Got Our Hopes Up Again!

In January, we decided to go to the Greater Kansas RV show in Wichita.  We had no expectation of finding anything because they just don't have what we are looking for around here. But, we decided we might as well go anyway. While there we saw the Silverback by Forest River, R-Pod, Voyage by Winnebago, DRV and then…. a salesman showed us the Vilano by VanLeigh and, we fell in love! They had just started making these 5^th wheels. It was the right size, the right floor plan, built for full timing, the right price range and the inside was so beautiful!! The floor plan was perfect! We were sold! The one on display was longer than we wanted but the dealer in nearby Chanute was a smaller one in next week. We made arrangements with the dealer to come see the new smaller length the following weekend. EXCITED!!

That next weekend we drove to Chanute. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. This unit was not finished as well. There was no attention to detail. Some drawers didn’t shut, some of the wood molding was “off” by an inch or more in many places, there was a huge gouge in the wood just as you walked in, that someone tried to patch and it looked terrible! I asked the dealer about all these things and he said he would fix them. Well, I’m wondering why its wasn’t fixed before it left the factory and AT LEAST before the dealer showed it to us. We were so saddened. I even called the company and explained how interested we had been and then described the unit we saw at the dealer. The company, VanLeigh, didn't seem very concerned and made no apologies. 

I was done. I gave up. But Tom, he kept looking and soon, I was too!

We dug in and began our researching again. That is when Tom, through many hours of searching, found Augusta RV in Bristol, Indiana. And poof! We found what we thought was the best full-time, 4-season 5^th wheel made AND we could afford it! We could see that it was more expensive than the Arctic Fox or Glacier Peak but only a little. Tom researched more and was sold on the quality construction. The floor plan was perfect but still a bit too long. Tom thought we might be able to customize it a bit. It was worth a phone call.

Tom called and talked with Debra. He asked all our questions. We liked that they would let us customize many aspects of the build. They also had an order from another couple, for a smaller version that is not listed on their website. It will be 34 ½ feet long. Perfect!! They have not started making it yet. So, we asked more questions, began emailing Debra questions as they came up and made plans to travel to Bristle Indiana in March!