Just put a deposit on a 2012 RW 36RL and need advice.

[ffbill]

Hello everyone! I recently retired as firefighter (Driver/Engineer) here in CO and just got a contract on our home and plan on full-timing as soon as we close (5/22).. We just put a deposit on a 2012 RW 36 RL in Nebraska and my wife and I love the floor plan (been looking at 5th wheels for over a year!). I recently purchased a new 2014 Ram 3500 Laramie DRW (w/Aisin tranny) with 5th wheel package for our TV. I am ordering the B and W OEM hitch this week. We are going to drive to to Lincoln this week to actually see the rig to confirm our purchase. We would appreciate any feedback on any problem areas we should look for that others have experience with this unit. Thanks in advance for your help.

Bill

[TNTBaker]

hi Bill! Congratulations on a great purchase! You might want to check out the thread recently started that is titled "thanks a lot Ram can't get a hitch". It will help you. Enjoy that new RW!

[jhardin]

I just purchased a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually and talked to Layton Truck in Colorado Springs and he can get me a Curt 24,000# fifth wheel in about 3 days. I looked it up on the internet and there are good reviews on it. Head swivels both ways. Little over $1,000. installed.

[TNTBaker]

yes I had heard that Curt was going to start making the hitch very soon. I would jump on that because I feel satisfied that a B&W hitch is not to be had for about 8 to 10 weeks.

[ffbill]

Thanks for the info. I will look at the Curt Hitches!

[atom ant]

Hi Bill (retired FedFF myself). Congratulations on that new rig!

We have the 36RL and have had only minor issues:

• pantry drawers can damage door - add some sliding locks on the drawers (fixed myself)
• bedroom door doesn't line up with catch anymore after adding W/D in slide (getting fixed at Windish)
• cracked fender (getting fixed at Windish)
• gas struts weak on large cabinet (getting fixed at Windish)
• drain hose for wash machine under bed can pop loose (checked myself - OK)

Other than that it has been a great rig for us (we don't full time).

PS - lots of folks from CO on here.

[Grandpa]

Read this thread. http://redwoodowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1437

Check your unit to see if the problem has been addressed.

[coloradolivin]

Welcome aboard Bill !! Congrats on an excellent choice for a rig and TV.
On our Ram, we went with the RAM adapter for the puck holes and put a 20K Reese on top. Works very well. On your 2012, I bet a lot of the bugs have already been worked out. Few things we had to deal with were a "dead" or loose neutral at the plug in the rear. Lost a lot of electronics due to that little issue and now things seem just fine.

On the way home from our last trip, found out the waste line from the toilet to the black tank was too small Had to do a little "plumbing" work when we got home !! Good story for the campfire

Have a great time, you will love that RAM and the RW!!

[coloradolivin]

Oh, I forgot to mention. Once you get settled in, be sure to check out some of Brad's BAM's through out this forum. Sure to make the coach more comfortable !!

[ffbill]

Okay but I have to ask...what is a BAM?

[coloradolivin]

Well, every time AA posts some of his modifications, I say to my wife, "Wow, there is another of Brad's Bad Ass Mods" My list of things to do grows longer !!

[ffbill]

Ok Got It!!

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by ffbill

Hello everyone! I recently retired as firefighter (Driver/Engineer) here in CO and just got a contract on our home and plan on full-timing as soon as we close (5/22).. We just put a deposit on a 2012 RW 36 RL in Nebraska and my wife and I love the floor plan (been looking at 5th wheels for over a year!). I recently purchased a new 2014 Ram 3500 Laramie DRW (w/Aisin tranny) with 5th wheel package for our TV. I am ordering the B and W OEM hitch this week. We are going to drive to to Lincoln this week to actually see the rig to confirm our purchase. We would appreciate any feedback on any problem areas we should look for that others have experience with this unit. Thanks in advance for your help.

Bill

Hey Bill! Congrats on the purchase of a RW and the Dodge Ram. They say that Ram will pull a house if you can figure a way to keep it hitched up! We are not fulltiming it yet, but hoping real soon.

Rick

[atom ant]

too kind!

[rcflame]

Bill,
We have a 2012 36RL that we bought new almost 2 years ago. Have had only minor problems that I took care of myself. I don't know if you are buying from a dealer or private party, but my suggestion would be to operate all of the systems and make sure they work. The leveling system, room slide outs, and all the interior systems. All the 12V. and 120V. If it is from a dealer, try to work out at least a short term guarantee to cover it until you get a chance to use it for a week or so and make sure everything is correc.t
I retired as a captain from the Sioux Falls SD Fire Rescue in 2002, We went full time than and have been at it ever since. The RW is our third trailer since we started and we like it very well.
Good luck with your trailer, and hope you enjoy full-timing as much as we do.

[ffbill]

RC, thanks for the input. We are buying the RV from a dealer and they are giving us a 30 day warranty. I will check all the systems and am considering an extended warranty but haven't seen the costs of that yet. I also hope that we enjoy the full timing lifestyle. We have a son here at Fort Carson and want to spend summers in Colorado. Our other son and my wife's mother live in North Carolina so we plan on spending Spring and Fall there. The rest of our families live in Florida so we will winter there! Thats the plan for now and I think having the RV makes it possible! I retired from Colorado Springs Fire.

[atom ant]

Bill,
I haven't been there yet, but have you looked at the new State park there by Cheyenne Mountain?

[ffbill]

I have driven thru it and it looks nice for being so close to the city. I went to the State Parks website and the summer is pretty booked up on weekends. I was only able to get 4 days at Chatfield in May. I did make reservations at Mountaindale Resort for the month of June. I haven't been there yet but it has gotten outstanding reviews on several sites and I like the location for our summer plans. Do you have any experience there?

[atom ant]

I don't but I will check it out. I'm not positive, but I think JHardin was looking there.

Sometimes at the state parks I'll take the days available at the good sites, and the weekends that are booked I'll move to a site with electric only. This thing is so easy to move compared to our last one, and the large tanks give us about 3 days without water hookups. It has really expanded our camping selection to parks we never would look at before.

[ffbill]

Thats a great idea. I will try that out in the future. Thanks