Questions before ordering 3011DS

[ORvideoguy]

I've spent the last few months reading post after post on this forum and getting great information about Forest River RVs. We have narrowed down our choices to the 3011 or 3051 but pretty sure the 3011 will suit us best for counter space and sleeping space - family of 6: 2 adults, 2 teens and 2 kids.

So I am just about ready to order a 2015 Forester 3011 and I have a few questions. Here goes:

A local Sunseeker dealer told me that they have been told by the factory that the Forester line is on the way out. I'm not sure it matters to me but is there any truth to that?

Speaking of the local Sunseeker dealer; besides the option of ordering a Forester I am also considering a unit at the local Sunseeker dealer, it's a new 2015 Sunseeker 3010. I've searched the forums but I'm not seeing any differences listed between the Forester and Sunseeker lines comparing the 2015 models. I found the previous discussion and the list provided by bclemens from around 2012 or 2013 but it looks like current Sunseeker models may have caught up in some ways with the Forester. LED lighting, soft-touch ceiling, etc. So the question is what are the differences between the Sunseeker and Forester for 2015?

I see convection oven listed as an option and I wonder if it is an option on the 3011 and if so how does that change the layout of the kitchen? Is it in addition to the oven or does it replace the oven? Any information would be appreciated.

Finally, I think I like the new color option Indigo, are there any more pictures of this paint scheme besides the one posted to this forum and on the Forest River website?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[jazzy47]

We have the 2015,make sure your seats swivel,some do some don't,we also got the 4 door fridge,love it but makes for a smaller shower .Salesman told us Forester is a step up from sunseeker but really wish we had gone with ss,our seats dont swivel when I called back they said none do,wrong,we sat in one that did. Jmo

[bclemens]

1. who is this local Sunseeker dealer you speak of? Sounds like salesman BS to me. We have zero intention of discontinuing the Forester line.

2. Sunseeker to Forester changes are pretty much as they were. Sunseekers do not have soft touch ceiling. The only thing we added was Led lights and they are different light packages. Forester glass recessed LED's, Sunseeker is a plastic surface mount. I like both of them for different reasons.

3. Convection. depends on how you want it? Normally it would replace the microwave and you would get a drawer in place of oven, but if you want the oven and the convection just be sure to order it that way.

4. Are you looking or something specific? The one on the Forest River website is about as good a picture as we can get. The blue on there is the Jeep "maximum steel metallic"...not to be confused with the Jeep true blue.

[bclemens]

PS...Swivel seats are an option on either Sunseeker or Forester. It is not model dependant.

[naysmitj]

Is there an option to change regular seats on the Forester to swival seats? I bought off the floor and did not realize that was an option.

[bclemens]

Driver set you could order from a dealer. Passenger side, the floor needs to be cut out. Passenger seat sits back 2" further than driver. Some people on here have gotten swivel seats from an aftermarket company. Not sure how those work.

[BamaBob]

ORVideoGuy,

Given point #1 by bclemens I would be looking for another Sunseeker Dealer.

Convection vs oven. For us, we finally got our oven to work acceptably (propane ovens are noterious for hot spots and uneven baking (our mod/fix was a full length piza stone that covers the complete burner area, thus distributing the heat evenly - well as evenly as it can )

Do it over again? I would go with a convection microwave (biggest I could get!) and a induction cooktop if they are available!

Given bclemens assessment that Forester has LED lighting over (incandesent?) in Sunseeker I would absolutely go LED - save you the PITA upgrading to LED in a year or two when you can't get incandesent anymore
(Not to mention LEDs have a MUCH lower power draw! - EVERYONE is switching to LEDs!)

[bclemens]

Both Sunseeker and Forester have LED's. Just the Forester are glass recessed. Sunseeker is plastic surface mount.

[ORvideoguy]

Thanks everyone for the input and suggestions and thanks to Brian for the answers straight from the factory. I placed our order yesterday for a Forester 3011DS with every option we could possibly need, ok want... who really NEEDS an outside TV?

I figured if we are spending that much money we might as well go for it and get everything that we would use.

We did opt for the swivel seats, we rented a Sunseeker 3010 this summer and it had both driver and passenger swivel seats and it was great extra seating for the kids.

It sounds like about 10 weeks until delivery here in Oregon but luckily we'll only be missing out on cold and rainy weather here. We are so excited!!

And just a note to you Brian, your involvement on the forums here has been a huge factor in making our decision to purchase a Forest River RV. Thanks again! I'm sure I'll have plenty of other questions when we take delivery.

[bclemens]

Which Sunseeker and which Forester dealer were you dealing with? Always nice to know who needs another training visit,

[ORvideoguy]

The Sunseeker dealer I was shopped is RV Corral in Eugene, Oregon. The salesman did a great job showing us around the Forest River Sunseeker units they had in stock. The only thing I questioned was the statement about the Forester line being discontinued since I was also considering a Forester product. Otherwise they were friendly and helpful but I really like the slight upgrades in the Forester line.

We looked at the Forester line at Camping World in Eugene but they didn't have the 3011 in stock and the units they did have on the lot seemed to be missing some of the options we really wanted. After seeing the inventory that the local dealers had in stock it appeared that we would do better by putting in a custom order to get what we truly want. I read about RV Wholesalers on here and so I researched them and got a quote and I ended up ordering from them.

[bclemens]

Well, that stinks. I have friends at the Eugene Camping World, would have much preferred you order locally. But, as long as its one of ours, welcome to the family.

[ORvideoguy]

Brian, I should have checked with you. I wanted to buy from a local dealer and I even saw in a previous post you mentioned to someone else that you had connections on the west coast. I just never asked... now I know.

I had an interesting experience with the last visit I had to Camping World. The salesperson was interested in selling me what they had on the lot and I was pretty sure I wanted to make a custom order so I did it through the company that was willing to do that for me. Thanks for the welcome, we're very excited.

[bclemens]

I've known the GM of that store for 10 years. Started as a sales guy, move to other locations and is now GM there. I would of course chastise him for losing a sale. For me and for him.

[ORvideoguy]

Well shoot, now I'm curious to know what they could have done on the price. I guess I'll never know.