In 1986 i bought my first new Honda. Before leaving the dealership i asked the salesman about fixing problems. He said if any problems to call him immediately. I never did find a problem. The RV industry needs this quality control.
Most RV residential refrigerators are counter depth. The one in this rig is a standard “home” depth fridge. If they had stuck with a counter depth, you would lose some fridge space but your pantry doors would not have been a problem. I think the design was done with a counter depth fridge in mind.
I'd opt for the smaller bed which has small night counters on each side. Not just for CPAP (I don't happen to use one) but it's nice to put your phone there while charging overnight along with a bottle of water, Kindle, etc.
I saw this when you first got it and thought to my self that they should have put in a counter depth fridge. Poor access to cabinets would drive me nuts. . They didn't think this through.
It's a premium 125,000 hand crafted RV. The TV cables, Cabinet cable stop, light globe could have been caught by the dealer prep but the refrigerator should be mounted on the other end of the kitchen wall so you can fully open the cabinets.
One option for the cupboard doors near the fridge is to make those a bi-fold allowing to fold in half inwards. This allows full access. For the tv input cables maybe a simple cable management system like cable wrap would negate it catching on the brackets. Definitely agree with your wife on the lounge room light switch being back lit will help and also look stylish. Great video.. .
We toured the Vanleigh plant in Burnsville, MS in February. They build 5 units per week, and by Friday the are in the final finish phase addressing issues like these you mention. The beacons are all painted gray and will be sent out for their full body paint jobs. Very interesting tour. If was Friday afternoon and everyone was getting off work. My sister and BIL full time in a Tiffin Allegro Class A so they spend a lot of time in Red Bay, Alabama, which is just across the state line, which is why we stopped off there on a trip to North Carolina. We even stayed in a few nights in their campground. Nice visit, great company. Also have met Leigh Tiffin at Camping World here locally. Super nice and really listen to their customers input. Also of note, every unit they produce is already pre sold, so they hold NO INVENTORY. Either special ordered by a customer or dealership.
That's a good internet solution guess this company needs to have more people and RV ers giving a demo like you Sure it looks great and compact too👍👍👍👍👍
The Televator issue is an engineering design routing flaw that will require longer cables similar to what you outlined in your review. That’s one of the major issues with a televator that has to be worked out before it’s installed. The fact that the HDMI and RCA cables were ripped out like that would probably cause similar damage to the TV connectors too. The Top HDMI Cable looked deformed in the video. The split pantry doors are another issue that may require rethinking how the pantry storage works. If they made the left half a solid wall, then it would be very difficult to get things in and out of that half of the pantry. The bottom third section could be turned into open shelves, while the top two left doors could be closed off and then put some of those rotating shelves in like they have in some L-shaped lazy Susan base cabinets. It adds more weight and expense, but it eliminates an semi-unusable storage area too. They do open far enough to be usable and moving the cabinet cable to the right of the opening might get the job done without more significant design modifications. For the bedroom: They could lower the headboard and install a 10-12” shelf above the headboard if there was enough room for a 6’3” person to sit and read without hitting their head on the shelf. Regardless of these issues, that is still a very good looking coach.
Good and fair review. My 5th wheel has been in the shop about 1/2 the time I've owned it. Had the same problems with my last camper too. Our dealer is great its just a HUGE hassle to have to take it to the dealer due to the length od time they have it.
We have full timed in our Vilano (same floor plan you have) for 1 year so far. We absolutely love it and have had only normal issues from towing 5k+ miles!!
Having been a project mgr before I retired, some of the items you pointed out should have been caught before the unit was ever put into production, especially if they did proper testing. The cabinet door issue by the fridge is a design defect. The problem has a jury rigged solution with the wire, but even that failed because what they put in was too long. That's a quality control problem. To me there's some corner cutting somewhere by someone. The cables for the TV is just another example of poor design/testing &/or production. When things like these happen, I always wonder what "under the hood" issues there are that you can't see & won't know about until there's a problem...& of course it'll probably occur after the warranty period has expired.
Jane, this is a brand new RV and the reason to buy used always! Pretty much every brand new RV will spend the first year of ownership in the shop being repaired. Doesn't matter who the manufacture is or how much you paid for it. Well maybe the 2 million dollar buses won't, but I have heard that Prevost has exterior delamination issues on the most popular bus, so I am sure you would even have a brand new bus have these issues. The way to buy an RV is find one that is about a year and a half old, because the first owner will have gone through all the fixing gotten everything fixed and then decide RV'ing isn't any fun because everything breaks. You will get the fully repaired rig. I don't know why this industry does things this way, but they do!
Completely agree. Most of the issues presented here are severe problems that can only be fixed at the engineering phase. But this is the problem with the RV industry. They don’t engineer anything. They are merely designed and built. This can be likened to simply hiring a contractor to do a remodel versus hiring an architect and a structural engineer. Cabinet doors that don’t open fully? Tacking on a janky steel cable to keep doors from opening too far? Come on. That’s amateur hour. You would never put up with this in an automobile. There is no reason to put up with it in an RV.
I am jealous I want a Van Leigh Beacon. And as far as the minor issues you have found I would still be jumping for joy because I have researched the heck out of this company and from the top to the underbelly the products used are so well thought out and the materials that goes into making this 5th wheel are not found on any other RV. I am happy for you and your family. As soon as I save enough I will be getting my own.
The cover for the fireplace should have two screws that go in either side of the top opening below the top edge of the trim. They go in toward the outside trim to hold it in place to stop that. I had to take mine apart when it stopped working.
I agree with the light switch for the sofa/accent/living room lights it could have a back light or kind of like a "glow in the dark" type thing for people like me that if it's dark I can't see anything at all. But it's still an all-over beautiful RV
The Spyder panel light are set to energy saver. You can go into the settings and turn that off and the back lights will stay on all the time. You can turn the panel lights off from the bedroom touch pad.
I really like watching your videos and have learned a lot. Thanks for putting them out. Watching this one, I noticed that the issues you were having with the panel and light controls, I thought were really just because you weren't used to the system yet. Once you have lived in it for a couple of months, that little panel controlling the living room, you wouldn't even look at it to turn lights on or off. Your finger will go to the exact button you want, without even thinking about it. No different than when you walk into a room you know in the dark and flip the switch with ease. The main panel, will also be a breeze by the time you have been in it for 6 months.
@@GiftHorse123, lol!! We have three sizes, small, medium and large known as a green, red and black. When your working you say to your buddy, "Hand me a red Robbie, eh!" referring to the red handled screw driver.
If you think there isn’t minor things like that that happen on aircraft, then you’re delusional. 99% of stuff gets caught but often times on minor systems such as creature comforts, it’s easy to miss something.
The cabinet doors that open into the refrigerator, the ones that have the too-long cables, can be fixed easily and quickly by just unscrewing one end of the cable, then re-mounting it a little farther away. Easy fix. I agree with you and the other commenters that the lighting controls on that panel are overly complex. A row of clearly labeled switches would be far easier to use, and much less likely to malfunction.
There’s a history with the remote Spyder control panels. I’ve been more or less living in my Beacon for three years, I have a 2019 built in 2018. There were lots of complaints about the brightness of the displays especially in the bedroom. So I guess they just decided to turn them off when not using them. Ours are dim all the time unless being used. Speaking of Spyder, you might want to check out Firefly systems Vega control module which adds Bluetooth phone control to the Spyder system. Enjoying your video series about the Beacon.
An easy fix for the TV to recommend to them is have a chain cable carrier that's fixed to the wall or floor and to the TV lift itself. We put them on the class A's I design with TV lifts.
I own a Vilano Vanleigh and it has the same control panel that the beacon has. You can go to the settings and change all of the category icons with text. Makes it much easier to navigate quicker Settings>Screen Settings>Power Saving There is a switch in the Propane compartment that will allow you to close one slideout at a time.
Just like remote controls for your TV. When you get a new one you have to constantly look at it to find the specific button you need. But within a couple nights of using it I don’t even have to look at it anymore. Same with the control panel in the 5th wheel, pretty soon you won’t even think about it.
On my 2017 Tiffin Allegro, I had an earlier version of the Spyder panel. I had a separate push button for the panel lights. All the pads would illuminate. Maybe there is a setting in the main panel to turn on the panel lights. Just a thought.
JD, the top port behind the TV looks like it's a bit wonky too. I'd make sure that's looked at too. The pins could've been damaged since the outer rim is bent. Beautiful rig. Hope you enjoy it! 👍 Safe travels.
JD Great video, and like you and several other people who commented the refrigerator is wrong should’ve been a smaller ( thinner) unit, the control panels should be backlit for easier use But you covered those items and everything else that I saw without actually being there and in it
I’m pretty sure you watch other RV TH-cam Videos, but if you have a chance you should watch WildOnTheGo episode from 1 week ago titled RV Tour 2020 Tiny Home. They have a 40’ Montana that’s 5 years old. Towards the end of there video they show their bedroom that has a King Size Bed and really nice Night Stands on either side. There’s plenty of room for a Kleenex box plus other things plus a C-pap machine, plus you can walk all around the bed so you can make it up. You would think other 5th Wheel Manufactures would follow suit, especially the Tiffin Beacon 5th Wheel, but I surely haven’t seen any in the last several years watching fifth wheel videos. Just thought you might want to look at their video and see their roomy bedroom area.
Our Cardinal has a standard switch right inside the door to a hall light above the stair area, always the first thing I hit before messing with the display screen.
My biggest problem would be the master control system. I respect the technology but I am a DIY kind of guy. So if something is acting up and not working accordingly I enjoy finding the solution and learning my trailer. I can diagnose a bad ground or bad switch. But if that were to fail I would be at the mercy of the dealer/repair shop. I like trailers that keep it clean and simple. If your gonna own one, you should be able to work on it
I agree 100%. I've had a touchpanel system for almost four years now and it's probably the most frustrating parts of our MH. Want to turn on a light? Stand up, walk the entire length of the rig, turn on touchpanel, choose Lighting, scroll to find which light you want to turn on, hit the icon. Phone app makes it even more difficult.
They is a happy medium. If it’s a switch that is used all the time make it a switch. Same with the volume knob on cars. It needs a volume knob not a computer input.
I wasnt impressed with the dealer pdi inspection on the toy hauler I just got, wont mention the dealer name. They claim everything was checked when they received it and just assumed it was all good when I bought it after being on their lot for a year, i found a couple things that had to get fixed. I told them I want to see the generator run and they looked at me like I had 2 heads!! said they dont run the generator it was tested at the factory. I said I m not signing anything till i see the generator running and producing power! They got mad and eventually got it primed and running
That dealership wouldn't happen to be Giant RV in Murrieta, CA would it? Their pdi was awful and they lied to us about things such as "the bunks in the garage don't come with a ladder anymore due to safety issues"...
Re: Touch panels. My RV has it as well, and as soon as the novelty wore off, it became nothing but a pain. Multiple clicks instead of a dedicated mechanical switch for many things. Also, had to reset it a couple times already, have to worry about firmware updates. And the bluetooth app on the phone works about 90% of the time. I'm a geek, and love Blinky lights, but it'll be the last RV I buy with a touch panel.
At the end of day it's a Tiffin. If they had done a proper walkthrough before shipping it to you they would have the issues. Yes it looks nice but for this price these problems shouldn't happen.
@@BTBRVReviews Another thing that could help is that they make 90 degree adapters for both RCA and coax cables. This would allow the cables to be positioned so they would release if they get snagged rather than pull against the connectors. For the HDMI, there are short 6-8" whips you can get that would work. The 90 adapters (they have both orientations) work well, but you can usually only use one when the HDMIs are stacked vertically like that. This would allow the connectors to disconnect if they get snagged, rather than put strain on the ports before failing.
I wonder what the profile of that door would look like if it didn't have the cabinet covers on it. Would it still hamper access to those cabinet doors to the right? Seems like the doors are a lot thicker than they need to be.
Beautiful 5th wheel! There are 2 things I would change in the kitchen. 1. The refrigerator is way to big for this kitchen. It needs to have a counter depth frig. That would also eliminate the problem with the pantry doors so they can open fully. 2. Not only in this rig but all...there are never enough power outlets in the kitchens! Why? There should be one on each end of the counters! It makes so much sense to add a few more. (Coffee pots, Instant Pots, blenders, etc) And not so many USB ports.
If the master bed is on a pedestal (the base is narrower than the mattress decking) you can place your CPAP on the floor. I do this in my Tiffin Class A. Completely out of sight except for the hose and mask.
So on those switches it would be nice if they were motion activated to light up. That way all you have to do is wave your hand in front of it for it to light up. My cellphone does something similar to that.
All I want is a well made, well insulated, glued and screwed/welded, one piece roofed RV with modest, practical, quality interior necessities. "Affordable RVing" is myth, I think. Our 2015 31' Forrest River 5th wheel has cost us a fortune and it doesn't take kindly to moving without falling apart. So far we've had to replace the furnace, the motor on the rear stabilizers, the water pump, the entire three-sided glass shower surround (the glass imploded), and it looks like our fridge is about to give up the ghost because it will no longer stay at the appropriate temperature. In addition the RV parks around here (Central IN) start around $1800 plus a year and they may or may not include winter storage and full hookups. So first time buyers beware! It's supposed be affordable vacationing but there are a TON of hidden, unsuspected costs that come with it.
if the fireplace cover is steel, you could countersink and epoxy small magnets into the surround behind the edge. that would likely keep it from bouncing off.
We considered a Beacon early on when shopping for a 5thwheel. We have local VanLeigh dealers around us and found the quality not very consistent. We found wood trim falling off and cabinets with rough finish due to bad or no sanding. We also found ceiling material falling down and light fixtures falling down.I addressed this with someone from Van Leigh ( I believe he was a Production Manager)and told them about what we were finding. They didn’t seem to be too concerned about it . The dealership shouldn’t let customers see these issues and if the transport companies they use to deliver these units caused some of the issues we found they should do something. Neither the dealers or the representative at Van Leigh seemed to care . They lost us as a potential buyer.
Their is no way a dealer would catch that. Every trailer no matter the price have a few things that are going to need attention. And if your no handy you will be at the dealer often and they will have it for months
Absolutely these reviews on this unit are biased and favorable to the manufacturer...and glad to see, when you work with people not corporations, in particular, good people as part of a good company, a decent human makes a personal connection with them. And so view the products of their labor in a more generous light. That in itself is commendable. Not knocking the manufacturer nor you, just an observation of the difference of RV review compared to normal reviews. Love the channel and your perspective and knowledge
A 12” screen with all of the settings on it, then no need to scroll. Could even put a slides, tank level and leveling gear (options not used as much) on page 2 and lights, climate and fan on page 1
Has any one asked a manufacture especially a high end one why they don’t build a fifth wheel with air ride . They could easily replace springs with air bags an put a tank with a compressor that runs off the truck power as you drive down the road . I think a lot of problems would disappear if they did.
Might make for a smoother ride, but likely less reliable as well as harder to control. Morryde is working on a system that does this. It's about $12k though
Absolutely agree. Wanting to bring your home with you is one thing but that is an awfully big fridge for a 5th. wheel. The cabinets hitting the fridge are almost useless.
Naw the refrigerator needs to be flush with wall,sticking out like it is don’t impress me. Nit pick is right thing to do so they can fix the flaws,still a great 5th wheel
For the smart pad for the trailer, why not have a Siri or other Audible adapter to talk to your trailer about what you want to do or have done. If it’s something not good or misunderstood by the App then it can lead the individual through a manual function for the untech savvy people. Just a thought.
Most TVs have the infrared sensors along the bottom, and most televators don’t lift the TV enough. I’ll be waiting to hear if you can easily change channels while seated
The doors by the fridge, poor design, agreed. Also with you on the HDMI cables. Owned two trailers from separate dealers, both were sloppy when it came to checking things before they send the unit out, for example I had to fix the tv as manufacturer stripped cables running them thru aluminum frame. Dealers need to check over unit and I will make sure it's written into the contract at time of purchase. Or il be back straight away for full refund. Side note I also like and prefer buttons.
Just an FYI, that Netgear Hotspot which is pretty great, does not support every band for every US carrier but usually the "greatest hits" with a slight skew to AT&T as that was who netgear built it for.
@@BTBRVReviews would love to hear how that Nomad plan works out for you, from what I hear its still about 33gb before throttling by the parent carrier. We're on a grandfathered verizon unlimited plan ourselves full time, but always watching for a backup.
The only thing that would have really irked me would have been the TV. That should have been caught in design/engineering and never allowed to be setup that way as i can't imagine you will be the only one to experience that problem given the placement of that bracket. Would make a lot more sense to get longer cords and route them down, across and then over from the other side, or come up with a different system that replaces that bracket.
Cool video. I am looking forward to more about this vanleigh for sure! Can you get more specific on the insulation numbers? Ceiling, walls, floor. Maybe show how thick is wall in entry door area. I am currently in a 2019 Fuzion 427 toyhauler. This could be an option for me in the future though. Thanks!
I've seen in other RV'S the same problem with the cabinets hitting the refrigerator. Why they put cabinets there is beyond me. Sometimes the closest on the sides of the bed also don't open all the way without hitting the valances.
Just a thought can you LOCK the slides into the OUT or the RETRACTED Position just in case somebody fumbling through the Selector Panel doesn’t accidentally set the slides in motion. Are there any other switch positions that should be locked out to avoid damage or dangerous situations?
you literally have to hold the button down the entire time to extend to retract the slide. if you did accidentally press it I really doubt you would keep pressing it before you realize that you've been moving the slide.
In 1986 i bought my first new Honda. Before leaving the dealership i asked the salesman about fixing problems. He said if any problems to call him immediately. I never did find a problem. The RV industry needs this quality control.
I really like that every issue brought up was followed with a potential solution if not 3 or 4.
Most RV residential refrigerators are counter depth. The one in this rig is a standard “home” depth fridge. If they had stuck with a counter depth, you would lose some fridge space but your pantry doors would not have been a problem. I think the design was done with a counter depth fridge in mind.
They indicated it is a counter depth fridge..it does look full depth though
I'd opt for the smaller bed which has small night counters on each side. Not just for CPAP (I don't happen to use one) but it's nice to put your phone there while charging overnight along with a bottle of water, Kindle, etc.
Yep that is a deal breaker for me. When my wife and I look at 5th wheels, if it doesn’t have night stands we move on.
Agreed. If someone had an alarm clock, where would it go? I don't want to get out of bed to hit the snooze button.
I saw this when you first got it and thought to my self that they should have put in a counter depth fridge. Poor access to cabinets would drive me nuts. . They didn't think this through.
I like how each and every one of your videos is so informative. Obviously you have lots of experience which is very helpful for beginners.
It's a premium 125,000 hand crafted RV. The TV cables, Cabinet cable stop, light globe could have been caught by the dealer prep but the refrigerator should be mounted on the other end of the kitchen wall so you can fully open the cabinets.
One option for the cupboard doors near the fridge is to make those a bi-fold allowing to fold in half inwards. This allows full access.
For the tv input cables maybe a simple cable management system like cable wrap would negate it catching on the brackets.
Definitely agree with your wife on the lounge room light switch being back lit will help and also look stylish.
Great video.. .
We toured the Vanleigh plant in Burnsville, MS in February. They build 5 units per week, and by Friday the are in the final finish phase addressing issues like these you mention. The beacons are all painted gray and will be sent out for their full body paint jobs. Very interesting tour. If was Friday afternoon and everyone was getting off work. My sister and BIL full time in a Tiffin Allegro Class A so they spend a lot of time in Red Bay, Alabama, which is just across the state line, which is why we stopped off there on a trip to North Carolina. We even stayed in a few nights in their campground. Nice visit, great company. Also have met Leigh Tiffin at Camping World here locally. Super nice and really listen to their customers input. Also of note, every unit they produce is already pre sold, so they hold NO INVENTORY. Either special ordered by a customer or dealership.
Wish I had heard of you before I bought my rv. We learn so much from your videos and a big Texas size thank you! 💯
That's a good internet solution guess this company needs to have more people and RV ers giving a demo like you
Sure it looks great and compact too👍👍👍👍👍
Completely agree with the cabinets next to the refrigerator. Open cabinets/shelving would be better. I like the master panel. Love this unit.
The Televator issue is an engineering design routing flaw that will require longer cables similar to what you outlined in your review. That’s one of the major issues with a televator that has to be worked out before it’s installed. The fact that the HDMI and RCA cables were ripped out like that would probably cause similar damage to the TV connectors too. The Top HDMI Cable looked deformed in the video. The split pantry doors are another issue that may require rethinking how the pantry storage works. If they made the left half a solid wall, then it would be very difficult to get things in and out of that half of the pantry. The bottom third section could be turned into open shelves, while the top two left doors could be closed off and then put some of those rotating shelves in like they have in some L-shaped lazy Susan base cabinets. It adds more weight and expense, but it eliminates an semi-unusable storage area too. They do open far enough to be usable and moving the cabinet cable to the right of the opening might get the job done without more significant design modifications. For the bedroom: They could lower the headboard and install a 10-12” shelf above the headboard if there was enough room for a 6’3” person to sit and read without hitting their head on the shelf. Regardless of these issues, that is still a very good looking coach.
Thank you for showing the cabinets and the refrigerator. I thought the same thing in your last video.
Good and fair review. My 5th wheel has been in the shop about 1/2 the time I've owned it. Had the same problems with my last camper too. Our dealer is great its just a HUGE hassle to have to take it to the dealer due to the length od time they have it.
We have full timed in our Vilano (same floor plan you have) for 1 year so far. We absolutely love it and have had only normal issues from towing 5k+ miles!!
Having been a project mgr before I retired, some of the items you pointed out should have been caught before the unit was ever put into production, especially if they did proper testing. The cabinet door issue by the fridge is a design defect. The problem has a jury rigged solution with the wire, but even that failed because what they put in was too long. That's a quality control problem. To me there's some corner cutting somewhere by someone. The cables for the TV is just another example of poor design/testing &/or production. When things like these happen, I always wonder what "under the hood" issues there are that you can't see & won't know about until there's a problem...& of course it'll probably occur after the warranty period has expired.
It looks like poor quality control at the end of the line. Those items should have been caught in testing/layout before it became a finished product.
I would so find it annoying that I could not open it all the way.
Jane, this is a brand new RV and the reason to buy used always! Pretty much every brand new RV will spend the first year of ownership in the shop being repaired. Doesn't matter who the manufacture is or how much you paid for it. Well maybe the 2 million dollar buses won't, but I have heard that Prevost has exterior delamination issues on the most popular bus, so I am sure you would even have a brand new bus have these issues. The way to buy an RV is find one that is about a year and a half old, because the first owner will have gone through all the fixing gotten everything fixed and then decide RV'ing isn't any fun because everything breaks. You will get the fully repaired rig. I don't know why this industry does things this way, but they do!
Completely agree. Most of the issues presented here are severe problems that can only be fixed at the engineering phase. But this is the problem with the RV industry. They don’t engineer anything. They are merely designed and built. This can be likened to simply hiring a contractor to do a remodel versus hiring an architect and a structural engineer.
Cabinet doors that don’t open fully? Tacking on a janky steel cable to keep doors from opening too far? Come on. That’s amateur hour. You would never put up with this in an automobile. There is no reason to put up with it in an RV.
Anyone ever notice that it always comes back to a “coffee maker!” 🥰
I am jealous I want a Van Leigh Beacon. And as far as the minor issues you have found I would still be jumping for joy because I have researched the heck out of this company and from the top to the underbelly the products used are so well thought out and the materials that goes into making this 5th wheel are not found on any other RV. I am happy for you and your family. As soon as I save enough I will be getting my own.
The cover for the fireplace should have two screws that go in either side of the top opening below the top edge of the trim. They go in toward the outside trim to hold it in place to stop that. I had to take mine apart when it stopped working.
Thank you for checking the options for cpap locations. Never thought to asked if there was an option. :O
Agree, a backlight on the light panel will be advantageous.
I agree with the light switch for the sofa/accent/living room lights it could have a back light or kind of like a "glow in the dark" type thing for people like me that if it's dark I can't see anything at all. But it's still an all-over beautiful RV
Grand Design RV, tests everything, before the unit leaves the factory. RS=Road Side. CS=Curb Side. Great color scheme!
It's not the factory that's the issue, it's the hundreds of miles it travels after leaving the factory.
The Spyder panel light are set to energy saver. You can go into the settings and turn that off and the back lights will stay on all the time. You can turn the panel lights off from the bedroom touch pad.
That padded cieling is probably there to reduce roof noise for when it rains or hails.
We have a similar panel in our new Forester MH. Yes, you do have to search the menu some but we are getting used to it so navigating is not so bad.
I really like watching your videos and have learned a lot. Thanks for putting them out.
Watching this one, I noticed that the issues you were having with the panel and light controls, I thought were really just because you weren't used to the system yet. Once you have lived in it for a couple of months, that little panel controlling the living room, you wouldn't even look at it to turn lights on or off. Your finger will go to the exact button you want, without even thinking about it. No different than when you walk into a room you know in the dark and flip the switch with ease. The main panel, will also be a breeze by the time you have been in it for 6 months.
My pet peeve, companies who push crap on consumers, then stick us with ridiculous high prices and call it luxury.
Yep...I'd rather have quality over "luxury" any day!!!
Those "square drive screws" on the cable attached in the cupboard are called Robertson screws, a Canadian invention.
Leave to the Canadians to complicate things.
@@GiftHorse123, lol!! We have three sizes, small, medium and large known as a green, red and black. When your working you say to your buddy, "Hand me a red Robbie, eh!" referring to the red handled screw driver.
The HDMI Port on the TV is bent. Thank God these people aren’t making airplanes.
If you think there isn’t minor things like that that happen on aircraft, then you’re delusional. 99% of stuff gets caught but often times on minor systems such as creature comforts, it’s easy to miss something.
Bryce Buford if you think you are qualified to judge other people as delusional then you are delusional.
Gloves are off! : )
JonathanH 😂😂 Can’t even be mad at that
HDMI replacement is almost as expensive as replacing the tv
The cabinet doors that open into the refrigerator, the ones that have the too-long cables, can be fixed easily and quickly by just unscrewing one end of the cable, then re-mounting it a little farther away. Easy fix.
I agree with you and the other commenters that the lighting controls on that panel are overly complex. A row of clearly labeled switches would be far easier to use, and much less likely to malfunction.
There’s a history with the remote Spyder control panels. I’ve been more or less living in my Beacon for three years, I have a 2019 built in 2018. There were lots of complaints about the brightness of the displays especially in the bedroom. So I guess they just decided to turn them off when not using them. Ours are dim all the time unless being used. Speaking of Spyder, you might want to check out Firefly systems Vega control module which adds Bluetooth phone control to the Spyder system. Enjoying your video series about the Beacon.
An easy fix for the TV to recommend to them is have a chain cable carrier that's fixed to the wall or floor and to the TV lift itself. We put them on the class A's I design with TV lifts.
We have a van Leigh. Ambition and it’s awesome no problems spent many knight in it so far all good
I own a Vilano Vanleigh and it has the same control panel that the beacon has.
You can go to the settings and change all of the category icons with text.
Makes it much easier to navigate quicker
Settings>Screen Settings>Power Saving
There is a switch in the Propane compartment that will allow you to close one slideout at a time.
Just like remote controls for your TV. When you get a new one you have to constantly look at it to find the specific button you need. But within a couple nights of using it I don’t even have to look at it anymore. Same with the control panel in the 5th wheel, pretty soon you won’t even think about it.
The light switches - C/S sofa = curb side, and R/S Sofa = Road Side.
Be careful. That camper has tasted your blood. It will want more.
They always do!!
On my 2017 Tiffin Allegro, I had an earlier version of the Spyder panel. I had a separate push button for the panel lights. All the pads would illuminate. Maybe there is a setting in the main panel to turn on the panel lights. Just a thought.
JD, the top port behind the TV looks like it's a bit wonky too. I'd make sure that's looked at too. The pins could've been damaged since the outer rim is bent. Beautiful rig. Hope you enjoy it! 👍 Safe travels.
It's the end of the cord stuck in the HDMI port.
you would think that since potential customers are going to see your product you would want to make sure everything is in place and working 😱
JD Great video, and like you and several other people who commented the refrigerator is wrong should’ve been a smaller ( thinner) unit, the control panels should be backlit for easier use But you covered those items and everything else that I saw without actually being there and in it
I’m pretty sure you watch other RV TH-cam Videos, but if you have a chance you should watch WildOnTheGo episode from 1 week ago titled RV Tour 2020 Tiny Home. They have a 40’ Montana that’s 5 years old. Towards the end of there video they show their bedroom that has a King Size Bed and really nice Night Stands on either side. There’s plenty of room for a Kleenex box plus other things plus a C-pap machine, plus you can walk all around the bed so you can make it up. You would think other 5th Wheel Manufactures would follow suit, especially the Tiffin Beacon 5th Wheel, but I surely haven’t seen any in the last several years watching fifth wheel videos. Just thought you might want to look at their video and see their roomy bedroom area.
Our Cardinal has a standard switch right inside the door to a hall light above the stair area, always the first thing I hit before messing with the display screen.
My biggest problem would be the master control system. I respect the technology but I am a DIY kind of guy. So if something is acting up and not working accordingly I enjoy finding the solution and learning my trailer. I can diagnose a bad ground or bad switch. But if that were to fail I would be at the mercy of the dealer/repair shop. I like trailers that keep it clean and simple. If your gonna own one, you should be able to work on it
I agree 100%. I've had a touchpanel system for almost four years now and it's probably the most frustrating parts of our MH. Want to turn on a light? Stand up, walk the entire length of the rig, turn on touchpanel, choose Lighting, scroll to find which light you want to turn on, hit the icon. Phone app makes it even more difficult.
With regards to the washer/dryer, I would like to see a separation between the units, thus possibly preventing damage in the future.
The refrigerator sticks out too far into the kitchen area. Looks awkward and not thought out.
They is a happy medium. If it’s a switch that is used all the time make it a switch. Same with the volume knob on cars. It needs a volume knob not a computer input.
I wasnt impressed with the dealer pdi inspection on the toy hauler I just got, wont mention the dealer name. They claim everything was checked when they received it and just assumed it was all good when I bought it after being on their lot for a year, i found a couple things that had to get fixed. I told them I want to see the generator run and they looked at me like I had 2 heads!! said they dont run the generator it was tested at the factory. I said I m not signing anything till i see the generator running and producing power! They got mad and eventually got it primed and running
That dealership wouldn't happen to be Giant RV in Murrieta, CA would it? Their pdi was awful and they lied to us about things such as "the bunks in the garage don't come with a ladder anymore due to safety issues"...
I never thought about generator, when I get mine I am going to have them do that. Thanks.
Re: Touch panels. My RV has it as well, and as soon as the novelty wore off, it became nothing but a pain. Multiple clicks instead of a dedicated mechanical switch for many things. Also, had to reset it a couple times already, have to worry about firmware updates. And the bluetooth app on the phone works about 90% of the time. I'm a geek, and love Blinky lights, but it'll be the last RV I buy with a touch panel.
Beautiful rig.
I appreciate your insight.
Excellent vlog.
At the end of day it's a Tiffin. If they had done a proper walkthrough before shipping it to you they would have the issues. Yes it looks nice but for this price these problems shouldn't happen.
I would agree, however, these are some things that can happen on even high end luxury homes.
TheGuido. You sound like a pia
C/S = Curbside
R/S = Roadside
We use this in the military for everything and I guess they tried to simplify the buttons with the abbreviations
You don’t need shorter cables, just move the screw over to take up the slack.
That was a "duh" moment for me shortly after filming :)
@@BTBRVReviews Another thing that could help is that they make 90 degree adapters for both RCA and coax cables. This would allow the cables to be positioned so they would release if they get snagged rather than pull against the connectors. For the HDMI, there are short 6-8" whips you can get that would work. The 90 adapters (they have both orientations) work well, but you can usually only use one when the HDMIs are stacked vertically like that.
This would allow the connectors to disconnect if they get snagged, rather than put strain on the ports before failing.
Not nit picky at all! These observations will help the manufacturer.
I think the refrigerator is just too big for the RV.
I wonder what the profile of that door would look like if it didn't have the cabinet covers on it. Would it still hamper access to those cabinet doors to the right? Seems like the doors are a lot thicker than they need to be.
they should have gave you the counter depth fridge, like they had in the model
@@CharlesAnsman maybe not pushed back enough?
Size does matter
Beautiful 5th wheel! There are 2 things I would change in the kitchen. 1. The refrigerator is way to big for this kitchen. It needs to have a counter depth frig. That would also eliminate the problem with the pantry doors so they can open fully. 2. Not only in this rig but all...there are never enough power outlets in the kitchens! Why? There should be one on each end of the counters! It makes so much sense to add a few more. (Coffee pots, Instant Pots, blenders, etc) And not so many USB ports.
If the master bed is on a pedestal (the base is narrower than the mattress decking) you can place your CPAP on the floor. I do this in my Tiffin Class A. Completely out of sight except for the hose and mask.
So on those switches it would be nice if they were motion activated to light up. That way all you have to do is wave your hand in front of it for it to light up. My cellphone does something similar to that.
Nomad device looks really cool
Yea whatever tore through the cables jacked up at least one of your home ports. Its the top one. You can see it on the video.
All I want is a well made, well insulated, glued and screwed/welded, one piece roofed RV with modest, practical, quality interior necessities. "Affordable RVing" is myth, I think. Our 2015 31' Forrest River 5th wheel has cost us a fortune and it doesn't take kindly to moving without falling apart. So far we've had to replace the furnace, the motor on the rear stabilizers, the water pump, the entire three-sided glass shower surround (the glass imploded), and it looks like our fridge is about to give up the ghost because it will no longer stay at the appropriate temperature. In addition the RV parks around here (Central IN) start around $1800 plus a year and they may or may not include winter storage and full hookups. So first time buyers beware! It's supposed be affordable vacationing but there are a TON of hidden, unsuspected costs that come with it.
if the fireplace cover is steel, you could countersink and epoxy small magnets into the surround behind the edge. that would likely keep it from bouncing off.
They could put sliding doors on the cabinet for future models
Nomad Internet...read the fine print. RV Lifestyle chucked them to the curb after getting one monthly rate then they jacked it up.
We considered a Beacon early on when shopping for a 5thwheel. We have local VanLeigh dealers around us and found the quality not very consistent. We found wood trim falling off and cabinets with rough finish due to bad or no sanding. We also found ceiling material falling down and light fixtures falling down.I addressed this with someone from Van Leigh ( I believe he was a Production Manager)and told them about what we were finding. They didn’t seem to be too concerned about it . The dealership shouldn’t let customers see these issues and if the transport companies they use to deliver these units caused some of the issues we found they should do something. Neither the dealers or the representative at Van Leigh seemed to care . They lost us as a potential buyer.
They need to make those touch screens so you can customize one of the screens. Just like your phone. You can put whatever icons on it you want.
I have the same issue with the fireplace in out RV (mine is just smaller). We had to add velcro to hold it because it falls off every trip out.
Their is no way a dealer would catch that. Every trailer no matter the price have a few things that are going to need attention. And if your no handy you will be at the dealer often and they will have it for months
Nice Rv!!! I love Rvs you got me hooked also you should get Matt intrested and get him to get a Rv.
I noticed the cabinet door/refrigerator clearance on the short interior video earlier. I was wondering if the doors would open up. Know we know.
Absolutely these reviews on this unit are biased and favorable to the manufacturer...and glad to see, when you work with people not corporations, in particular, good people as part of a good company, a decent human makes a personal connection with them. And so view the products of their labor in a more generous light. That in itself is commendable. Not knocking the manufacturer nor you, just an observation of the difference of RV review compared to normal reviews. Love the channel and your perspective and knowledge
A 12” screen with all of the settings on it, then no need to scroll. Could even put a slides, tank level and leveling gear (options not used as much) on page 2 and lights, climate and fan on page 1
Has any one asked a manufacture especially a high end one why they don’t build a fifth wheel with air ride . They could easily replace springs with air bags an put a tank with a compressor that runs off the truck power as you drive down the road . I think a lot of problems would disappear if they did.
Might make for a smoother ride, but likely less reliable as well as harder to control. Morryde is working on a system that does this. It's about $12k though
So called smart systems were never meant for people that need glasses to see what they are hitting. Much prefer knobs
I don’t like how the refrigerator extends out so far - very unattractive and protrusive. It looks like it moved forward in traveling.
I agree with you Lynne Steiner. I would rather have a smaller refrigerator. What use are the cabinets beside it if you can't use them?
Absolutely agree. Wanting to bring your home with you is one thing but that is an awfully big fridge for a 5th. wheel. The cabinets hitting the fridge are almost useless.
It looks like it was designed for a different frig. Quite obviously actually. Probably why the cabinet doors have the wrong stops.
Naw the refrigerator needs to be flush with wall,sticking out like it is don’t impress me. Nit pick is right thing to do so they can fix the flaws,still a great 5th wheel
CPAP, Yeah!
For the smart pad for the trailer, why not have a Siri or other Audible adapter to talk to your trailer about what you want to do or have done. If it’s something not good or misunderstood by the App then it can lead the individual through a manual function for the untech savvy people. Just a thought.
Most TVs have the infrared sensors along the bottom, and most televators don’t lift the TV enough. I’ll be waiting to hear if you can easily change channels while seated
Be nice to go to all major theme parks with my kids before going through the rest of California and then Vegas.
Thank you for the video. Enjoy that Chick-Fila food :-) We are from Charlotte NC, and my girls love that place.
Nomad works great. I have one.
Looks to me like the w/d doors open wider this way. Would they hit the wall if they opened to the right?
Just take the screw out of the cabinet and place it towards the centre of the door opening to take away the slack.
The doors by the fridge, poor design, agreed. Also with you on the HDMI cables. Owned two trailers from separate dealers, both were sloppy when it came to checking things before they send the unit out, for example I had to fix the tv as manufacturer stripped cables running them thru aluminum frame. Dealers need to check over unit and I will make sure it's written into the contract at time of purchase. Or il be back straight away for full refund. Side note I also like and prefer buttons.
Just an FYI, that Netgear Hotspot which is pretty great, does not support every band for every US carrier but usually the "greatest hits" with a slight skew to AT&T as that was who netgear built it for.
Agreed. Band 71 and band 41 being the main ones missing.
@@BTBRVReviews would love to hear how that Nomad plan works out for you, from what I hear its still about 33gb before throttling by the parent carrier. We're on a grandfathered verizon unlimited plan ourselves full time, but always watching for a backup.
cant wait to see cpap bracket. very common issue
Good to know about the cpap mount
The only thing that would have really irked me would have been the TV. That should have been caught in design/engineering and never allowed to be setup that way as i can't imagine you will be the only one to experience that problem given the placement of that bracket. Would make a lot more sense to get longer cords and route them down, across and then over from the other side, or come up with a different system that replaces that bracket.
Sliding doors would be nicer for the cabinets to avoid the space required for opening and closing.
They could redesign the cabinet with one door and put a solid panel on it behind the refrigerator
Cool video. I am looking forward to more about this vanleigh for sure! Can you get more specific on the insulation numbers? Ceiling, walls, floor. Maybe show how thick is wall in entry door area. I am currently in a 2019 Fuzion 427 toyhauler. This could be an option for me in the future though. Thanks!
The refrigerator cabinet just needs the doors replaced with a panel and a lazy susan shelf installed
I've seen in other RV'S the same problem with the cabinets hitting the refrigerator. Why they put cabinets there is beyond me. Sometimes the closest on the sides of the bed also don't open all the way without hitting the valances.
I’m surprised someone hasn’t set up the controls using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant as an alternate to a panel.
I hope they NEVER do this! I wouldn't buy it if these listening devices were installed!
Doodles right
Looks like cupboards were designed for rv gas/electric fridge
Just a thought can you LOCK the slides into the OUT or the RETRACTED Position just in case somebody fumbling through the Selector Panel doesn’t accidentally set the slides in motion. Are there any other switch positions that should be locked out to avoid damage or dangerous situations?
you literally have to hold the button down the entire time to extend to retract the slide. if you did accidentally press it I really doubt you would keep pressing it before you realize that you've been moving the slide.