There’s a certain mystique that permeates every Carriage RV, born of almost 40 years of quality and attention to detail in a range of RV products…you only have to step inside the new Domani DF302 to understand the pride that has gone into every aspect of the vehicle – a plaque beside the entrance door says it all – “It is our belief that you have purchased the best designed, best built RV on the market today. We are proud to have built this RV for you.” The plaque bears the signatures of the Director of Manufacturing, the Director of Engineering, the VP of Operations, and the VP of Sales and Marketing - the trailer bears the unmistakable fit and finish of top quality workmanship and the finest materials applicable to each and every component on board.

RV Lifestyle Magazine has often visited the Carriage factory in Millersburg, Indiana, where the company maintains a beautiful campground setting as a courtesy for their customers who stop by to visit and take a plant tour. The facility, nestled adjacent to the 20 buildings that make up the current Carriage plant complex, is part of a 55 acre development in the heart of Indiana’s Amish country.

Our RV Lifestyle Magazine road test of the Domani fifth wheel brought an interesting new dimension to the standard review process. We arranged to have access to one of the new 2008 models through Camping in Style, in Brooklin, Ontario, one of North America’s top Carriage dealers. Serge Goulet, the dealer principal and John Hasilo, sales manager, asked Jack and Joan Clark, who own a 2007 Carriage fifth wheel, to accompany us as we toured some of the scenic routes of central Ontario, towing the new Domani trailer behind Jack’s GMC 2500 Duramax Diesel. This gave us a range of valuable insights based on Jack’s experience and familiarity with the tow vehicle, and similar sized fifth wheel trailers, in addition to our own familiarity with a wide range of trailers and tow vehicles.

Construction

For a lightweight trailer, the Domani certainly doesn’t compromise form or function. From the frameless Hehr windows to the premium quality front and rear fiberglass caps and Gelcoat Hung Glass sidewalls, the Carriage embodies all of the state-of-the-art components that you would expect in a top of the line vehicle. Climb the rear ladder to the roof and you will find a colour-matched TPO surface that is exclusive to Carriage, and that really makes a difference when you view the vehicle from a distance.

With an enclosed and heated underbelly and enclosed and heated holding tanks, this is truly a vehicle to enjoy throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, and an excellent getaway home for snowbirds wintering in the sunny south.

On The Road

One of the more intriguing aspects of the Domani fifth wheel is the integration of luxury appointments into a “lightweight” design concept. At just 9,000 lbs. total dry weight, this 30 footer takes advantage of a Norco frame, engineered exclusively for Carriage, and Dexter Tor-Flex independent suspension axles with Nev-R-Lube axle spindles. The Domani rides on an upgraded set of tires - Goodyear Fortera 285/50/R20 radials with steel, aramid and polyester ply construction – definitely high performance in the RV category, with a distinct advantage – the wide tread and low profile allows the tire to turn better than the conventional tires generally found on tandem axle trailers – there is less sidewall flex and less “scrub” when you have to do a tight turn, and rolling resistance is very well controlled – treadwear rating is an impressive 620, with traction and temperature ratings in the “A” range. The tires were mounted on American Racing mag wheels – very snazzy for an RV in any price range. With 12 x 2 drum brakes, the Domani stopped as well as it rolled, which was really quite effortless for a full-size fifth wheel.

It didn’t take very long for us to appreciate the road manners of this rig – Jack, who has towed his own fifth wheel trailers more than 75,000 km with his GMC Duramax, couldn’t get over how well the Domani negotiated the twisting country roads, thanks to the Dexter Tor-Flex axles and the Mor-Ryde fifth wheel hitch pin box that helped smooth out the bumps and pavement irregularities. With the tow vehicle’s Air-Lift helper springs set to 20 lbs, and the trailer’s deluxe suspension, we barely noticed the bump when we crossed railway tracks.

Jack’s 2003 GMC 2500 HD Duramax Diesel 4x4 logs 15.7 miles per Canadian gallon towing his 31’ triple slide fifth wheel, and he felt that the Domani pulled easier than his own trailer – with similar tow vehicle specs, you could reasonably expect fuel efficiency in this range or better.

In the Campground

It takes only a few minutes to dock your Domani at the campsite of your choice, with all of the amenities right at your fingertips… touch a button and the power front landing jacks extend to assist as you uncouple the rig, and once the tow vehicle is pulled clear, you can level the trailer with the independent rear stabilizing jacks. Once the trailer is level, it only takes the flick of a switch to extend the two Carriage Wedge slide rooms, and you can climb aboard with plenty of room thanks to the Big Easy entrance step from Hickory Springs.

It didn’t take a minute to set up the Travel-R electric awning, and the remaining RV hookups were a breeze thanks to the centralized docking station that incorporates 19 foot hose, black water flush, city water full, and the electronic connections for satellite/cable TV and telephone. When the time comes for heading home, there is an electric dump valve – it doesn’t get any neater than this.

We always appreciate the thoughtful placement of lights at all of the exterior work stations, and the use of dual gas struts on all flip-up compartment doors, and the Domani provides these amenities – and more. The carpeting in the exterior storage compartments, and the fit and finish of the access panels in the floor of the front storage compartment is a very good indication of the craftsmanship and care that has gone into this vehicle – there’s a touch of quality in every area – even in places where some owners may never look.

Larger than it seems…

With a large dinette slide and a bedroom slide, the Carriage floor plan offers plenty of space for a trailer of this length, although some may find it takes a bit of getting used to a fifth wheel configuration that does not afford much space to move when the slides are retracted. You soon become accustomed to flicking the switch to extend the slide – it only takes a few seconds to bring the trailer to its full width.

Once the dining room slide has been extended, the benefits of the floor plan are obvious. The luxurious couch with matching ottoman is an elegant area for entertaining your guests, and with a matching couch on the opposite side of the living room the trailer can easily accommodate eight adults for a pleasant evening get-together. The galley is compact for a vehicle of this size, but fully featured, with a large refrigerator, high quality 30 inch convection microwave with exterior vent, flush-mount LP range top from Europe, and a Fantastic Vent with rain sensor.

For those who find the galley a bit too compact, the Domani is also available in the DF300 floor plan, with a rear sofa and a good size side galley. You can check out the two floor plans at your dealership, on the corporate website at www.carriageinc.com.

Interior Elegance

For entertaining or just relaxing in the trailer, it’s hard to beat the layout of the Domani living room and dinette area, with rich upholstery and the ambiance of genuine wood cabinetry. The leather slide room sofa has a pull-out bed, and two tabletops, and the second sofa has a flip-down drink stand as well as a pull-out ottoman.

This is a trailer that is ideal for a couple, with a very comfortable convertible couch for the kids, or occasional guests. Lots of storage space in this area lets you keep the trailer neat and uncluttered, with everything you need tucked into one of the large overhead cabinets. The curving design is quite distinctively different, and it certainly is a refreshing change from the typical RV interior. Settle into the supple leather sofa and relax to the on-board entertainment, provided by a PolkAudio Isonic System that encompasses DVD/CD player, and AM/FM radio that is compatible with iPOD and MP3 inputs, XM Satellite Radio and Carriage’s exclusive HD radio. There is a 26-inch Samsung LCD TV in the living room, and an optional 19 inch LCD TV in the bedroom that can also be mounted outside the trailer on a special arm that is built into the side storage compartment.

From the cherry veneer cabinetry and gently curved cabinet frames and doors, to the black stainless steel wrapped refrigerator, this trailer exudes elegance in every nook and cranny. The use of Euro design hinges and drawer hardware, and the latest Earth Corian countertops in the kitchen and bathroom areas brings out the “oohs and aahs” whenever you give your guests a cooks tour. There’s even a marble-look ABS shower pan with curved glass surround, and the washroom is very spacious for any size fifth wheel, and especially well planned for a 30-foot unit.

In The Bedroom…

It is always important to have room to move around in the bedroom, and the Domani provides plenty of space, even with a queen-size bed and a generous nightstand. We were particularly impressed with the large closet and the vanity table. The interior design incorporates an angled bed frame that carries the overall style of the vehicle into the bedroom area.

With the optional Carrier roof-mount A/C with Heat Pump, the bedroom is a cozy retreat within the Domani, and the concept of angling the bed adds substantially to the available space. The overhead skylight complements mood and convenience lighting that is well placed and very effective.

The Bottom Line

Any RV enthusiast would be delighted to have the opportunity to tour the continent in a Carriage Domani. It’s a beautiful blend of form and function, and an excellent example of the latest in RV design and technology. (Page Top)