|
12-23-2019, 08:14 AM
|
#1
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bee Branch
Posts: 2,620
M.O.C. #20693
|
Must Haves and Deal Breakers
I don't know about the rest of you but we are always looking for the next camper. Its more or less a compulsion to turn into every RV dealer we drive by.
I suspect like us many of you have a list of "Must Haves" and "Deal Breakers". Over the years our list has grown as we have learned more and our use of the RV have changed:
Must Haves:
Largest size available (we won't even go in one less than 40' now that we are full time). Except we do as we are looking at a second camper LOL.
IS
Disc Brakes
Cushion Hitch Pin
Hydraulic 6pt leveling
Hydraulic slides
Seating DIRECTLY across from TV
Lots of storage both inside and out
Big bathroom
Easy access to washer/dryer
Residential Fridge
High quality finish
3rd AC
Layout that caters to just two people
High end Luxury finish/layout
Deal Breakers:
Poor Layout
Slides on Passenger/Door side that extend under awning, taking up entertainment space
Poor quality hardware
Poor quality bedding (granted that can be fixed)
Too many large windows (prefer horizontal not vertical views)
RV fridge
Layouts designed to sleep a dozen people
Cheap/flimsy entry steps
Small or hard to open exterior storage doors
So how about you?
__________________
James & Irene Wilson
Bee Branch, AR.
2017 Ram 1 ton diesel duallyCrew Cab/Long Bed
2018 Montana High Country 381TH Garage Full of Toys
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 09:05 AM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,361
M.O.C. #6433
|
We occasionally browse new ones just to look. Lots of really nice features on them that ours doesn't have. But then one big feature of ours keeps us in the one we have.
PAID FOR! And happy with it.
But then we are only sometimers and don't live in ours like so many of you do.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 10:09 AM
|
#3
|
Established Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Aravaipa
Posts: 30
M.O.C. #25440
|
This looks interesting since we've not yet pulled the trigger on our Montana! We boondock exclusively, want to visit national parks so length is a big consideration, we do not plan on full timing, only extended trips when we retire:
Must Haves:
Seating DIRECTLY across from TV (hubby's, not mine!)
Lots of storage both inside and out
Big bathroom
Bed Slide
35' or LESS
Large Pantry
RV Fridge
Solar
Hyd leveling
Solid 1 piece shower
Deal Breakers:
No Pantry
Residential Fridge
>36'
Poor quality fit and finish
two-piece shower
small shower (hubby's' a big boy)
__________________
Kathy and LLoyd
2020 Montana 3120 on the Radar - Soon?
2020 Ford F350 DRW 4x4 on the Radar
Retirement May 31 2020
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 12:36 PM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
|
Have to visit Tampa rv show every year to follow what is going on with different manuf's and various models. Hoping to win lottery so I can afford to buy a new rv, while keeping present one for stays on east coast.
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 12:53 PM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Granger TX
Posts: 2,593
M.O.C. #21044
|
My list is easy.
Must haves...full tub
Deal breaker...no tub
This list is from DW - and I agree (happy wife!)
__________________
MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 01:28 PM
|
#6
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 03:22 PM
|
#7
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Charleston
Posts: 488
M.O.C. #23094
|
We use ours for camping and traveling. Zero intentions of ever becoming Fulltimers.
Deal Breaker
1 Residential Fridge
2 Over 35'
3 Small Holding Tanks
4 No Bath or Fridge access with slides in
5 Too Expensive
Deal Maker
1 Opposite of above.
__________________
2019 Montana HC 310RE
2010 Wildcat 29RLBS
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 04:28 PM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,669
M.O.C. #2283
|
Deal maker:
32 feet
RL
<9000 pounds
3 slides
Deal breaker:
>10,000 pounds
Rk
I guess this Montana out.
Lynwood
|
|
|
12-23-2019, 05:29 PM
|
#9
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
|
Deal breaker for me is furnace and/or water heater on door side (under main awning).
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
|
|
|
12-24-2019, 01:00 AM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
|
Agree with BB TX that being paid for is more important than wanting a new one. I've made many more improvements on our rig than what I could get in a new one. To buy a new one would be to start over improving on what I had. It has taken me 5 years to get most of what I want on this one so I don't think I will ever own another one. If I were full time then probably but I will never be full time. I don't think there is such a thing as quality build in the rv industry even though some are better than others. I enjoy going to rv shows and seeing the latest and greatest out there but I have lost the new rv fever thank goodness.
|
|
|
12-24-2019, 03:11 AM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
|
Like Texan said above to many improvements.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
|
|
|
12-24-2019, 07:10 AM
|
#12
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 492
M.O.C. #17391
|
i just got mine figured out. Sure i want a new one but my 03 3280 RL works just fine. Fridge is cold. Heater is a little loud but I got a fix for that coming.
|
|
|
12-24-2019, 09:05 AM
|
#13
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
|
Nice to Haves:
IS
Double sinks in bathroom
Closet by door-Not one you put the washer and dry in
Have to Haves:
Disc Brakes
Hydraulic 6pt leveling
Hydraulic slides
recliners DIRECTLY across from TV
Lots of storage both inside and out
Easy access to washer/dryer
Residential Fridge
High quality finish
No kitchen island
Pantry
Recliners with each having their own armrest
Room to make the bed
Quality furniture that lasts
Deal Breakers:
Poor Layout
Slides on Passenger/Door side that extend under awning, taking up entertainment space
Poor quality hardware
Cable slides
Electric levelersdrains and or valves hard to get to
Poor quality furniture
RV fridge
Layouts designed to sleep a dozen people
Small or hard to open exterior storage doors
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
|
|
|
12-24-2019, 09:58 AM
|
#14
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hesston
Posts: 735
M.O.C. #25060
|
Being new to the whole "big" 5er world, our list is different than anyone's I've seen here:
Must have:
A table that more than 2 people can sit
A king size bed (last camper had the modified queen (shorter), and that was too small)
Sleeps more than 2
Sleeps more than 4
Deal breakers:
Sleeps 2
Sleeps 4
Sleeps 12
Has a midbunk, although it typically meets the sleeps more requirement
Has a desk
For us, we are at a point in our lives where we have our kids/grandkids with us at times, and we need to be able to sleep more than 4 at a minimum. However, we don' t want a bunkhouse / toy hauler, because we don't want to give up all of that space to just sleeping.
The 3741FK works well for us. Can sleep up to 8 comfortably, and the sleeping arrangements don't consume any more space than they were already taking up before.
Our tune may change if we ever were to become full timers, but that is a LONG ways in the future, and will be the next 5er...
__________________
2020 Montana 3741FK
2020 Chevy SRW 3500HD Duramax/Allison High Country
|
|
|
12-24-2019, 10:46 AM
|
#15
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 1,060
M.O.C. #9441
|
Our list of must haves.
I/S
Disc Brakes
1,300+ watts solar
3,000 watt Magnum Hybrid Inverter
600+ ah Lithium battery’s
Access to refer, bathroom, bed without running out slides
2 A/C unit that controls are separated for dry camping
Rear kitchen
TV across from loveseat or recliner
35’
Washer dryer not in forward closets
Fair sized bathroom
All drawers on lower cabinets no doors
Larger gray and black water tanks
Larger fresh water tanks
Levelup System
Hydraulic slides
Slide toppers
R/F mogul dish
Air ride hitch
Wait this sounds like 90% of my existing trailer.
__________________
2020 Ram 3500, 2022 Luxe 38GFB,2500w Solar with Victron equipment, Gen Y Pinbox
|
|
|
12-29-2019, 06:05 PM
|
#16
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Montgomery
Posts: 506
M.O.C. #7196
|
What happened to Split Bathrooms?
We love our separate Toilet room with a door and a cupboard for the TP and "Chemical's" and the shower tub and bath sink Across the hallway. So two people can perform their functions separately and not in each others way or with a cramped toilet stuffed between a wall and Shower...
Neighbors just got a new 43' long Heartland RV with a PANTRY long enough that it includes a sink and behind it a small Bathroom with one of those midhinge doors! No second bath and they already hate their one user/funky door Bathroom.
Would much rather have a central/mid hallway and a split bath but haven't seen ANY lately so one reason we keep ours.
|
|
|
12-31-2019, 05:25 PM
|
#17
|
Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Blossvale
Posts: 24
M.O.C. #21989
|
Must have large night stands on both sides of bed. Large closet, full size shower, large kitchen counter space, residential fridge, closet at entry door, lots of windows on campsite side, and large outside storage.
|
|
|
01-02-2020, 12:51 PM
|
#18
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 181
M.O.C. #23433
|
Must have RV fridge, TV across from seating, fridge access with slides closed, bathroom access with slides closed, bed access with slides closed, in our budget (we only pay cash), under max weight for our truck (we aren't buying a new truck, only pay cash), large bathroom, night stands at bed, dedicated pantry. IS and disc brakes would be nice so would lithium and solar.
__________________
Troy and Tracy Chaddon
2019 Montana High Country 330RL
2005 Ford F-350 "Bulletproofed"
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|