When searching for a new RV, it’s always best to have choices. Buying a new trailer can get expensive, and it’s important to get everything exactly as you like it, down to the floorplan and throw pillows. Few manufacturers allow as much customer input as New Horizons RV, a factory-direct seller of upscale trailers. New Horizon’s 2010 Majestic is offered in 11 separate floorplans ranging from 35 to 45 feet, and a wide variety of customization options make the buying process truly hands-on. We tested the 102-F39RLKTSS-KB, which – although a mouthful – should be a popular floorplan for buyers in the high-end fifth-wheel market.
Our test unit, like all New Horizons trailers, begins with special attention to construction details. Because New Horizons builds its own chassis rather than farming them out, the company can design each chassis for each specific floorplan. The tubular-steel framing extends to the entry door from the front overhang, which shores up a frame component that’s usually susceptible to flexing. The hydraulic, flush-floor slides feature laminated full insulation and, coupled with an aluminum perimeter wall framing, lead to what New Horizons claims is comfortable livability from 0? F to 100? F. The main roof is one-piece fiberglass, and all slides feature a fiberglass, walk-on roof. A Bigfoot automatic full-coach leveling system makes set-up in camp a snap.
But to only focus on the construction of the Majestic would be doing a disservice; as impressive as the attention to detail outside the trailer is, the fit and finish inside may be what causes prospective buyers to lay their money down.
The cabinetry in the Majestic is not only some of the best I’ve seen in a trailer, but would easily hold its own among upper-class residential homes as well. As with the chassis, New Horizons crafts its own cabinetry, and the extra effort pays off in spades. The rustic cherry cabinetry with raised-panel doors ($3,710) is genuine, not just wood-faced, and comes complete with knots, gnarls and distress, which are, in a word, gorgeous. Optional oil-rubbed bronze hardware matches the faucets and fixtures throughout the trailer ($686). The aesthetics of the cabinets are on full display thanks to the 12-volt DC multiplex light system, which can be controlled from virtually anywhere in the trailer.
Clearly designed with full-timers in mind, storage in the Majestic’s galley is plentiful, with most every usable area boasting a cabinet, drawer or shelf. A large slide-out pantry near the stairs features four shelves and a cabinet above, and should be able to handle even the most extensive gourmet staples.
The Corian solid-surface countertops are standard, and are color-matched throughout the trailer. There’s plenty of room to prepare food in the galley, with the vast counterspace surrounding the stainless-steel under-mount sink and three-burner gas/electric stove and oven ($119). The optional tumbled-marble backsplash ($945) in the kitchen adds a touch of elegance. A four-door, 12.3-cubic-foot refrigerator and optional microwave convection oven ($795) round out the kitchen features. The optional kitchen island ($1,279) adds to the workable counter space, and throws in a few drawers and cabinets for good measure.
The dining area features a freestanding pedestal table with built-in leaf and upholstered chairs, which makes for comfortable dining for four.
The impressive cabinetry continues through the living area, and the built-in entertainment center that houses the 37-inch LCD HDTV, surround-sound system and workstation takes center stage when entertaining. Two comfortable ultraleather recliners ($580) and a sleeper sofa with air mattress offer a great place to take a load off after a busy day.
Up the stairs, the bathroom area offers a separate, no-frills toilet room with a porcelain residential height toilet and sprayer, and adequate space to get the job done. Next door, a separate cabinet area offers your choice of additional storage or washer/dryer prep ($665). Across the aisle, the radiused shower features an optional granite-finished upgrade ($357). The neighboring sink got the optional vessel and high-rise faucet treatment ($230), a nice complement to the counter in front of the spacious medicine cabinet.
The king bed in this floorplan eats up most of the master bedroom, but adequate room remains for the built-in dresser curbside that houses cabinets, drawers and a laundry compartment, as well as the optional flip-down 19-inch LCD HDTV ($959). The large mirrored wardrobe features integrated shoe shelves and enough room for a season’s worth of dress-up. The optional residential pillowtop king bed ($649) is worth the upgrade if a good night’s sleep is at the top of your list. With the king layout, however, comes the lack of nightstands or walk-around space to make the bed, but opting for the queen bed would solve that. The solid-wood headboard is standard, and there’s plenty of room for odds and ends in the cabinets on each side.
High-end materials and extra-solid construction add up to a lot of weight. Considering how much cargo the average user of a high-end 40-foot fifth-wheel will pack along, this trailer’s already-considerable hitch and overall weights will sneak even farther north. The rear gross axle weight rating (gawr) on most tow rigs will be seriously challenged and easily exceeded by that 4,340-pound (plus) hitch weight, for example. A buyer will need to be well aware of the numbers and choose a good, stout tow rig to safely handle this trailer.
And, perhaps lost in all the top-notch construction and first-rate amenities is the warranty offered by New Horizons. At first glance, the 2-year hitch-to-bumper and 5-year structural warranty may not seem out of the ordinary. However, New Horizons allows you to take your trailer anywhere in the country to have warranty work done, provided the service center contacts Horizons and works with its technicians.
Long-term livability, top-shelf luxury and peace of mind are the main goals of New Horizons RV, and we think the company has hit its marks with the Majestic. Of course, all of that will cost the buyer a pretty penny, with an msrp rivaling many residential homes. But if you’re in the market for an upscale, beautifully appointed fifth-wheel designed for the long haul, it’d be hard to look past the 2010 Majestic.
New Horizons RV, (800) 235-3140, www.horizonsrv.com.
