RE: Rexhall UFO
My two cents votes for the raised rail chassis basement storage, air bag suspension and exhaust brake, if as you say, the cost is the same, which I can't comprehend........jmho
RE: Trek
Here in Florida, the Isuzu was "ok". I got one up to 67 mph going down hill on the Turnpike once! But the owners who knew what they were getting into seemed to love them. At one time they actually made a 33 footer with two queen beds. The most popular was the 24 ft, and sold well here locally. I have always been a fan of the 24, it is like a 33 foot Class A with no bedroom. The diesel used was the real diesel engine from GM, not the converted gas block, so they seemed to be fairly reliable. Great coaches if you can find one in good shape......
RE: Which is better
Rick kinda laid it out pretty well as did the others, but here is my 2 cents worth. Traditionally the C's get a bit better mileage because of the rear gear ratio and lighter weight. (traditionally)....the class A should have more usable interior space as the front seats swivel, making your living room larger, more cargo capacity also. Sit in the drivers seat of both for a while and see which is more comfortable. The Ford class A chassis's also have more cramp angle on the front steering, thus actually turns sharper, having a smaller turning radius. So, guess which one we prefer??.....keep us informed!
RE: FEMA Trailers
Wow. Complaints when there are not enough trailers to go around in a disaster. Complaints about new trailers cause they have formaldahyde. Complaints about storing them for the next disaster. Next will be complaints that 'victims' have to live in a 'used' trailer.
I guess the only thing we're missing is the cost of the explosives that were used on the levee in New Orleans :)
Someone have a solution or is this just complaining?
My take from this would be to find some land and bid on the contract for storing the trailers :)
Double Ditto........If I need one someday here in sunny hurricane riddled Florida, I don't think I will complain...because our tax dollars were spent with some forthought regarding a catastrophie.....a nessasary evil to store them so they will be ready when needed........got a better idea? complain complain.....
RE: Need opinions on Winnabago Adventure 32'
Good coach, good floorplan....seemed to have a shock issue with this era chassis. Hopefully the original owner negotiated for new Bilstiens!!...as with any used coach, test drive!......good luck.
RE: Mike Thompsons RV
Don't ya just hate gettin screwed. Maybe you can figure out how to get even. Maybe you could trade the Bounder in on a new unit and make them give you more than its worth. On second thought, this may require some thought.....
Magician
That may be a little harsh - but I hope you can move on & enjoy your camper.
......kinda dito.....I love statements like this---the only thing you can "make" them do is lose your business if you buy another RV......if you think you made a mistake, step up and accept your own responsibility, who knows if the person who traded in the Pace Arrow was "completely honest". Why did they trade it in anyway? Not every 1997 Pace Arrrow is worth the same. There are so many variables, like condition, miles, smoker, PETS.....etc....if we all dwell on the purchase price of our toys, we'd never in our right minds buy a DEPRECIATING, uh, asset?...enjoy the heck out of it and keep moving on down the road!!!....send your salesman a post card in spite of it all, in other words, get the last laugh....all this is JMHO....good luck and have a great and safe 4th!
RE: Class A vs Class C advantages/disadvantages
The only advantages I can think of of a C over an A is, safer drivers compartment. GM and Ford have spent millions on the safety and ergonomics of their van chassis, better fuel economy because of generally lighter weight and lower rear end gear ratios. Possible more sleeping arrangements because of over head bunk. Now I've runout of advantages.
The A will give you more usable interior space as the front seats become part of the your living room when you swivel them around. Your daughter won't have to "lean" down to look out the front window, if you go with a Ford V-10 or later Workhorse, your turning ratio is actually shorter than the same size C, as the cramp angle is 50 degrees. Generally higher cargo and towing capacities and larger exterior storage areas. Better views from the drivers area as you sit higher and usually have a bigger windshield, and I'm sure others will come up with more. Most A's will have a sofa and a booth like a C to make beds. The C can have the overhead bunk that kids usually love. JMHO, but sit in each style, alone, with your family and try to visualize how you will use it.......I'd go A all the way....
RE: Advice on "old" motorhome purchase...
I cannot think of any motorhome that doesn't or hasn't used wood some where with the exception of a BlueBird or Barth, and they have wood at least in the floors. My concern is the parts availability for the Dodge chassis. Even the wheels are getting hard to find. If you go with a Dodge chassis anyway, lift the engine cover and check the shock mounts, they have a tendency to brake at the mounting point. The kingpins are also an inherent problem. Good luck and keep us informed!
RE: Monaco 8 airbag system question
Like the others have said, usually the ones not selling it put it down. They do take up space for storage, but how much do you need?....and NO ONE ELSE in the industry uses this system, only Monaco products. If you cannot tell the difference between a straight front axle and an independent one, in my opinion, it wouldn't really matter to you anyway. All diesel coaches in the 8 bag price range have ping tanks that help to level the ride. By all means drive the coach before you buy it, drive the one you are buying,not a demo, but buy the flooplan you like the best....IMHO good luck and keep us informed
RE: Blue Book #s
The RV NADA book lists what is standard at the point of the model pricing. Towards the back there are gray pages that list prices for options. These are usually used for "bookout" pricing for banks........good luck. It's a great time to buy an RV.....not so sure if it is a great time to trade an RV....jmho
RE: What would you have done
Your salesman let you down by not staying on top of things, but like bustersbud said, we all screw up every once in a while......sorry it had to happen to you, you did the right thing....jmho
RE: A couple days ago I received ...
At least it's something - what are any other builders offering? I'd tend to think some would complain no matter what was offered...
BTW, we received a $1000.00 rebate last year because of a Comfort Drive promotion. Not a life changing amount of money for sure, but certainly better than a kick in the head.
Ditto.........jeez....complain about getting $2000...go figure..imagine all the plaid shirts and striped pants they could buy at the RV Boutique
RE: What Are Manufacturers Thinking?
Back to my OP, can we find any manufacturer who is making a design change to improve mpg or a unit that reduces use of electricity by making the unit more efficient?
Does a manufacturer even offer a choice of a/c size or use of evaporative cooler, use of LEDs, and a full blown solar set?
I believe Newmar offers most of the above. There must be others also, but, they must produce what sells to stay in business. Being inovative sounds good, but it does not always sell to the masses. You also have to understand, there were over 40,000 Yugos sold in this country at one time.........go figure....and, do you know why Yugos had rear window defrosters?........to keep your hands warm when you pushed them........
RE: Safari Serengeti
Great coach, great innovative company when they were Safari (not Monaco). I'd buy one in a heartbeat if in the market. Just check for the usual used coach things, but really look close for electralisis (spelling?) "bubbles".....Matt Perlot, in my opinion, was way ahead of the times when he hit the market with the Safaris of 1995 and up. Super value for the dollar.jmho
RE: What Are Manufacturers Thinking?
Reducing the main players to only a few companies would help so the volume could support some to things Alan mentioned above. I do think what Ford, GM and other MH chassis companies will be HUGE in what kinds of future MH's we see.
To date there has not been any real brains applied in the industry. Most anyone can built a shot gun house on top of a truck frame.
I beg to differ......have you compared a 1978 Allegro to a 2008?...no brainer there......to date, outside of a Freightliner or Peterbuilt, there are no Class A coaches built on a "truck" chassis as there once was with Dodge and Ford. They are all purpose built RV chassis.
All chassis manufactorers, Ford, Workhorse, Spartan, etc. have already had a HUGE impact on the future and past of the RV industry.
New materials are introduced all the time in this industry. Look at the glues used, insulation, sidewall composits.
As far as airodynamics, take a good look at the 10 degree raked windshields, rounded edges, airdam like bumpers etc. Most manufactorers have had to raise the roofs to accomidate their customers in recent years. Coaches have gotten larger, so they can sell them. You can have the best mouse trap in the world, but if you can't sell it......well......this is all JMHO, based on 14 years in the RV industry. I can assure you, there have been mistakes made, but alot of real brain work has been applied in just the short time I have been in this business. The changes in RVs has been tremendous.
