Priorities in your 5th Wheel

[Piper Guy's Gal]

What's interesting to me, and I realize this is only a small sampling, but you're all saying pretty much the same thing: structural support, the IS, and quality control. I'm not reading "pretty interior," or "large bath."

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by Piper Guy's Gal

What's interesting to me, and I realize this is only a small sampling, but you're all saying pretty much the same thing: structural support, the IS, and quality control. I'm not reading "pretty interior," or "large bath."

Tracy.........it's a "guy thing"! Those things you mentioned go without saying. I bought the floor plan that my wife selected.

[heros3]

Tracy What washer and dryer did you get?
Thanks
Pat

[Piper Guy's Gal]

Originally Posted by hoosierguy

Tracy.........it's a "guy thing"! Those things you mentioned go without saying. I bought the floor plan that my wife selected.

I listed pretty much the same priorities. i believe I also added a laundry area, but I know you guys like clean undies too.

[piper guy]

Hi Pat, I'll answer this one as Tracy uses the Washer and Dryer and tells me how much she loves it but has no clue where I found them.
I decided not to go with the traditional RV choices because of 1. Cost and 2. I hadn't talked to anyone that was really happy with them.

Did some reach and discovered there are some really nice compact units made for small apartments that are built in Japan.

The ones I used are a washer from Danby and a Dryer from Sonya. You can find them both on Amazon and other places. Washer should cost about $400 or so and the Dryer a bit less than $300. We travel with cats and I wanted a place for the litter box so I made a raised platform for the Dryer and the box sits under it. It could also be used for storage. If anyone wants the dimensions, I have them. You need to be a little creative on the vent but other than that it's an easy install. Oh ..... And they are very light. 43 lbs for the dryer and about 70 for the washer. Very quiet, very little vibration and does a great job. Tracy uses them almost every day.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me if you need more

[Char & Steve]

Originally Posted by Piper Guy's Gal

Next query: what is the maximum Trailer GVW that you would consider? (Vaughan says max of 19k, with at least 3k lb cargo or us).

I have no limit on weight as long as I match the truck to what I am hauling.
My only concern is the size and how much bigger they are getting. Some of these older CG just can't accommodate. Some of these bridges scar me now when I only have 6" clearance or so the sign says.
Fort Wilderness in Disney is a good example, most all sites are on loops and some can be very tricky to get these big ones backed in. Unless they have added some since our last visit, all are back-in's

Steve

[Dro67]

The number one thing we wouldn't want to do without is the king slide in slide. Makes such a difference. We looked at a Luxe by Augusta last week. Nice but no storage and the bedroom seemed cramped! Also as others have said MorRyde IS and disk brakes.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Ford truck guy

Mrs. Ford truck guy said " whatever makes my husband happy " ..
Crap , gotta run , here she comes!!

hahahahaha!

[rob_fla]

Originally Posted by Char & Steve

Fort Wilderness in Disney is a good example, most all sites are on loops and some can be very tricky to get these big ones backed in. Unless they have added some since our last visit, all are back-in's

Steve

I can attest to that, the first site they put us on at Disney / Fort Wilderness last week, there was not way we would fit, went back up front to concierge and got moved to a great site that was plenty deep enough and almost a straight shot backing in.
But is was still tight roads and many people leave their vehicles sticking out in the road so not only do you have to miss the trees, you have to miss the vehicles sticking out in the roads.

[Ford truck guy]

Originally Posted by rob_fla

I can attest to that, the first site they put us on at Disney / Fort Wilderness last week, there was not way we would fit, went back up front to concierge and got moved to a great site that was plenty deep enough and almost a straight shot backing in.
But is was still tight roads and many people leave their vehicles sticking out in the road so not only do you have to miss the trees, you have to miss the vehicles sticking out in the roads.

We have been doing Disney for years and have compiled a list of sites that are LARGE enough with roads that are wide.. As you know , not all loops are equal.. In our eyes , the 700 loop is by far the largest ( to drive ) with large sites.
When checking in , they have a book that they can reference that will tell them the site sizes . .just in the 700 loop alone , we have been in : 701-702-704-706-707-708-709.. with 708 and 707 being the 2 largest.

IF you have an I phone , download this APP - - Fort Wilderness Sites... you can pick a loop , than pick a site and it will show a picture of it , and also list where all the utilities are located.. The measurements given are for the concrete area
And my BETTER half is a Disney Specialist Travel Agent on the side. Do I hear a regional rally in Disney , she can arrange it !

[rob_fla]

We ended up in the 800 loop which we have stayed in before, the site we had was long enough to accommodate our 38FL and our Truck in a straight line without sticking out in the road.
(Our truck was in front of our pin with the tailgate closed and we were not hanging off the back of the pad)
Rare find in Fort Wilderness !!!

[Ford truck guy]

we have 5 sites listed in the 800 loop... this year we were in 708.. I was directly in front of the pin , with tailgate closed , my father in law was next to me and still on the pavement , and 2 golf carts all on pavement.. what was the 800 site , I wonder if its on my list

[mhs4771]

Do I hear the call of a Winter Rally at Fort Wilderness??

[ChristianM]

Guys-

Thank you for consolidating these onto ONE thread!! In all honesty, when requests and ideas pop up on 3-4 different threads, its hard to keep them all straight, much less convey them to the powers that be.

Because it's all in one convenient spot, I can take this and show it to our reps, GM and the guys who make these changes. Not sure which of these they already know about- but this is a REALLY useful tool!

Thanks again!

[Rick and Mindy]

I have mentioned this on other threads but feel I need to mention 3 items specifically that Redwood messed up on when designing the Redwood for "Baby Boomers" Every time I get a chance to mention it to employees of Redwood I do it but I still see, after 3 years they still build the same:

1. The design for hooking up the sewer line is terrible. Originally, from what I've been told, the boom was used but several people complained so Redwood deleted it. The problem is, when they deleted it they left the hook up end of the sewer drain line approximately 12" in under the sidewall. I doubt there are many "baby boomers" liking the idea of getting ontheir hands and knees to connect the sewer hose, especially when many of the parks are gravel sites. The boom system could at least be an option if it is no longer standard.

2. The location of the batteries is ridiculous. Just to check the battery levels you need to get on your knees, again not "baby boomer" friendly.

3. Not having individual switches to control each slide is cheap, cheap, cheap!!! In order to isolate one of the slides, again.........on the knees, but worse yet, try to isolate one when you are on the road and you are still hitched and you want to only open that one slide. The front door that covers that battery area cannot be raised completely so it requires you to almost lay down o n the ground to reach up and over to the isolation valves.......not "baby boomer' friendly.

These are three major components as I get older that will become a must to correct if Redwood wants to keep my business. I agree also with most of the suspension requirements already mentioned.

[Dave&Ginny]

Service......available parts ......and a factory representative that can guide you in the time of need even though it's usually not 8-4:30 Monday through Friday.

In talking to people with all types and values of RVs, I always hear the same thing.....once bought .......you're screwed if you have a problem. The glitz, glitter and fancy paint might make the first sale BUT without customer support the second sale won't happen.

[Kaidocl]

More storage specially space wasted under furnace piping and upsolutly disc brakes. Maybe more exterior led technology

[mstan]

I just want a RW that can stay parked at home or on road with me instead of being at the dealer service center lot. Now it has been there another 3 weeks. So I have owned it now for 23 weeks. I have only been able to enjoy it for 6 weeks. :-(

[spindrift]

Originally Posted by Rick and Mindy

I have mentioned this on other threads but feel I need to mention 3 items specifically that Redwood messed up on when designing the Redwood for "Baby Boomers" Every time I get a chance to mention it to employees of Redwood I do it but I still see, after 3 years they still build the same:

1. The design for hooking up the sewer line is terrible. Originally, from what I've been told, the boom was used but several people complained so Redwood deleted it. The problem is, when they deleted it they left the hook up end of the sewer drain line approximately 12" in under the sidewall. I doubt there are many "baby boomers" liking the idea of getting ontheir hands and knees to connect the sewer hose, especially when many of the parks are gravel sites. The boom system could at least be an option if it is no longer standard.

2. The location of the batteries is ridiculous. Just to check the battery levels you need to get on your knees, again not "baby boomer" friendly.

3. Not having individual switches to control each slide is cheap, cheap, cheap!!! In order to isolate one of the slides, again.........on the knees, but worse yet, try to isolate one when you are on the road and you are still hitched and you want to only open that one slide. The front door that covers that battery area cannot be raised completely so it requires you to almost lay down o n the ground to reach up and over to the isolation valves.......not "baby boomer' friendly.

These are three major components as I get older that will become a must to correct if Redwood wants to keep my business. I agree also with most of the suspension requirements already mentioned.

Couldn't agree more. We were one of the last to have the sewer boom
and I absolutely love it. Still haven't heard a logical reason for why it was discontinued.

[5th_Time]

There was significant whining about it. You all know who you are... Problem is, the "cure" was imposed on all subsequent owners.

I really like mine and have never had any issue. I think there are many here who feel the same.