Shorter Toy Hauler: Alliance Valor 37V11 vs Brinkley 3520

[Dan_Frisbie]

We currently own a 2025 Grand Design Momentum 392M. We love the rig, but are considering a change for a few reasons, the main one is looking for slightly less length.
Two that are under consideration are;
Alliance Valor 37V11 - lose about 5ft of length, get a bigger bed, dinette is a little more inviting, 2nd bath is not in the garage, and some other things…
Brinkley 3250G - lose about 5ft, bigger bed, kitchen bars instead of dinette, and other things…
For those of you that have one of these rigs, please chime in with pros and cons. I appreciate your input.

 

[Domo]

I wish I bought my third RV, first.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

You say you love the GD 392M, but... What are those "buts" that are so important to you? Trading a late model high end RV is going to be extremely expensive for you, so make sure it is worthwhile.

Five feet shorter seems to top the list, presumable to get easier access and use of smaller sites. You appear to want more living space (bedroom and maybe kitchen bar vs dinette. Is that all? You don't sound very enthused about the bedroom & bar, more like they are fringe benefits than the raison d'etre.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

You say you love the GD 392M, but... What are those "buts" that are so important to you? Trading a late model high end RV is going to be extremely expensive for you, so make sure it is worthwhile.

Five feet shorter seems to top the list, presumable to get easier access and use of smaller sites. You appear to want more living space (bedroom and maybe kitchen bar vs dinette. Is that all? You don't sound very enthused about the bedroom & bar, more like they are fringe benefits than the raison d'etre.

Five ft shorter is a big reason for us.
The 392 dinette is not ideal.
The 392 queen bed is not ideal.
The 392 clothing storage is not ideal.

I am unconcerned about the financial sense of the deal. (If I was financially restrained, I wouldn’t own an RV at all.)

I really want to hear from other 3520/37V11 owners…

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I wish I bought my third RV, first.

The next one (if it happens) will be our fifth.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Ah.... if the 3rd one was actually your 1st one, just think of all the things you would have never learned or experienced that finally led to the 3rd one.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I am unconcerned about the financial sense of the deal. (If I was financially restrained, I wouldn’t own an RV at all.)

Dan,
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply you couldn't afford it; just that many folks find a huge $$ loss to offend their sensibilities.

Since I've not owned any of those rigs, I'll bow out of the discussion.

 

[msw3113]

There's an Alliance RV Owners'forum at www.alliancervowners.com
If you do Facebook there is an Alliance RV Owners page

Either would be a source of information or a place to pose your question

Based on our six years with our coach and the service rendered by Alliance, we'd buy the brand again.

 

[Kirk]

I have no experience with either of the RVs, but my son has had his Alliance now for 2 years and he uses it a lot. He likes it but said that the one he would consider trading for is a Brinkley. He studies RVs and follows the information constantly, much as I used to do when I was younger.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Don’t own either. Have talked to Brinkley owners over the years. Always positive comments. Heavy rv though. Built like a tank. If I had the money to trade my current 5th wheel, would only go Brinkley.

 

[Dave & Judy]

We purchased a 2026 Brinkley G3250 in October. Left NY December 1st for the winter and put 6,000 miles on it. Had a Solitude 310 previously. We traded for 2 reasons. 1) the garage to carry our e-bikes and 2) the porch for the pups. We even installed the combo W/D in the garage to gain closet space in the bedroom. Splurged for the full body paint and independent suspension with disc brakes. The disc brakes are AMAZING!!. We love the unit. However, at 22,000 GVW it's heavy. Traded our 2500 SRW truck for a 3500 DRW. It tows like a dream. We have no regrets.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

Looked at 4 RVs today. Alliance Valor 37V11, Brinkley 3520, 3500, and the newest 4150 (not really serious about this, but DAYUM!!!).
The Alliance did not impress us at all in far too many areas. 3 Non-ducted A/C units and none of them heat pumps, fit and finish were sloppy in many areas. King mattress has to bend to close slide and it already has a crease in it.
We felt that the Alliance was a step down in quality and amenities from our Grand Design Momentum 392M.

The Brinkley 3500 was a 3520 “light”. It had some of the 3520 features, but was scaled back in order to reduce cost, IMO. Still a very nice rig.
The 4150 is absolutely incredible and huge. It has a home office forward of the bedroom..not what we want or need, but still impressive as ****.

The 3520 hit every mark for us except a dining table. I think that we can live without it since we don’t even use our table at home. It’s the same weight, but 5.5 ft shorter which will help a little in tight spots and open up a few more campsite options. It also does not require any disassembly or rearranging of interior when slides come in.
We pick it up Friday….

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

We purchased a 2026 Brinkley G3250 in October. Splurged for the full body paint and independent suspension with disc brakes. The disc brakes are AMAZING!! We have no regrets.

Sorry, I fat-fingered my initial post. 3520, not 3250…
How much is the independent suspension upgrade?

Thanks for the feedback, though. Since you went from GD to Brinkley, we are comparable, I think.

 

[Bearcatrp]

We purchased a 2026 Brinkley G3250 in October. Left NY December 1st for the winter and put 6,000 miles on it. Had a Solitude 310 previously. We traded for 2 reasons. 1) the garage to carry our e-bikes and 2) the porch for the pups. We even installed the combo W/D in the garage to gain closet space in the bedroom. Splurged for the full body paint and independent suspension with disc brakes. The disc brakes are AMAZING!!. We love the unit. However, at 22,000 GVW it's heavy. Traded our 2500 SRW truck for a 3500 DRW. It tows like a dream. We have no regrets.

Have talked to an owner of that beast. Said his 3500 diesel did great pulling but going down hill the trailer pushed him pretty good, even with the engine brake on. Good luck. Nice RV.

 

[Dave & Judy]

Have talked to an owner of that beast. Said his 3500 diesel did great pulling but going down hill the trailer pushed him pretty good, even with the engine brake on. Good luck. Nice RV.

Thanks. The disc brakes solved the downhill pushing for me. I would never get another camper without them. Happy camping.