28BHS - Feedback please?

[whoofit]

[quote source="/post/15316/thread" timestamp="1442517150" author="@thedusty"][quote source="/post/15301/thread" timestamp="1442492366" author="@whoofit"][p]Christianm is a member here. She works for LL. She has stated the factory is open for special orders but the delay will be longer than normal if they agree to the customizations. There has been no official word about ordering Azdel or Aluminum in place of the wood cabinetry. I'd be especially sure of the other dealers ability to offer a guaranty of a "No Wood Trailer" as you described in your initial post. Being so late in the season you would probably be OK with that longer than normal lead time for special orders? [/p][p]
[/p][p]The 2015 should already be "No Wood" I gather?[/p][p]
[/p][p]I chopped my sofa up and built a dinette out of it. I only have the 16DB. Like Merlin said above I don't know if the 16 and 28 sofas are the same or not. The 16 sofa was terrible..
[/p][/quote]The dealer (and Camplite - I called their HQ) is saying the frame will still remain aluminum but the cabinets will have some sort of wood covering with the goal of making it look less garage-like.

I'm ok with getting it whenever.  I want the best price I can get...I am a negotiating machine....and if I can do that while getting a few things customized...then I'm happy to wait.  If I get one, I plan on keeping it for some time.

[/quote]
We knew the cabinet frames were still going to be Al but didn't know if they would offer, as custom, the Azdel or Al instead of wood. Any chance you asked them? It sounds like you have come across some aggressive pricing. Good times!

[thedusty]

[quote source="/post/15320/thread" timestamp="1442523183" author="@whoofit"][quote source="/post/15316/thread" timestamp="1442517150" author="@thedusty"]The dealer (and Camplite - I called their HQ) is saying the frame will still remain aluminum but the cabinets will have some sort of wood covering with the goal of making it look less garage-like.

I'm ok with getting it whenever.  I want the best price I can get...I am a negotiating machine....and if I can do that while getting a few things customized...then I'm happy to wait.  If I get one, I plan on keeping it for some time.

[/quote]We knew the cabinet frames were still going to be Al but didn't know if they would offer, as custom, the Azdel or Al instead of wood. Any chance you asked them? It sounds like you have come across some aggressive pricing. Good times!
[/quote]I'm not sure on the options for the cabinets yet.  I was hoping to hear from the Camplite sales rep for my region today but no luck so far.  

As far as pricing, I just email or call dealer after dealer until I get a sense of the floor price.  Then...I see who is willing to throw other things in along with their best price to close the deal.  Negotiations are fun to me for some twisted reason.  Once I get the price sorted out, I go see them in person.

[jasper]

Hello Everyone,

First post.. I am looking for a 14 or 16 DBS for next summer. I called the factory a few days ago and also asked about the cabinets going forward as I really want an industrial look. They are planning to offer the "Bearcat" package on all Camplite trailers (maybe not the 28' but I don't know). He had said the engineers still had to revise the drawings of most models but is coming. But theses will still come standard with the non wood cabinets and remain more "utility" looking (from what he said). He said they are really busy for customization (Spring 2016 or later delivery but still waiting to hear back). The only customization I asked for he said maybe will be a problem is aluminum walls so maybe try for white Azdel on the walls. Maybe the best thing to do if you want the full alum. cabinets is to get a "Bearcat" option and not put the off road tires on. Don't quote me on any of this but its what I understand from talking to the factory.

[leslie]

I just visited http://www.livinlite.com and the website still says all-aluminum, and no wood, no rot. If livinlite will be honest with future customers, that website needs to be revised.

[thedusty]

I just visited http://www.livinlite.com and the website still says all-aluminum, and no wood, no rot. If livinlite will be honest with future customers, that website needs to be revised.

From what I understand by talking to the dealer and the factory rep, all the framing will still be aluminum but you can get the cabinets with a wood covering. Apparently there were a lot of requests to give the travel trailers less of a garage/airplane look with the exposed aluminum. So any wood used would be visible. It shouldn't be too bad. The dealer I spoke with is the biggest sellers in Texas and was pushing for them to change the interior cosmetics some by giving the cabinets a more residential appearance.  I'm cautiously optimistic.  

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/15353/thread" timestamp="1442611326" author="@thedusty"]Apparently there were a lot of requests to give the travel trailers less of a garage/airplane look with the exposed aluminum. So any wood used would be visible. It shouldn't be too bad. The dealer I spoke with is the biggest sellers in Texas and was pushing for them to change the interior cosmetics some by giving the cabinets a more residential appearance.  I'm cautiously optimistic.  [/quote]The part they're missing is that these requests are from potential customers. All of their existing customers bought them with the azdel/aluminum cabinets (some specifically because of it). I think they'll just be switching from one target audience to another (one that's way more competitive).

[whoofit]

[p]This is a smart move by LL.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Any current owners of the Azdel and Al outfitted are still potential customers for future purchases. I highly doubt that any present customer that purchased a LL based solely upon the structural integrity of Al vs wood would think twice about giving that up with it having hardwood cabinetry only. Maybe the weight weenies, and I use that term affectionately because I am one, would?

I see the merits of showing a warmer trailer on the lot to the Mrs. and still allowing the Mr. to feel good about his gorilla tough purchase. To this there is still [strong]no competition[/strong]. I hope this does not come across as sexist.

 I am only at a loss to properly interpret what should be standard vs custom. Emotions are probably getting in the way... [/p][p]
[/p][p]I much prefer Space Shuttle or Ambulance versus Garage when describing the look. And I can't help but wonder how many of us present owners have chosen the old school CL type cabinetry in our homes too? Anyone have Aluminum box cabinetry in their kitchens? How do you think an entire kitchen outfitted in Al box cabinetry with no other fascia would be received when house was put up for sale on the MLS? This is what dealers and LL are combatting.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Maybe a poll is in order...I think the larger the trailer the more that hardwood cabinetry would be welcomed in my decision. I feel 21' and up. Wood doors sticking out in the smaller units would be more noticeable and intrusive.[/p]

[whitefish]

I don't know if you have pulled the trigger yet on your CampLite  but wanted to let you know about our 28BHS. We purchased a 2015 one year ago and are loving it.  We upgraded to a TT after having a Quicksilver for 2 years.  Most trips it is just me, my husband and our toddler so there is plenty of room. On occasion my step-daughter joins us and the 2nd bunk comes in handy. We have never used the jack-knife bed in the sofa so I can't comment on that, but the sofa support is fine for seating.
We have tons of storage and coming from a pop-up I was used to maximizing space anyway.

We drove to East Texas from the Nashville area to get a great deal. Because we were current Livin' Lite owners we knew the quality and we're comfortable purchasing sight unseen.  We foresee this being our last RV purchase for a while. The 28BHS will be all the camper we need until retirement and going to full-time RV'ing.

[thedusty]

[quote source="/post/15902/thread" timestamp="1444320052" author="@slphelps327"]I don't know if you have pulled the trigger yet on your CampLite  but wanted to let you know about our 28BHS. We purchased a 2015 one year ago and are loving it.  We upgraded to a TT after having a Quicksilver for 2 years.  Most trips it is just me, my husband and our toddler so there is plenty of room. On occasion my step-daughter joins us and the 2nd bunk comes in handy. We have never used the jack-knife bed in the sofa so I can't comment on that, but the sofa support is fine for seating.
We have tons of storage and coming from a pop-up I was used to maximizing space anyway.

We drove to East Texas from the Nashville area to get a great deal. Because we were current Livin' Lite owners we knew the quality and we're comfortable purchasing sight unseen.  We foresee this being our last RV purchase for a while. The 28BHS will be all the camper we need until retirement and going to full-time RV'ing.

[/quote]Thank you for the feedback.  


I live in Texas.  What dealer did you go to and buy the 28BHS?  

I've been heavily considering getting the 21BHS lately because I'd like to take some long trips and started to wonder if smaller/shorter would be better.  

[whitefish]

[quote source="/post/15906/thread" timestamp="1444322490" author="@thedusty"]Thank you for the feedback.  


I live in Texas.  What dealer did you go to and buy the 28BHS?  

I've been heavily considering getting the 21BHS lately because I'd like to take some long trips and started to wonder if smaller/shorter would be better.

  We purchased from Go Play RV Center in Flint, TX. He had just become a Livin' Lite dealer and had one 28BHS that was exactly what we wanted. My husband negotiated a very good deal that made it worth it to get the 28 vs. the 21. There were a couple of features that made me want the bigger model.

The 28 has a pantry and a linen closet. We take several week long trips every year and we eat almost all our meals at the camper. Having the pantry is necessary to me for food/utensil storage. The linen closet has room for all of our towels, sheets, blankets on the bottom section. The top section has a hanging bar that I use for clothes and things I need to keep out of reach of my 4 year old. Between the linen closet and the closet by the Queen bed we have room for all of our clothes. I have fabric bins in the storage area above the Queen bed for socks/pj's/swimsuits/etc. We never have to bring a suitcase which is really nice.

I really like the convenience of the extra sink by the bath area. The one thing I would change if we had ordered is custom is replacing the L-shaped sofa/bed with the U-shaped dinette. We have never used the dinette table due to space restraints. There is a swivel tray attached to the sofa that we use for my toddler. Otherwise we eat all of our meals outside. It would be nice to have the U-shaped dinette for the rare occasions when we have been inside due to weather.

Hope this info helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions. We have made several trips over the last year, hot/cold weather, full hook-up/dry camping. So we have encountered a lot of scenarios![/quote]

[jerrybeaird]

Another good recomendation for Go-Play RV in Flint, TX!  I bought my 21RBS there in Feb of this year.  The owner, Joel, was a pleasure to do business with.  He even went the extra mile to hook the 21RBS to my Tacoma and drove it down the highway to ensure that it would tow just fine.  Good prices too!