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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Buying An RV -> 10 yr old DRV or 4 yr old Bighorn? Or...
Post Info TOPIC: 10 yr old DRV or 4 yr old Bighorn? Or...
Lets get moving


RV-Dreams Family Member

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10 yr old DRV or 4 yr old Bighorn? Or...
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We are actively looking to purchase a learner 5-er within the next few days and we have narrowed it to 4 choices. We would be learning all about rv-ing by vacationing and taking a couple short term trips across the country before trading it for a new, DRV or Luxe in 3-5 years.  I'm hoping to get some expert opinions from all of you seasoned full timers! 

Listed from lowest to highest price. All separated by increments of about 5k starting in the mid teens

2006 34ck3 Cameo clean but quite dated and needs tires -and preferably new countertops but about half the cost of our budget second least favorite floor plan.   

2007 36rs3 Mobile Suite that is quite used and looking rough and needs several things done to bring it up to the nice and roadworthy level of the others. We were actually disappointed when we saw it because we had high hopes. Ok floor plan but not great  

2012 3685rl Bighorn partial body paint, needs sofa and has a ding in the shower that needs attention. Either new surround or ?  Most favorite floor plan  

2011 3665re Montana  pretty much road ready and is at top of our budget. Least favorite floor plan. 

Essentially they would all cost closer to the same once desired and needed work is done.

We already have an F-450 DRW diesel so we aren't concerned about pulling any of these.  

What would you do? 



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Rex & Bonnie

Ford F-450 diesel DRW 6.7 King Ranch

KZ Durango Gold 370RL
jayc


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I'm an admitted Heartland guy. I have owned two Bighorns and only traded for a different floor plan and longer length. We are full timers and would recommend whichever floor plan suits you best. You will be spending a lot of time in it and if you hate the look and feel, you will never be happy.

Going down your list, the Cameo was a great unit it it's day but is now 10 years old. Some parks are restricting the age of units but if it still looks good on the outside, they may let you slide.

The Mobile Suite is a good unit and many people swear by them. They are known to be heavy, so it may require you to buy a larger truck than you have. Age will soon be a factor.

The Bighorn is your favorite plan, that will mean a lot. A couch is not too expensive and should be easy to get in the door. The ding in the shower may or may not be a problem. I would have a fiberglass repair person look at it before you buy to give you an estimate on repair. Water is your worst enemy, so be certain that there are no water leaks. Full body paint should last best if kept reasonably clean and waxed.

The Montana is your least favorite floor plan. See above. Many Montana trailers suffer from cracked and peeling decals, which detracts from the look of the trailer. 

Good luck with your choice.



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2018 Heartland Landmark

2010 Dodge 3500 DRW 

Jay-Driver Stella-Director of Operations

My favorite website: the Heartland Owners Forum
soos


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hmmmmmm,
I would knock off the ones with the floorplans that you really don't care for. If you are going to use it for shorter trips I would either go with
a) the DRV because thats the one you may potentially want down the road,
or b) the Bighorn - if the shower issue can be fixed- I was told that if I needed a new shower, the roof had to come off, but that could be wrong info.
montana is at the top of your budget and you don't like the floorplan. enough said.
We started out with a Keystone Everest- fell apart after a year, and we got a DRV. Been very happy with it :)


Good luck and have fun!

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Sue

2012 Mobile Suites 36TKSB4 pulled by a

2011 Ford F450

2005 Lance 1181 Truck Camper- our vacation home

http://soos-ontheroad.blogspot.com/
kb0zke


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I agree with Sue. The two to look more closely at are the Bighorn and the DRV. Keep in mind that the two coaches are not direct competitors. Kind of like looking at a 2-year-old Buick or a 5-year-old Lincoln. They may both be the same price as used cars, but the person who bought the Lincoln new probably didn't look at a Buick first.

Remember that most people end up trading coaches several times in the first few years as they figure out exactly what they need/want. Often, the thing they don't get quite right is the floor plan, so I wouldn't worry too much if the coach you pick isn't perfectly right, as long as it is livable FOR YOU.

Personally, I'd keep looking. We're going to switch from our MH to a towable. If we we going with a 5'er it would most likely be a Mobile Suites towed by an F450.

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David, kb0zke

1993 Foretravel U300 40'

Build number 4371

For sale
Lets get moving


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Well after all the trying we've done to buy the 2012 Bighorn, the owner can't seem to get paper work together. So red flag warning.

We just went to a dealer to look at a 2015 K-Z Durango Gold 370rlt and made a deposit! We have a cruise scheduled so we will be picking it up as soon as we get back!

The end price is about 3k more but we are getting a few extras, like residential fridge, 6 point auto leveling, and marine grade sub floor. Plus it's a really great floor plan and 3 years newer.

We have made a few campground reservations already!


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Rex & Bonnie

Ford F-450 diesel DRW 6.7 King Ranch

KZ Durango Gold 370RL
soos


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Congrats! Have fun!

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Sue

2012 Mobile Suites 36TKSB4 pulled by a

2011 Ford F450

2005 Lance 1181 Truck Camper- our vacation home

http://soos-ontheroad.blogspot.com/
RonC


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Nice!

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
jayc


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Enjoy the new rig and good luck with it.



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2018 Heartland Landmark

2010 Dodge 3500 DRW 

Jay-Driver Stella-Director of Operations

My favorite website: the Heartland Owners Forum
Rob_Fla


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Enjoy your KZ and keep us updated on your travels and how the learning process goes :)

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Robert & Sheryl

2014 Redwood 38FL MorRyde IS & MorRyde Pin Box

2018 RAM 3500 DRW Cummings H.O. / 4.10

 

 
Twobits


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Why are you going from MH to 5th wheeler

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