Well... the wife decided we needed and RV so we went looking today. The one we liked was a Praire Schooner by Gulf Stream. I'm new to the RV thing so is there a reason to go or not to go with this brand. Does anyone have this particular fifth wheel and can comment about the quality. Also the sales guy said it stickered for $58,000 but said he could get us in it for $47,500. Its a new leftover 2007 model. Is this a good price or can I negotiate further? I have also looked at the Cameo series by Carriage manufactures. Anybody know anything about these units. Thanks for all the help and recommendations

 

Go to this site. there is a list of all the major mfg. While these are toy haulers most also have 5th wh travel trailers too.

Look around a lot. We have been to 25 dealer already and still are looking. Don't be afraid to go back a recheck.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...m/13516802.cfm

You've got an ideal tow vehicle. (TV is the accronym)

hope this helps.

 

I have a '06 Gulf Stream Canyon Trails. I like it a lot. Very sturdy trailer. Well insulated. Slightly roomier shower than other trailers. I like that it has 60 gallons fresh water, so I don't have to be hooked up to camp. The Prairie Schooner model should even be nicer.

I suspect the salesman--and by salesman think used car salesman and take it for the warning it is--is probably selling you a late 2006 model they got in early 2007. You didn't say what model it is, but I suspect the $47,500 is probably MSRP. Check here to see what it should run: NADAguides

Good luck and keep looking. Even if you end up wanting the Prairie Schooner, or some other model, look at other dealerships to compare pricing. I ended up going to about six different dealers before buying.

 

What people like and recommend is most commonly whatever they have so you can get a myriad of opinions on this. So my comment is based on what I have observed and learned from talking with owners, not from personal experience.

Prairie Schooner is a neat looking rig. I was very impressed with it when we were considering moving from a motorhome to a fiver. My biggest problem with it was the manufacturer - - Gulf Stream has a very poor record in the motorhome industry in building quality. They have had a multitude of delamination problems for 10 years. We found that out AFTER making a deposit on a new 40' pusher that we fell in love with. Obviously, we opted out of the deal. After talking with several owners and reading forums, we decided I didn't need their problems. I am happy for LVTony who has had great luck with his unit - - every company can have problems. It just seems Gulf Stream and Fleetwood products have had more than their share. The several people we have chatted with owning Schooners all seemed to have some discontent with their rig.

Pricing? You should easily get 23 - 25% discount from MSRP when buying a new unit. Now, a question - - why are you buying new? Buy a little used one about 2 years old and pay 1/2 of what you would buying new. That means you can step up to one of the lines considered top of the line and pay the same price as a lower priced unit purchased new. RV's depreciate terrible - - take advantage of it by purchasing used. There are lots of fivers out there that have had little usage. Mine was 2 years old when I bought it - - it had been lived in two weekends and one full week when we got it. I payed exactly 1/2 of what I was ready to pay for the very same coach new. The people found they could not handle the fiver and went back to a motorhome.

Bob

 

The only thing I know is that I am really glad we bought our first two trailers used (we are now on number 5). Not only was there a learning curve on towing (backing into a fire hydrant only cost me $200 bucks for repairs in our old prowler) but we only thought we knew what we wanted when we first started RVing. Dispite a lot of good advice, it still took us five trailers until we found the one that suited our life perfectly.

 

Yeah, I guess I should have been more clear. MSRP is higher than you should pay new. FiverBob has an excellent point that buying used will save a lot more money.

I went into this knowing that I would have different priorities and values once I built up some experience with this trailer. So essentially I bought a starter trailer. If I don't want something different in a couple years, it's a bonus.

 

Gents, thanks for the great info. I'm not married to buying new. However with that said my wife has very specific requirements in what she feels we need to make this enjoyable. A King bed is a must. Center kitchen and breakfast table also a must. A rear living room with pull out sofa, 2 recliners and a door to close out that section as a seperate room for guests or my late nights of watching TV. The praire Schooner fits the bill perfectly.

Bob, My wife and I also found a carriage that we liked with a similiar lay out. Have you found any problems with yours?

With the requirements we have I feel it may be difficult to find a used Fiver that fits the bill. Also how does financing work with buying used. They make it sooo easy to buy new plus you get the warranty. I'm pretty torn at this point. I really didn't want to spend quite as much as the schooner, but if its the only way I can get into one and meet the requirements it will have to be done.

Keep the info coming guys. Thanks again.

KL

 

KL,

When we were looking, we settled in on Carriage or Newmar. Newmar is just soooo heavy we struck it out, decided the exact model and color we wanted, then priced it out with the dealer with everything on it we wanted. When we had his best deal, I shopped that with other dealers in other areas. In the meantime, I looked for used. I was not in a hurry - - that is the key. One year later the original dealer called and said "get up here quick". He had the exact one we wanted however it did not have everything on it we wanted. Two years old and still had the clear film on the carpets - - oven never used. I saw it the night it came in, not cleaned up - - exterior had road dirt, interior spotless. Struck the deal with dealer to install the other things we wanted except the MORryde axles which we had installed at the factory. Our bottom line deal was $2300 more than 1/2 of the negotiated deal on a new one.

Carriage makes good stuff. It is a framed coach, not vacuum bonded like Gulf Stream and most of Fleetwood stuff. Almost all top lines are framed and now all of those top lines are aluminum framed. Mine has been super. I have had two problems in 5 years. One major frame problem in the front kingpin framing. It broke in the middle of Denali NP in Alaska. Fun. Carefully drove to Anchorage and called Carriage - - I was now 2 years out of warranty. They air shipped all new framing parts (twice as heavy as original) along with a video for the repair tech to watch for making the repair. They paid the bill in full. I sheared a bolt on one of my slides on this last trip just ended. That is it - - no other problems in a 7 year old coach that has been all over the USA, Canada, to Newfoundland, Alaska and Mexico. Oh yeh, I just replaced two trim strips outside the shower that got water logged. The rig still looks new. Carriage is heavy, so be prepared to have a good 1 ton, preferably dually, to pull it.

I highly recommend buying used - - you will save a bunch of money. Determine what you want, then start shopping and don't be in a hurry. You will find it at your price.

Bob

 

FiverBob is right on, buy a good used one if you can you will save a bundle. We camp a lot and see Carriages everywhere. Folks that have them love them.

Be sure to take this over to RV.Net and talk with folks there. They will have a lot to say and some of it will be helpful.

Good luck with the purchase.

 

The toy hauler we bought recently is new.

We're new to RV'ing, so I wanted a comprehensive warranty that would cover literally everything for 7 years. I'm mechanically inclined, but was clueless when it came to RVs. So basically, we were willing to pay for peace of mind.

Every time we go out we get more experience under our belts. And I gain more knowledge on how these things are put together.
When the time comes to replace this toy hauler in a few years, we're gonna buy used for sure. Your $$$ goes a lot farther.

 

Great info guys. Thanks again. I spoke to my wife tonight and she a actually likes the Cameo better, so that looks like the one we will go for. The only thing I like about the Schooner is the triple axle vs the double. Do you guys think this will be a big deal. I don't plan on carrying much water but the wife likes to pack so???

 

No no no, you will love the double axle compared to triple. Heavier axle, you can use heavier tires, much less side sliding of the tires when cutting hard corners are backing into your space, two less tires to buy when replacing, much easier when blocking up to level side to side - - much prefer dual axles. In fact, on the heavy Newmar, they have gone to duallies on a double axle rather than using three.

You have a dually - - you will do fine with the Cameo - - nice rig. Another neat thing about Carriage - - they have flat roof on their slides, no outside flange - - you don't need slide awnings. Have I ever told you how much I hate slide awnings????? Noisy in the wind, you can loose them in the wind - - not fun living in the rig with the slides in. Be sure to have the dealer bring the slides in on the model you are looking at and see if you could live in it that way - - can you still use the kitchen, bedroom and bath? That is important for stopping along the road for lunch, overnighting in WalMart or aking the Copper Canyon train run in Mexico.

Come over to my Carriage website and join the group - - lots of good information there. I have a 18K Hidden Hitch I will sell cheap - - like new - - just a pain to try and pack and ship. Probably cost more than buying local.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Carriage_RV/

You will need a yahoo identity, send in the request for membership and I will get you in.

Bob

 

Bob, thanks for the info... great point on the triples as well. Heavier tire solves alot of that problem. I'll be sure to sign up.

Kevin