Full Timing in 315RLTS vs 337RLS

[caterpillar345]

Hi all,
As mentioned in my Welcome Mat post, I am a civil engineer and soon to be living full time on a remote construction project. Based on the lack of other housing options, I decided that a TT or 5W made the most sense for my full-time living arrangement. Hoping to get some insight before purchasing in the next couple weeks.

Use details:
This trailer would spend most of it's life in the Pacific Northwest-ish (i.e. not living in the oil fields of ND). The trailer is going to spend most of the time over the next 2-5 years parked to live in rather than on the road moving between campgrounds. I'm the only one who will be using it regularly (single late-20's male). I believe I have enough pickup (see signature) to tow a decent sized trailer. Tow capacity is 13,500 lbs and payload is 2,640 lbs. I have plenty of experience towing bumper pull and gooseneck trailers with equipment but haven't towed a 5W before. My truck has a B&W turnover ball and a B&W companion 5th wheel hitch so I can tow whichever I end up going with.

Since it will be my full-time home, the two most important factors to me are kitchen (counter) space and having a decent four-seasons package because it will get used all winter. This really narrowed my options, especially the counter space!

My search so far has led me to the Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS and the 337RLS. Or possibly an Arctic Fox 29RK TT or Grand Ronde 5W.

First a general question - has anyone had any experience with or seriously considered an Arctic Fox TT or 5W? Know how they might compare for full-timing and four-season living?

Second - I'm really torn between the 315 and 337, likely in the 2022 model year. Both are available new at a dealer near me and should be deeply discounted at this time (end of 2022). Currently the 337 is about $8k more. They appear to be nearly identical floor plans. I understand that almost everyone who has towed both prefers a 5W. However, I expect this trailer is going to spend most of its life parked and only towed maybe once or twice a year. The biggest advantage I see to the TT is being able to keep my bed space. Biggest advantage to the 5W is the additional storage space and a little roomier inside (which is more air to heat in the winter...).

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to hearing your experiences!

 

[Redapple63]

Hi all,
As mentioned in my Welcome Mat post, I am a civil engineer and soon to be living full time on a remote construction project. Based on the lack of other housing options, I decided that a TT or 5W made the most sense for my full-time living arrangement. Hoping to get some insight before purchasing in the next couple weeks.

Use details:
This trailer would spend most of it's life in the Pacific Northwest-ish (i.e. not living in the oil fields of ND). The trailer is going to spend most of the time over the next 2-5 years parked to live in rather than on the road moving between campgrounds. I'm the only one who will be using it regularly (single late-20's male). I believe I have enough pickup (see signature) to tow a decent sized trailer. Tow capacity is 13,500 lbs and payload is 2,640 lbs. I have plenty of experience towing bumper pull and gooseneck trailers with equipment but haven't towed a 5W before. My truck has a B&W turnover ball and a B&W companion 5th wheel hitch so I can tow whichever I end up going with.

Since it will be my full-time home, the two most important factors to me are kitchen (counter) space and having a decent four-seasons package because it will get used all winter. This really narrowed my options, especially the counter space!

My search so far has led me to the Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS and the 337RLS. Or possibly an Arctic Fox 29RK TT or Grand Ronde 5W.

First a general question - has anyone had any experience with or seriously considered an Arctic Fox TT or 5W? Know how they might compare for full-timing and four-season living?

Second - I'm really torn between the 315 and 337, likely in the 2022 model year. Both are available new at a dealer near me and should be deeply discounted at this time (end of 2022). Currently the 337 is about $8k more. They appear to be nearly identical floor plans. I understand that almost everyone who has towed both prefers a 5W. However, I expect this trailer is going to spend most of its life parked and only towed maybe once or twice a year. The biggest advantage I see to the TT is being able to keep my bed space. Biggest advantage to the 5W is the additional storage space and a little roomier inside (which is more air to heat in the winter...).

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to hearing your experiences!

Good Morning,

I think you nailed the differences between the 315 and 337, they are in fact identical floor plans. We have the 315 and love it. You are right that the ceiling is a bit low in the 337, but a minor adjustment.

Even as a stationary place the storage of the 337 does make it easier to full time and get rid of the natural clutter that goes with the lifestyle of limited storage. You need to decide if the storage is worth the additional 8k.

Good Luck and please let us know which direction you decide!

Bill

 

[KY Gentleman Farmer]

Welcome to the forum ... sounds like a fun long-term work project, preceded by a fun long-term accommodations research analysis. Assuming your employer is paying for your lodging expenses, you'll end the job with a gently used tt/rv all for yourself ... nice little bonus! I'm not going to be able to provide comparison info like Bill did, really just more interested in which one you choose. I read a real estate book a while ago, which wrote about how people go about deciding which house to buy. Talked about how engineers especially will try to quantify every criteria and calculate a total score for each house, and then purport to use that as the basis on which to choose the "best" house. The author concluded that the most successful (long-term) home purchasers do lots of analysis as well, but then end up making their decision based on which house just "felt right."

All that said, Darcy and I own a 2020 315RLTS and spend 3 months living in it down in sunny FLA every winter. We're for sure not tt/rv experts, but have been delighted with our trailer. Provides all the comforts of home, with an efficient, well-conceived design, reliable components, and high quality construction, if the folks on this forum are to be believed.

Do come back and let us know what you decide, along with the deciding factor. Have fun!

 

[Steven@147]

Good Morning,

I think you nailed the differences between the 315 and 337, they are in fact identical floor plans. We have the 315 and love it. You are right that the ceiling is a bit low in the 337, but a minor adjustment.

Even as a stationary place the storage of the 337 does make it easier to full time and get rid of the natural clutter that goes with the lifestyle of limited storage. You need to decide if the storage is worth the additional 8k.

Good Luck and please let us know which direction you decide!

Bill

The 315 and 337 as said, are the same floor plan really and our Solitude 3350RL (no longer made) is the same plan, just a little bigger and a little better insulated, but not that much when talking about Northwest winters. The 337 was on our radar but the Solitude we bought had just that much more. A 5th wheel does provide more head room and storage but do you really have a lot to store? All the so called four season packages are fluff, so dead winter camping especially in the Northwest, keeping the unit warm I think is your primary factor. Skirting the bottom of the trailer will pay big dividends keeping the trailer warm in the winter and good windows like double pane makes a difference in winter and summer. The 315 would be a little easier skirting that than the 337.
Don't worry about towing, it's not really that different than towing any other trailer, except for height, but yes towing a 5th wheel verses a TT is indeed different. Sorry i don't know anything about Artic Fox.

Just my .02

 

[Second Chance]

Late to the game, here - sorry. The 337, when loaded, can put between 2,700 and 3,100 lbs. on the pin. Your stated payload is not enough for that fiver. Whatever you do - GD or not - make sure you get dual pane windows.

Rob

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Late to the game, here - sorry. The 337, when loaded, can put between 2,700 and 3,100 lbs. on the pin. Your stated payload is not enough for that fiver. Whatever you do - GD or not - make sure you get dual pane windows.

Rob

+1 on the dual pane windows!

 

[caterpillar345]

Late to the game, here - sorry. The 337, when loaded, can put between 2,700 and 3,100 lbs. on the pin. Your stated payload is not enough for that fiver. Whatever you do - GD or not - make sure you get dual pane windows.

Rob

Noted on the 337 pin weight. I'll have to play around with loading the trailer and how that affects the pin weight. And probably not haul it fully loaded. Good time to go use the CAT scale!

 

[caterpillar345]

[MENTION=8842]Steven@147[/MENTION]
Thanks for the input. Unfortunately it's not in the cards to order a new trailer from the factory and none of the new trailers on lots have dual pane windows. The dealers tell me that more people have issues with them fogging because road vibration allows condensation inside. I'll have to figure out my own solution for insulating the windows in the summer/winter.

Definitely will be looking into skirting. I'd love to get one from Custom Skirting but I don't really want to pull the trailer to South Dakota to do it.

 

[caterpillar345]

[MENTION=31971]KY Gentleman Farmer[/MENTION]

assuming your employer is paying for your lodging expenses, you'll end the job with a gently used tt/rv all for yourself ... nice little bonus!

You got it! That's the idea anyway. I don't know about "gently" used - since I'll be living in it full time. But I guess I have full control over how well I treat it!

Talked about how engineers especially will try to quantify every criteria and calculate a total score for each house, and then purport to use that as the basis on which to choose the "best" house.

I resemble that remark... it didn't take very long into my RV research to realize I couldn't keep the model numbers, weights, and floorplans straight... so with about a thousand browser tabs open, I fired up Excel and began hammering out a comparison spreadsheet for key information and, yes, a weighted scoring system for the "subjective" data. The subjective data was bedroom space, kitchen space, living area space, and price. I scored each trailer I considered and then I could sort the list by whatever measure I chose.

The author concluded that the most successful (long-term) home purchasers do lots of analysis as well, but then end up making their decision based on which house just "felt right."

Surprisingly, this seems to be how it went. I figured the data analysis method would just lead me to the "best" one, by the numbers! But at the end of the day, I found myself stuck between the 315 and 337. So I finally went to a dealer who had both trailers, same 2022 model year, and spent about an hour by myself sitting in one, thinking about it, wandering around a little, and then walking over to the other one and doing the same. Also, my initial analysis did not reveal that some RV manufacturer warranties are void if it's used full time (looking at you, Forest River...)!! That is one reason I ended up looking at Grand Design.

At the end of that exercise, I decided the 337 made more sense. I saw a comment somewhere about how having more storage space may be useful, even if the trailer is parked long-term in the same spot. When I really looked at the pass-through storage in each trailer, I decided that whichever way I went, that was ALL the storage I would have at the campground I'd be staying at. If I have a grill or a folding table or my ski gear or whatever, it needs to go somewhere and I won't have a garage! And in a seemingly "stupid" little thing, sitting in the 337 I thought the hanging clear light fixtures would add some nice ambiance to the living area while living there full time. Also, the kitchen counter space is notably larger in the 337 than the 315. The space next to the stove top is nearly a foot wider and the hutch counter is both deeper and wider.

So, the conclusion is that I'm going with the 337RLS. It's a bit on the heavy side for my pickup but I figure I'm not planning to tow it very often (maybe 1x per year or less) so I'll pack carefully to manage the pin weight and make a second trip if necessary.

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm looking forward to being a GD owner!

 

[huntindog]

[MENTION=8842]Steven@147[/MENTION]
Thanks for the input. Unfortunately it's not in the cards to order a new trailer from the factory and none of the new trailers on lots have dual pane windows. The dealers tell me that more people have issues with them fogging because road vibration allows condensation inside. I'll have to figure out my own solution for insulating the windows in the summer/winter.

Definitely will be looking into skirting. I'd love to get one from Custom Skirting but I don't really want to pull the trailer to South Dakota to do it.

Dealers gave me a ton of reasons not to get DP as well....All it meant is they wanted to sell me what they had on hand. This is the first DP window unit we have had... It will NOT be the last. The only downside I see is the initial cost. Once you get over that, you would love them

 

[Second Chance]

Noted on the 337 pin weight. I'll have to play around with loading the trailer and how that affects the pin weight. And probably not haul it fully loaded. Good time to go use the CAT scale!

There's no "playing around" loading the 337. All of the cargo space is forward of the axles. A portion of anything you load in the trailer will go on the pin. That truck/trailer combination is just not suitable.

Rob

 

[Redapple63]

There's no "playing around" loading the 337. All of the cargo space is forward of the axles. A portion of anything you load in the trailer will go on the pin. That truck/trailer combination is just not suitable.

Rob

Gotta agree with Rob here, not enough truck. The pin weight alone exceeds the payload of your truck, however not all is lost. Since you outlined that you would be pretty much stationary for about a year, it is entirely feasible to have the rig delivered to your location. I would highly recommend that. That gives you time to enjoy your current truck and potentially find something suitable for when you are ready to move it.

My 315 has a tongue weight that varies from 1350 to about 1500. As Rob pointed out the fiver has much more pin weight. This is due to the different percentages of pin/tongue weight between tt and a fiver. Trailer is 10-15% while fiver is 20-25% of total weight. Definitely something to keep in mind.

Like I said, I think delivery is a great idea and gives you time to get a truck you can use to enjoy the rig throughout this wonderful country.

Good luck with it!

Bill

 

[Teledoc]

Noted on the 337 pin weight. I'll have to play around with loading the trailer and how that affects the pin weight. And probably not haul it fully loaded. Good time to go use the CAT scale!

I have the 337 and am very close on pin weight loaded when weighed at scales (I use GAWR, GCWR etc that are engineered specs for axle and braking limits, not artificial weight cap set by DOT for Class 2B 3/4 ton truck of 10k. No flame war please). I allow for 3000 lbs max before approaching GAWR, and have measured pin weights moderately loaded of 2800 on average moderate packing for 2 people.
Now, since you will rarely be moving this, I offer two suggestions - 1) You can save a bit of weight by changing to a Reese Goosebox instead of traditional 5th wheel hitch as it is lighter than that and the pin box combined, and 2) You always can load some heavy materials/tools/grill/food/liquids etc in back of the 337 to reduce pin weight on your travel day. Not convenient if moving often, but for a rare move perfectly fine. I usually put some stuff in back anyway to ensure margin on long trips where we are more heavily loaded... .
Having debated both the 337 and 315 myself, I went with the 337 due to the far superior basement space and bit bigger kitchen as you pointed out. For full timing, it is a storage monster.
For winter, the Pacific NW, esp west of the Cascades is fairly moderate. I have used mine in the midwest with temps to 15 without issue - I put some thermometer sensors in the basement and under kitchen floor to monitor from a display in the coach so I can keep track.
If above 32, I use electric heat (fireplace plus extra electric heater if needed) to save money since electric part of campground fee, but if temps going below freezing I make sure the furnace runs as that is the main heat source underneath rig/basement. Enjoy the rig - all the 337 owners I have met loved theirs!

 

[Ramand337]

Great suggestions and insight. I'll add a few comments.

1. If you're going to be pulling in a mountainous area, which you probably are, I would have someone move the 5er to your site for you. If you had to move locally, your truck should handle that.
2. In lieu of double pane windows you can get a film at Home Depot that you can put on the frame covering the window and heat shrink to remove wrinkles. Did this on my last 5er in subzero weather. Removed the film in the spring. Made a huge difference.
3. I purchased a 6x6 area rug to put in front of the fire place. Beneath it is a non slip insulated pad and a rug heater. Heats up quickly on those cold mornings and adds to the general heat of the unit.
4. Replace the sink and fixture in the bathroom to one that is of a usable size. I also replaced the kitchen sink in mine with a double.
I have done many "upgrades" and love the 337RLS. We are full time, 6 months at our property in Southern Utah, 5 months in Yuma, AZ and 1 month being a gypsy.

Enjoy the lifestyle, even though you still have to work.

 

[Grandstander]

I am also looking at these two choices. What I don’t like is the raised floor in the 315’s bedroom closet. I think this would make adding a washer and dryer a pain to get to losing ceiling height? I will be ordering a Dually 1 ton soon so not worried about the pin weight differences.

 

[Redapple63]

I am also looking at these two choices. What I don’t like is the raised floor in the 315’s bedroom closet. I think this would make adding a washer and dryer a pain to get to losing ceiling height? I will be ordering a Dually 1 ton soon so not worried about the pin weight differences.

Very understandable. The 315 does make allowances to install the washer on the street side and the dryer on the curb side to keep from literally stacking floor to ceiling, but it is a tight fit no matter what. We opted to not install a w/d at all. May be a game changer for us when we do longer trips.

If you have the truck, the 337 is better for mobility. For us the 315 works because it is just the two of us and we really travel pretty light. My knees are blown and my wife’s back is a sheer mess, so one less set of steps weighed heavily on our decision.

Bill

 

[Grandstander]

Very understandable. The 315 does make allowances to install the washer on the street side and the dryer on the curb side to keep from literally stacking floor to ceiling, but it is a tight fit no matter what. We opted to not install a w/d at all. May be a game changer for us when we do longer trips.

If you have the truck, the 337 is better for mobility. For us the 315 works because it is just the two of us and we really travel pretty light. My knees are blown and my wife’s back is a sheer mess, so one less set of steps weighed heavily on our decision.

Bill

Makes sense thank you. My wife and I are also at the age of back and knee issues, so that is a great point for sure.

 

[KollerKruizin906]

Greetings
My wife and I went through the same comparison in 2020 prior to going full-time. We went with the 337 and very grateful we did. You’ve been provided some very insightful offerings and after wintering in the NE these past 3 years, including this last Arctic blast where our outside temps bottomed out at -24.
1. Get the skirt. With the gooseneck area enclosed it creates a easily accessible storage area/garage. There maybe a maker in WA or ID so going to SD may not be necessary. The tube skirt option was a non-starter for us.
2. The kitchen area counter space will work very well for you as we cook 90% of our meals and the stove and island space makes it work.
3. The black out shades with fitted reflexit secured by Velcro in the windows definitely cuts down on the cold. I’m also using the plastic window shrink wrap on a couple windows for comparison.
4. Agree that you don’t have enough truck as our 3500 is below but very close to the weight/load limits.
5. You’ll definitely appreciate the higher ceiling in the living area. Shower is spacious and depending on your height the bedroom is comfortable and can accommodate a king size bed.
6. Get a external 100 gallon propane tank. Otherwise, you’ll be refilling your twin 30#’s twice a week when the sustained cold temps.
7. 750/1500 watt electric space heaters are great. We run 2 on low along with the fireplace which has kept the interior comfortable even in the height of this last freeze. Keep the 2 on low as on high you’ll pop the outlet breaker. We cycle on the furnace a couple times during the day to keep the belly/tanks/lines warm. And, have the furnace as primary at night. Bluetooth temp sensors I installed help me keep eyes on the temps.
8. I have a rear mounted carrier that has a 300lb capacity. Use this when traveling to disperse the weight. Also, now use this as a storage shelf tucked into the skirt garage.
9. Side suggestions: have a heated hose for the cold temps. Have a couple strands of electric cable to wrap around the hose if it fails. You’ll also want to use a run of it on your water regulator. Park your trailer tires on a 1/4” or 1/2” rubber matt. I bought a horse stall rubber pad from Tractor Supply and cut it into 4’s and place a cut under each tire. Seems to help preserve the base of the ground side tire. And, yes, you should about doing a 1/4 turn of your tires every 3 months or so.
Hope this helps.
Enjoy!

 

[RoscoeTX]

We have a 2023 337RLS FW and my sister has a 2023 315RLTS TT and both floor plans are nearly identical. Differences we have noted are:
- The TT has an additional clothes closet with drawers in the bedroom but has a less floor storage in the main closet (due to the storage bay being under the closet).
- The TT has a storage cabinet about the headboard of the bed and the side windows in the slide are taller.
- The FW has about a food more floor space between the island and the rear of the trailer.
- The FW has an additional storage space above the theater seats.
- The FW storage bay is huge, many times larger. Plus there is additional front storage bay.
- Pantries are about the same.
- Counter space next to the FW stove is bigger and the FW has a better cooktop separate oven.
- Refrigerators are the same.
- TV is the same but the entertainment center layout is different.
- TT has a skylight above the island, FW has pendant lights.
- The 2023 TT has GE A/C, the 2023 FW had Coleman A/C. Furnace and water heaters are the same in both.
- Propane bottles are the same on both.
- Automatic leveling on the FW, manual electric on the TT.

If you are already set up to tow a 5th wheel, I believe the 337RLS would serve you better due to the many times larger storage bay space. As far as the interior layout goes, they are practically equal. The 5th wheel is easier to tow and hook up, but the TT allows you to have more stuff in the bed of your truck while towing.

I believe you will have no problem towing either rig with your truck. We tow with a 1 ton single wheel diesel truck, my brother in law uses a 3/4 ton gas truck and they both work great.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

[MENTION=52090]caterpillar345[/MENTION]

Good choice on the 337RLS 5er.... we love our 2019! There's lots of mods you can do to it like lighting, plumbing, electrical, etc... one of the first things I suggest is have the dealer install slide toppers and ceiling vent covers before you pick it up. One easy mod you can do yourself is replacing the dual handle faucet on the bathroom sink with a single lever faucet. You can pick one up for around $50, it makes it easier to get your hands under the faucet.