Easy
to tow and easy to afford, it’s easy to like Glendale’s
new fifth wheel.
For
the past several years Glendale RV has opened a lot of eyes
with its innovative Titanium line of luxury fifth wheels. In
fact, the Titanium brand has proven so successful that it left
many in the RV industry wondering just what the Strathroy, Ontario-based
company would do for an encore. Enter Glendale’s all-new
2006 Easy Rider Golden Falcon line of fifth wheels, consisting
of both rear living (RL) and rear kitchen (RK) models.
 The
Easy Rider fills a major void in Glendale’s product lineup
– a roomy, well made fifth wheel that’s easy to
tow and a bit easier to afford than its top-of-the-line Titaniums.
Yet make no mistake – the Easy Rider is no cheap trailer.
Measuring 32 feet, nine inches in length, the 29RL2S I evaluated
is built on a rock-solid eight-inch I-beam platform with full
four-and-one-half inch, tapered aluminum truss framing and vacuum-bonded
Lamilux fiberglass siding. One-and-a-half inch thick, lightweight
Aluminum Perimeter framing and rigid foam insulation give the
sidewalls strength and rigidity, while the floor structure uses
insulation that’s a full three inches thick. Radius-cornered,
deep-tint safety glass windows hint at the attention to detail
that awaits inside. Step under the 17-foot A&E awning and
you’ll find triple fold-away entry steps and a folding
assist handle inviting you through the wide, radius-corner entrance
door, which comes complete with screen and deadbolt lock. It
only takes one step inside before you feel right at home, courtesy
of a large coat closet, just like you have in your house. Talk
about a nice touch.
The 29RL2S features a rear living floorplan with the kitchen
positioned amidships. It’s about as fully-featured as
you can get, with a Dometic eight cubic foot, double-door refrigerator,
Wedgewood three-burner, high output cook top with piezo ignition,
and a Dometic 1.3 cubic foot microwave with turntable and built-in
range hood, light and exhaust fan. An Atwood fast recovery,
six gallon gas/electric water heater gives you plenty of capacity
for meal preparation or cleanups. A stainless steel dual sink
comes standard, with a single-lever faucet with pull-out sprayer.
A combination of raised-panel and cathedral-style oak cabinet
doors with brushed nickel hardware affords a luxurious look,
while the standard Easy-Glide metal roller system on all the
drawers provides smooth operation, yet security as you travel
down the highway. The storage space is cavernous enough to accommodate
more than enough dishes, pots and pans and foodstuffs for a
small army. There’s no worry about crammed cupboards with
this RV.
 Facing
the kitchen on the street-side of the unit is a large slideout
which accommodates the booth-style dinette and, moving rearward
into the living area, a comfy sofa bed. Glendale offers a free-standing
dinette as an option, but I prefer the traditional booth configuration
for the additional storage it provides beneath the seats. The
choice is yours.
An enormous tinted glass window across the rear wall of the
unit provides perfect light for someone catching up on their
reading on the spacious rear lounge. An oak-finished entertainment
cabinet toward the curb-side accommodates a 27-inch television
and DVD system, with secure storage behind raised-panel doors.
Along the curb side is a large window and a free-standing recliner.
Two decor schemes – taupe and sage – are available.
Forward of the main entry are the bathroom and master suite.
The toilet sits to the street side of the unit while the shower
(nestled behind a beautiful glass door) sits opposite. The master
suite positions the 60 by 80 inch queen bed’s headboard
in a large, deep, street-side slideout, allowing for an almost
full-width wardrobe with fully mirrored doors across the front
wall. I say almost because the curb side offers a thoughtful
chest and a place to position a second television. Dual windows
in the bed slideout provide excellent cross-ventilation.
Additional standard features that stand the Easy Rider apart
include a one-piece fiberglass front cap, rear ladder, day/night
shades, an exterior rinse shower, systems monitor panel, oak-edged
kitchen countertops, fire extinguisher, smoke detector and truly
cavernous storage in the front garage. Thanks to its generous
insulation, fully insulated tanks, a 35,000 BTU floor-ducted
furnace and a 13,500 BTU ceiling-ducted air conditioner, the
Easy Rider is clearly built for multi-season use.
With an expected retail base price in the low $40,000 range,
Glendale’s Canadian-made Easy Rider is a lot of RV for
the money. Easy to tow, easy to afford, it’s easy to like
this attractive and well-built fifth wheel.
SPECIFICATIONS: Glendale Golden Falcon Easy Rider 29RL2S
Length: 32’9”
Height: 12’6”
Pin Weight: n/a
GVWR: 11,500 lbs.
Tires: ST225/75R15
Furnace: 35,000 BTU
Air Cond: 13,500 BTU
Fresh Water: 48 gal.
Grey holding tank: 49 gal.
Black holding tank: 49 gal:
Water Heater: 6 gal.
LP: 2x30 lbs.
Hookup: 30 amp
Sleeps: 6
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