As you know from my previous posts we are looking to fulltime travel US from March this year, moving from sailing fulltime so we used to "camping".We still haven't decided on type of the RV, i have shortlisted three fivers and have asked for opinions in separate thread. But recent discussions with my better half brought up the issue of the size and access to the parks and flexibility to boondock etc., so i was tasked to investigate MH's in 25' - 35' range. I have shortlisted couple new ones, now we are looking at new one for now is the older ones i have found look dated, don't have all the cool gadgets (solar prep. for example) and layouts seems all the same (we want separate full bathroom and separate bedroom), but we are still open to get used one if we find what we want. so far i have identified these :1. Winnebago Vista LX 27N2. Newmar BayStar 31243. Thor Palazzo 33.2 (or 33.3 if the bunk can be converted to wardrobe)4. Coachmen Pursuit 32WC / Mirada 32SSMost of them are gassers and Thor is DPIf we chose one of these i am expecting to toad Wrangler so 5k# towing capacity minimum.I would appreciate any input, especially if you can think of any suggestions for us in this regard :) ?Personally i like the diesel better :-)

I'm assuming you're buying new? Initial quality wise, the Newmar would be the best choice, although we see almost all brands of new coaches in the shop. I would expect some time period - greater than 3 months and less than 2 years - for the dealer to work out any factory flubs. Don't expect to buy the bus, load up your stuff and hit the road in the same week.Try the DP first then try a front engine gasser. That should tell you if you want to change your list. I think nearly everyone here agrees that the Thor will have the greatest number of quality issues.

jplante4 wrote:I'm assuming you're buying new? Initial quality wise, the Newmar would be the best choice, although we see almost all brands of new coaches in the shop. I would expect some time period - greater than 3 months and less than 2 years - for the dealer to work out any factory flubs. Don't expect to buy the bus, load up your stuff and hit the road in the same week.Try the DP first then try a front engine gasser. That should tell you if you want to change your list. I think nearly everyone here agrees that the Thor will have the greatest number of quality issues.Thanks, thats feeling i ma getting from all the posts i am reading (about thor) but its also only new DP that is out price range.We would go to used one if we find the one with layout and equipment we like (and size)

I dont know what area you are entering the US. But another unit you may want to look at is Holiday Rambler. A dealer in South Carolina that I visited had a 38' diesel pusher for less than 200 new. www.rv007.com They are also an out the door dealer so they are a little easier to work with.jplante4 sees all brands and could likely give a better opinion on them vs Thor and the Gassers.

In looking at your 54 posts I do not have a feeling of how old you are and how long you plan on RVing. In that small a rig you do not need a diesel. I realize that 30+/- is bigger than what you are used to but staying in public CGs like NP and SP is not the reason to go that small...especially when you said This is exactly our plan, FHU with occasional boondocking. Out West we boondock 5 out of 7 days/week in our 42'. Do not compare the length of a MH and car to that of a 5er and truck as the car can be parked 90 degrees to the MH taking up 8', not 18' of a truck. Yes, some sites will let you park a truck 90 degrees.Tank size is VERY important for boondocking...$6/night in most USFS CGs with the old farts pass which now costs $80 one time. Here are some of my posts on going from 36 to 40 to 42'.Here is how we boondock in USFS CGs without reservations.

If you want to stay short and boondock, water and storage will be important. Of the 4 MH's you listed I would go with the Newmar Baystar because I think it will have full basement storage and hung side walls . Check the FW capacity you will need a minimum of 60 gals for two people for a weeks stay. I would also look at others like the Damon Daybreak,some models have full basement storage plus a large rear pass tru storage bay that goes under the rear bed and 80-100 gals of FW.

Class A of the choice | Good Sam Community

bacil
Explorer
Feb 01, 2018
mike brez wrote:
Looks nice. Will most likely benefit with a rear trac bar. Looks like wheel base to length is 50%
32A brochure

If we get this one i will see after couple thousand miles and if needed will consider trac bars installed. But again this model is highest on our list for March purchase :) but maybe i will find some others between now and then (fleetwood storm 32a comes to mind as its exactly the same :))) )
mike_brez
Explorer
Feb 01, 2018
Looks nice. Will most likely benefit with a rear trac bar. Looks like wheel base to length is 50%
32A brochure
Gjac
Explorer III
Feb 01, 2018
bacil wrote:
Gjac wrote:
mike brez wrote:
Too much $$$ but here is one

2002 32'CC intrigue 350hp
That is a nice MH, but I think $120K is too much for a 16 year old MH. Nada guides show $46k for ave retail. I'm sure it could sell for more because they are hard to find.

I agree bit too much for 12yrs old ... anyway i am now looking at Holiday Rambler Vacationer LX 32A that so far looks as best choice for us, but we will see ;-)
That is a nice floor plan, I think it has a drop down bed also. Check the storage for any pass trus.
bacil
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
Gjac wrote:
mike brez wrote:
Too much $$$ but here is one

2002 32'CC intrigue 350hp
That is a nice MH, but I think $120K is too much for a 16 year old MH. Nada guides show $46k for ave retail. I'm sure it could sell for more because they are hard to find.

I agree bit too much for 12yrs old ... anyway i am now looking at Holiday Rambler Vacationer LX 32A that so far looks as best choice for us, but we will see ;-)
bacil
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
mike brez wrote:
bacil wrote:
mike brez wrote:
Too much $$$ but here is one

2002 32'CC intrigue 350hp

Isn't 16 years too old ? taking in to consideration other things mentioned here (e.g. emission laws) ?

I guess it depends on were you register your Moho.
In Connecticut any vechile over 10,001lbs no emission testing and like some other states no vechile safety inspections.

We are working with Americas Mailbox so SD will be our state for all the purposes.
Gjac
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2018
mike brez wrote:
Too much $$$ but here is one

2002 32'CC intrigue 350hp
That is a nice MH, but I think $120K is too much for a 16 year old MH. Nada guides show $46k for ave retail. I'm sure it could sell for more because they are hard to find.
mike_brez
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
bacil wrote:
mike brez wrote:
Too much $$$ but here is one

2002 32'CC intrigue 350hp

Isn't 16 years too old ? taking in to consideration other things mentioned here (e.g. emission laws) ?

I guess it depends on were you register your Moho.
In Connecticut any vechile over 10,001lbs no emission testing and like some other states no vechile safety inspections.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2018
While the above post is fairly accurate, to say there were not any emission controls before 2007 is not true. Yes, there was a big jump in the complexity of engines made in 2007 but there was a fairly large one for 2004 engines. I made sure my 04 DP had a 03 engine and if it had a Cat engine that would have been a very good decision as the 04 and later Cat Acert engines have had lots of problems. Fortunately I have a Cummings engine and today I would be happy with a 04-06 engine.

Monaco bought up a bunch of 06 engines and I have seen them in even 09 Monaco DPs. If the big thing that looks like a muffler but it has wires going to it...it's a 07-09 engine. I agree DEF engines have proven to be a good thing with the increased mpg paying for the expense of the DEF.

Unless the OP wises up and decides to go with something longer than 36' he does not need a Diesel engine.
jplante4
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2018
bacil wrote:
mike brez wrote:
Too much $$$ but here is one

2002 32'CC intrigue 350hp

Isn't 16 years too old ? taking in to consideration other things mentioned here (e.g. emission laws) ?

There was a long post here a while ago about the emissions. Basically, anything before 2007 was no emission controls, between 2007 and 2010 were the dark ages of diesel particulate filters (DPF) and high exhaust recirculation rates, and after 2010 if the coach used diesel emission fluid (DEF) things got better. So, in short, avoid 2007-2010.

Now, some coach builders pre-bought 2007 chassis and built no emission coaches for a couple of the dark age years. Also, a 2007 chassis is probably in a 2008 coach.
bacil
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
mike brez wrote:
Too much $$$ but here is one

2002 32'CC intrigue 350hp

Isn't 16 years too old ? taking in to consideration other things mentioned here (e.g. emission laws) ?

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