As long time Truck Camper owners, we are now considering upgrading to a Class C RV. It seems one of the better built B+/C class RV's is the Chinook Glacier. However,apparently this company stopped production in 2005. So, the "newest" is 12 years old. The Chinook Glacier appears to be loaded with all kinds of "nifty" features (read, hydraulic / electric / electronic systems) that add to the comfort and utility of the RV.The current used 2004-2005 Glaciers are selling roughly in the $40-55,000 range, a high price for a class C that old. If all the features of the camper work OK and require little maintenance, then perhaps this model camper is worth the price.I'd like to know what you'all think about this camper and whether this vintage of camper is relatively maintenance free. Specifically, what component of the RV fails and can replacement parts be found?Bob

The Chinook Glacier is built on the E450 Ford chassis. Parts are readily available and service is available at any Ford dealership that services Ford trucks. Most coach appliances, air conditioners, furnaces, etc. are standard equipment found on most class C motorhomes. The hydraulic level system and slide out are HWH with service available at the HWH factory as well as many RV service centers. However, the slide out is a pneumatic sealed slide and is a very top end slide out. The slide out bladder seal when needing replacement is very expensive. The electrical system is top of the line with features not found on most class C motorhomes. Some parts are no longer made by the original supplier but are available from other suppliers. Because of the complexity and luxury, they will have more maintenance than the average class C motorhome. What is not there cannot break. Whether they are worth it is a judgement call.

Plus the trade name has been acquired and is "returning" to production by an independent manufacturer in Elkhart IN. Same quality coach, who knows?

If the Chinook Glacier was just what I was looking for, I wouldn't worry a stitch about the systems you are concerned about because nearly all such things are 3rd party items of which are readily available, or they are generic items like power distribution panels, faucets, etc.Now spending that kind of money on a 2005 Chinook Glacier, the used market will tell you if the price is in-line. The Chinook was known to be a quality built product, much like a hand full of other scaled-down B+ manufactures of the era like Coach House, Born Free, Phoenix Cruiser, and Isata. Coach House and Phoenix Cruiser are still in business today. Isata was a product of Dynamax but the company exchanged hands during the recession and dropped the Isata line-up. Phoenix has been around since 1998, quite a long time for a single owner. The original private owner Kermit Fisher sold the company this summer to a pair of private owners who are in the trenches (not hands-free investors) determined to carry on the tradition of a quality product, care of recent and old-time customers, and with the utmost care for their employees. Unlike the industry in general, the employees at Phoenix have been there for many years, very little employee turn-over which is reflected in the product. The previous owner Kermit is even staying on-board as an employee to engineer another platform, I assume the Ford Transit.If you decide to consider a Phoenix Cruiser, I advise to limit yourself to one that is not older than a 2007 to be assured in getting two house batteries in a special compartment for two, and whole house inverter. The entry door is top notch, the Sanicon waste management system is great, and the non-intrusive locked & sealed spare tire compartment is the best I ever seen. I speak from personal experience with our 2007 2350 model HERE. The company offers so many floorplans, slide outs, and lengths, you have quite the choice for housing. We intentionally had ours made for us 10.5 years ago without a slide out. It's a great unit. We love our PC. Our plan is to own it for over 35 years until we are too old & dangerous to drive.

I owned two Chinook Concourse RVs. They were good units, well built. I sold my last one when the company went out of business and it had passed the 5 year age though. Figured the resale value would decline pretty rapidly after that, so I'm surprised to see used Clacier's selling in the range shown. As I recall the original MSRP on them was around $150K.

Motor Home Specialist is advertising the 2018 Dynamax Isata for sale. The 2005 Chinook Glacier had three coach batteries in a basement compartment on a slide out tray and a 2,000 watt whole house inverter/charger.

Chinook Glacier - Are They A Maintenance Problem?

bob_nestor
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2017
LOG wrote:
pnichols wrote:
The Chinook motorhome we owned only had room for one 12V battery, so it was mostly a CG Hookups Queen.

Most Chinook motorhomes came with a Solar Panel and a Generator which would make them a good candidate for camping without hookups.

The solar panel was pretty pathetic and not very much help for dry camping. As I recall it was less than 100w.
LOG
Explorer
Oct 17, 2017
In 2005 the Chinook Glacier had three coach batteries and a 50 watt solar panel. How many other class B or class C motorhomes in 2005 even offered three coach batteries or a solar panel as options? Those features and other high end options help explain why the Chinook Glaciers have a high selling price for a 2005 class C motorhome.
MTBob
Explorer
Oct 19, 2017
Sorry for the delay in replying to this email thread that I started, we've been "off grid" for a while in UT and WY.
Your information has been really helpful and I now more fully understand the history and pricing of this RV.
So, the question for me is whether I want to purchase what appears to be an aging quality product that will likely require maintenance, or opt for something a bit newer of similar quality.
The Phoenix Cruiser appears attractive, though without a slide out, it's not much bigger than our Truck Camper (I think). It's certainly more attractive and has better creature comforts than our Truck Camper.
Thanks for all the information.
Bob
ron_dittmer
Explorer II
Oct 19, 2017
MTBob wrote:
The Phoenix Cruiser appears attractive, though without a slide out, it's not much bigger than our Truck Camper (I think). It's certainly more attractive and has better creature comforts than our Truck Camper.
Thanks for all the information.
Bob
Yes, our 2007 Phoenix Cruiser 2350 with no slide out is bigger than a truck camper though the double bed on the main floor will be smaller. To be honest with you, 97% of Phoenix Cruisers have a slide out. I own the exception to the rule, special ordering ours to avoid a slide out. I instead put that money into the full body paint job.

There are many different lengths and floor plans. You can get as many as 3 slide outs, but the short models are limited to one slide out. When we ordered ours back in 2007, the slide out was not as nice because the fridge stayed put. Starting around 2010, the fridge was placed inside the slide out which opens up the interior much better.
Chum_lee
Explorer
Oct 19, 2017
Chinook Glacier - Are They A Maintenance Problem?

Nothing is a maintenance problem as long as you are willing to do the maintenance in a timely manner. Everything wears out or breaks given enough time. RV's are no different than anything else.

Chum lee

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