Not as tall or wide? Yes! Less stress just at our last campground, Fort DeSoto Park - with its low hanging limbs/Live Oak trees (storage is an ongoing adjustment 😁) See full tour of Fort DeSoto from an earlier trip - amazing campground, beaches, lighthouse, wildlife ❤ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qBBgLyy_nHk.htmlsi=lL1lUNC4m5DV6704
Love hearing from another Reflection owner. So far, 3 shakedown trips (2 state parks and 1 county park) and “working out the bugs) Thanks. Hope you continue to love yours 🤗 Alice
This is your raunchiest episode yet, and I LOVED IT! "Larry finally got me in the shower together!"😂 "One more time in the Solitude!"🤣 One thing I won't miss about the Solitude is its penchant for head hunting 20:54 You downsized by moving on to the rig that best suits you at this stage of your lives. Both of you can feel more comfortable driving it, and that makes "cents." Safe travels and more fun videos, Alice and Larry. 👍🏾
Raoul, I blame it all on Larry 😆 He’s been like that since his 20s. We figure we will be half timers hopefully not too long from now. So why not go a bit smaller. Larry already noticed it maneuvers more easily. I don’t plan on towing still - don’t even like driving the dually 😉 Thanks again for all the positivity 🤗 Alice
The Reflection is definitely a step down from the Solitude. I'm really surprised you bought another GD given all the issues currently swirling around them.
James, thanks. We donated, put in storage a lot. Then moved heavy items into the truck or in the front basement. We plan on doing some suspension upgrades, too 🤗 Alice
Jonny, I love movie references. Have you noticed 😆 Drove some of my students crazy - especially when I quoted 80s movies. PS - Larry is really like that - A LOT 😁 Alice
Karen, We used a shower curtain in the Solitude - hells reduce water usage because you don’t have glass doors to clean. Also, getting rid of the heavy glass doors saves weight. Why don’t you like a shower curtain? Alice
Y’all are so entertaining. “One last time “. Hilarious. I’m glad y’all found an RV you love. Happy and safe trails. It only matters what y’all like. Change is good. Have fun!!! Alice your booties different colors. I’do that too! 🥰🥰🥰
So many positive comments- we really appreciate it. Change - even positive - can be stressful (4 years of mods/upgrades to transfer 😁) A few people have noticed my socks - I just grab my grippies without even looking 😆 And Larry is like that all the time - even after 40 years. Glad we can make people laugh - and hopefully inform 😉 Alice
We have a 2023 303RLS. We are jealous of your stove since we have the two piece Furrion stove top and oven which we don't like. We do still have the Coleman A/Cs. We look forward to following your channel.
I haven’t searched your videos, but if you use a continuous hot water heater, do you like it? If so, which one do you recommend? I am restoring an ‘82 Holiday Rambler, bumper pull. We still work but Soon, we will be on the road, (just us two).
Frankly, so far we don’t like the Furrion tankles. We haven’t dry camped with it yet. It wastes water while getting hot. Watch this video to see what we had for 4 years - no issues. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--74CQxa5BLU.htmlsi=hOg1eKWXHuLKvyML Good luck in your restore and new adventures Alice
Not to rain on your party, but the TPO membrane on your new Reflection has air pockets in it. It’s just a matter of time before it will delaminate. Sorry guys.
It doesn't matter what I think! Are you guys happy? Even if you had gotten another Solitude, there would be adjustments. I personally love our Montana, but it's not for everybody, and it's far from perfect. Enjoy your new rig, and make lots of new memories in it.
Lane, we appreciate that. Abs you are right, there would be adjustments with any new rig. We are already in our third campground 🤗 Enjoy your Montana - a friend of ours loves his, too. Alice
I think you’ve made a good choice. We’re upgrading soon. But we’re going from 19ft to 33ft. So we are going bigger, but we specifically did not want to go too big to be able to find good sites or struggle to maneuver in campgrounds. Were not full timers, but think the 30ft range will be perfect for a couple.
Sandra, I really wanted a 30’ for the same reason - more sites available Unfortunately, the smaller fifth wheels didn’t have the windows or floor plan we wanted. Alice
Hey guys following for a long time now. I give you guys allot of credit, it takes 2 people on the same page to make a big decision like you are doing. I believe you are doing the right thing for some of the reasons you mentioned. Larry's health, hopefully less stress, less upkeep and fingers crossed no issues with the RV. Cannot wait to see your next video, keep RVing! I have been living mey dream though you guys. Plus you guys are funny.
TJ, we really appreciate the support. Most comments have been very positive. And you are right - being able to compromise is why we are almost at 40 years together. Larry says it maneuvers more easily. And I like how bring not as tall or as wide made going through Fort DeSoto Park campground - with all its low limbs and Live Oaks - less stressful for me. We were where you are about 4 years ago - watching RU-vid and living vicariously. As for humor? I learned to entertain as a teacher and Larry was in sales 😉 Alice
I think you will regret the downsize. The Solitude is built stronger to handle the extra 1000 CCC. I suspect the lighter duty reflection will show problems sooner than the Solitude. You will miss the storage and the extra room. The only benefit I see to the Reflection is it will be a little easier to pull through tight areas. It will be harder to back as shorter trailers turn quicker than longer ones giving you less time to correct. I live in a condo on the Ocean in Ormond beach and was very interested in the land buying and the potential of adding a manufactured home. Did you give up on that? I was planning on using your process as a quide.
Trent, There are more frame issues with the drop frame, heavy build rigs. It is more maneuverable and less stressful to go there the treed campgrounds. We will be looking for land next winter again. We ran out of time and hoping land prices go down. But won’t do the motor home - they want too much for what you get. Might as well just put a fifth wheel on the property. We are looking into a barndo. Alice
I had a friend with a Solitude and I have a Reflection and beside the storage you have just about the same living space. Easier to pull, easier to park, and better on gas what is the down side?
I am in the research stage as to whether i want to sell my house and move to the rv lifestyle. I am looking at 5th wheel toy haulers. Brcause i want to use the "garage" as an art studio. I need enough space to store all my yarn and set up a work space. I would be doing this alone with my dog.
@@ooohhitskaren63 If you plan on opening the door of the toy hauler, you won’t be able to use back in sites. But if you aren’t going to open it, look for a garage that at least has windows. Are you a DIYer? What type of camper are you? How often do you want to move? What is your budget for camping? - it’s basically rent. Do you have a truck that can handle a toy hauler. Just some questions to think about. If you can, go on extended trips - for months - first before you sell your place. We are having a hard time finding a new homebase we like and can afford so we can travel half time instead of full time Alice
Downsizing a rig is definitely a personal thing but as far as common sense goes it is less weight, less gas mileage overall and you can fit into more places.
the problem with the new furrion on demand is going to be after a heavy rain your going to get an E5 error till you go blow a tube out. your right about dry camping with it.
We have had some heavy rains and winds - no error message. As for dry camping? We are testing different ways to not waste water waiting for it to get hot. Thanks for the tip Alice
Great comparison on the rigs . I guess you will have to continue downsizing like the penny ! lol I always say less is more . Do both you guys enjoy mountain biking? Have you ridden Santos trailhead in Ocala ? Thanks Alice Larry. 😁
Santos is my home ride that i used to do weekly during the winter it, was about an hour from our home in deland but i loved to do the Santos trailhead to Ross prairie ride, it was fast and fun and about 40 miles round trip. I have done several races at santos including the 100 but i only did the 50 mile class. Hope to see you riding. Larry
@@DownsizingMakesCents Cool ! We just live 28 miles north of Santos . Some days we ride the mountain bikes . Love spider kingdom!! lol Some days we ride the asphalt trail with our road bikes! Not e bikes !😬lol Travel over the land bridge! Thanks for sharing guys !
Welcome to the Reflection 303. Just so you know the front compartment has all my solar stuff. 4 / 100aH batteries. And still have space for “stuff”. Good Luck. We love our Reflection.
I love your videos, there is so much good information in them. Congrats on the new rig. You can never go wrong with "downsizing" at our age, cause DMC! It truly does! ♥Happy Trails guys, be safe out there and God bless. 🌞🐶P.S. Allison my husband & I loved your different color socks! You're a true road warrior! LOL! 👍🧦
Pam, this is so great to read. It’s exactly what we aim for - to be informative. We are adjusting to less storage and carrying capacity. But once we have a true homebase, it will be easier. And thanks so much for the well wishes and being with us for so long. PS - in the morning, I just grab 2 grippy socks - don’t even look at the colors 😆 But if you look at our community tab, we “clean up well” based on comments 😉 Alice
Jack, actually the opposite. We only have 2,000 pounds of carrying capacity vs 3,000 (but I think the number was high on the Solitude because the rig itself was so heavy). We have already weighed a few times and have dropped a lot of weight Alice
Once you get used to the Reflection you will love the size. We had Rockwood 5th wheel the same size and put about 50,000 miles on it in 6 years and it was great! We downsized from it to a 26’ Class C. We had to loose a lot of stuff. We travel for an about 3 to 4 months continuously in the summer and some short trips the rest of the year. Hope we can adjust to the smaller space.
Doug, you guys sound a lot like us. Once we have a true homebase, we hope to downsize in the future and be half-timers 😉 plus short trips close by like you. Going smaller is an adjustment, but the advantages are more sites available 🤗 Alice
Downsizing to a little smaller unit will condition you not to collect so much stuff. Define the difference between a want and a need. You "need" to come out west and see us again!
Big, Bad, Brad 🤗 You are so right. Less collecting - except magnets - still working that out 😉 Right again - just talking this morning about our summer trip. May hit you guys on the way back. So glad you made it to Florida - make it a tradition every winter 🥰 Alice
I have a 2022 310GK. The extra insulation in the roof, floor & windows was a major for me. The six jacks was also very important, coming from 4 in a similar size. Also your comment regarding the AC would be a show stopper for me. I'm function vs form 🙂Good on you guys deciding what you have decided to do.........I could not down size further.
Dale, We prefer state, national - more natural campgrounds vs private ones. So going smaller means better maneuverability and fitting in more sites. We definitely wish we didn’t have Furrion - now Lippert - anything. But Larry will McGyver a solution. Thanks 🤗 Alice
I hope it's easier for you to adjust to the changes since you really can't choose to go back to the Solitude. There are so many differences between the two models. Plenty of pros and cons for each! Going forward, I hope you have many great times in your new Reflection!
If Larry had his way? We would have another Solitude 😁 You are right - pros and cons on every RV. But we still feel it’s the best floor plan - if only it had 7,000 pound axles 😳 Thanks. Enjoying camping again - more testing - until our summer big trip 🤗 Alice
Lisa, I really wanted just under 30’ - get in more sites that way. But we already saw going through Fort DeSoto that I worried less about trees 😁 Thanks 🤗 Alice
Love ya, but god woman. They are going to tear it to pieces. WHY clean it for three days to just have big dirty workers stomp their muddy feet all over it LOL. My wife is the same way, would clear for days before a maid came in. But she would never get one, never clean as good as she does, 🙂
Doug, 😆 I thought there would be an inspection. No one even looked inside? It’s going to be sold as a stationary RV, from what we were told by Progressive. The maid thing? 💯 The few times I had a made, I straightened hoping then they would do the scrubbing. Nope. I agree with your wife. Thanks 🤗 Alice
Hehehe You guys DID’T down size. HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE. As long as you can get all of Larry’s toys somewhere LOL Never let people tell you that you guys made a mistake. As long as YOU guys are Happy, that all that matters is. Safe travels, Girl you are a CUTE.
Tim, we have 1,000 pounds less carrying capacity - so definitely downsizing 😉 Plus, going through Fort DeSoto, glad we were as tall or wide with all the low limbs/Live Oak trees 😆 And thank you sooo much. Most people have been very positive throughout this whole change. Larry will make sure his toys fit - somewhere 😆 And thank you so much for all the support 🤗 Alice
What I think about you downsizing is of little consequence. You must do what is right for you. In lieu of all their frame issues, I think you’ll have less chance of issues with the new rig. Sue and I, however, are upsizing. We’re going from a 35’ Class A to a 45’ Class A. We think that’s what will work for us. Best wishes.
Scott, You are right. You need to get what’s right for you. We wanted smaller to go to more natural surroundings with less stress - we normally move on average every week. Enjoy your “supersized” 😅 Alice
We are Canadian snowbirds who now winter in our condo in Mexico and summer in Ontario in our 1997 Roadtrek 190 Versatile. There are many things I love about our Roadtrek and a few things aren't my favourite but I think this is right for our lifestyle right now. Being able to adapt to the priorities in your life is key to happiness for travellers and I think you've done that. Wish you all the best!
@@01AceAlpha (oops) so we now stay in Niagara (where our daughter lives) at 50 Point Conservation Area which is in Grimsby (between Hamilton &St. Catharines). We are booked for all of July and August there @$44 per night with annual membership for full hookups. 😀
Sounds like you get it - we hope to be half-timers soonish 😉 Plus, Larry already noticed it maneuvers more easily. We love summers in Canada - Larry is from Ontario. Glad you found what works. We hope we did, too 🤗 Alice
Great episode! We started with a 2015 Reflection 27RL and four years later got a 2019 Solitude 310. We loved the Reflection and sometimes wish we had kept it. The thing about the difference was the Reflection shower was too small, the kitchen was not as nice as the new model. But last summer we decided to downsize from the Solitude to an Airstream 28 foot with twin beds. Not sure about the twin beds but towing is a dream and we have no slides. You’re going to be fine in the Reflection and we will be watching.
Doug, appreciate your support. You know each rig is a major adjustment- Larry needs his Temperpedic so twin beds would be out 😆 Just moved to our third campground and loving that it’s not as tall or wide. And the breeze is amazing through the windows ❤️ Hope you enjoy your Airstream 🤗 Alice
@@dougdoris8622I get it. We saw a Class A and Larry mentioned down the line he could see getting one - when we aren’t full time and older. I think it’s amazing so many “more experienced” folks keep on camping 🤗 Alice Alice
Hi guys nice update, I informed Shay on day 1 that you were the reason I called that location still in the process of ironing out a deal hopefully as sweet as yours, and 2nd ac is a must I presently own a 23 260rd for just about a year now and absolutely love it however the traveling I have planned ,access to the bath and bedroom is a must , I’m kinda in the same position as you were gen Rv does not have a 2 ac unit in stock for which they will install, I’m sure that has to be an industry marketing thing because anyone buying a Rv in Florida NEEDS 2 ac’s . As far as your Ac issue, do you think it’s the brand or model of ac , or the installation, was it a new model or one off another unit ?the bedroom ac on my 260rd sometimes acts weird, but I think it has to do with thermostat but it has never failed or given me problems once I get it on. And for scruffy and the stairs I found small carpet door mats at ikea used a grommet kit punched holes wrapped around stairs and used small springs to fasten, and for water hose and electric cord I got pigtail fence post at tractor supply for under $5 a piece I also use them to hang small lanterns from harbor freight around campsite for area lighting. Can you guys do me a huge favor and give me the dimensions of the oven and on the exterior the length of the camp side slide and the distance of the slide from back of camper as well as the distance from the wall of the slide next to stairs to the front of camper , my parking spot has a couple of trees that my inhibit my opening slide while in storage I’m trying to calculate how I park to avoid those obstacles. Lastly I think your selection is a real blessing so that you live up to your DMC because it forces you to downsize it’s definitely going to make me adhere all the best I’ll look forward to your next update
John, thanks for telling Shay you came because of us. Hope we get a referral bonus 😉 It’s the new Furrion ACs as far as we have researched. The thermostat sensor is inside the top AC unit. Crazy. The states, we prefer rubber star treads like we did before. The measurements, can you email to remind us? We are busy at the moment. Or you could get the measurements from the dealer? Ask Shay. Thanks again, Alice
Tom, Grand Design told us to buy a TV up to $400 and we would get a refund. Got the $400 check. We spent just over that and the new TV is a serious upgrade 😁 Alice
I saw a video somewhere where they found that the vents for the air weren’t sealed very well and it was pumping air in the ceiling and not totally thru the vents. They used aluminum tape to seal it up better. And then vent pipes were collapsed some in areas. Maybe use a camera they’d used on sewer lines or similar to see if their good. Rent one maybe.
You will love the higher clearance on your new one. I wouldn’t go back to low clearance ever. You will need that higher clearance if you like to go to the back country. You will want independent suspension on your new one. We camped all over Alaska. From 1984 thru 2002. We had to work on our trailers all the time. We finally got smart. We put permanent lifts on our last trailer in Alaska. Now we are traveling the continental US.
Annette, That’s amazing. Alaska is on our list. And you are right - clearance is king. We hope to beef up suspension But for Alaska, we would probably get a truck camper since we have a dually Alice
Great content love the in-depth comparisons it’s all about adjusting. Just don’t load up the cavernous storage compartments a lot of improvements in the design your appreciation of these time will tell! Happy Travels Enjoy All The Best! Be Well Be Safe & Stay Blessed.
Thanks. We were hoping this helps others considering either model. We are doing our best to put the heaviest items in the truck or near the front of the RV. We still have to do some mods - and fix things. We are on another shake down trip and loving so far. Thanks for the well wishes, Alice
Love the video! Enjoyed seeing the differences between the Reflection and Solitude. Glad we have a Solitude. Ours is a 2014 305RE and except for the placement of the TV (in the rear) we love it. Be safe, glad you are back on the road.
Cerita, Interesting we both needed a new TV. Glad you are enjoying your Solitude - just watch the weight 😉 And thanks. It’s amazing how better we feel all ready camping again 🤗 Alice
We have a Reflection 311BHS. We love it! But I get what you’re going through. We purchased an Entegra Odyssey 25R to take to Alaska this summer. We are going from 38 to 29 feet and such little storage for four people. But it’s all about how you want to travel. Enjoy the new rig!!
Melissa, That’s awesome about Alaska. When we go, we hope to get a truck camper since we have a dually - definitely downsize for that trip. 4 people? Good for you and good luck 🤗 Alice
Thanks. Soooo much work - especially since we added mods/upgrades over 4 years 😁 And thanks - just left Fort DeSoto and we are camping at a beautiful state park 🤗 Alice
We live full time in our Solitudde 375, and love it. Storage, separate living room from the kitchen, and overall size sold it to us. Don't think we could or want to fit into the smaller rig. As to whether you are crazy to downsize, ask me again in a year....
Jim, The storage loss is the biggest issue. But driving through Fort DeSoto Park campground recently made me glad we aren’t as tall or wide - lots of lowing hanging limbs 😄 We really don’t like private campgrounds. So going smaller means more opportunities. Good luck with your Solitude - have you weighed it recently 😉 Alice
Although you won't downright regret the solitude, for sure you'll always be nostalgic of the lost space. Downsizing is the way to go but as that RV is your home, not just a weekend refuge, you might feel the pinch more than you think. Only time will tell !
Daniel, good point. But we really only notice loss of storage and less carrying capacity. We really feel the living space is so much better. Third camping trip so far and love it, Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCentsGood ! But that projected 2000 # cargo loss will probably call for Larry to shed a wet suit and a board (ouch) while you may have to put your magnets and pins collection in storage (censored adjective depleted) ... good thing your marriage is solid. Ha, ha !
Stephen, you are so right. But I already felt less stress going through Fort DeSoto Park because we are not as tall or wide - less worry about the limbs 😃 Alice
Great video - for exploring the great US either is a great layout for couples. Kinda wishing right now that we would have bought the Reflection 303RLS instead of our Solitude 2930RL (because we are dealing with front frame/structure damage). Waiting for GD to schedule it to be fixed at the factory - missing some of the best spring camping weather while cancelling our first couple of trips of the season. Your video hit all of the same things we contemplated … end of the day either would have been perfect for us since I like to modify things to my liking (solar, inverter, batteries, etc.) Hope you have many years of great travels in your new Reflection - maybe we will catch you on the road somewhere someday ❤
Mark, I really appreciate the DMs - sorry if I don’t get back right away. Lots going on 😁 I hope all works out with GD. Sorry you are going through all of this and missing a lot of camping season 😔 Alice
Great vlog...sounds like the solitude will be missed somewhat. Not sure about staying with a GD. OH well, the videos over, pull the drapes, for memories, one more time in the Solitude 😉
Dan, no rig is perfect. But the Reflection sure did maneuver better through the last heavily treed campground we were in. 😂 What happens after the camera is off is like Vegas 🤫 😉 Alice
Not crazy at all! Sooo many factors go into your decision. Budget, livability, etc. We have a gas class a motorhome. And interior space is not as much as your rig but the basement storage is plentiful. So we each have a slim plastic bin to cycle winter/summer clothes that go in the basement. Y’all got this!
We went from a small dome tent to a cabin tent to a 30’ Outdoors RV which has a listed cargo capacity of 4,000lbs. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a ton of space…guess we can just bring a few heavy things😂
Elizabeth, 4,000 😳 Wow. We looked at Outdoors, but they didn’t have the floor plan for us. We have the opposite problem - have room but don’t want to be heavy 😁 Alice
We are just finishing up our 6 months of winter in our 19’ class C and the only part of the small size that really bugs me is the lack of kitchen prep space.
Shelley, 19’? Good for you. Don’t know if we could downsize that much. Only for a couple months Alaska trip - but a truck camper since we have a dually, Alice
We have a 340RDS Reflection. Would like to go to a wide body Rv. Shorter would be nicer, but don’t want to give up too much. Nice job on the comparison 👍🏻
Dean, just were at a county park campground- Fort DeSoto - where not as wide and not as tall was less stressful due to trees And thank you. If we compared everything, it would need to be a mini series 😅 Alice
To your question Alice, It seemed like a lot of stuff crept into your old 5th Wheel by the hoarding fairy. I got the heebie-jeebies, seeing how much stuff you had in every nook and cranny of storage😂 this might be a liberating time for you and Larry. Great episode btw. I wish you both the best
Joe, I get it. But when you travel full time and do most of the repairs and upgrades yourself, you need tool and parts. And Larry loves his sports. Why do the life if you can’t enjoy it. But the “hoarding fairy” might have had a night or two 😉 Thanks. We have already dropped hundreds of pounds - who else can say that? 😅 Alice
Great video! We recently got a 2022 Reflection 295. We had all the usual shake down fixes/adjustments/ upgrades and are just loving it. The smaller storage bay does force me to be more organized but that's not all bad. We added a 3000 watt inverter and went lithium. The inverter prep that is in the Reflections made installation a snap. We notice the lighter weight for towing too. All around a real nice balance for a 5th wheel trailer. Enjoy!
We have a smaller fifth wheel and absolutely LOVE it although we don’t full time in it. We love the versatility of a smaller fifth wheel. I think once y’all get used to it you’ll love it you will miss the extra storage space but when you live smaller you live more minimally.
Thanks for keeping us all updated. We like our Grand Design and agree... none of them are perfect. Also, as full timers, it is hard to keep it light. We are checking our weight this week! 😃🍀 J&C
Hey, glad to hear you are weighing. Some people believe “ignorance is bliss.”😳 But with a rig that is built heavy to chin with, like a Solitude, it’s good to know. Alice
You both are so funny! I love you guys! So glad you were able to downsize to fit in the Reflection. And I remember that video of the slide braking and how much trouble you went through to get it fixed. Also I remember Larry had a video he did when he either on the steps. It seems like it was yesterday. Does Scruffy like the new home? I would love to see your new home when you get all moved in. Love you both have a great week and see you soon!
Sherri, I know what you mean. A lot of it seems like it just happened Scruffy loves it - especially the breeze through the windows. Full tour won’t be for a bit 😉 Thanks as always for being one of our most loyal followers 🥰 Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents Oh ok! I’m fine with waiting until you ready to show new home. Glad Scruffy loves it especially the windows. I like the windows too from what I saw.
Or don’t, since you are already close to cargo capacity from a weight standpoint. The 303 has more storage than you can use, given the weight ratings. We need to constantly watch what we are bringing along and keep some heavier things in the back seat of our truck (F-350) as there is more excess capacity in the truck than we need.
We don't live full-time, but we went from a 27 foot rig to a 20 foot airstream. Miss the outside storage, but it's so much easier to get around and get into campsites
Tim, thanks. Loving the windows and living space. Still adjusting to storage and weight limit 😁 If you are “stepping up,” you should love it. Some things feel like better quality than our Solitude. Other features - like flooring - is poorer quality. But we knew we were “stepping down” 😁 Alice
Marcus, thanks. I’ve taken up a lot of the cooking - he forgets the chicken on the Barbecue and burns it 😁 - and I do most of the cleaning. Luckily, I never have to do the dumping 😆 Alice
