Fiver Builder Challenges Industry Norm in Describing Rigs
Our elderly fifth wheel has a model number: 28.5 You all know what that means--it's 28 and a half feet long. As long as we've wandered around looking at fifth wheels, you could generally tell just how long the rig was by the number plastered on the wall next to the entry door.Now here's a new wrinkle: How long is a 337RLS? Close to 38 feet you say? No, it's 33' 6. And it's "sibling," the 322RKS? Not the little over 32 feet we'd expect, but rather, 33' 6. "Now wait a minute, they've got the same length, but different model numbers?" Yeah. Here's an upstart idea, instead of listing how long the fifth wheel is, the builder--Open Range--lists how many square feet of living space there is inside. In this case, the 337 is a triple slide, and the 322 is a double slide unit.
The Open Range approach to labeling models may seem a bit radical, but in the long run, the company figures it'll be far more appealing to potential customers--being able to gauge their needs according to model numbers. It's not the only thing a little different about this company--the "look and feel" (at least from the sales brochure) for a mid-point price range (SRPs starting at about $45,000) look pretty appealing. The web site is a little lacking, but you can download a pdf file to get a look at these rigs due to roll out early this year.
posted by Russ and Tiña De Maris at
12:24 PM
6 Comments:
I do not thing anyone actually buys an RV by the actual square foot it has, but by what they need and looks. Of course longer RV has more sq. ft. than a shorter one with the same number of slides. The results of this companies listing will confuse everyone and not help standardization of the RV community.
By
davisro08215, at 6:16 AM
Even if they don't use the length in the model number ie; I have a 30WBLE which is actualy around 33', overall length should be listed in the unit specs. Of course the misleading number has allowed me to reserve and use sites where 30' is the max length, such as in National Forest camp grounds, or get by for a little less money in places where the price goes up on the longer lengths. I'm more concerned about space to extend the slides, and overhead clearance. The length limits were generaly set before 5ers came into wide useage.
Also, should the length be from kingpin to rear bumper, or end to end?
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Jeff, at 6:56 AM
I purchased a 2006 5th wheel listed as 27.5 on the small plate by the door. Having only a 30 foot parking space to park the trailer was one of the reasons we purchased a 27.5. To our surprise when we got it home and parked it in its new spot, it hung over by 6 inches. The trailer is actually 30 feet 6 inches long. I have know idea what the 27.5 stands for but its not the length.
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Jim and Ev, at 8:17 AM
It's called "deceptive advertising", and I'd like to see it ended. Yes, you can (and should) read the specs, but this is deliberately misleading.
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Sharon N., at 8:26 PM
Check this out, when I was looking for a new 31-33 foot 5th wheel I found an advertisement on the net for a new 06 Grand Junction model 29DRL that was listed at 29’ as the length but since I already had a brochure I knew that this model is 33’11” long or you might as well say that it’s 34’ long anyway, I needed some roof repair done and the customer service rep for Dutchman kept telling me that the trailer is 29’ long. After several times telling her that it’s longer I finally said, “ Get a brochure to see how long it is!” Finally she saw the light. I liked it better when the model number represented the length of the trailer. MJ
By
Anonymous, at 1:06 AM
Keystone 5th wheel models 364 and 344 are 38ft long exterior
By
Anonymous, at 6:32 AM
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