After 2 years of owning a small gasser my family and I have come to better understand what we really want out of a coach. The ACE is great and no real complaints. But you get what you pay for. So a few things on the wish list are; a better ride. Small gasser does fine on smooth roads but get on a road like VA I95 and all bets are off. Way too much road feedback to the point of cringing. I want a smooth effortless ride. We want real bunks instead of the overhead drop down. I want a single bath instead of split. I want a real pull out sofa instead of a jackknife. We want a residential refer. Something a little bigger, not much maybe 35'. 2 slides at least. Lots of storage. LESS NOISE. I really want a much quieter ride. A few other things but you get the idea. The catch is we want to stay under $140k and 2009 or newer. Being a Thor fan, we really like the Palazzo 33.3. Pretty much has everything on the wish list and a price under $140k (quote from Lazy Days). Hard to beat for a brand new DP and from some reviews I have read it handles like a dream. I checked out Fleetwood excursion but no bunk model, likewise with the allegro. Pretty sure I want to go DP as I really don't think another gasser will give me the comfort, ride and lower noise I am looking for. If someone knows of a gasser that handles like a DP I would love to know. Otherwise, anyone know of any smaller entry level DP's with bunks in that range, or what to look at in a used only a few years old or any Palazzo owners that can weigh in? Thanks all.

There is an active Thor group at Irv2.com. and a large Q&A section about the Palazzo from owners. I am jealous, was hoping to do a switch to the Palazzo this year but had to change plans. You might check out rvdirect.com if you are interested in going that route. When I was looking they had some good prices, I am thinking about $100k. I know that when I contacted them I got the price and one follow up message and that has been over a year ago so they don't bug you till you have to change your e-mail address and phone number.

You should be able to get close to that price on a 2009-10 Fleetwood Discovery. When I was searching for mine, I found a few in that range.

A Newmar Ventana bunkhouse like ours would be perfect for you. Not many built but be patient and you'll find one.

Not a diesel, but the Winnebago Vista 35B is well within your price range for a well equipped new unit and it has a bath and a half. I bought the 35F and I drove it to Florida from Ohio twice towing a Ford Focus and had no handling issues whatsoever, it rides nice, there really isn't that much engine noice except when you get into a really high mountain and have to downshift, it is well built and in 18 months only had 3 small items to repair, otherwise perfect unit. It's a lot of coach for the money.Nick

Offhand, I can't think of any other DP with bunks around 35' so I think that the Palazzo might be your only choice.

Newer entry level DP bunkhouses? | Good Sam Community

driveby
Explorer
May 02, 2013
For $140k I'll sell you my 35J and include a free Kelderman upgrade ;)

Seriously though aside from the engine up front our coach rides really well. One handed steering even on the I5 in Seattle ;)

here's a floor plan link:

Also some other pics from our coach album if you're interested in what the insides look like:
Maladjusted
Explorer
May 02, 2013
Absolutely LOVE it!! Rides very nice... no rattles, surprisingly!! It's is quiet enough at 65 mph to have a conversation at normal talking levels. Just a little wind noise, no motor noise at all!

Gets 10.5 mpg on the computer... is a breeze to drive.

Effy wrote:
Maladjusted wrote:
SportsCoach 385DS - Here's one new for 139,000.

http://www.generalrv.com/inventory/277087/New-2012-Coachmen-RV-Sportscoach-Cross-Country-385DS.aspx

We just bought one... and love it!

Mal

Love that floorplan! although a tad bigger than I wanted to go, but hey, bigger for the same price.... how does it ride and what's the noise level like?
randco
Explorer
May 02, 2013
willald wrote:
Effy wrote:
...One thing I did not mention is that I am not crazy about the forward door on most Dp's. A lot of the newer smaller DPs have the mid ship door. I prefer that. Not a deal breaker but on my list.

Agree 100% on that door position, thats actually a deal breaker for us. Absolutely HATE door being in front of the passenger. Makes you feel like you're driving a school or tour bus. LOL, when I test drove one like that once, I kept thinking I needed to put out a stop arm and turn on flashing red lights whenever we stopped. :B

Will

Will, it seems as though there are a couple of deal breakers for you. No rear window in the bedroom and the location of the entry door. You're right, a DP probably won't be in your driveway.

I'll drive my bus and be very happy.
Effy
Explorer II
May 02, 2013
willald wrote:
Effy wrote:
...One thing I did not mention is that I am not crazy about the forward door on most Dp's. A lot of the newer smaller DPs have the mid ship door. I prefer that. Not a deal breaker but on my list.

Agree 100% on that door position, thats actually a deal breaker for us. Absolutely HATE door being in front of the passenger. Makes you feel like you're driving a school or tour bus. LOL, when I test drove one like that once, I kept thinking I needed to put out a stop arm and turn on flashing red lights whenever we stopped. :B

Will

Yeah, for me it really seems inconvenient not only getting in and out but loading it too. And I always think about an emergency and how a centrally located door just seems safer. My opinions though.
willald
Explorer II
May 02, 2013
Effy wrote:
...One thing I did not mention is that I am not crazy about the forward door on most Dp's. A lot of the newer smaller DPs have the mid ship door. I prefer that. Not a deal breaker but on my list.

Agree 100% on that door position, thats actually a deal breaker for us. Absolutely HATE door being in front of the passenger. Makes you feel like you're driving a school or tour bus. LOL, when I test drove one like that once, I kept thinking I needed to put out a stop arm and turn on flashing red lights whenever we stopped. :B

Will
carringb
Explorer
May 02, 2013
katoomer wrote:
A Newmar Ventana bunkhouse like ours would be perfect for you. Not many built but be patient and you'll find one.

I was going to suggest a Newmar. I took a Canyon Star 3912 (40'!) of a long test drive, and was VERY surprised how smooth it rode. Even over bad rail crossings. I think Newmar must build their sub-chassis in a way that stiffens the frame. No jarring, shudders, or even rattles. It had a little more body roll than I like (handled like a 40' motorcoach) but some new sway bars would easily correct that. Engine noise was well muted, even though the V10 was obviously spinning pretty fast to get that house with attached garage moving.
Effy
Explorer II
May 02, 2013
ibavamarine wrote:
2014 Winnebago Forza 38R

They don't seem to be for sale yet at least that I can find. Seems like they would be out of my range and a bit larger than we are looking for. One thing I did not mention is that I am not crazy about the forward door on most Dp's. A lot of the newer smaller DPs have the mid ship door. I prefer that. Not a deal breaker but on my list.
ibavamarine
Explorer
May 02, 2013
2014 Winnebago Forza 38R
Effy
Explorer II
May 02, 2013
tderonne wrote:
You mentioned claims of 15 MPG. They are just that, claims. If you had said 12, I might have said you were being hopeful. 15?

The Wynns bought a Monaco Vesta and kept very good logs on MPG. It's a smaller diesel (a puller though), and was designed in a wind tunnel. Probably can't do too much better.

Wynn's blog on Vesta MPG

They got close to 15 on a single tank, once. Lifetime average is more like 11 driving 55 MPH.

That is based on reviews I have read. But I have never driven or tested it so I can't validate the claim. It would be nice if any Palazzo owners chimed in with their real life mpg. Still worst case 12 is a whole lot better than 7 or 8 and the cost of diesel it's not nearly as overpriced compared to gas than it used to be. Doing a little analytics (it's what I do) in my recent trip to Fla, I would have saved almost $300 in fuel if I had a DP getting 11 mpg vs the 8 mpg I experienced in my gasser. And the larger the gasser the worse the mpg. Sure it's more expensive but it's hard to argue better ride, less noise and lower mpg. All benefits gained from the extra cost.
tderonne
Explorer
May 02, 2013
You mentioned claims of 15 MPG. They are just that, claims. If you had said 12, I might have said you were being hopeful. 15?

The Wynns bought a Monaco Vesta and kept very good logs on MPG. It's a smaller diesel (a puller though), and was designed in a wind tunnel. Probably can't do too much better.

Wynn's blog on Vesta MPG

They got close to 15 on a single tank, once. Lifetime average is more like 11 driving 55 MPH.

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