Our Forest River FR3 32DS

 We finally found our motorhome! And yes, it has 90% of what we were looking for. Only time will tell whether the other 10% should have been more important.

So, here are 5 things we love about our motorhome and 4 things we aren't crazy about.

What we love about our FR3 32DS:

1. The Floorplan:

Roomy 2 slide model

We liked the roominess of this 34 foot floorplan when the slides were out and kept us under our maximum length of 36 feet. We should be able to maneuver in National Parks and have plenty of space for guests to join us. We also got a pantry, overhead bunk, and several roomy kitchen storage spaces.

2. The Mileage:

We loved that this 2019 model had less than 6000 miles on the engine. We had very few maintenance records to view since it has had little service except one oil change, new batteries, and a replacement air conditioner.

3. Seatbelts:

I never dreamed that RV manufacturers would create bunkhouse models that would sleep 8 and include only 4 seatbelts, but we found that in several models including the Tiffin 34 QBA. Although we will usually have only the 3 on our travels, having 8 seatbelts for keeping the grandchildren safe is a nice bonus. 

4. King bed:

We determined that this was negotiable, but having a King bed will be a nice extra luxury. We may need a mattress upgrade, but a walk around King is uncommon in this short model.

5. Price:

Finding a motorhome under $90,000 in this great condition sealed the deal!

What we dislike about this model: 

1. Small Walkway:

The area between the kitchen counter and pantry is narrow.

2. Hidden Storage:

When the bunk/bedroom slide is retracted, all of the storage drawers are inaccessible and you cannot walk around the bed. That means Mark will be crawling over me to get to the bathroom. The slide also covers up the kitchen sink area cabinets, so these cabinets will be inaccessible when we boondock.

3. Paint Scheme:

We really like full body paint motorhome exteriors that make units look unique, so the basic standard entry-level tan color scheme is not a plus.

4. Build Flaws:

The upper cabinets in both the bedroom and above the couch open incorrectly. The doors pull down and the doors hang open toward you making it difficult to access the storage spaces. There is also a missing piece of trim around the bunks that keeps the bedroom door from being flush against the wall when closed. All are fixable, but will probably remain as-is for awhile. 

5. Flooring Gouge:

The slide roller near the dinette left a floor gouge from a screw or object getting wedged between the roller and linoleum. We checked on Amazon for a repair kit that should help us to fix the space. The area will probably be covered with a rug most of the time, though.

All in all, we have seen so many similar models with more mileage in much worse shape. And this model was stored inside a heated garage making the exterior look almost new.

RV Shopping

We are heading to view an RV tomorrow that is near Peoria, IL, and I am so excited about this motorhome that I spent all night dreaming about how to organize all of the cabinets and storage compartments!  

I even found a set of 25 drawer organizers for sale on Facebook Marketplace that we picked up on our way home from lunch with Mom today. It is a 2019 Forest River FR3 32DS with less than 6000 miles. Here is the spec sheet from the best research site we have found, RVUSA.  Although this is not our favorite floorplan (that one is the 34J) it has 90% of what we are looking for:

• Bunkbeds for Grace so that she has her own space for schoolwork.
• A king-sized bed, so that Mark can roll over without pushing me out of bed.
• A shower that allows Mark to turn around easily.
• A toilet that is low enough for Grace's feet to touch the ground.
• A pantry and enough kitchen storage for being on the road for weeks.
• 8 Seatbelts to secure our children and grandchildren.
• Sleeping space for 8 so that family can join us anytime.
• Very low mileage
• A doable price point

But we have gotten our hopes up before and found that pictures are not always accurate. Praying for this search to be done soon so I can begin personalizing and organizing. Keep praying for no water damage, mice, or funky smells!