New, attending the Fall Education Rally, discouraged on 5th wheel shopping - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Acheron2010 · RV-Dreams Family Member

New, attending the Fall Education Rally, discouraged on 5th wheel shopping

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We hated the dark wood trend, still do. Our DRV is a 2010 and has a much lighter interior than the current models. If you're buying new you can usually custom order the interior colors.

Furniture - if buying from a dealer have them remove anything you don't like. We replaced all the living room furniture in our rig, didn't see a need for huge, overstuffed recliners and didn't want a sofa bed. Had to streamline to have enough room for hubby's workbench and found furniture at a local furniture store that fit our needs. We actually sold the original furniture to someone else in the RV Park we were staying at the time who wanted new furniture.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Acheron2010 wrote:
Making a transition from house to sailboat to house to full-time RV'er.
Looking forward to learning much from the Seiverville, Tenn education seminars in September.
Discouraged at crop of current new and used 5th wheels. Whether Grand Designs, DRV, Jayco, whatever, they all use the black pleather 1970's sofas and dark mitered cabinets. No use of color, no flair. Give me some modern furniture, round corners, flat cabinets with good hardware in light woods, AKA Airstream.
Nor sure if it is better to gut a used 5th wheel with good bones, or get a full custom rig direct from a manufacturer that would do such a thing.
Anyway, looking forward to learning from those who have gone before.

Well, one option is New Horizons. They will be happy to sell you a rig without furniture or mix and match from their selection and your own stuff. That's what many do and we did. Mostly our stuff. Wood available is as you described and prefer. Dark to light stain or any other version including painted. They will build most anything you want in the Majestic line and you will pay for the privilege of making all the choices. They are not a true production line rig and that allows them to customize but does naturally increase the price. www.horizonsrv.com/ and ask for Cole if you call.

The other is spacecraftmfg.com With both companies larger models (they build them small as well) be prepared for a Class V truck, like a 5500HD. Many are not "pickup" capable unless you go smaller. Then again, smaller with New Horizons is relative. The frames (bones) are heavy and that's why such a relatively high cargo capacity. 3,000lb cargo is minimum for NH. Ours pushes 5,000lbs cargo capacity. This is a big deal to watch out for. Many trailers are overloaded and that leads to problems.

Good luck.

jrzygrl64 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We love our 2014 Landmark - we have the darker wood but some newer ones have lighter wood. Friends of ours just picked up their Augusta and it has very light wood. As far as flair, you can always add that on your own with area rugs/pillows and the like. While I love brown - ours was VERY brown and needed color!

Would love to someday share a campfire and hear stories of living aboard a sailboat - Bill will be jealous and I'd love to do it but I get seasick when seas aren't calm.

Good luck in your decisions!

Markpepper · RV-Dreams Community Member

Check Augusta RV's web site. They have a white wash cabinet color make the interior look like a beach house.

jayc · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are also very happy in our Heartland Landmark Grand Canyon. We have been full timing since 2008 and in the LM since 2011. Remember that the Landmarks are rated and warranted for full timing.

Good luck with your choice.

mycroft8 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for mentioning the Landmark Grand Canyon. I hadn't really seen it before; The Landmark series is now the "Landmark 365", with different floor plans.

As a used rig, a Landmark Grand Canyon might be interesting. I wouldn't want to pay the new price for a Landmark 365. But used, yes (assuming that it passed inspection).

Researching and dreaming until the end of October, when I can put my house on the market and travel.

Dave

Acheron2010 · RV-Dreams Family Member

An update. I've been to two RV dealerships here in Tennessee - Chilhowee RV near the Knoxville airport, and RVs for Less to the east of Knoxville. Very pleasant, no pressure, highly informative visit at each place. I was allowed to tour rigs at will, spend some time sitting, staring, taking photos, whatever. Sales people were absolutely no pressure, and I figured out why. You reach a certain quality level with these rigs, and they can sell themselves. As you open and close doors, operate shelves, see maintenance access, fasteners used, ergonomics of operation, safety, convenience, and see how the used models have held up over time, the choices narrow. I can see myself in a full-time rig, and living life large.

Getting more excited for the fall rally and seminars. As I research more, I find more questions to ask. This is fun.

Jimandren · RV-Dreams Community Member

We hve ordered an Augusta unit with their Beachfront decor. Take a look at theses. Very light colored finish, not the wood grain so many units have. We are looking forward to taking delivery in fourth quarter, after the September rally.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

I did take a look at the Augusta ... beautiful. I can easily see the light colored units becoming the "next big thing".