blrsmith

My 2 cents - make a list of 3 things each of you Must haves and a few Nice to have. There will be tradeoffs on every RV even though there are thousands. We've fulltimed in a 34, 38 & 42' and I'm convinced 36-38 is enough to fulltime in...trailer or 5th wheel. We now live in a 42' fifth wheel and travel in a 38'tt and there is more storage and seating in our tt. Don't let money determine your happiness. Do what works for YOU...that's the best you can do. I agree your first RV won't be your last RV. Enjoy the journey. 

I agree the RV's being built now are cheaper as most are recreational RVers and that's the industry they are making them for. Jayco bought Open Range because they had the patent for the nose that would fit in a short bed truck...the kind the recreational RVers are driving. I'm on a FB page of "fulltimers" or wannabe's and it's amazing to me the questions that are asked, like what's a good deal on a fulltime RV. Or, I've got an F150 truck and want a 5th wheel that has bunk beds and a toilet that isn't in the bathroom. So the mfg. built those crazy "light" RV's so they can be pulled by less truck! I'm all for protesting but I fear we are in the majority. If you have a plan...I'm IN!

Glenn, you seem to always blame Lippert frame failures on the specifications set by the manufacturer. Well, the sheer volume of Lippert failures and problems is a direct reflection on Lippert and not on the manufacturer, except that the manufacturer knows what they're going to get by choosing Lippert. They do not build a reliable product, regardless of what the manufacturer specifies. My theory is that they simply build fast, cheap, and at a higher volume than they can build well, like most of the Elkhart trailer manufacturers do. Until we hold Elkhart and Lippert responsible for the crap they are building, and stop supporting them by demanding unreasonably low prices, we'll keep getting what we pay for.

 

I will vote with my wallet when we buy the fulltime rig, and we'll make sure our manufacturer knows why we chose them. I agree the RV's being built now are cheaper as most are recreational RVers and that's the industry they are making them for. Jayco bought Open Range because they had the patent for the nose that would fit in a short bed truck...the kind the recreational RVers are driving. I'm on a FB page of "fulltimers" or wannabe's and it's amazing to me the questions that are asked, like what's a good deal on a fulltime RV. Or, I've got an F150 truck and want a 5th wheel that has bunk beds and a toilet that isn't in the bathroom. So the mfg. built those crazy "light" RV's so they can be pulled by less truck!I'm all for protesting but I fear we are in the majority. If you have a plan...I'm IN!

 

Regards,

 

Roy

The Open Range needs to be fixed if you want to get anything out of it and that Montana might be the best trailer you can get..Like maybe remodel it and sell the Open Frame errr Road after you get it repaired. From what I see on this forum is that buying new is finding headaches that no one has discovered yet, That getting repaired under warranty develops another headache.

 

You mention final 5th.! You're not that old unless you plan on making repairs because your rolling house is the equivalent of an earthquake to a sticks n bricks....Things fall apart and have to be fixed.

Good Luck

When I say my "final" means when our 42' toy hauler is not needed any longer...it's too much RV for fulltime travel. It's restrictive on grade 6 mountains and not wanted in CA etc. We find other ways but I do believe 36-38 is plenty for us. Plus I want some things from our Montana and some from our Open Range. But I do want quality which is why I wouldn't be anxious to buy one now!

It is not really Lipperts fault. We that buy the cheap units and continue to buy the cheap units is the major problem. The major frame issues started when they flooded the market with cheap units. This is also when the ones that made quality units were forced out of business. I also would not weld for peanuts. We are paid good we that are good. Until the buyer demands better and I mean with our dollars not mouths, nothing will change. We quit buying problematic American cars and bought better foreign. American manufacturers got hit in the wallet. They changed and we got better than ever American cars. Only the buyer will change this.

Glenn-we did not buy cheaply nor did we just look at the "pretties" as I call them. I researched for fulltime for a year and was lead to believer Open Range, New Horizon and WaMu at the time were the best (2010-2011). WaMu didn't make over 38 ft and we knew we wanted 42'. New Horizon was double what our Open Range was and we wanted to pay cash. It's NOT one the light ones and I liked the aerodynamics of an Open Range after having the big nose of the Montana. I absolutely agree that as long as we accept the cheaply made products they will continue to produce them as fast as they can off the assembly line. Open Range's founder worked for Keytstone and Heartland so understood full time needs. They have since been bought out by Jayco (I would NEVER own a Jayco) and Keystone has been bought out by Thor. I would hate to have to buy a 5th wheel right now as I wouldn't know where to go.

We've been reading about the troubles the Heartland owners have had with their Lippert Frames falling apart. So we decided to check out our 2011 Open Range...it has one too!! First, our slide started to fall, no support for the middle of the slide supporting our couch! My DH put 3 rollers in the middle and reinforced the inside with metal. Now we find the nose is separating and we are not sure how to proceed. What have other fulltimers done? We fortunately (or not) have a 2nd RV that we could stay in while this one is fixed, or should we trade this and our other one, a 2007 Keystone Montana for our final 5th wheel? Help!!