First time as a forum member, guilty as a lurker. - RV-Dreams Community Forum

nomorsno · RV-Dreams Family Member

First time as a forum member, guilty as a lurker.

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome! When I looked at your screen name, it gave away your intention. I had hoped this would be our last year in winter weather but it is upon us already. Maybe not next year.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dave and Leslie,

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. It is definitely a good place to start one's research in both the subjects of RV's and of the RV lifestyle. Never think that a question is a dumb one because the only dumb questions are those that don't get asked and thus one learns expensive or troublesome mistakes.

As for choosing, I'd start with the planning on the RV first. That way, when you make your choice of trailer, it is easier and less troublesome than getting the truck first. By choosing the trailer first, you can then learn the GVWR of the trailer to best calculate what size of truck one would need, especially if you are considering the DRV Suites models.

Good luck with the research and planning.

Terry

SuzyQ · RV-Dreams Community Member

We have a Redwood36 FL and love it.

nomorsno · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good advice Terry on the truck vs trailer and I have taken that into account from earlier posts I have read. I'm trying to wait until as close as possible to retirement to buy so that we go on the road as new as possible but my 04 F350 is at the point where I either spend more on it or jump up to newer unit. I have told myself that if both units are 15's that they will be new enough for fulltime in winter of 17 plus we can work out any bugs before then. Agree?? GCWR on the 14 F350 DRW (3.73) is 30,000 & 22,200 fifth wheel tow rating and the video of the 15 is claiming that is increased for the new model but not releasing numbers yet. Thanks to this forum and others I am going in with this in mind.

We really like the Redwood 36RL SuzyQ and we have a local dealer but being in a relatively small community we have heard and seen some issues that you wouldn't expect from high end units. The dealer only has 2 service bays so repair takes months in some cases. DRV and Lifestyle dealers are only 120 miles away in a city with bigger outlets. I hope the rv show helps shed some light. Right now the Lifestyle is up front.

Thanks for answering everyone. Its great to have all these resources at our fingers!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dave,

You've probably already read this before, but I'll mention it anyway. Don't go by the manufacturer's "towing weight." I can guarantee that if I went by the towing weight on my F450 and tried to pull that weight, I'd be well over my truck's GCVW. That is the number to go by when looking at trucks.

Should you happen to consider the DRV's, you might check out Rolling Retreats out of Elk City, Oklahoma. They are a fairly new DRV Suites dealer, but they are the nation's number one seller of the DRV Elite Suites models. They are really customer orientated and they deliver just about anywhere. Should you consider used, they even get used DRV's on occasion as well. They are literally a "mom and pop" dealership and have been getting an excellent reputation among the DRV Suites owners around.

Terry