Sundance XLT 265RK for full-time use?

[VallAndMo]

Hello folks,

We are planning to go into full-time RVing; for those interested, a detailed post of our plans can be found here, but to sum it up we are looking for a less-than-30ft-long fifth wheel weighting as little as possible so as to be easily towable with a 3/4-ton truck, and having around 3000lb cargo capacity.

We are considering the Sundance XLT 265RK; We are aware that it's not a "four-seasons unit" due to less-than-ideal insulation (even after being upgraded to R-9 on the walls and R-14 on the floor/roof via the "Lite-Weight Strength Pkg"), but that would not be an issue for us as we plan to move with the seasons and try to remain in "flip-flop weather" as much as possible.

So, our main concerns are (a) whether the manufacturer's warranty covers full-time use, and (b) whether the unit is robust enough to stand us living in it and towing it around 24/7/365 without issues.

Regarding the warranty, we searched Heartland's site and found the 2013 owner's manual where it's stated that "Heartland RV provides to the original retail purchaser who purchases the unit from an authorized dealer and who uses the vehicle for private single family recreational travel, camping and seasonal usage a one (1) year warranty[...]", so we understand that full-time use, by not being explictly mentioned and also by not being "seasonal use", is implicitly excluded. OTOH, this manual is not specific to the 265RK or to the Sundance models and seems to apply to *all* Heartland units... it seems absurd that Heartland doesn't *any* of their units for full-time unit.

Regarding robustness, how can we evaluate that? Does anyone here has full-time experience in this (or a similar) unit?

Thanks in advance,
--
Vall & Mo.

 

[iaflatlander]

Can't help on full-time question, but put 80 days and 11,000 miles on a 245 xlt this summer. Coach held up well with no problems.

 

[GOTTOYS]

How would anyone know if you use it full time or not? They will probably never ask so you wouldn't have to tell them. As far as how will it hold up...The furniture may not be up to the quality of some of the more expensive units. It will have the same axles, brakes, JUNK tires, furnace, water heater, appliances, windows, roof covering, steps and siding as the more expensive units. These are all generic items that most manufacturers use. Trim, construction techniques, cabinets and amenities my not be the same...In reality, you will probably get a case of cabin fever after living in a small unit like this for a long period of time and will most likely trade it for something larger. Good luck...Don

 

[VallAndMo]

Hi,

Can't help on full-time question, but put 80 days and 11,000 miles on a 245 xlt this summer. Coach held up well with no problems.

Wow, that's a lot of miles for 80 days (it's almost the 12K miles we are planning to pull our future fiver every YEAR)!

Good to know that your 245xlt held up OK, gives us hope that perhaps the 265rk will hold as well.

Thanks for sharing it.

Cheers,
--
Vall & Mo.

 

[VallAndMo]

Hi Don and Kathy,

How would anyone know if you use it full time or not? They will probably never ask so you wouldn't have to tell them.

Even if no one asks beforehand, if/when the time comes to use the warranty it could be deduced by our mail forwarding address... But anyway (and with no criticism of your suggestion implied), we would rather play by the rules and not depend on anyone "not finding things" about us.

As far as how will it hold up...The furniture may not be up to the quality of some of the more expensive units. It will have the same axles, brakes, JUNK tires, furnace, water heater, appliances, windows, roof covering, steps and siding as the more expensive units. These are all generic items that most manufacturers use. Trim, construction techniques, cabinets and amenities my not be the same...In reality, you will probably get a case of cabin fever after living in a small unit like this for a long period of time and will most likely trade it for something larger. Good luck...Don

Thanks Don! We have heard that the tires is one thing we would want to replace for safety's sake, and we are planning for it.

Re: a later upgrade to a larger coach, we of course don't know, but we plan on keeping out of the RV most of the time... we plan on visiting all the wonderful places the US has to offer, and it would not make much sense to spend the effort, money and time to drive up to them and then staying inside the RV, now would it? ;-) Seriously now, in out first RV trip together we spent 20-plus days inside a minuscule 18-feet van-built class C, and we managed OK... but you are correct in a sense, we figure that after some years in fulltime RVing we will have enough experience under our belt to really know what we want in an RV and so to want to get a different one, but we would really like the first rig to have enough quality to serve us for least 5 years without no large issues (neither a large number of small ones ).

Cheers,
--
Vall & Mo.

 

[iaflatlander]

Hi, Wow, that's a lot of miles for 80 days (it's almost the 12K miles we are planning to pull our future fiver every YEAR)! Good to know that your 245xlt held up OK, gives us hope that perhaps the 265rk will hold as well.Thanks for sharing it.Cheers, -- Vall & Mo.

Alaska!!!

 

[VallAndMo]

Hi,

Alaska!!!

Alaska? Wow! This is a trip we will be surely making sometime!

You must have been there during the summer, right? What kind of minimum temps did you get?

Cheers,
--
Vall & Mo.

 

[VallAndMo]

So, anyone here can tell us whether Heartland's warranty for the Sundance XLT 265RK covers full-time living or not?

In case we have to email Heartland directly, can anyone here point us to the right person/address to send the email to?

Thanks,
--
Vall & Mo.

 

[TravelTiger]

Vall & Mo, the intended target for the Sundance line is not full-timers. It probably does not have many of the features and construction that the Landmark, Bighorn and Big Country, all advertised as warranted for full timing, have.

That being said, I can't recall anyone posting here in the last 3 years that Heartland denied warranty work because someone was full-timing in a unit that was not warranted as such. Don't hold me accountable in your decision, just stating what I recall.

We want you in the HL family, if possible!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[westxsrt10]

So, anyone here can tell us whether Heartland's warranty for the Sundance XLT 265RK covers full-time living or not?

In case we have to email Heartland directly, can anyone here point us to the right person/address to send the email to?

Thanks,
--
Vall & Mo.

Yes, full time is covered. I'm sure your warranty reads the same as mine. The one year warranty goes by fast so it's not a big deal. You will want to upgrade the tires and likely wheels soon. (oem wheels can't accept the PSI for E rated tires)