Vintage

[atom ant]

So how old is this fella?

[Oriana]

Brad - that must be a new '15- probably 1915

[TNTBaker]

I think there is a picture of it in the Bible.

[atom ant]

hahahahaha -

you guys make this fun! I think Dave's was older than this one though. His looked like an upside down boat.

[Dave&Ginny]

That's a Silver Streak from the late 60s I would guess. Mine was a 1955

[Dave&Ginny]

I wish someone made a 5er with all aircraft grade aluminum like that. I think Avion made some aluminum 5ers in the 60s but they didn't catch on

[atom ant]

Hasn't Holiday Rambler always stuck to the aluminum smooth siding and fiberglass roof?

I few trial runs

Spartan Custom


Airstream home modified


who knows!


Home modified


Rumor has it - An Airstream custom for Howard Hughes

[lwg]

Those are some sweet fivers right there!

[AlanN]

Originally Posted by lwg

Those are some sweet fivers right there!

Roger that! Very sweet indeed... OK, I ready! Even though we won't pick up our 38gk for a week or two, I'm ready to form a new company. Let's all hijack the best minds at RW, and other companies, and create a fifth wheel, full-timer coach which will incorporate the best features, bold design, advanced thinking and excellent manufacturer QC we all wish we had. (No, you're right ... I'll never be able to "retire" ... Too many deals to make, and ideas to try out, LOL!). Collectively, we could create one HECK of a fiver! Ill chip in the first hundred bucks into our company!

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by AlanN

Roger that! Very sweet indeed... OK, I ready! Even though we won't pick up our 38gk for a week or two, I'm ready to form a new company. Let's all hijack the best minds at RW, and other companies, and create a fifth wheel, full-timer coach which will incorporate the best features, bold design, advanced thinking and excellent manufacturer QC we all wish we had. (No, you're right ... I'll never be able to "retire" ... Too many deals to make, and ideas to try out, LOL!). Collectively, we could create one HECK of a fiver! Ill chip in the first hundred bucks into our company!

Funny.......I few months ago one of my employees asked me what I would have done with the big lotto which was over 400 million if I had won it. I said that I would recruit the finest engineers and design a 5th wheel structurally different than anything else made.

[coloradolivin]

Ok, So I'm in. I will handle the production and/or the service side

[travelin' texans]

Colorado Livin,
On the production side we would require the "Amish" to actually take their time assembling & service techs to actually know how to fix something & take pride in the job they do, that would be 2 almost heard of items in the industry.

[Dave&Ginny]

I'd build them like the old Silver Streaks.....3.5 inch walls would be welded to the floor and the roof welded to the walls. Then start the outside coverings. Spray foam insulation throughout the coach.

[AlanN]

It's interesting how the tone changes when we go from "These are the things we'd like RW to improve" to "This is how we'd build 'em if we manufactured them ourselves." Perhaps more than just an interesting exercise... Should we start a new thread for this? I LOVE the idea of hiring Amish production people, btw: they would not only exceed our expectations for craftsmanship, but would also find better production methods. I'd offer generous bonuses for both ideas and production performance which improve the product, and I'd offer employee ownership - you work differently when you have a stake (or a steak - medium rare Porterhouse, please...). On the design side, I see Holiday Rambler is back in the game with a 2015 Presidential ... FINALLY, they have offered what what I've been begging for: sub-floor storage like in the motor home coaches. I'm 5'6" and I don't need 9-foot ceilings. I'd love the option of giving up 18" of headroom for basement storage. For you tall folks, there could be the standard frame design without the basement. That's the design innovation I'd suggest: two frame options for any floor plan. Difficult, yes, but it could be done. OK, who's got a 100 million for startup capital? Any big lottery winners out there?

[lwg]

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

I'd build them like the old Silver Streaks.....3.5 inch walls would be welded to the floor and the roof welded to the walls. Then start the outside coverings. Spray foam insulation throughout the coach.

I've often thought about spray foam in an RV. It would solve A LOT of problems. Better sealing, add some rigidity and oh yeah, it insulates pretty good as well!

I vote for a more durable roof. There's so many better options than rubber out there!

[spindrift]

When I hit the lottery, I'll buy a New Horizon. I had the opportunity to crawl all over one last year. As much as we love our RW, I can't quite get that coach out of my head.

Regardless of what direction you go, the challenge will always be the performance of the suppliers. Figure that out and you've got a winning combo. And that gives me an idea...

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by lwg

I've often thought about spray foam in an RV. It would solve A LOT of problems. Better sealing, add some rigidity and oh yeah, it insulates pretty good as well!

I vote for a more durable roof. There's so many better options than rubber out there!

The old metal roof coated with "Rino Liner" would be the way to go. The idea of having something scraping through the trees made of rubber just doesn't make since to me. Too fragile!

[sinder]

The new DRV's have a one piece fiberglass roof, similar to a higher end motor home.

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by sinder

The new DRV's have a one piece fiberglass roof, similar to a higher end motor home.

The fiberglass roofs are thin and troublesome too. They eventually crack but I guess the tree limbs slide across them better.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by sinder

The new DRV's have a one piece fiberglass roof, similar to a higher end motor home.

Only the Elite Suites, which in itself is a higher end DRV to the other three DRVs that still have rubber roofs.