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RE: Replaced Queen Mattress with Sleep Number
We have a Sleep Number bed in our 5th wheel and really like it.
One Drawback: if you dry-camp, you need to make your adjustment when you have power. Also, if you change altitude, the bed will rapidly change it's setting. I can use a power inverter to lower the sleep number, but the inverter I have is not powerful enough to turn on the pump to increase the setting.
I have no other complaints - our 5th wheel had a great area to mount the pump under the bed. Even though the bed slides out, the electrical cord exit location works perfectly.
We have the wired 4000 series made for homes, so we have to hold the increase or decrease button to activate the pump for setting the bed versus the 5000 series where we just choose a number and the pump automatically adjusts the bed. We only paid about $600 for it.
We had it in our previous 5th wheel and when we sold it, we put the original mattress back in (it had not been slept on - this was a selling feature).
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cooksvillewildcat
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03/20/10 07:20am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Wheel chocking advise
I would think the landing gear itself would keep the trailer from rolling .... chocking generally keeps the camper from rolling when hitching/unhitching, and something like rotochocks or the scissor chocks help stabilize the camper when parked. I have moved the camper forward accidently with rotochocks installed and they will pop out quickly .... the standard yellow chocks work well as a good secondary measure. Again, the landing gear extended will hold the camper under most conditions, but the standard chocks will take any forward pressure off the landing gear due to a steep slope as you have mentioned.
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cooksvillewildcat
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03/09/10 08:00pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range 5th wheels lets hear your beefs.
I believe the owner with the Open Range problems mentioned in this thread is having their problems resolved successfully through their local RV dealer and Open Range is being very responsive at this point. I have followed this owner's issues in the other forum and definitely understand their frustrations, but they have recently posted that things are going much better now and their original issues have been resolved to satisfaction.
From the owner(s):
Over the last two weeks I have been very busy with public outreach. Getting into spring we get really busy with public outreach and our trailer is vital to our volunteer work. I have to say thank you to Open Range, Scott and Dave have been working closely with us to get our trailer in tip top condition. I'm confident we are on the right path now. We love our trailer and on our maiden voyage found it quite comfortable. Thank you Open Range and Berryland RV.
Let me echo my wife's latest post. Open Range has been working very closely with both us and Berryland RV in Hammond, Louisiana to get the issues rectified. For this we are most grateful. We look forward to getting the trailer back from Berryland RV tomorrow. Even though there are still some outstanding issues, we have an astronomical public outreach event at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs, Mississippi this Friday and Saturday night, and we need the 337RLS to be able to attend. Bringing telescopes to the public, at National Parks and other venues, and showing them the night sky is one of our passions. We hope that through events like this, youngsters develop an interest in math and science - something that is missing in today's society.
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cooksvillewildcat
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03/05/10 09:45am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range
We really like our Open Range. Like yourself, we knew very little about them but did a lot of research. We purchased ours in late August and it arrived in October. We have towed it for Florida (2600 miles round trip) and got better fuel milage than with our previous 5th wheel. It tows like a dream (we did replace the pinbox with a Demco Glide Ride).
My only problem right now are that the brakes are very good and my Prodigy seems a bit more touchy with it (my previous camper I had to turn the prodigy up to 12 just to get it to stop). With this one, I can feel every engagement of the brakes even on 4 or 5. I will be replacing the Prodigy with a Brake Smart controller this spring.
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cooksvillewildcat
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02/14/10 08:06am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Snow on 5er roof.
How can you get much over 4 feet of snow piled up on an 8 foot wide roof? 11 feet?? When you pile snow the edges will not stay vertical, so you will have a triangle of snow and the rest will fall off .... at a 45 degree angle, you would have a max of 4 feet ....
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cooksvillewildcat
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02/12/10 08:38pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Montana Mountaineer or Open Range:
If you want some more information on the Open Range, take a look at the forum (link is in my signature). We ended up buying an Open Range and really like it. Yes it cost more, but given the fact that a similar camper in another brand would have weighed over 1500 to 2000 lbs more, I look at the diesel I am saving on every trip (this adds up quick).
Towing to Florida and back, I barely felt the camper behind me and from what I have read, I am probably getting about 10% better fuel economy than with the heavier camper. Given 2500 miles of towing getting 12 mpg versus 10 or 11 mpg I would be getting with the heavier camper in my particular case, I saved $75 to $100 on this trip alone. It slowly adds up (not to mention the wear and tear on the truck).
The quality of our Open Range is amazing - fit and finish are excellent - so far only one problem (bad circuit breaker on the washer/dryer circuit) - cost me $4 to replace myself. Bad from the factory. The slides work great - so far no cable problems (I have 5 slides).
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cooksvillewildcat
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02/11/10 06:51am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range quality
We really like the quality of our 399BHS. So far so good (we can see there was a lot of pride and care taken in the building of our camper). Many of the things I had to repair on our previous 5th wheel were done right on the OR. It tows very well. Only complaint is that when I was backing up last time to get the camper in my driveway, the pinbox frame made contact with my side bedrail and scraped off a chunk of metal on the truck. Luckily the bedrail was covered in Linex so the repair cost me $106. I will be raising my hitch one bolt hole (that will fix the problem ...) Not really the camper's fault. It was dark, I cut the turn too sharp and was on an uneven part of the road .... good thing we are moving next month - I will never have to back into this driveway again .... :)
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cooksvillewildcat
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01/12/10 06:36am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: HYDRAULIC LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE
We had a problem where our previous camper (Wildcat) would drop a bit over time. One of the hydraulic pistons inside the landing gear was leaking internally (no loss of fluid). The solution wa to have the piston replaced. All worked fine afterwards. Put a mark on the legs where they are at now and monitor over a couple of days. If there is a leak you will see the mark disappear as it lowers itself over time. Otherwise disconnect your battery to prevent someone from playing with the switch ;)
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cooksvillewildcat
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01/12/10 06:29am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range Fifth Wheel Owners
The Heat Pump in the Open Range will provide good heat until you drop below 40 degrees outside. The problem is that the temperature sensor for the heat is in the roof AC unit ....
The Open Range we have was not bad in 35 degree weather, but we don't have dual pane windows - and we have 5 slides .... so the furnace did run some and it would get too warm, then somewhat cool between cycles because again the temp. sensor is in the AC unit, not on the wall as it is in most campers and homes.
My parents have an Open Range 345RLS and got the Splendide combo washer/dryer and really like it. They are willing do do a little bit of wash every day, so it works for them.
The fireplace puts out the same heat as a 15 amp Catalytic heater .... looks nicer though. In my parent;s 345RLS, they got the booth dinette so a Fireplace would not be very visible due to the placement of the bench seat and the angled entertainment cabinet that would house the fireplace.
Toilets only stink if you don't clean them or keep your black tank dump valves open (causes venting of septic through black tank and out of the roof ....) If you use a treatment in the black tank, you should be fine. There is a rubber seal in the toilet - I have never had a problem.
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cooksvillewildcat
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01/07/10 09:26pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Durablity of lite FW
Open Range makes a 28 foot model that they 'claim' can be towed by a 1/2 ton .... their way of cutting weight is to use a cable slide operating mechanism (can cut at least 5-600 lbs of weight per slide) versus a typical hydraulic or electric slide system. They did not skimp on insulation or quality of other materials ... carpet is very plush, cabinets are first rate.
Our 39 foot 5 slide bunkhouse model weighs 11,400 dry (with 2 AC units, a second bathroom and a lot of extras). Other similar units weighed between 1500 and 2500 lbs more. Axles are 6K each (with 8 lug wheels) and it has a drop frame for more storage up front. Towable by a 3/4 ton or 1 ton versus others I looked at that would have pushed the limits of my 1 ton SRW CC diesel.
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cooksvillewildcat
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01/04/10 08:00am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Second AC
We have a Carrier low profile ducted heat pump model in the front bedroom of our 5th wheel. The heat pump can be a bit noisy in the bedroom, but it works well. My only complaint about the carriers is the temperature sensor for the (thermostat is built into the unit, so it is taking a reading form the ceiling - very inaccurate compared to a wall mounted thermostat. We have wireless remotes that allow you to set the temperature(s), but all they do is send the unit the temperature you want to operate at.
The nice thing about the carrier low profile heat pump in the main part of our 5th wheel is that it will automatically kick over to the gas furnace if the temperature outside drops below 40 degrees.
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cooksvillewildcat
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01/04/10 07:49am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range RV
We just returned from a week in Florida with our Open Range 399BHS. Trip was our second outing .... so far so good, the camper has performed flawlessly and tows like a dream. I am impressed with the quality. As for the cable slides, they are made by BAL and are used on many of the high-end motor homes - the following manufacturers use the BAL Accuslide on at least one of their models:
Aero Chariot Damon Fleetwood Forest River Four Winds Glendale
Gulfstream, Heartland, Keystone, King of the Road, K-Z, Inc., Merhow, Open Range, Pilgrim, Roadmaster, RS Motorhomes, R-Vision, Spirit RV, TravelAir and Weekend Warrior.
BAL has instructions for replacing the cables on their web site. Each cable is color-coded and there is a good diagram on the following website: BAL Accuslide
My parents just purchased a new Open Range 347 RLS and are still in Florida enjoying warmer temperatures (compared to the 20's here in MD today ;) Their unit had one problem so far - a bad coax connector on their satellite feed to their main TV - I fixed it for them while in Florida.
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cooksvillewildcat
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01/04/10 07:42am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Toyota Tundra
Take a look at Tundra pulling Open Range 5th wheel
Looks like the Tundra is doing a good job!
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cooksvillewildcat
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12/23/09 06:21am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range slide cables
Accuslide Service manual
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cooksvillewildcat
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12/07/09 04:50pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range slide cables
The following link BAL Accuslide has links to service manuals, descriptions of operation and other information on the slide mechanisms that Open Range uses.
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cooksvillewildcat
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12/07/09 04:49pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range slide cables
My OR has 5 slides, each one is cable-operated. The slides are very smooth, including the large one. The cable system operates the slides at each of the 4 corners, so there is even pressure. I heard OR has made some changes to prevent tearing of the seals where the slides come through. The seals are replaceable where the slide cables come through - there is a rectangular rubber seal piece that the cables go through.
As for service, each cable is color-coded and there are good directions for replacing and/or adjusting the cables. The cables used in our unit are aircraft cables. Hopefully the system holds up well - time will tell. They use the same system on many high-end motor homes and some of the light-weight hybrid trailers. Our 39' Open Range 399BHS 5 slide unit weights 11,400 lbs dry. About 1000-1500 lbs less than a similar unit with hydraulic slides.
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cooksvillewildcat
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12/06/09 07:33pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range Fifth Wheel Owners
Thanks for the tank information. I'll have to remember that - I am glad they did it that way because I was wondering why the galley would also have the (1/2) bathroom sink empty into the same tank. That puts more water in the Black Tank which is a good thing.
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cooksvillewildcat
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12/03/09 05:11am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Open Range Fifth Wheel Owners
Hello Everyone,
I'm a new RV.net member and a new Open Range 5th wheel owner. I picked up a 280RLS last Monday. So far so good. Of course I can not wait to go camping in it. Are there any other 280RLS owners following this thread?
Cheers,
GCP
You can check the link in my signature - there are almost 100 members on our Open Range Owners forum now.
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cooksvillewildcat
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12/02/09 05:16pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Help...We're confused
We have an open range with the 4-point leveling system. There is a video they include that shows how to use the system. The rear leveling jacks are located a foot or so behind the rear wheels, not at the bumper like on most other 5th wheels, and they are identical to the front landing gear jacks.
The controller allows one to move two jacks at the same time (both front, both curb-side or both drivers side). You can also move them individually if you want or need to (like initially lowering them until they each hit the ground. I am told it is possible to pick the wheels up on one side with the system. As for torquing the frame, if you follow the procedure for leveling, you will be fine (it is possible to raise or lower just one jack to the point you could twist it some (on purpose), but if you follow the leveling procedure, you level it front to back first, then side to side. The JT-Strongarms really make the camper solid (once leveled). I am very impressed with the system except for one thing - it is slow (it is an electric system with a motor on each jack). Compared to our previous camper with hydraulic landing gear, it takes much longer to extend the jacks, but they do operate very smoothly.
Each jack has a big foot pad attached to it.
We did not get the dual pane windows because 1) the added weight and 2) the possibility of the seals breaking (probability of happening on any camper due to towing) and 3) We don't camp in extreme cold temps and have 2 A/C units for extremely warm temps.
Take a look at the assembly of both brands (crawl under them, look behind the sliding panel that houses the HWH, furnace, plumbing, electrical, etc.) I was really impressed with the lack of a rat' nest of plumbing, wiring, duct work in our OR.
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cooksvillewildcat
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11/11/09 06:27am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Towing a BIG HORN 3670RL
Take a look at the Open Range 385 RLS. It has a very similar layout (although I like personally like the 3670RL bathroom layout better - the Open Range 345 RLS has the same bathroom but a different living room layout.)
Both are much lighter (both in pin weight and in dry weight) than the Big Horn (Open Ranges are made to be pulled with a 3/4 ton truck - at least 1500 lbs lighter due to different slide mechanisms) .... take a look at them - they are comparable in quality and features to the Big Horn.
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cooksvillewildcat
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11/10/09 09:04am |
Fifth-Wheels
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