18

Floor - R27

Pondering.............Why would they not put down a white no skid adhesive path from the ladder to the service area on the roof or at least offer it?

just washing the roof would be difficult while on the road.............second question would be....is the wall reinforced to handle a ladder if one chose to have it installed.

Very well stated Jack~!

We (the RV Industry) all have similar suppliers (but not identical) using similar products (but not identical) at each "price-point" that will give us all similar (but not identical) results on such things as "R" Value... If the products are compared 'apple to apple'... This even 'spills' over into weights, heights, costs, etc.

Each Manufacturer will decide what will go into a product netting a desired result - i.e. LG counter-tops verses a laminate counter-top or "H" or "G" rated tires over "E" rated tires, etc.

So - a conglomeration of all products used (per sidewall, roof or floor) is how we estimate our "R" values.

We (Trilogy Fifth Wheels) do 'error' on the side of comfort - we have Thermopane windows Standard. MCD, Pull-down Shades (Day shade is good for diverting sunlight), and we've gone to Tinted Skylights.

We have dual (2) A/C units - both individually zoned (bedroom & living room) and each is individually thermostatically controlled.
We have a 42,000 BTU Furnace (LP), a 5,200 BTU Fireplace (Electric) and a Heat-strip in the Living Room A/C (the Heat strip will work to help take the chill off on cool nights of roughly 40* and higher - but is not designed to be used in temperatures below 40*)

I hope that all makes sense and is helpful...

Chris

Mike,

I understand what you are saying and where you are headed with your thought process... I'm not exactly sure how to answer or respond to your question... All-in-all... we decided it would be easier and safer for all if we did not include the ladder - or even have it as an option. Thirteen feet in the air is a bit of a fall...

I know that people will service their units differently - but most (generalization I know) people will only get on the roof once a year or so...
I recently had a retail customer that purchased a "retractable" ladder that he stores in his pass-through storage and keeps those "Noodle Floaties" (for a swimming pool) that he wraps around the ladder so not to scratch the paint.

We do not "back" the rear-cap or the rear-wall for the roof ladder...

If you absolutely must have a ladder... I can look into seeing what can be done to make that happen.

I'm out for today...

I'll be back tomorrow if anyone has any further questions!

Have a good evening!

Chris