Class A Technology Improvements

There has been one big downgrade. DEF. If nothing else it makes your coach stink when running. And it smells really bad when adding it.

Mr.Mark wrote:
They really didn't have anything much different than we have... flat screen TV's, we have tile floors, their's were marble, we have corian, they had granite but really nothing much differnt.

These sorts of things are the easiest to replace or remedy. Of course, our 13-yr-old MH didn't come with flat screen TV's, but neither did my house in 2000. Replacing technology that has become obsolete is just a fact of life in RVs or homes. We removed carpet and replaced it with luxury vinyl, not something all that different than you would do at home. As for granite countertops rather than the Corian we currently have, IMHO that is downright nonsensical no matter how much money you have. Why use valuable carrying capacity to haul around rock!

Some people act as if it is important to preserve an RV just as it was delivered. The previous owner of our MH even gave us the then 10-yr-old monogrammed towels that had come with it. Why anyone would want someone's used towels is beyond me but he seemed to think it was important.

If you choose a quality MH because you like the floorplan and drive train then pretty much anything else can be changed to suit your tastes for far less money than buying a new one.

Basically the same things can be said about any vehicles. Unless you want to spend more money for more options, the basic automobile has remained unchanged for the last decade or so. The same goes for the various trucks and SUV's.

Gjac wrote:
What I have concluded from this thread that in the last 8 years the major changes were full wall slides, one piece windshields, full body paint, and some improvement in electronics. No real improvement in chassis or performance or over all quality. So from a cost benefit standpoint a 2006 to 2011 seems to be the best value.

Mr. Gjac, I have to agree with your statement. When I look in new coaches, which I did while on a recent trip to Michigan, there were two new 2013 or 2014 Newmar coaches on display... a King-Air and an Essex.... $900,000 and about $700,000. They really didn't have anything much different than we have... flat screen TV's, we have tile floors, their's were marble, we have corian, they had granite but really nothing much differnt. Well, they had bigger motors, hence the price. Oh, and they were running 315's on the King-Air, we have 295's. But all and all, the amenities were not much different.

Personally, I like having a slide out tray, we have two large storage bins one with a tray one without. I keep my bike on the sliding tray which makes it easy to load and unload. The 6 folding patio chairs and small table are under the bike (and a few other items). Really, you can't beat pass-through storage as I can take the bike out from either side. The tray will go both ways.

MM.

What I have concluded from this thread that in the last 8 years the major changes were full wall slides, one piece windshields, full body paint, and some improvement in electronics. No real improvement in chassis or performance or over all quality. So from a cost benefit standpoint a 2006 to 2011 seems to be the best value.

wilco wrote:

Gjac wrote:
Some folks talked about Full Body Paint as an improvement over decals which peel and fade. Is there in in between process where the stripes were painted on the white gel coat right from the factory? I know many removed the decals and painted the stripes and swills themselves.

My last rig was as you described, Stripes, swirls, bay doors etc. were painted and clear-coated. The white part was gelcoat. The painted part was a "pleasure" to keep up. The remaining white gel-coat required much more attention. But not as much as (by reputation) "decals" over the long term that probably can't be preserved, repaired or replaced.

I'm pretty sure that there are other rigs out there that have "painted-on" graphics but they'll probably be older higher-end coaches.

I would think this option would be cooler in the summer. Most of the full body paint seems to be dark colors. Don't know how much affect the dark paint has on solar gain.

Gjac wrote:
Some folks talked about Full Body Paint as an improvement over decals which peel and fade. Is there in in between process where the stripes were painted on the white gel coat right from the factory? I know many removed the decals and painted the stripes and swills themselves.

My last rig was as you described, Stripes, swirls, bay doors etc. were painted and clear-coated. The white part was gelcoat. The painted part was a "pleasure" to keep up. The remaining white gel-coat required much more attention. But not as much as (by reputation) "decals" over the long term that probably can't be preserved, repaired or replaced.

I'm pretty sure that there are other rigs out there that have "painted-on" graphics but they'll probably be older higher-end coaches.

docj wrote:

Even though it is by no means new, our MH was wired almost as you describe.

Very interesting that a manufacturer would be going in that direction over 10 years ago. I know there are quite a few all-electric rigs out now. I wonder if any of those are 120V only.

Some folks talked about Full Body Paint as an improvement over decals which peel and fade. Is there in in between process where the stripes were painted on the white gel coat right from the factory? I know many removed the decals and painted the stripes and swills themselves.

I had a 2005 Fleetwood Fiesta. Just bought a 2011 Fleetwood Bounder. I've counted 120+ improvements! Larger frig, better ride, more powerful engine, larger tires, better graphics, better construction thruout, real porclein toilets, real doors, more room and much more. It was $50 more grand new but 6 years inflation act much of that up. The change in management help quality most.