My NEW Glacier Peak 30RLS – An Owners Review

I’ve been living with and in my new 2018 Glacier Peak 30RLS 5th Wheel now for just about 90 days. What follows is a video of the interior and an indepth analysis of this trailer manufactured by Outdoors RV.

Glacier Peak 30RLS Review

After 2 years of research, looking for a fifth (5th) wheel that is a TRUE 4 season trailer, well built, spacious and roomy BUT not over-sized, Outdoors RV Manufacturing of La Grande Oregon released and build (almost) exactly what I was looking for.

So, how are things working out in my new Glacier Peak after nearly 90 days – mostly in Idaho’s central-western mountains in the winter?

Short answer… “just fine”. That said, I’ve learned quite a bit about my Glacier Peak 30RLS and in the following video, I’ll show you some of the design and engineering features that I have grown to appreciate over the past several weeks. Further, as a RV consultant myself, I know how most campers in this industry are constructed. Simply put, I wanted to find a camper that “breaks the mold” when it comes to quality construction and innovative design… I may be biased, but I believe in the Outdoors RV Glacier Peak 30RLS, I’ve found it!

What matters in a 4 Season Camper…

Allow me to share what I have found that matters in a trailer. Remember – having traveled full time for nearly 6 years in my (prior) Crossroads Seville and having spent each winter in the Rocky Mountains, I have seen what holds up and what doesn’t – giving me a pretty good idea of what was done well by Outdoors RV when they built the 2018 Glacier Peak 30RLS.

***Looking for a RV Camper (trailer/motorhome) and want to save time, money, and aggravation? I now offer a Concierge RV Buying (and Selling) Service designed to do just that for you. I become your guide by your side – and much more. Review the info HERE.***

The Glacier Peak Kitchen

I’ve come to appreciate a large microwave-convection oven and a larger (double-door) refrigerator. The Glacier Peak does not disappoint in either category. The cabinetry is (frankly) exceptional from three perspectives – the finish (Knotty Alder) is real wood and actually high quality; the drawers are well built and DEEP; and the rails are top notch – 100 pound rails so weight of cargo is not even a consideration when loading the drawers.

This approach holds true throughout the camper. And… I should note, the kitchen is NOT the area that hooked me when I first inspected this model. The pantry is one of the few areas where this camper could use improvement – and if you review my video, you’ll see the modification I made to remove this weakness. The photo below illustrates the sliding drawers I had installed a few weeks after taking possession.

Glacier Peak 30RLS Pantry
Glacier Peak 30RLS Pantry – this is one of the few areas in this camper where I felt a need to make a change and upgrade

The Camper’s Living Area

Leather NOT “pleather” furniture – that’s what you want – and that’s what you’ll get in a Glacier Peak (and all Outdoors RV trailers. Storage – THAT’S another key for me! Note the cabinetry distributed throughout the living area. As detailed earlier, the cabinets are well built and provide more than ample room for storage. Again, the cabinets throughout the camper are made of Knotty Alder with brass handles and excellent quality hinges. Even with cabinets in the living area, the windows are large and allow for excellent light and views.

I should note I’m still considering replacing the dining table with a piece of matching furniture that will provide me with additional storage and still serve with seating space for two while dining. (More on this when I move forward on this project.)

The TV’s size is more than adequate and is well positioned for viewing from the recliners and the couch. The stereo is bluetooth which I appreciated while listening to a recent Southside Johnny concert broadcast on Sirius – through my phone and into the campers speakers!

I must admit, the Glacier Peak 30RLS was not my first choice floor plan, but I had to be a man true to my values – I was going to buy the best built trailer with a reasonable floor plan, not the best floor plan offered by a second rate company (and there are plenty of those to choose from!) Truth be told, I’m a fan of center islands, but that said, there’s plenty of counter space in the Glacier Peak kitchen and without the center island, I do appreciate the openness of the space in the living area.

Glacier Peak’s Bedroom and Bathroom – the areas that truly won me over!

When I first entered the bedroom, I realized just how well the engineers had thought through all the storage space. Lets start with a full width front cap closet that locks with magnets & brass clasps (no more plastic hinges to break!!) Next, a 4 drawer dresser that is reasonably deep, a floor chest that doubles as a great place to sit and put on socks and such, two additional LARGE cabinets next to the bed (opposite the closet), and drawers UNDER the bed along with storage space when the bed is lifted up (with a well constructed bed box.)

Glacier Peak 30RLS Review
Glacier Peak 30RLS Full Width Front Cap Closet

All this along with the same quality cabinetry and finish as in the living/kitchen area made this camper a nobrainer for me (along with the outside features detailed HERE.)

Glacier Peak 30RLS Review
Glacier Peak 30RLS bedroom dresser, entertainment center and storage chest (under the window)
Glacier Peak 30RLS Review
Glacier Peak 30RLS Additional cabinet space in the bedroom – next to the bed (across from the front cap closet)

A few thoughts on the bathroom… large (very large – see photo below) vanity; high quality (brass) fixtures in the sink and the shower; more than ample storage space; a very large shower stall with easy access to towels (see the video!)

Glacier Peak 30RLS review
Glacier Peak 30RLS Bathroom vanity… Wow!

Glacier Peak – the 4 Season “stuff”

First, you need to know… calling something in the RV industry “4 season” has NO official meaning. Frankly, there are MANY campers in the RV industry whose manufacturers refer to them as “4 season” and they include virtually NONE of the design and engineering featurs I’m about to detail here.

Allow me to set the stage for where my perspective and view is coming from. I’m a full timer who winters in the Rocky Mountains where temperatures FREQUENTLY fall below zero degrees Fahrenheit. That is why I’m dead serious about critically evaluating what a manufacturer calls a “4 season camper.”

Lets start with the walls – all walls including the slides and the slide ceiling have a two inch thick layer of high density foam that is sealed by layers on Luan on both sides. (All the Outdoors RV travel trailers and fifth wheels that contain a booth dinette use this material to support the cushions on the benches, so you can actually see what they’re using inside the walls. It also makes for a very supportive seating area! I’ve found 2 inch thick insulation to be quite sufficient to separate my camper from the harsh outside environment this winter.

4 Season Campers… Whats under YOUR floors? 

The underbelly is critical to avoiding freeze-ups. This winter, I’ve grown to appreciate WARM floors as the furnace has a duct dedicated to forcing warm air through the underbelly. This is where your tanks and plumbing are – and in any subfreezing cold, they MUST be protected. Outdoors RV adds three layers of insulation in the underbelly – two layers of “pink panther” fiberglass and a layer of R-foil. These layers are enclosed in weather proof plastic which is NOT pulled tight against the chassis – this insures the fiberglass insulation remains soft and “fluffy”, thus retaining is true insulating properties.

Lets not forget the roof when it comes to insulation

You’ll note in the video, an arched ceiling inside the Glacier Peak 30RLS (and ALL Outdoors RV trailers and fifth wheels.) This is not just a cosmetic feature. There is actually several inches of open space in the heeled truss roof. This design allows the 3 layers of insulation (2 of “pink panther” and 1 R-foil) to remain uncompressed (“fluffy”) from side wall to side wall. By NOT compressing the pink panther again, its full insulation ability is retained and utilized. I’ve also found that with a curved roof, snow more easily works its way off the roof!

Closing thoughts on the 2018 Glacier Peak 30RLS

My trailer is their second production run for this model and several issues were addressed and upgraded from the 2017 model. The next production run of these trailers will likely be for the 2019 model year – as In addition to being a proud owner of the 2018 Glacier Peak 30RLS, I am a RV consultant and feel very strongly about Outdoors RV in general – both the quality of product they produce and the value in each of their trailers. I’ll invite you to contact me privately if you wish to explore options when it comes to purchasing one – my email is traveler@rvacrossamerica.net.

Considering the outside design and features addressed in this Outdoors RV fifth wheel in a prior article and the inside addressed here, this Glacier Peak trailer in my view is one of the best available today – and its price is certainly nowhere near what you could spend on a fifth wheel as some price for $100,000. or even more.

Every day that I return from the ski slopes, I appreciate the various design and engineering features in my camper and know I’ll have many years of great service from this well built (and good looking) machine. If you have thoughts and questions, please post in the reply area below – or – message me privately at the email provided earlier.

If you want to see some of the accessories I’ve equipped my camper with, please click the image below. I also mentioned a space saving gadget for my cabinets in the video, you can see what it is below as well.

best rv accessories
Click the image to see my recommendations for important RV Accessories

Like the content? Want updates as I create them? Then join me here…

Connect with us:

40 thoughts on “My NEW Glacier Peak 30RLS – An Owners Review”

  1. As Allen stated above, both Arctic Fox and ORV make a solid 3/4 season RV trailer. Ourselves, we first looked at Arctic Fox trailers in MT. (too heavy for my truck) while returning from Alaska in 2016 to our home on Northern Ohio. At that time I never even heard of ORV. After planning a Yellowstone trip in the spring of 2017, we made it a point to stop at Allens dealership he worked at in WY. to see our first ORV Timber Ridge unit. After looking for a higher quality RV over the last 18 months here in Ohio, it took my wife all but 30 minutes to say “This ORV unit is the one”. Ended up buying from a OR. dealer, meaning we did a 4500 mile RT to pick it up. Yes, the closest ORV dealer is in Denver. Now Arctic Fox does have a RV trailer dealer in Cincinnati Ohio. But he is very limited on what he carries. After we picked ours up in OR., we did the factory tour in La Grande OR. I believe AF factory is just down the street.

    Since ORV has a west coast rally every June, Us east coaster’s put together our own “East Coast Rally” last July in Northwestern PA. (Cook Forest State Park). I was the wagon master. We had 10 ORV units, but also had some people drive in from other states just to look at units. I just heard they have set up this years east coast rally. Go on the IRV2.com website or try the ORV owners Facebook page….

    Reply
  2. Dear Allen, Happy New Year! We have just started looking for 5th wheel. Love your reviews, appreciate the info..we live in Central New York and will be retiring in the future and wanting to travel the US & Canada, so full time. We have 2015 Palomino Dbl slide truck camper onto a Silverado dually 350…loving the sounds of the Outdoors RV Glacier Peak..sounds like we have to Travel West to see any and that their not available due to the industry crunch or are they available now? confused between the Mountain N Titanium series. Just went to a RV show in Syracuse, NY don’t remember seeing any Glacier Peaks.

    Reply
    • Cindy,

      Thanks for your kind words. While ORV makes a truly superior product, at this time, they are not manufacturing a true full time 5th wheel. Seeing that you’re a few months away from a possible purchase, I’d encourage you to watch closely developments at Arctic Fox as it is rumored their will be a major “refresh” of their line and build for 2020 (expect trailers to arrive in early/mid summer 2019). Jayco has also just released a “baby pinnacle” (about a 36 ft model bumper to hitch) – its worth keeping an eye on as well for reviews. You never know when ORV will release new 5th wheels, so I would not count them out of the running.

      Allow me to suggest this – I have a concierge buying service (http://rvAcrossAmerica.net/buysell) through which I will get you a 5th wheel that meets your needs and at a superior price. As to where to see them – Jayco of course is everywhere, AF has most of their dealer base in the west and you may not see them at rv shows in the east (they do have 1 dealer in Pa.) ORV has NO presence east of Colorado, so… they will not be found at rv shows in the east. Lastly, if you do opt for my concierge buying service, are you willing to travel to get “the deal”?

      Al

      Reply
  3. Hi Allen, does the 30RLS come with washer/dryer prep and what kind of brakes do they use? To add solar just need to install panels? And is $67,000 about the msrp ?
    Thanks a lot
    Chip M.

    Reply
    • Chip, thanks for reaching out. ORV (outdoors rv) is not looking for buyers who want a wash/dry hookup. I had a camper prior that had it, and I never used it. Overall, I’d MUCH rather use a laundramat than waste the space and extra weight (and expense) of a poorly engineered product like a rv washer or dryer. The roof does already have the solar panel connectors, yes; or do as I’ve done and get portable (which I prefer.) The MSRP IF you can find one is 75,000. (about), a poorly equipped one would be 67,000. Dealers will typically discount the 30RLS to 60,000 or less. I do have ONE 30RKS left on our lot at my dealership (its a titanium with a retail of 84500.) As to brakes, drum brakes.

      Reply
  4. Allen,
    I watched your video and have read everything that I could find on the ORV Glacier Peak Mountain Series. My wife and I have confidently purchased a unit sight unseen. We have looked at dozens of RVs and we have rented several over the years. We have walked through other ORV built products and I know we are getting the right product for us. We live in Alaska and plan on using it year round to camp out and hopefully capture great winter wildlife photos and to have some winter sports fun. We’re heading to Anchorage area to pick it up next weekend. Look forward to giving you and your readers some additional feedback.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)