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Old 01-22-2018, 05:15 AM   #1
Eagleback
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Body width

Why is some campers 102" wide body but the Montana is only 96"? is there any advantages going wide body over the standard width?. Of coarse except it being wider inside. LOL
 
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Old 01-22-2018, 05:42 AM   #2
WeBeFulltime
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96" is "standard" width but you will find a few exceptions at 102" which is DOT max allowed without special permit.
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Old 01-22-2018, 08:09 PM   #3
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If the body is already 102in wide than awnings and drip spouts will exceede the maximum width laws. Now, is anyone going to stop you and measure, highly unlikely.
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Old 01-23-2018, 09:16 AM   #4
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While on the factory tour in September, this question was asked as to why Montana didn't make a wide body. As I recall, the answer was that Montana walls are sitting on the frame and to make it a wide body, the walls would be sitting on outriggers welded to the frame which they feel would jeopardize the integrity of the structure.
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Old 01-23-2018, 09:30 AM   #5
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Keystone "Carbon" 5th wheel Toy Hauler is 102", so is the bumper pull Carbon.
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Old 01-23-2018, 09:31 AM   #6
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That explanation doesn't hold water. Look under any Fifthwheel and you'll see the frame back under the unit by 12 to 18 inches (never measured to be exact). So the walls are sitting on the floor joist and support by those outriggers,
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Old 01-23-2018, 09:32 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmthelen View Post
While on the factory tour in September, this question was asked as to why Montana didn't make a wide body. As I recall, the answer was that Montana walls are sitting on the frame and to make it a wide body, the walls would be sitting on outriggers welded to the frame which they feel would jeopardize the integrity of the structure.
Keystone Alpine (the other luxury fiver) has been 100 inches for years.
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Old 01-23-2018, 09:46 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhs4771 View Post
That explanation doesn't hold water. Look under any Fifthwheel and you'll see the frame back under the unit by 12 to 18 inches (never measured to be exact). So the walls are sitting on the floor joist and support by those outriggers,
OOPS, I meant to say that it sits on the floor, which is 8 foot wide. They explained that the wall on a wide body, sits on the outriggers.
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Old 01-23-2018, 09:50 AM   #9
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Quote:
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Keystone Alpine (the other luxury fiver) has been 100 inches for years.
Correct on the Alpine. Only relating the information that was given on the tour, speaking of Montana only.
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Old 01-23-2018, 10:01 AM   #10
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I can only imagine how far out the truck mirrors would have to be to see around a wide body.
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Old 01-23-2018, 10:09 AM   #11
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Some of the HCs were 102 when I bought my HC. The 305 RL was.
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Old 01-23-2018, 10:21 AM   #12
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I seem to remember the then "new" HC (Helium branded) was built at a separate factory along with the short lived Big Sky. The standalone branded one built to compete with higher end RVs such as Redwood. They were both in the same assembly line as both were 102".
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Old 01-23-2018, 10:37 AM   #13
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I think almost positive that when I bought my 323 RL HC some floor plans were standard width and some were 102 wide. I bough used and at that time some new units were standard and some were wide.
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Old 01-23-2018, 10:42 AM   #14
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I can only imagine how far out the truck mirrors would have to be to see around a wide body.
I hauled my Alpine all over the place and the mirrors were just fine on my F350. Not really an issue.
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Old 01-23-2018, 04:29 PM   #15
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Correct me if I am wrong but I seem to remember from my truck driving days that the mirrors can be out 105 inches. That may have changed or I remember wrong.
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Old 01-23-2018, 08:01 PM   #16
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Some brands also use a three inch thick wall so by using the 102" wide platform it still gives them a bit more room inside the units. On other brands that do the wide body and the thinner walls they have even more interior room and can install bigger slides. Motor homes have had the wide body designs for years. I myself would like the extra width.

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Old 01-24-2018, 07:12 PM   #17
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once I extend my slides, I have no complaint with the interior space of my 3400rl. The extra width going down the road is just bulky. JMHO.
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Old 01-24-2018, 07:33 PM   #18
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I highly doubt that most people would notice the extra three inches on each side. My jet boat was 8'6" wide and the trailer a bit wider with lots of friends boats 9' and their trailers even wider and no problems with the law enforcement or going down the road. The only time I ever get a little nervous is when I towed the boat or the RV'S 8' on/across extremely narrow bridges. Double check in Canada for their rules as they could be different than ours.

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Old 01-24-2018, 08:04 PM   #19
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My previous SOB was 102 inches wide. I really don't notice any difference between living in it or towing.
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