Last of the RV Unicorns August 22, 2023, 05:30:42 pm We’d be on the waiting list for a new Lazy Daze if that was still a possibility.What are the realistic alternatives? So I’ve searched, joined several SOB Class C forums, read reviews, watched YouTube videos and so forth. Once again we come to the conclusion that Lazy Daze built a one of a kind RV … a Unicorn. When we consider Lazy Daze’s building methods and the quality of materials, large basement storage areas, huge OCCC, large water/black/gray tanks, floor plans, as compared to current or new Class C MH’s, then it’s very clear LD is a special MH. And add to these qualities the significant lack of substantial problems or failures, it’s a down right amazing RV. In my partially educated opinion, there aren’t any alternative RV waiting lists for us. And that’s what on my mind today. 7 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #1 – August 22, 2023, 05:55:22 pm When I tell people that my RV has a nice opening window in the shower they think that is a good idea.When I show them my nice big opening windows, they think they are great.When I tell them that I have 60 gallons of fresh water in my little 24' RV, they are impressed.The list of great features that Lazy Daze implemented into their product, along with build quality and customer supportmade LD quite the unicorn in the RV business.Not sure how I'd go about finding a replacement, sure would be a lot of compromises that need to be considered. 4 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #2 – August 22, 2023, 10:53:07 pm As I have stated, Provan Industries' Tiger Bengal (A Breed Apart - Tiger Adventure Vehicles) is now the rig I am considering purchasing. Some have said that the quality is comparable to LDs. 2 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #3 – August 23, 2023, 01:43:12 pm Having just bought a 7 year old SOB class C.One of the first things I noticed that I’m not happy with is Battery capacity. The Lazy Daze with the 2- 6v batteries gave me plenty of power and with the 2 panels of solar I never had a dead coach. The new SOB has one 12v group 27 battery. It was almost dead in 24 hours using lighting only. The quality of the cabinets in the SOB are very nice and comparable to the LD. Overall fit and finish is nice. With the exception of the shower stall. Hard to beat the LD one piece fiberglass stall. The new unit is flimsy plastic panels. I love the Lazy Daze but our SOB does have some nice features like 2 AC units, large 4 door refrigerator and lots of counter space. 1 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #5 – August 23, 2023, 01:51:24 pm Quote from: gcp - August 23, 2023, 01:47:53 pmWhat's an SOB class-c?Some Other Brand, Class C 2 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #6 – August 23, 2023, 06:10:42 pm Quote from: Wingersky - August 22, 2023, 10:53:07 pmAs I have stated, Provan Industries' Tiger Bengal (A Breed Apart - Tiger Adventure Vehicles) is now the rig I am considering purchasing. Some have said that the quality is comparable to LDs.When asked by anyone about getting an RV or RV-like vehicle I always say the most important parts are the engine, suspension, and tires. Those stats determine the limits of the vehicle. A human can adjust to just about any configuration but the weak link is the carrying weight of the vehicle. Quality means nothing if the vehicle is overweight. One-ton truck means nothing. It's just an advertising slogan. What we need is the various weights to make an informed valuation. glenglen
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #7 – August 24, 2023, 12:02:32 am Quote from: colddog - August 23, 2023, 06:10:42 pmWhen asked by anyone about getting an RV or RV-like vehicle I always say the most important parts are the engine, suspension, and tires. Those stats determine the limits of the vehicle. A human can adjust to just about any configuration but the weak link is the carrying weight of the vehicle. Quality means nothing if the vehicle is overweight. One-ton truck means nothing. It's just an advertising slogan. What we need is the various weights to make an informed valuation. glenglenI spoke with Provan and they are more than willing to build their Bengal on a F-550. This would creat a rig with a desirable C.C.C. 2 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #8 – August 24, 2023, 01:54:48 pm I play what's next as a way to dream of my next home on wheels.I decided I no longer wanted a Ford E series van based chassis.They are fine and all that, but I've lived in one now almost 16 years and it's time for a change.As I looked at what's next, I found myself leaning towards a truck based chassis with factory 4x4 available.Then I tried to figure out which truck and size I would want.I ended up with a Ram chassis, I like the Cummins diesel engine the best. Then I chose the 5500so I could have plenty of capacity and not worry so much.After all that I looked at RV makes that used the chassis I liked and came away liking the Dynamax Isata 5,in the 28SS floorplan.Now, comparing things, I know that a 5500 chassis is going to be much more expensive to maintain than the E series vanI've had forever. Justifying that chassis isn't easy, and I'm still not sure what the best solution is for me.But I keep at it. 2 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #9 – August 24, 2023, 02:34:45 pm JOTA,If cost was no issue I would have been looking at the same Dynamax. But at my age and being retired I don’t finance anything anymore. If I can’t pay cash I don’t need it lol. And having never owned a diesel of any kind. I figured I don’t have the knowledge to maintain it myself. The Dynamax is sure beautiful though. 2 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #10 – August 31, 2023, 01:38:58 am We looked extensively at new class Cs (missed a new LD by months). We have been looking since about May 2022 and have looked at every class C out there including some no longer being made, as well as some larger Bs. We have been doing a lot of traveling in the last year plus and talked to a lot of other RVers about their RVs.Issues are: quality components and also quality build. Quality build means you don’t have to recheck and fix your brand new RV because they didn’t correctly attach plumbing, electrical, duct vents for heat:air conditioner, etc. Quality build is very hard to find and was a criteria for us.Quality components is using the latest appliances and/or giving you a choice (eg propane / 120v fridge vs 12v fridge).You need to consider how you travel / camp: In NE US over 11’ 6” in rural areas gets difficult (this affects all Super Cs and Fifth Wheels). Class Cs and bumper pulls work best. Off road a lot you might want 4x4 or better axle/suspension, black series trailers has interesting independent suspension but poor build quality in the coach itself. Spending a lot of time in Baja Mexico or in the Canadian Bush or similar very remote areas in the US, smaller is better.Want more space consider a Super C or 5th wheel - I would be cautious about a really long bumper pull, we have seen scary stuff when they are trying to make normal right turns from 2 lane roads onto 2 lane roads.Class As fill this also but in the class A vsClass C discussions one interesting argument was a class A had little room to crumble during an accident before driver area was affected and a class C / super C had more space to protect passengers.Want to bring lots of toys - consider a toy hauler or we have seen many people that put their SxS on top of their pickup truck and then tow a bumper trailer.We heard from many people who had had (evenly currently had) a class C and towed a car and also a truck that pulled a trailer. The biggest dislike of a class C towing a car was two engines to maintain and fix when there was a problem. This seemed especially for people who were snowbirds and spent half their year traveling away from home.Quality build:If you want a 26’ there are choices - Coach House is one but the storage inside and outside is limited. Pleasureway - class B are well built but you have to consider what fits for you layout & storage space.We looked for a layout equivalent to a LD 30/31’ and this is very hard to find in a quality built SOB class C.Amazingly the Thor four winds / chateau (2 models that are exactly the same) was not bad - the non slide model (several sizes) is built for Cruise America rentals. They probably would not accept poor build quality. I never heard any owner telling horror stories and of all the major brands/models of Class C including Super Cs, this is the only models I can only say that about these models. We have talked to people at gas stations who owned this and been in online groups and have heard nothing bad. Nothing!There is even a Facebook group that buys these used from Cruise America (sold when they hit 100,000 miles of so or after 4-5 years old). That group doesn’t report problems and says that Cruise America does a good job of fixing them up to sell (like reupholstering them). Again we just don’t hear about problem (no more than what you hear about same age/mileage LDs.There are some brands no longer being made that have good build quality like Triple EEE, the most recent is 2016 and they are well built and still fully supported by pleasureway (same company new name). The company can even give you specs like the weight of any specific rig when it left the manufacturing floor many years before.My best advice having gone thru this, figure out your layout and storage needs and specifics related to how you want to use your RV to help you figure out requirements.Once you know the layout & storage requirements and type of RV, if you want new check out all the companies that build what you want.Then join owner forums and/or FB groups and read about what they complain about. Ask at every campground you go to, both the full timers and the camp sometimes people about any major problems (amazing the horror stories we heard on brand new or couple year old RVs).Good luck everyone that is looking. 10 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #11 – August 31, 2023, 05:47:33 am "the non slide model (several sizes) is built for Cruise America rentals. They probably would not accept poor build quality."And they may not want the increased likelihood of problems that slides represent. 1 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #12 – August 31, 2023, 08:37:14 pm Andy,Doesnt that airstream have a slide?
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #13 – September 01, 2023, 12:14:50 am I may be completely wrong but I cannot imagine Andy owning a slide. Much too much to go wrong.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #14 – September 01, 2023, 09:42:08 am Quote from: Larry W - September 01, 2023, 12:14:50 amI may be completely wrong but I cannot imagine Andy owning a slide. Much too much to go wrong.LarryIf we found out Andy did switch to a slide, it would be scientific proof that the world is coming to an end!!!
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #15 – September 01, 2023, 09:43:31 am Quote from: Jane and Scott - August 31, 2023, 01:38:58 amQuality build:If you want a 26’ there are choices - Coach House is one but the storage inside and outside is limited. Pleasureway - class B are well built but you have to consider what fits for you layout & storage space.Under fit, those of us over 6 feet need a ceiling we don't have to duck and a bed long enough. That eliminates most RV's for me. 1 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #16 – September 01, 2023, 10:28:14 am Not to worry--the world isn't ending. 🙂My Airstream--like the vast majority of their trailers built in the past 60+ years--has no slides. I wouldn't have bought it if it did. Airstream did build a few trailers with slideouts in the early 2000s, but they sold very poorly and I've never seen one on the road. However, Airstream does still sell "B+" (Sprinter type) motorhomes with slides.
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #17 – September 01, 2023, 11:47:54 am Quote from: Don Malpas - September 01, 2023, 09:43:31 amUnder fit, those of us over 6 feet need a ceiling we don't have to duck and a bed long enough. That eliminates most RV's for me.What 6’ 7” looks like in a Lazy Daze. 3 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #18 – September 03, 2023, 02:44:22 pm I saw this link recently on a different forum - YouTube of a trailer for bigger people.I didn’t watch it but the OP wanted something for tall people as well as large people.https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=oae57Mho3zU&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fbigfootowners.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDI4NjY2&feature=emb_logo
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #19 – September 03, 2024, 06:56:53 pm Earlier in this thread I mentioned the Dynamax Isata 5 28SS that I've had my eye on for a few years.Well, the 2025 model has what they call the Extreme option.What that gives you is a lifted suspension using Liquid Springs and super single wheels and military tires.That gives the RV a much needed lift for getting into more places.I like it, but military tires have a low speed rating, I think it's like 68 mph.Not horrible as that is plenty fast for this size RV.
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #20 – September 03, 2024, 07:35:29 pm Quote from: Jota - September 03, 2024, 06:56:53 pmEarlier in this thread I mentioned the Dynamax Isata 5 28SS that I've had my eye on for a few years.Well, the 2025 model has what they call the Extreme option.What that gives you is a lifted suspension using Liquid Springs and super single wheels and military tires.That gives the RV a much needed lift for getting into more places.I like it, but military tires have a low speed rating, I think it's like 68 mph.Not horrible as that is plenty fast for this size RV.There is one for sale..New 2025 Dynamax Corp Isata 5 Extreme 28SS For Sale in Albuquerque, NM -...At over 31’ long, 12’ high and a GVW of 19,000 lbs, you will not see many beasts like this in the backcountry..Larry
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #21 – September 03, 2024, 07:54:50 pm https://youtu.be/B0EEL8vlsWc 1 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #22 – September 04, 2024, 09:40:33 pm The off-road ‘test' consisted of driving on hardback, wet sand, The couple of times we have been out on the Oregon Dunes, the sand was very wet below the surface, providing good traction and preventing the tires from sinking in. Take a look again at the video, the RV’s tires barely sink in. Wet sand is very different than the bone-dry sand we we see in the SW deserts. I would like to see a real off-road test on real Jeep trails.We just finished up a week's stay in the Silverton/Ouray area of Western Colorado, running the high-altitude trails. The Unicorn would not have made it a half mile on any of these trails….none.Can you imagine how hard it would be to extract this beast if it was seriously stuck? A military tank retriever would be needed to pull it out of a deep hole. A real off-road RV would have a huge winch to assist in such situations.Changing a flat tire would be a chore, the tire and wheel assembly must weigh 300 lbs or more. The photos do not show a spare tire, much less a crane to lift and lower it as the Earthroamers have. I doubt if Coach-Net would be interested in assisting.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #23 – September 05, 2024, 04:07:00 pm Larry and other experts,Anything out there which is strong enough to withstand African pitholes or Khatmandu/Mangolia remotness, light, 24 ft LD comfy ? For now I am dreaming and money is not an issue.As for truck, I am not into modifying factory design and only truck which come 4x4 with supper single and decent suspension with Cummins engine availability is International and next year Cuminns is introducing X10 which will replace L9 (bigger than you will find in RAM 5500).Not looking to go to the extreme like German tourusts in military like vehicles. Look overkill and scary ....
Re: Last of the RV Unicorns Reply #24 – September 05, 2024, 09:55:59 pm A friend of ours drove Her Inveco rv from Germany to Cape Town down the east side of Africa then shipped it home. Two years later she showed up at our doorstep with her outfit and tour the states for 6 months.Point being no need for fancy expensive RVs just some gumption.Her RV looks more like a bread truck with windows and rear wheel drive.IMHO 2 Likes
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