#4

[Carny Bill]

Just placed a order for my 4th unit.

2004,2006E,2009E and now 2012E

This time went with a 38rs3 Blue Elite

Thanks to Dan Tauer (factory) and Brad Walden (Southern RV)

[The View 5046]

Congratz on the Condo on wheels.... Happy Trails..

[Motor31]

Best of luck to you.

[Carny Bill]

Thanks.........

We have enjoyed the 3 units.
Not many luxury units being made now days and their costs are really prohibitive.

Bill

[Motor31]

Reading the Trailer life magazine (Jan 2012) I saw an article about 4 season trailers. I saw a mention of one I had not heard of called the Trilogy by Dynamax. I'm looking into them now. Nice features and better prices, into the low 80's for a 38' unit. They also set them up with stackable washers and driers, not the splendide variety.

It looks like they use non lippert frames but I'm not sure. They don't mention lippert and describe the frames as I beam. I just don't know if lippert does that kind of frame or not. I'm just starting to look so haven't found out a lot yet.

[hitchup]

Dynamax started building 5ers a few years ago. At the time, we thought it looked like they took a Suite and copied nearly every feature.

There's only 1 floorplan so far on the Trilogy. But the Dyna-aire has a few new plans. They also have the 3.25 walls with R-13 insulation. Trilogy doesn't spec out the R-values.

[Motorcycle Jack]

I wouldn't want a 38' RV built on a 12" I-Beam. Maybe you do, but not me. Also want the extra thickness of the DRV walls for the hot and cold insulation. Looking at the brochure - doesn't look to be DRV quality - maybe a Montana or Redwood but definitely not a Mobile Suite.

[The View 5046]

Looked at the Redwoods at Tampa RV super show, Redwood is not a Drv Suites.. Lots of wow factor. But no Mobile Suites.
Happy Trails....

[Carny Bill]

I was told that about the Redwoods even by a dealer that handles both units.
I was at Tampa also....for the money, I saw nothing that compares. jmho
They all have their good and bad.

Bill

[Motor31]

Well Jack, After having a drv for more than 6 years now I can say a thicker wall with sagging fiberglass is no advantage. Using foam core construction means the insulation stays in place which is a good thing. As to the I beam construction, you can have the thin wall tube that drv has. I see no advantage there compared to either one. As long as they carry the load without failing that's all that matters. My tow vehicle has a frame rated to handle far more load than either one and it is not a closed tube style construction either so I have no idea what your bias is about.

Floor plans are rather a common item between the manufacturers. There is only so much you can do with 400 sq ft based on a long rectangle design. They fall into 3 basic formats, rear kitchen, mid kitchen and front living room. How you arrange the bits is also rather limited. They all have eating facilities, tv and lounge and a bedroom. Then there is the fully enclosed bathroom or split bathroom. After a while of looking at different manufacturers it's pretty easy to see the basic similarities between all of them.

In either case I said I was starting to look at them. If you have any real experience with them I'm certainly interested. If all you have is random comments based on speculation, that's not very interesting.

I'm also looking at Excel but finding a dealer is a rather difficult proposition as the factory is not willing to disclose their list. That means having to go by zip codes using the web site to find dealers that may be on the route we are planning on taking this next year. We did have an Excel before and I would have bought another one if they had made one larger than 36' with at least an 80 gallon fresh water tank at the time. I was very happy with their construction and durability after using it for over a year of full timing. Unfortunately it was a 33' rig and we learned that we needed more room.

[rotaxman]

Mike,

Agree with you on all points. I've got a thin wall box tube Lippert frames under my junk 09 that sagged in front of the axles and in back of the axles.

Left DRV that way if there had been any QC in place the trailer would have never left the factory. But you know how it is if you don't gettem out and make quota no bonus.

I've said this before I would rather have a lot less WOW and a lot more running gear. WOW don't make it go running gear does.

I would have no problem with an I beam frame.

Mike I think there is an Excel dealer just south of Grandview Missouri I think on 71 hwy. Back several years ago when Excel was on my short list I went to the dealer and checked them out. I didn't buy for the same reasons as you.

If you want I'll snoop around and see what I can find out.

As always good camping
Jerry

[Motor31]

Jerry, Thanks.

Don't go on a road trip or anything but the list on the owners web site isn't up to date by any means. I've made a couple posts on the Excel owners website. Surprisingly, the CEO made an answer about looking to expand. So far no current list unfortunately. While they are seemingly paranoid about avoiding a bidding war they are losing potential customers who might be actively looking for them. Unless they do something to help get their product out there the customer can't see what they are building. I'm not sure how to help them see the contradiction there..