Wood Cabinet Doors

We are in the market for a Camplite trailer, and are leaning towards the 16BHB.  I called the factory today to ask a few questions, and man did I get some answers.  The 16BHB floor plan is being changed to look more like the 13BHB with the bath at the back of the trailer.  In addition, the black exterior package, combo LP and electric hot water heater, blank tank flush kit and 4" x 4" bumper will supposedly now be standard.

However, the big bombshell was a change to using wood cabinet doors similar to those used in other trailers.  The driver of the change was customer preference.  Also, it saves a lot of money per door.  So the cost savings will allow for the new standard features at a lower overall price.

I like the new floor plan (I think), but I'm not sure how I feel about the cabinets.  I will wait to see pictures before I order anything.

[leslie]

Perhaps with Scott leaving, Camplites will be manufactured like other RVs.  Too bad. I prefer my aluminum cabinets. Camplites won't be special. Quality will be lower.

[pinstriper]

Maybe if you special order it, they can make the frame steel, and the walls out of fiberglass over plywood.

[whoofit]

Are they really wood or some type of particle board? I like the 4x4 bumper. I like the rear bath. A nicely done true maple millwork on the doors could look good. I wonder if the bathroom door will also be glossy tiger stripe maple?

[shovelhead]

Blasphemy.....

[whoofit]

[quote source="/post/14180/thread" timestamp="1439553771" author="@shovelhead"]Blasphemy..... [/quote]Now I don't feel so bad about my [strong]Genuine Wooden[/strong] charging shelf! I am a trend setter.

Echo that Shovelhead.  It looks like for some models the "all aluminum" description will be changed to "all aluminum, except for . . . ."  Hope this isn't the beginning of more changes to come just to save a buck.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Interesting development. [/font][font size="3"]These all are good indications that LL is listening to and responding to their customers. [/font][font size="3"]When I ordered my 2014 21RBS in late 2013 the dual mode WH, black tank flusher, and 4" square bumper were not even offered as options. The chief engineer even pushed back on the flusher due to "customer dissatisfaction issues". I supplied a drawing of exactly how I wanted the bumper to be built. When I got the trailer they had implemented all my requests beautifully.

Re the cabinets, I too prefer the aluminum doors for weight, but wood would cure the sharp corner problem. If they are, in fact, real wood and they retain some positive locking mechanism, they would be acceptable. 

The real interesting questions will be what will they do with the exterior surfaces and roof and how will they respond to customization requests. The announced Ford branded TT/TH lines with fiberglass walls and rubber roofs sound like a troubling trend. And I hope the big corporate bean counters don't squash LL's willingness to work with a customer's individual requests, but time will tell.
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[shovelhead]

Fix all the current issues and we as campers wouldn't need to perform our "Mods". i.e. flooring, front door steps, etc... etc...

[whoofit]

Maybe Christian and/or Taylor can fill us in on the details. I gather they are privy to the real wood vs particle board question as well as if the bathroom door will match the rest of the cabinetry. I assume they are from Marketing?

[charliem]

[font size="3"]One more thought on "no wood". IMHO, some wood in cabinet facing is not so terrible, but it does weigh more. The real problem with wood is in the walls, ceiling, and floor where it is hidden from daily view. When a leak develops, as it must in any moving trailer, hidden wood will rot until it requires major effort/cost to repair. That's the major problem LL has, or had, addressed. Let's hope that doesn't change. I have nightmares that LL announces they've fixed the cold floors with a plywood sandwich.
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[whoofit]

As you know, only some "woods" are not the best choice for wet locations. The better varieties tend to be costly and heavy. I'd take a Mahogany floor for instance. No plywood sandwiches, I agree. Zero particle board is a requirement even in my home.

I've swiped my cabinets and walls in the TT pretty hard loading and living in there with no scratches and dents in the Adzel. I love this stuff...

I have a hard time believing the new cabinetry will be milled maple at a cost savings unless today's existing cellular manufacturing techniques are underdeveloped. I suspect the cost savings is more related to market share and being absorbed into a higher corporation.

[leslie]

It was the "all aluminum" description that sold my husband and I on the Camplite. We have seen many trailers where even fine wood cabinet doors had some warping, and of course we saw water damage on wood. Granted, the interior is not luxurious, as compared to, say, the Airstream, but we will not be replacing interior items due to rust or rot.

If this is the direction of Camplites for the future, then I see no advantage of Camplites over the rest of the trailers on the market. And to think that I was not happy when I discovered that there was a wood core in the entry door!

[djsamuel]

I wouldn't have paid the extra money for the Camplite 21BHS if it had normal cabinet doors.  The lack of wood as well as the latches helped sell us as well as the lack of wood floor and overall construction.

[whoofit]

The additional features at a lower cost is great news. No matter my preference in cabinet type I'm sure the looks of the new cabinets is warmer and more eye pleasing. Eye pleasing is one of the major gripes I've read about online in other blogs and forums.

I'm not sure I'd have chosen differently in brand if the CL's had wood cabinetry. I'll never need to know as this trailer is supposed to be the last one we'll ever need to purchase. Re-facing the cabinets would be pretty simple though costly.