Wildcat 31TS

Has anyone seen this new model? It looks real interesting. I also see some new interior colors. I thought I had my mind made up on the 28rkbs, but now I think this new model is worth looking at.
Jim

I agree, very nice set-up. If we were in the market, it would definitely be a possibility. The 25 rl is nice also. I do like the fireplace in the rear like that.

I too saw the brochure on the 31TS, looks really nice.....

I like that arrangement. Scruffy could get up in the morning and shave, and the light from the bathroom wouldn't keep me awake. :)

The floorplan shows about as much kitchen counter space as the 29rlbs, but there is a photo in the brochure that shows a little cabinet on the far side of the stove, with some counter space, so that would be good.

Fireplace is nice - disappearing TV is great! Entertainment center has some good storage space.

Tater

Disappearing TV, I didn't realize that was how that was set-up!! That makes it that much better. I am still trying to decide about the fridge on the other side of the camper and not easily accessed from the sink area, but it would make it handy to get into with the slides closed.

I found a website that had photos of the 31TS. There are some photos of the fireplace/entertainment center from a couple different angles. When the TV goes down, a door closes on top of it. Very nice!

Try this if you want to see more pictures (17, I think):
https://www.terrytownrv.com/cf/shopmast/productdetailp.cfm?productid=653

Tater

Shall we all get together and buy some from the same dealer. Power in numbers....

Looks very nice, but I think I could do without the faux rock treatment. With 3 slides, I hope they finally got the seals figured out from leaks. As far as the disappearing tv goes, I would question it being clear to the back of the rig in a cabinet, as this seems where a 5er gets most of its bounce. Overall if I didn't have kids though I would have to give this one a serious look.

We saw it and are very interested and if the price is right this may be our 2nd 5'er. We really want a bedroom slide and the side aisle bath. I would like it if WildCat offered a generator option and 50 amp service. But other then that this new floorplan is on our short list. It will be interesting to find out what we can get for our current model.

After seeing the pictures in the link that Tater provided, it looks like the countertop space is very limited. I was hoping that there would be an extension. We just sold a Motorhome that had about the same countertop space and we want to avoid that with this next purchase. So I guess I am back to the 28rkbs.
Jim

I've gotten accustomed to not having any counter space in our 29rlbs. We never use the extension - it's a pain in the neck to have to pull it out from under the sofa - it's also too big. We keep talking about making a hinged extension, about 10-12inches long, but we just don't seem to have time.

I agree with Carpe Diem, not a big fan of the faux stone look. I also wonder how much glare there would be when trying to watch TV during the day! But heck you are camping so you should be outside during the day, not watching TV.

This floorplan does have some interesting features.

The counter top extension is too big and awkward so we rarely use it. Not to mention it is a pain to store. In our model there should have been a hinged one to the right of the stove. Anyway the new 31TS has a bit more space to the right of the stove, but they kept the poorly designed counter extension to the left of the sink. If we trade for a 31TS I am going to have a hinged extention made for it, probably work it into the deal with our WildCat dealer.

I am with everyone else on the faux stone; looks like a designer enamored with the "rocky mountain" look and got carried away. I could have done without it. But then again I think most RV interiors are fussy and overdone.

Is that "stone" standard, or an option? I don't care for it either.

Tater

I wonder what is behind the stone if it was removed? I like the floorplan, but not sure I could handle that stone.

MaxRock wrote:I wonder what is behind the stone if it was removed? I like the floorplan, but not sure I could handle that stone.

It doesn't look bad in person........if it wasn't plastic rock, it would just be plastic wood.

They are using a lot of plastic in the new models now.


Steve

foolsrushin wrote:I would like it if WildCat offered a generator option and 50 amp service.

I read the brochure, no 50 amp service, and 5200 pound axles with 15 inch tires.

Wouldn't you think they would have upgraded these options to standard by now.

[quote="oldelmer1"]

foolsrushin wrote:I read the brochure, no 50 amp service, and 5200 pound axles with 15 inch tires.

Wouldn't you think they would have upgraded these options to standard by now.

Tom is there an option for a 6k # axle upgrade and 16" tires or is what you see what you get? My next 5er will have a genset, 6k# axles (or more) and 16" LRE tires.

Hi Mark,

Nope, mention of a 6K axle option at all, but you can get 16" aluminum wheels and tires. No mention of a generator setup either.

And it just says 30 amp and no mention of a 15K AC either.

Hopefully, they are just not telling is everything......

In the south, a 15k A/C unit is a must. My "gotta have" list for my next 5er is 6k # axles, 16" wheels, LRE tires, on-board generator and possibly 50 amp service.

MaxRock wrote:In the south, a 15k A/C unit is a must. My "gotta have" list for my next 5er is 6k # axles, 16" wheels, LRE tires, on-board generator and possibly 50 amp service.

Mark,

I agree 100%. DW would like the 2 slides in the rear and a washer/dryer also.

They still offer the 15K roof air in the options list........

Also 16" rims with E range tires in the options......

Nothing I could see about generators though......

I do like the Lazy-Boy recliner option though!!


Steve

Thanks Steve, very cool.. We are still a couple of years away from an upgrade. When my daughter leaves for college, then we may start looking...if there is enough money to go around!

We do like the layout of this unit a lot but want a gen set in our next 5'er. As for A/C 15,000 BTU is required in the south but even with that we have considered adding a 2nd unit to ours and the 31TS is longer. I think this one would require it. Forest River should consider a 50 amp upgrade and a generator prep option. I also agree about the axles, while it is nice that you can now get 16" wheels in the east there should be an option to upgrade the axles as well. We haven't seen one in person yet, our local Wild Cat dealer doesn't have this model in stock, but plan on checking it out.

foolsrushin,

You know a second A/C makes more sense. That would be a preferred solution that one big unit in the middle. I know the A/C is distributed / vented throughout the 5er, but 2 systems would be the cat's meow! That would definitely require a 50 amp service. A friend of mine had a second unit installed in his 5er, but he had a separate 15 amp service (maybe 20 amp, don't remember exactly) with it's own power cord. That way he could utilize the 30 amp main for the 5er and a 20 amp breaker for the 2nd AC unit.

That is what our dealer proposed; put in a separate 20 amp service which gives you a 2nd power cord. Since we always stay at places with full hookups that would work. The issue is cooling the 5'er down after you've been on the road for 8 or more hours. By August it can take up to 4 hours and we do have the 15K BTU A/C. I figure our 30LSWB is at the margin for a single unit and the 31TS is 20 inches longer with a 3rd slide out. So, if we go with this model we will have the 2nd A/C installed from the get go.

foolsrushin,

That would be the great benefit of an on-board genset. You could stop about an hour away from your destination, fire off the genset and turn on the AC. The unit should be cooled down by the time you arrive.

We saw one Friday at the Tampa Supershow. They are nice. Show sale price was $34,000.00, which to me was no sale. I have seen them advertised on the internet for 26 to 28 K. Getting back to the unit the faux stone didn't look to bad in person. There was a lot of room in the unit and the angle on the steps going to the bedroom gave you privacy. There was a door on the bedroom. The central docking station was a good addition. There is a huge amount of space in the basement. We are seriously thinking about it. We spent enough money at the show. A leather swivel recliner with stool and a Sleep Number mattress to replace the WC factory mattress. We actually took a nap on it yesterday after I put it in. It was to cold to sleep in it last night, we were going to get into the mid 40's.

I don't know, it (the stone) kind of gives it that 70's retro look. Reminds me of my first rancher back in '72.

We went to our annual RV show yesterday but the WildCat dealer wasn't showing. There was some big fallout between the promoter and the local RV dealers last year. Anyway, we didn't see one which was disappointing. Attendance was way down from previous years which made it nice for us but not so good for the dealers. We think we are going to hold off on a new one this year and buy in 2010.