Teton vs. Excel - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Teton vs. Excel

jlb27537 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Both are HEAVY....A 12 year old coach, the appliances will be at the end of their life cycle if not replaced already. A very good PDI and inspection would be a MUST. Tire age? Teton roof age? Excel slide floor/wall water damage?

Both are probably equal in build quality, Peterson Industries could repair either coach.

In this year range, also consider Newmar Mountain Air and Travel Supreme. (Newmar Kountry Star and Travel Supreme Select are lower end units, different frames and vinyl wrap cabinets) but could be good options.

If this is your first RV/5th wheel I would suggest someone other than the dealership do the pre-purchase inspection.

I might also suggest hanging out on the owner forums of both brands.

http://www.tetoners.org/

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f116/

Jim

-- Edited by jlb27537 on Sunday 1st of February 2015 09:13:22 AM

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry, what is "PDI"? We are selling our home and will be full time for the foreseeable future (possibly years). And when we would decide to settle again, we have in mind that we will use the 5th wheel for a time to be sure we're happy with our decision (maybe experience the four seasons) and/or if we decide to buy land and need the home on wheels for some period of time. I do sometimes wonder if a newer lighter one with an arctic package is also a possible way to go, but up till now have been sold on the heavier better made 5th wheels for our purposes. Also, what appliances would you be most concerned with at 12 years? It seems like most appliances last quite a bit longer than that, but I'm all ears. We are still newbies, but have had an older motorhome for about a year (just sold a '97 35' good quality motorhome). That has helped some, as there is nothing like the real-world experience. Thanks for the feedback and ideas!

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Pre Delivery Inspection

jlb27537 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Kathryn wrote:
Sorry, what is "PDI"? We are selling our home and will be full time for the foreseeable future (possibly years). And when we would decide to settle again, we have in mind that we will use the 5th wheel for a time to be sure we're happy with our decision (maybe experience the four seasons) and/or if we decide to buy land and need the home on wheels for some period of time. I do sometimes wonder if a newer lighter one with an arctic package is also a possible way to go, but up till now have been sold on the heavier better made 5th wheels for our purposes. Also, what appliances would you be most concerned with at 12 years? It seems like most appliances last quite a bit longer than that, but I'm all ears. We are still newbies, but have had an older motorhome for about a year (just sold a '97 35' good quality motorhome). That has helped some, as there is nothing like the real-world experience. Thanks for the feedback and ideas!

Kathryn, Refrigerators, rubber roofs, and thing soft, like slide out seals. There are several lists on Google for RV pre-purchase inspections and also pre-delivery inspections. Get a pre-purchase or pre-delivery list and go look at used RV's. Not to buy one, but to inspect them. The more you know about what to look for, the more you will start noticing things most will not see or catch.

When ready to buy, plan on doing it at least twice. One to find if the lifestyle is for you and the second to get closer to what you really want, not what you thought you needed.

Also poke around the Escapees RV Club forum. Lot's of nubies start there. Might consider a week at "Boot Camp" for some entry level training.

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?http://www.rvnetwork.com/

HighwayRanger · RV-Dreams Family Member

Love me a Teton Homes fifth wheel. Wish they were still around! Haven't spent much time in an Excel, but my impression is that the Teton was a bit better built for fulltime use.

YMMV,

Roy

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Kathryn,

Keep in mind that with most RV's, especially with those as old as you are looking at, the refrigerators will be the RV type fridge. Those are the kind that can operate on either gas or electric. Your thought of appliances lasting much longer are for home style appliances. A number of the newer brands/models are putting residential refrigerators in instead of the RV type. We modified our Mobile Suites to incorporate a Samsung residential refrigerator. However, even with a residential, I strongly urge you to purchase a Progressive Industries power protection device at 50 amps to protect your appliances.

As an aside, and another brand to consider, check out Rolling Retreats in Elk City, Oklahoma. In their pre-owned section, they have a number of older Mobile Suites models. Alicia and Slade are very good about going through and verifying that they are well cleaned and that the various systems and appliances are working.

As for the Mobile Suites, we have thoroughly enjoyed our 2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3, although we didn't buy it from Rolling Retreats.

Terry

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think membership (with a small fee) is required to enter the Tetoners.org site but this gives you access to quite a bit of information in the form of "tech tips" and a newsletter archive that contains some good information about common maintenance and repairs. This forum is no longer very active but you can search the archives for information. I found it helpful. There's also a Teton forum on Yahoo that is more active and might be of some value to you. It also requires membership but I don't think there's a fee.

FYI, Forks RV, near Elkhart, IN, has "adopted" Teton owners and will perform any repairs that might be needed. Our experience with them was excellent and I've read of others who had very positive experience with them.

I would not consider any Teton manufactured after 2005. I also strongly recommend having someone very knowledgeable do a thorough inspection before making an offer on either of the RVs you're considering.

Good luck with your search!

Glenn West · RV-Dreams Family Member

My 2003 Grand Freedom is the best built, quality unit we have ever been in. It/they do come standard with residential fridge. Ours even have an apartment size dish washer. There are no air drafts, excellent slide sealing. We did not have this in our DRV. Our unit looks great even today. The oak cabinets/trim hold up well. We have replaced 1 ac, washing machine, an supplement filter water spigot, upgraded tires. We intend to keep this. Forks RV/Continental Coach is under contract with Teton Owners Forum to service our units and do with great reviews. Did I say we LOVE our Teton.

Glenn West · RV-Dreams Family Member

http://www.tetoners.org/Brochure_Main.html. Here is a list of sales brochure for Tetons. enjoy.

-- Edited by Glenn West on Tuesday 3rd of February 2015 05:19:51 PM

TheHarveys · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here is a 2006 40' Teton Royal for sale at SpaceCraft. http://www.spacecraftmfg.com/used.htm

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Okay, we finally got to take a look at the Teton yesterday. Beautifully constructed rig and nice couple. However, they had apparently left it stored outside for about six months which included the winter months and came back to find serious condensation built up all around the edges of the floors. The carpet is pretty extensively stained, which they had been trying to remove with hydrogen peroxide. Just how much damage will condensation potentially cause? We wouldn't mind changing the carpet potentially (given it's 12 years old), but we wonder just how much rot and/or mold can be caused by condensation. Don't worry, we've already pretty much passed on this unit, but I was wondering one's thoughts on what might be lurking underneath that we can't see, given what we can see. It will help us going forward on at what point you definitely pass, or you would still consider going forward with a further inspection. Thanks for all the input thus far.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

At twelve years old I'd want to check on the condition of the roof. Tire age would be another one to inspect, old tires will not be cheap to replace a set of 4.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

"Tire age would be another one to inspect, old tires will not be cheap to replace a set of 4." Well, we replaced four tires on our MH, at a cost of over $3000. Are tires for a 5'er in that category?

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ouch!!! That's even worse. Point taken. Still, a set of four for a trailer will still cost a fair chunk of money.

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thinking of tires, I'm pretty sure that the Laramie is a 36' Teton and some 36' Tetons were manufactured with double axles instead of triple axles. I'm pretty sure the 3rd axle was probably an upgrade in the Laramie and the Experience models. Our 36' Teton Liberty Experience had triple axles and a GVWR of 20k. Most came stock with 16" tires and some folks have upgraded to 17.5" because of issues with blow outs. If I were considering another 36' Teton, I'd want it to have triple axles. It's something that you should carefully consider in your evaluation of a Teton this size. If it didn't have the 3rd axle, I personally think it would be important to have the 17.5" tires. Just food for thought.

-- Edited by Judy L on Saturday 7th of February 2015 09:56:03 AM

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks so much for the various input. This is helping us to continue honing in on what we really want/need. So the hunt continues .....