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Old 07-10-2015, 06:33 AM   #1
mjammersc
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Newbie - Still shopping for my 5th wheel

Hi All,
My wife and I are looking for our first 5th wheel after years of tent camping with the family and Boy Scouts now that we are headed towards being empty nesters. We are currently looking at either the Montana 3160Rl or the 3000RE. We'll probably pick one up during the spring RV show season unless someone offers me a deal at the end of the year that I can't turn down. Any advice or feedback, especially on these two new models would be appreciated.
 
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Old 07-10-2015, 08:30 AM   #2
onekla
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Greetings from central Arkansas and welcome to the forum. Can't advise you about either model but can suggest hanging out it them for awhile and see which feels best for you. Decisions, decisions!
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Old 07-10-2015, 09:33 AM   #3
jcurtis934
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What model is really about what feels right to both of you. It's about layout that you can be comfortable in for how you will use it. If you are going to spend a lot of time in it at any given time or full time in it, can it be comfortable long term. One thing that makes it a joy is the level up system, which saves loads of time and effort in any campground you stop at. Putting a real external sensor monitor system for tanks in the new fiver makes life easier. Putting decent tires on is the most important thing you can do...depending on gvwr of what you get. Read all the posts on marathons (search marathon tires) and you will understand why tires are priority one on the new rig! Hopefully someone will chime in on your model choices. John
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Old 07-10-2015, 11:14 AM   #4
jlb27537
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Personally, we would not own either one. We require a washer/dryer. The placement of the W/D in the corner of a closet, is the dumbest thing we have ever seen.

Next the shower, toilet, sink in a small room dictates square footage that is only used for a short time by only one person at a time, unless your wife will let you poop while she showers.

If you get the King bed there are only a few inches between the mattress and the bath wall.

Next, neither floor plans let you into the frig with the slides in. Kinda handy for noon lunch stop and you want to make a sandwich or get a cold drink. Neither have a "broom" closet where you can hang a jacket, actually store a broom, store a 2 step folding stood to reach the cabinets over the stove and over the frig.

Since you are looking for a shorter trailer, I might suggest you look at a '14 3150RL. You can get to the stove, sink, frig with all the slides in. Bath in the bedroom, the toilet in a separate room and a sink with a cabinet you do not hit your head on while brushing your teeth. The W/D is in the center of the closet, pointing out, so you do not have to move clothes to actually use it. With the King bed we have probably close to 2' which makes getting both in and out of bed in the middle of the night much easier.

Happy shopping...

Jim
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Old 07-10-2015, 11:17 AM   #5
Bill-N-Donna
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Greetings from Kentucky
&
Welcome to the forum!

This is a great place to share and find information.
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Old 07-10-2015, 11:46 AM   #6
waynemoore
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Welcome from AZ. You will find good advice here. The only thing I would add is buy the 5th wheel first then the truck that will pull it. Two many buy the truck first and of course all the sales people will tell you yep it will pull it.
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Old 07-10-2015, 12:16 PM   #7
mjammersc
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Thanks for the feedback so far. As far as major options on the trailer, we are planning on the 6 pt auto level, correct track, dual AC, theater seats instead of recliners, and slide toppers are still a maybe. On the slide toppers, we are looking at areas we would camp and weighing the cleaning of leaves vs wind noise - we live in Indiana so leaves are probably the greater issue for most of the camping in the Midwest region.. Queen vs King bed is still under discussion as well.

Jim - thanks for pointing out the 3150RL as an option. From our preferences, the open shower and sink in the bedroom is a deterrent as earlier on we looked at a couple 5th wheels that had similar layout. Individual preferences there. I agree the W/D pointing into the center of the closet is odd but we currently don't plan on installing one though it is worth re-looking at for a longer term consideration. We agree it would be nicer to be able to get to the fridge without moving the slider too.

Keep it coming folks.
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Old 07-10-2015, 12:24 PM   #8
HOOK
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Good choices! Welcome from NC!
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Old 07-10-2015, 02:30 PM   #9
K0LCB
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I recommend you buy the biggest RV you can afford, and feel comfortable with. We enjoy front lounge rear bed room setup, but whatever you choose, have fun
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Old 07-10-2015, 02:41 PM   #10
DarMar
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Welcome to the MOC family. You will glean a wealth of information and friendship during your time here.
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Old 07-10-2015, 03:08 PM   #11
1retired06
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Welcome to the forum!
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Old 07-18-2015, 03:00 PM   #12
rames14
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Welcome to the forum. We are 3160 owners, as our third Montana. Feel free to email or PM me if you have any questions.
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