For all you TS 5th'ers...I am currently in the research stage of buying my RV. I will be buying a Full Time 5th Wheel. I bought the Consumer Group RV comparison guide. The guide rates TS 5th wheels 4 1/2 to 5 stars (one to five stars) in 'Reliability' and 'Value'..but here's the rub...very low in 'Highway Control'..one to three stars...Please help me understand what is happening in the 'Highway Control' category...TS would be a 4 to 5 star rating if the towability rating matched the others...the only 5th wheel CG rates five stars across the board is New Horizon and quit frankly I do not like there floor plans...Can anyone shed some light on this for me...
Cliff

Well, I am not sure I can help much because that information confounds me. My Travel Supreme pulls as good or better than my King of the Road, and Carriage and decidedly better than my Dreamer, Nomad, Jayco and All the others I have had over the years. The only clue I might have is it, like the King of the Road, are heavy units and require a beefier tow vehicle than some of the lighter units. Not sure what else it can be as the T.S. has electric over hudraulic brakes, large frame, shocks, big tires and wheels, and heavy axles. So, just guessing, they may be conderned with the weight of the T.S. just my 2 cents. Gene

Gene thanks for the reply...yes the TS is a heavy weight which is a good thing if that weight means additional quality...My thinking is CG fills the Pin Weight is on the heavy side...which validates your comments about TS being a heavy weight...this is coming from a guy who's only knowledge about RV's is what I have read...you on the other hand are "living the dream" and have been for quit some time... I am currently leaning toward three models in the 35 ft. range, TS's River Canyon, a 4 1/2 star rating in the 'Reliability' and 'Value' rating, with 89 points in the Value rating...thats basiclly a 5 star value, the best in it's class, also I can safely pull these with a 350/3500 series Duelly (better fuel economy and more practical transportation upon arrival at your destination), Travel Supreme which rates 5 stars in 'Reliability' and 'Value' but will require at minimum a 450 series truck for towing and Mobile Suites which rates a solid 4 stars across the board but these are also heavy weights that will require a 450 series TV...

Gene great TV...My dad is a life time trucker. He owned a trucking co. for many years before his retirement. I drove for him as a fill-in driver for many years...we had KW's with 4 1/4 Cat's with 15 over's...You have one sweet TV...unfortunately that class of TV is a bit above my pay grade, as they say...Thanks for any and all input...
Cliff

Roll'en Stone,

You might be interested in reading through some of the comments made on this issue over on the NuWa Owner's Forum. Click here.

Pay particularly close attention to what NuWa's CEO, Mike Mitchell, has to say about those ratings as related to the HitchHiker products, there may be some parallel to the Travel Supremes.

Here's an excerpt from his comments:

quote:

"The bias of RVCG is negatively impacting the impression that readers have of NuWa products purely because of their methodology. When I wrote a letter questioning the validity of their methods years ago by attempting to correct their inaccurate conclusion on one of our Champagne models, they in fact publicized "excerpts" from my letter to create a further illusion to support their position. I then realized these folks were not interested in listening to the input of others. I have little respect for RV Consumer Group and knowing the errors they knowingly report on NuWa products, question the validity of most of their ratings." MIKE

As you delve into this issue you'll find that the RV Consumer Group uses a computer model to generate their ratings and don't actually test anything. The trailers with large water capacities are penalized because the RVCG presumes all tanks are filled to capacity when towing, when in reality most users only haul a nominal amount of fluids in their tanks.

There has been several threads on the NuWa Forum discussing these ratings for the HitchHikers, it's up to the consumer to sort these ratings out to see if they have any value to their buying decisions for the brands they're shopping.

From what I have read here and on Good Sam Club the RV Consumer Group is interest in only one thing and that is selling their information, good or bad. They never see or test the RVs themselves but just sit and look at figures and make their conclusion. My Newmar would be one with very low CCC if I traveled with the water tanks full. In actuality I seldom travel with more than 10-20 gal of water in the tanks because I usually go for full hookups when travelling and have done this since 1969 when I got my first TT.

The RVCG has some good info, but I consider them just another opinion, and not gospel.

There are thousands of satisfied RV owners with rigs rated "unacceptable" by the RVCG.

I receive my best info from owners.

Haven't read the study, but here is our real-world experience for what that is worth.

We have been full-timing in our TS Express 36RLTSO since we bought it new in '99. Our first tow vehicle was a 3/4 ton Dodge V-10 auto. The trailer was really too much for that truck, but it was what we could afford at the time. With that truck the towability was iffy at best. It always felt that the trailer was "pushing" the truck. Especially on tight curves like cloverleafs getting onto the freeway. Now fast-forward to '03 when we upgraded the tow vehicle to a one ton Dodge dually diesel 6-speed. Same trailer, same weight, but night and day difference in towability. With this truck I feel in complete control in any situation. When we get in tight curves, the truck is leading the trailer, not the trailer pushing the truck.

I don't know what the study used for a tow vehicle, but I would not be afraid of any TS with a one-ton dually or bigger. Single rear trucks would be a different story. Sure, they may be rated for the weight, but I think the extra tires on the rear axle make all the difference in the world.

Good luck and safe travels......
Steve

Thanks to all who have offered input...So far I have relearned the ole adage 'believe nothing you read and half of what you see'...I will use Consumer Group RV comparison guide as just that...a guide and continue to ask folks like you'all the question 'what's up with that' when need be...Thanks a bunch..."I'll be back"
Cliff