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Post by fordtruckguy on Jul 6, 2015 13:19:47 GMT -5
It was bound to happen someday, we will be trading in our "08" Montego bay this coming Saturday... It will be a bitter sweet day for us !! I could not be happier with my Montego Bay and it owes me nothing , but it was time to upgrade. I could not find a KZ product that we felt was an upgrade to what we have , so we starting looking outside the KZ family. We signed for a new 2016 Redwood 38RL the other day and take delivery this weekend. I can only hope that their support and customer service is close to what KZ has given me over the last 8 years..
Goodbye to you all , Thanks for the friendship and happy memories! For those of you who already have my email , we will not be strangers !
Joe
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Post by shortlance on Jul 6, 2015 13:49:50 GMT -5
Sad to see you go but happy for you on the upgrade. Now you will have a new 5er to go with your new truck! I don't think anyone would consider you a traitor so you will have to be a honorary member---you have a lot of valuable information to share! Hope you have good luck with the new RV. Keep in touch.
Thane and Sharon
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azandy
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 83 
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Post by azandy on Jul 6, 2015 13:55:29 GMT -5
Joe,
Wish you the best of times in your new RW. Should be a great RV.
We wish too that KZ would offer an upgrade or next step from our Stoneridge, but appears they are not.
My dealer told me that this past spring they would offer a new Platinum line but have not seen it. Only Durango Gold. Which is a nice product no doubt.
I almost fulltime at times. Living in it while working away. This year been home less than a month of six so far. So looking for same amenities that our S+B home has.
I'm Certain we will chat again up the road.
Andy |
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Post by johnr on Jul 6, 2015 14:19:12 GMT -5
Good luck Joe! Hope the new RV works out great!
Just my plug nickel, but stick around the site if you want to or you get any value out of it.
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Post by fordtruckguy on Jul 6, 2015 15:27:45 GMT -5
Thanks All.. I will stick around as I have learned a lot!.. Andy, if you read my post on the RW forum , it answers your question about the Platinum.. It is NOT going to happen.. They told me that there is not enough luxury draw to jump into that market so they decided to offer optioned upgrades to the gold... That's when I decided to look elsewhere..
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brmike
Seasonal RV’er
Posts: 120
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Post by brmike on Jul 6, 2015 18:59:27 GMT -5
Joe: did they offer any explanation as to why they won't upgrade the existing stone ridge or offer new models of the stone ridge?
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Post by fordtruckguy on Jul 6, 2015 20:38:56 GMT -5
Joe: did they offer any explanation as to why they won't upgrade the existing stone ridge or offer new models of the stone ridge? Hello Mike , The explanation they gave me was that the customer base for a luxury line like the Pretige/ platinum whatever it was called is just not there.. They told me that they did not want to go out into that market , that's why they will give other options to the Gold line.. I think the Stoneridge will get phased out... It was not what I wanted in a luxury RV... |
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brmike
Seasonal RV’er
Posts: 120
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Post by brmike on Jul 7, 2015 7:38:25 GMT -5
i'm sorry to hear that. We really love our stone ridge 38fl. I like the front bath plan they are offering in the Durango Gold, but the Gold does not offer some of the options that we are used to in our Stone ridge, such as heat pumps, cord reels and rear caps. The main thing that sets the KZ units apart from other brands, and I have researched almost all of them, is the weight and balance of the units along with the "fit and finish". My 38fl was about the only one that i felt comfortable pulling with a 3/4 ton diesel truck. almost all of the competitors that offered that floorplan were 1000 to 2000 pounds heavier and the tongue weights were several hundred pounds heavier. Some would say that the others were of higher quality, but i have walked through most of them and don't agree with that argument. Our 38fl is over 3 years old and over 20,000 miles with NO appreciable problems. I hope that rather than discontinue the Stone Ridge line, they would introduce some new floorpans and continue to offer some high end amenities. Just my opinion, but Joe and I are the type of customers that they will be passing up if they choose to continue this business plan.
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Post by fordtruckguy on Jul 7, 2015 12:03:12 GMT -5
i'm sorry to hear that. We really love our stone ridge 38fl. I like the front bath plan they are offering in the Durango Gold, but the Gold does not offer some of the options that we are used to in our Stone ridge, such as heat pumps, cord reels and rear caps. The main thing that sets the KZ units apart from other brands, and I have researched almost all of them, is the weight and balance of the units along with the "fit and finish". My 38fl was about the only one that i felt comfortable pulling with a 3/4 ton diesel truck. almost all of the competitors that offered that floorplan were 1000 to 2000 pounds heavier and the tongue weights were several hundred pounds heavier. Some would say that the others were of higher quality, but i have walked through most of them and don't agree with that argument. Our 38fl is over 3 years old and over 20,000 miles with NO appreciable problems. I hope that rather than discontinue the Stone Ridge line, they would introduce some new floorpans and continue to offer some high end amenities. Just my opinion, but Joe and I are the type of customers that they will be passing up if they choose to continue this business plan. Mike , here is a copy of the email I received you tell me what your thoughts are quote "Joe, We have made a lot of enhancements to the Gold which has brought that product very close to the Stone Ridge. In the short term, our next step will be to offer a package on the Gold that would give you almost everything and anything that most "high end" fivers do, but at a more competitive price. The "next level" product has a very limited market right now and many brands are falling. We will still pursue that product, but it is not a good business move to go after such a small market with a separate product right now when we can fill most needs with the updated Gold. end quote.... |
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Post by johnr on Jul 7, 2015 12:44:56 GMT -5
KZ (Thor) needs to take whatever business direction makes sense for them. Even with the updated Gold, they are still excluding the market where people want high-end fivers, but don't want (or can't get) a unit that's over 40 feet long and over 13 feet tall. Give me the best you've got that's 35 feet and 12'9". It just doesn't exist or I have to take a hit on features that I want. It's frustrating. Does that 4 or 5 feet really mean that I can't get a front living room or power cord reel or laundry chute or king bed or ... yeah I'll be quiet now  |
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azandy
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 83
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Post by azandy on Jul 7, 2015 18:54:19 GMT -5
KZ (Thor) needs to take whatever business direction makes sense for them. Even with the updated Gold, they are still excluding the market where people want high-end fivers, but don't want (or can't get) a unit that's over 40 feet long and over 13 feet tall. Give me the best you've got that's 35 feet and 12'9". It just doesn't exist or I have to take a hit on features that I want. It's frustrating. Does that 4 or 5 feet really mean that I can't get a front living room or power cord reel or laundry chute or king bed or ... yeah I'll be quiet now As we really like our Stoneridge, our business will require me to replace it next calendar year. I would like another as I feel we really got a good one. With that said, I'm not wanting bigger but only a few changes. From what I see the gold won't do it. I have been looking a little now already. Pretty sure I have a brand and model picked. Just have to do some more research yet. Really happy with the one we have . Best rv quality we have had for sure. But I really hate taxes. Either replace it or pay more tax. Was really looking forward to the platinum line. If Thor wants to change kz to a medium and entry level only brand, well, I guess that's their deal. Hope it works out for them. In the meantime I'll enjoy our Stoneridge and continue looking for a replacement. |
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