Disappointed

[gbpack]

Yes, it's too bad they are not offering the 28 footers any longer. Also, the wood they have introduced into the new models is minor and merely for asthetic reasons. It's just the doors and the front facing part of the cabinets, and it's highly unlikely that those parts would be damaged if water were to get into the camper. The framing for the cabinets is still the same (aluminum). The camper we just purchased (CampLite 21BHS) is basically the same camper as the previous ones, and still a solid, quality product. All campers (all makes and models) eventually will have some water get into them at some point, regardless of how well it is made or what you pay for it. There are a lot of places that water can get into a camping trailer, so it's great that the CampLite's are still being built the same way they always have so that the water won't damage anything. While it would be great if they still offered aluminum-faced cabinets, it is a minor amount of wood being used for the cabinet faces and that should not present a problem.
Gregg

[david]

Hmmm! Why did they discontinue the 28s? Was it because the bean counters figured out that they couldn't make money on them. Maybe.

I have another theory. A 28' travel trailer needs a WDH, hands down. Well maybe if you are towing with an F350 dually you can get by without one, but otherwise no.

Camplite has a firm policy of not recommending WDH's. Why? Because the coupler can bend and if the trunion arms are tightened down and the owner goes over a big dip, it can also bend the aluminum frame.

So, it was easier and safer (from a liability standpoint) to discontinue the 28.

That is unfortunate because some good engineering (like lower bolts on the coupler) and maybe aluminum doublers on the front of the frame, could have eliminated the bending risk.

David

[pinstriper]

Yeah, I think they got to the point of realizing that 28' was just not compatible with aluminum frame - or rather, that the envelope was much smaller and the problems bigger.

GB also has it right - it is still WAAAAAAAAAY better than conventional RV contruction, vis-a-vis wood rot opportunities.

I'm more concerned about the move to single axles.

[drdave]

Having seen the wood cabinets at the Hershey show I can confirm they are well made.  Just the doors are "wood" but still have an aluminum frame.   and azdel/aluminum sides bottoms.  

[craigd]

Another plus for the aluminum doors is the locking mechanism those doors do not come open during travel. I have driven over 10,000 miles with my 14 DBS and have never had anything on the floor upon arrival to my destination and have driven over some pretty rough roads.

[ammobob]

Not to beat this into the ground but, for those still looking the Bearcat line still offers the aluminum doors and more industrial look in the 21 foot models. They are not well publicized on their website but we have members who have bought them and they are available. Suspect you can order them also. Bearcat not Camplite and they are not the toy haulers as the Bearcat line was originally. They are just like the Camplite but no wood doors. Search this forum for Beatcat 21BHS and you will see the thread with dealers who have them.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/17378/thread" author="@ammobob" timestamp="1451483678"]Not to beat this into the ground but, for those still looking the Bearcat line still offers the aluminum doors and more industrial look in the 21 foot models. They are not well publicized on their website but we have members who have bought them and they are available. Suspect you can order them also. Bearcat not Camplite and they are not the toy haulers as the Bearcat line was originally. They are just like the Camplite but no wood doors. Search this forum for Beatcat 21BHS and you will see the thread with dealers who have them.
[/quote][font size="3"]Ammo et al,

Apparently this was a one time, one dealer, no longer available deal. On Dec 28 ChristianM posted:
[/font]
OK! Sorry for the delay in answer- here is what I was able to find out!

The Bearcat 21 BHS is not the website, because it is not available for regular order/production. The Bearcat 21 BHS was a limited-edition, special order; commissioned specifically by American RV in Oregon. Not sure how many were made, but it was very few and they are not currently available for reorder from the factory.

The Bearcat 21 BHS is just one of Bearcats floorplans, though. You can still purchase traditional Bearcat pop up, travel trailer or toy hauler floor plans through any Bearcat dealer.

Hope this helps!

Christian

[ammobob]

Crap am I behind the times and completely missed that one. Thanks for correcting me Charlie and that being said I wonder how bad it will get with LL. Have to imagine that Scott is disappointed to say the least. Of course her line below would indicate that you could still get the 21 BHS travel trailer through a Bearcat dealer. She says it was a special order and not available to order from the factory but, then goes on to say;

"The Bearcat 21 BHS is just one of Bearcats floorplans, though. You can still purchase traditional Bearcat pop up, travel trailer or toy hauler floor plans through any Bearcat dealer".

Hope this helps!

Christian

this would indicate to me that it is still available unless she mis-spoke.

[charliem]

[quote timestamp="1451486078" author="@ammobob" source="/post/17380/thread"]
"The Bearcat 21 BHS is just one of Bearcats floorplans, though. You can still purchase traditional Bearcat pop up, travel trailer or toy hauler floor plans through any Bearcat dealer".

Hope this helps!

Christian

this would indicate to me that it is still available unless she mis-spoke.[/quote][font size="3"]My guess is no, but who's keeping score? There may be some residual on dealers' lots, but not new production. It seems LL (Thor) is going after a completely different market. Re the Ford products: Heavy, wide, tall, rubber roofs, etc. I recently toured the Lance factory and quickly found: "You take it like we build it. If you want anything different you go somewhere else. If you modify it you void the warranty." Then they (the production manager) knocked their users' forum as a bunch of malcontents. That attitude toward customers says a lot. That said, Lance builds a very good product, but it ain't Burger King. I see Thor moving LL in a similar direction.[/font]

[spot1]

Jason,

This dealer has a CampLite 28 BHS on the lot at a discounted price. Suspect a few other dealers may have one, too!

http://www.leosrv.com/product-livin-lite/camplite-travel-trailer/cl-28bhs

[christianm]

[quote source="/post/17385/thread" timestamp="1451502610" author="Jason"][div][/div]Livinlite, if you're listening, potential customers like the Camplite brand for the aluminum and lack of wood.

Aluminum cabinets and faces, bare aluminum floors, and aluminum interior walls should be an option. [/quote]Hi Jason :-) 

Christian from Livin Lite here. We are listening! 
 
Over the past 2 months, I have met/spoken with our CFO, General Manager and Livin Lite sales reps to relay what I am hearing on this forum. I'm not sure what changes have or will be made to the product...but know this: 

I was hired specifically to be the "voice" of the owners and consumers to our upper management, to take what you guys are saying and feeling to the guys that make the decisions. It might not be a perfect process yet, but know that responsibility is something I take very seriously. :-) 

I can't promise or predict what they will do with the information...but know that it IS getting to them. You are being heard.


Thanks for joining this forum and for giving us your honest opinion!


Christian  

[djsamuel]

[quote timestamp="1452105647" author="@christianm" source="/post/17536/thread"][quote timestamp="1451502610" author="Jason" source="/post/17385/thread"][div][/div][div][/div]Livinlite, if you're listening, potential customers like the Camplite brand for the aluminum and lack of wood.

Aluminum cabinets and faces, bare aluminum floors, and aluminum interior walls should be an option. [/quote]Hi Jason :-) 

Christian from Livin Lite here. We are listening! 
 
Over the past 2 months, I have met/spoken with our CFO, General Manager and Livin Lite sales reps to relay what I am hearing on this forum. I'm not sure what changes have or will be made to the product...but know this: 

I was hired specifically to be the "voice" of the owners and consumers to our upper management, to take what you guys are saying and feeling to the guys that make the decisions. It might not be a perfect process yet, but know that responsibility is something I take very seriously. :-) 

I can't promise or predict what they will do with the information...but know that it IS getting to them. You are being heard.


Thanks for joining this forum and for giving us your honest opinion!


Christian  [/quote]This alone is great to hear.  At least decisions won't be made in a vacuum. Thanks. 

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Christian,

It's good to hear you and we have a vote. Unfortunately the bean counters have a thousand votes. Keep up the good work.
[/font]

[furpod]

Wife and I were just on this subject at lunch. I would hope the results of the poll about the cabinets would get shown to whoever made that decision.. 1 person, ONE, of owners and prospective owners, voted for those new cabinets and doors.  

[swbc150]

I'm seeing this on some of the other forums I visit, non-travel trailer forums. All complaints were about the aluminum cabinet doors and they told the dealers they would pass on a purchase. They felt the wooden look made the inside look more updated, guess THOR is taking the news from its dealers. If you place a special order, you should at least have the option to go with the look you want but that may not be cost effective.