Moving On To A Brinkley, But Very Grateful For My Time As A GD Owner

[goducks14]

Like Larry says, whether some of those points are positives or not depends on the customer. But the oversize axle point is interesting. Did they engineer a proper/better mounting to the frame? Is the frame stronger? Better spring design? If it is just same old, same old, then the main weak point of trailers is still there...with heavy duty axles on 1920's leaf spring and mount design that will wear out in 1000 miles and possibly crack the frame, break a leaf, shear a spring bolt...you know...we've read about it hundreds of times.
But if it's different, I'd really be interested.

All good points. They are using Lippert frames so anything can happen.

 

[Ellamare]

We still love our 303, but we are looking for something with room for guests...mostly our 3 1/2 year old grandson. It was narrowed down to the Solitude 378 MBS or the Brinkley Model Z 3610. I really thought we would go full profile with our next rig but the Brinkley is just so beautiful inside and so understated outside. Brinkley will push other manufacturers to raise their game. A friend needs to rid himself of the 3610 he just purchased in November and had towed five miles to a local campground where it still sits. I'm giving him my 303 and cash, and taking the Brinkley off his hands. We are both winners in the deal. Can't wait to hook the Brinkley up to my new to me F450 Platinum (2022, 6500 miles) and hit the road.

Five years in our 303 and we absolutely loved it. We had amazing adventures together. She was our home away from home while exploring the outdoors up and down the West Coast, all through the Mountain West, and throughout the Southwest.

I also really enjoyed this forum. I posted occasionally and kept an eye on it almost daily. I won't be surprised if I find my self back in a GD and on this forum sometime in the future.

Happy camping and safe travels.

love the Brinkley, a little rich for my blood. beautiful unit, enjoy.

 

[JM0397]

We were going to consider that 3610 midbunk model, and convert it to an office & extra closet storage, but I just saw this new model the other day:

https://www.brinkleyrv.com/rvs/fifth-wheels/model-z/3515/

It’s a 310 floor plan, which we love, with an office added on the back, plus W/D hookup and another entry/exit door. This has us very interested for maybe next year. That rear W/D point particularly, as the weight counterbalance might make it okay to pull with my existing SRW 3500 (I really don’t want to get a dually if I don’t have to!).

 

[Spartacus]

Yeah that is a nice one to have.

 

[txloser]

Late to the party here, but you guys have done a great job decorating that that trailer. Really looks nice inside. Sure it’ll be a good trailer for you.

Looking at that trailer, I can tell a couple things I like more than my GD. The furniture is number one. Recliners in the ‘24 Solitude are awful. The back cushions are so huge you sit very far forward to where you legs have little support. I’m a small guy at 5’8”. For a taller person even worse. The couch looks more comfortable too and I like some of the other little nooks, etc.

Paint vs stain… I don’t know what my Solitude has. Maybe stained. Either way, both beat the heck out of laminate cabinets in a $160k Airstream I looked at it recently(wife has a wandering trailer eye). Paint is probably best as it’s easier to touch up.

I’m on the fence about 17.5” coopers and heavier axles. My Solitude has 8k axles and the same tires. Max weight is 15k and I run it a bit north of 14k. Don’t know what that one weighs, but I think I’m over sprung and over tired if there’s such a thing. I’ve been running 105-110 psi to soften it up a bit. Sticker says 123psi. Same as the largest Solitude. The good news is those tires last way longer than Endurance tires. I only see a little wear on mine at 11-12k miles.

Enjoy the new trailer. We may steal some of your decorating techniques.

 

[Steven@147]

We looked at the Brinkley's when they first came out to see what all the fuss was about.
I might be wrong but I remember reading and seeing that Brinkley installed water shut off valves at all the water appliances, and also only used brass PEX fittings. I don't remember exactly about whether or not they used flex hose, but I thought they only used PEX lines.

Incorporated doors in the basement walls to gain access behind them, for ours you have to remove the whole darn wall.

I think another point was their electrical wiring, it was sort of made into a cable harness and not haphazardly thrown in strung / draped over everything.

 

[18CrewDually]

We looked at the Brinkley's when they first came out to see what all the fuss was about.
I might be wrong but I remember reading and seeing that Brinkley installed water shut off valves at all the water appliances, and also only used brass PEX fittings. I don't remember exactly about whether or not they used flex hose, but I thought they only used PEX lines.

Incorporated doors in the basement walls to gain access behind them, for ours you have to remove the whole darn wall.

I think another point was their electrical wiring, it was sort of made into a cable harness and not haphazardly thrown in strung / draped over everything.

All the GD 2025 models (specifically Momentum and Solitude) that I've seen since last year are full PEX with metal valves & fittings. Also no more of the real problematic vinyl hose that leaks over time at the connections.

 

[txloser]

Saw this Brinkley at my GD dealer today. Granted it’s a large trailer, but the linear design of the graphics make it look even larger. One think I liked was the awning LED’s. A long solid piece vs the rope style on my trailer.