After looking around at forums and spending time at dealer sights and sales people. Here is what I know that I know that I want. The coach will be for my wife and me and we will travel off and on about half the year. We are not sure of the full timing aspect but would want to buy a coach with that at least in mind. A couple things I will add. I do not want to buy a coach where the company is out of business. I would like to have your recommendation on what to buy?1. Spend $200,000.00 2. Will finance most of it (my banks will not loan on a coach over 10 years old)3. Pre - Owner Diesel PusherHere are the “must haves” in the coach.• 45’ Motorhome• Bath and a half• Two or more slides• Access to all main areas of coach with slides in• Mid station TV at Eye-Level. (a power lift a plus)• Fireplace• King or Queen bed• Full size shower• Large closets and drawers• Stacking washer-dryer - No Combo• Unlimited hot water• Auto start generator• Tile floors.Thanks for your help,HJ

For $200K I'd look for a used 05 06 Newmar Essex, Dutch Star, or King Aire.

Newmar Essex. Here's a 2007: A bit over $200,000 but never hurts to ask! http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2007-Newmar-Essex-4508-112229236By the way, we have an '04 Country Coach and although the company did go out of business the factory is open for service again and most of the service we have done is for aftermarket things that we get serviced locally. No need to go to Oregon for service. No problem getting parts.

I am partial to American Coaches. Top of that line is the Heritage. Eagle is the next. They might not have every little detail that you'vve listed, but they are very nice, and they are very user friendly, easy to use.

Buy whatever you can find that has all the things you've asked for, even if you have to handle some of the features as after-market add-ons. You are in the right price range for 2-5 year old 45 footers, and at that level make or brand does not matter much. Newmar, Tiffin, Travel Supreme, Thor, Winnebago all build in that size and price range, though at 45 feet you may find the premium brands more available. Go back a few more years and you will find upper-end models from Monaco Corp brands, and many buyers prefer that chassis. But that also takes you into "the company is out of business." In some cases, they have been bought by somebody still in the business, with brands changing.That size and age range, it is going to have a lot of slideouts or some really big ones. When you get into floorplans with huge slideout space, your problem may be satisfying the "access to all main areas" criterion. That one is going to be taking a lot of looking, and it would be helpful to be in a place where there are quite a few large dealers to work with: Central to South Florida, south-Central to eastern Texas, or Arizona.

X2 on the American coaches. But a new Eagle will cost you around 600K. You might be able to get one that is used for what your budget calls for. But American coaches are hard to beat.

What coach would you buy for $$$$ ? | Good Sam Community

tropical36
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
I'm a high end quality over newness type of guy, but having said that and given your criteria, here's something close and the place you should probably be watching on a daily basis for exactly what you want....PPL
rvbmw94
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
HOM wrote:
To recap my question I have re-posted my request for your help shown below.

1. Spend $200,000.00
2. Will finance most of it (my banks will not loan on a coach over 10 years old)
3. Pre - Owner Diesel Pusher

Here are the “must haves” in the coach.
• 45’ Motorhome
• Bath and a half
• Two or more slides
• Access to all main areas of coach with slides in
• Mid station TV at Eye-Level. (a power lift a plus)
• Fireplace
• King or Queen bed
• Full size shower
• Large closets and drawers
• Stacking washer-dryer - No Combo
• Unlimited hot water
• Auto start generator
• Tile floors.

The majority consensus for the right coach’s if I have it right is a 2005 to 2009 of the following brands.

1. Bluebird Wanderlodge
2. Country Coach
3. American Coach Eagle - Heritage • Newmar Essex - King Aire

As a side note, I have not found a single Wanderlodge with a Bath and a half and that for me is a deal-breaker. Someone made a post saying they made very few Bath and a half’s and that is what I found.

You also were in agreement that Newell and Prevost would stay off the list because of the $200,000.00 limitation.

Do I have it about right?

I couldn’t thank you enough for your help, I now know that I have good direction and can find what I want in the group listed above.

Thank you all very much,

HJ

Forget Bluebird, way to complicated of a coach for your first timer. (Sorry BB guys)
Tiffin is good, just check to make sure the "top 3" items on the coach has been done at Redbay.
IMO, the "high-end" line of coaches for the best value is
American Heritage (older 2005-2006 range)
Country Coach (Magna) problem is I don't think they build a bath & 1/2.
Monaco (Signature)
RVOne has a 2006 Heritage, really clean, at their Orlando store.
Robin, the Diesel Manager over there showed it to me when I was there for service.
Check their site out.

Hope this helps.

Rob & Victoria
2011 Entegra Aspire 42RB
bigdisplay
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
For two hundred k look for a(2009-2011 era) Beaver Marquis,American revolution or beaver Patriot thunder, allegro bus or Newmar mountain air, country coach monaco signature series or dynasty
Horsedoc
Explorer II
Mar 18, 2015
http://www.portersrvsales.com/06_Travel_Supreme_Select.php#
ervinglobal
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
Mr.Mark wrote:
HOM, did you ever find a coach fitting your requirements?

Cloud Dancer is on to something. The Tiffin products are very nice looking and priced reasonably. The Phaeton is one step below the Allegro Bus and is offered in a single or tag axle. A new one might be more than the $200,000 budget that you set but one a couple of years old might fit the bill.

MM.

Sorry, I didn't mean to post it that way. All of us have a preference and a budget to work with. I myself wanted the Entegra Anthem but I could not afford it. I believe that Cummins have a better reputation over Maxxforce. In this category they all have their pros and cons the main thing is, it has to fit your budget and liking. This coach was my life saving and in general I'm happy with it. Maxxforce or Cummins was not a decider factor for me.Time will tell.
Cheers
Happy shopping
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
HOM, did you ever find a coach fitting your requirements?

Cloud Dancer is on to something. The Tiffin products are very nice looking and priced reasonably. The Phaeton is one step below the Allegro Bus and is offered in a single or tag axle. A new one might be more than the $200,000 budget that you set but one a couple of years old might fit the bill.

MM.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
ervinglobal wrote:
Mr.Mark wrote:
HOM wrote:
Isn't Monaco the one with the MaxxForce diesel? I've not heard anything good about that engine!

There was a short period where Navistar put the MaxxForce engine in their Monaco coaches. They also put in Cummins at first. The new Monaco will use Cummins.

Country Coaches did convert their coaches on a Prevost XL chassis (not the H3) but that was not their regular chassis. The very last Country Coach was built in 2010.

Monaco also used the Prevost chassis and called it the Prevost Royale (XL chassis).

The CC and Monaco Prevost chassis coaches of that period would have the Detroit Diesel as the power plant.
I have a Maxxforce 10 in my Monaco Diplomat it's a fine engine.

MM.

The Maxxforce (the larger engine) had trouble meeting EPA standards and was fined for each engine produced.

Interesting how your post is at the end of mine making it look like I owned the Diplomat. Nice coach, the new Monaco is keeping the Diplomat line.

Safe travels,
MM.
Cloud_Dancer
Explorer II
Mar 18, 2015
Do what I did. Check out the new Tiffin Allegro Bus 45LP, and you will find it's exactly what would make you happy, PLUS be everything you ever wanted in a coach.
And BTW, I've never been able to afford exactly what I wanted,....either.
ervinglobal
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
Mr.Mark wrote:
HOM wrote:
Isn't Monaco the one with the MaxxForce diesel? I've not heard anything good about that engine!

There was a short period where Navistar put the MaxxForce engine in their Monaco coaches. They also put in Cummins at first. The new Monaco will use Cummins.

Country Coaches did convert their coaches on a Prevost XL chassis (not the H3) but that was not their regular chassis. The very last Country Coach was built in 2010.

Monaco also used the Prevost chassis and called it the Prevost Royale (XL chassis).

The CC and Monaco Prevost chassis coaches of that period would have the Detroit Diesel as the power plant.
I have a Maxxforce 10 in my Monaco Diplomat it's a fine engine.

MM.
VP33
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
HOM - go to wanderlodgeownersgroup.com and click on the second bye-bye bluebird banner. There is a beautiful 2005 M450 Wanderlodge for $198K asking listed there right now.

Forum Discussion

What coach would you buy for $$$$ ?

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Coach batteries

Wandering Coach

Coach Batteries

Country Coach

Coach Battery