Trailer upgrade

[Ernie_Fergler]

I'm considering upgrading my 5er soon. Narrowed down my choices to either the Montana 3121RL, or Solitude 310GK. As far as I can tell, they are the same trailer with a few insignificant differences. I lean toward the Montana because of the heavier suspension and higher CCC. DW prefers the Solitude ( for unknown reasons). The Montana is a little less $$$ which also steers me toward it. Anybody have any input to help me decide?

[laknox]

Ernie Fergler wrote:
Thanks for the input. Went and tried to make the deal,but couldn't come together on a trade agreement. 5K apart on the Montana, and 10K on the Solitude. Think we'll check out a bighorn next week.


Ernie

Don't be afraid to shop outside your "local" area. Find a dealer, wherever, who will beat the local "deal", and show the local guys a valid quote and see if they'll do better. Be =serious= if they waffle and walk out and be prepared to take the other deal. Now, if your local dealer will come close, enough so that the travel would make the "far" deal a near-wash, then make the local deal. Personally, I was willing to go cross-country to get a good price. In the end, didn't need to.

Lyle

[jdb7566]

Lwiddis wrote:
You don’t indicate a need to upgrade. If money is no object...no, the thrifty people I know that are RICH don’t spend without a need.

Why is the OP required to indicate a "need"? Why can't you just give your opinion on the two models indicated in the post instead of posting some sort of BS reply?

[JKJavelin]

Lwiddis wrote:
Good time of year to get a discount.

This IS probably the best time for a good deal. 3 years ago this week we made the deal on our rig. We were new to the game and got 34% off plus almost half off the price of our Demco autoslide hitch with puck adapter without hardly trying. It was a leftover trailer and I probably could've done a little better with some effort.
JK

[Ernie_Fergler]

Thanks for the input. Went and tried to make the deal,but couldn't come together on a trade agreement. 5K apart on the Montana, and 10K on the Solitude. Think we'll check out a bighorn next week.


Ernie

[Lwiddis]

Good time of year to get a discount.

[work2much]

Second Chance wrote:

garyp4951 wrote:
... The Grand Design is over priced, and dealers are limited on how much they can discount them.

Not entirely true. We've negotiated 28 - 30% off MSRP on both our Grand Design fifth wheels.

Rob

The dealer we are looking at discounts Grand Design 30% without negotiation. New 2020 310GK $64k

There is definitely plenty of room for discounts on these.

[DutchmenSport]

Ernie,

I know you've already selected your specific model types, but I'd like to ask anyway, have you considered the 5er Front Living room models.

We have a Montana High Country with a front living room, and we absolutely love this arrangement. The bed room is in the back, living room above the hitch over-hang. There's no walls between the living room area and the kitchen area. The heat difference between the upper level and the lower level is not noticeable at all, and there is ample room in the living room area for 6 people to sit comfortable.

Ours is the Montana High Country 375FL, which has the second door on the back side of the trailer. There is no island in the kitchen, which makes everything accessible when all the slides are in.

Just asking, if you haven't considered a front living model, you might want to check them out before making a final decision.

Google Search, click here.

[bucky]

Michelle.S wrote:
I agree with Lady RVer, if you go with the Montana and have even the slightest of issues you will hear about it from the DW.

You left off FOREVER at the end of that sentence.
In this case I would also go with the Solitude.

[work2much]

This thread is pretty apropos for us. We have been shopping over the last week we have been looking at Jayco Pinnacle, Grand Design Solitude, Vanleigh Vilano and the Keystone Montana.

These trailers all have the same floorpans.

Our take between the Solitude and the Montana:

Montana:
Not a wide body but still comfortable inside. Really not too noticeable.
Smaller fresh water tank
Central "command" station that handles all the camper electrics. Scares me a little if the "motherboard" were to quit.
Nice finish carpentry on the cabinets.
Big windows on the camp side not encumbered by casework above the theater seating.
Less expensive
Bigger cargo carrying capacity.

Solitude:
Bigger fresh water holding tank.
Wide body 8'-5" This shows mainly in the bedroom where there is more space between the bed and the dresser. Also nice pull out chest in the bedroom to store shoes and sit on.
Bigger master bed closet.
HUGE windows in the passenger side slide.
Nicer wood casework. The current 2020 Montana has aweful (In our opinion) choices on the casework colors and not what is shown on their website or current catalog.
Pop up TV adds even more light into the camper when not watching TV.
Love the interior design, wood colors.

Both units have 6 point hydraulic leveling and hydraulic main slides.

We have eliminated from our list the Vilano. The casework construction and fit was pretty bad on the 3 units we looked at. The Vilano also uses Lippert axles rather the the Dexter axles like the Montana and Grand Design.

We also eliminated the Pinnacle from our list. Schwintek electric slides were so slow and really seemed to struggle closing the driver side slide. Also bumped my head getting into the bedroom. Lot's to like though on the Pinnacles fit and finish.

So that leaves the Solitude and the Montana. We haven't decided yet and may come down who will give the biggest discounts. Looking for 30% +

We are also considering the Montana with the Legacy package which upgrades cabinets framing adds a retractable power cord, disc brakes, surge protector and a few other things.

Decisions...decisions...

[Second_Chance]

garyp4951 wrote:
... The Grand Design is over priced, and dealers are limited on how much they can discount them.

Not entirely true. We've negotiated 28 - 30% off MSRP on both our Grand Design fifth wheels.

Rob

[Ernie_Fergler]

Michelle.S wrote:
I agree with Lady RVer, if you go with the Montana and have even the slightest of issues you will hear about it from the DW.

Exactly my thought. It was my plan all along.

[Michelle_S]

I agree with Lady RVer, if you go with the Montana and have even the slightest of issues you will hear about it from the DW.

[LadyRVer]

I like the Montana, had 2... but being a female (and a widow!) if DW prefers the Solitude, my 2 cents.. make her happy!

[Lwiddis]

You don’t indicate a need to upgrade. If money is no object...no, the thrifty people I know that are RICH don’t spend without a need.