Class A Chassis Question - Spartan vs Freightliner (Newbie)

[richardclark]

So me and my wife went to an RV Show in Hershey, PA near where we live and it was as much fun as they always are in our experience of going for about 2-years now.

We started out thinking we wanted to go with a 5th wheel but then decided on a Class A for long-term livability reasons. We plan on selling the house and going RV full time. We plan on pulling a trailer behind our Class-A for 'my garage and toys' I want to carry.

I have compiled a great deal of information around units that met our specific creature/comfort requirements, completed much of the engineering specs and I've narrowed my choices to 3 manufacturers and 2 models.

My choices in order are:
- Entegra Anthem 44B
- Thor Tuscany 45AT
- Newmar (under consideration)

One question I have is with regards to the chassis. There are two players that I've found out there; Spartan and Freightliner.

From what I've observed, the Spartan chassis has some superior features and will make the long-term maintenance of the coach more cost effective. Entegra uses the Spartan chassis.

The Freightliner chassis is in most coaches and so has the benefit of being popular but that doesn't mean it's necessarily the best. Thor uses a Freightliner chassis.

Some chassis are customized to a particular coaches manufacturers preferences which in my thinking, could compromise the chassis in some ways that are not good. I'm not trained in structural integrity analysis but I am a scientist of a different nature so I understand the math and the physics.

My questions are how important is the chassis in relation to the overall quality of the coach and long-term maintenance? What is your opinion of the two players I mentioned?

If anyone has experience with the above manufacturers or coaches, can you share your experience? Thanks!

[RayChez]

All three of those coaches are nice. I would prefer the Entegra, but that is just me. As to the chassis, they are both excellent chassis. Freight liner offers the comfort drive which a lot of RVers really like. Spartan used to be a real good chassis, but I would have to give the edge to Freight liner now because they keep improving their chassis, while Spartan has had its share of ball joint issues.

But choose the coach that you like, not what John Doe likes because he has one. It takes a bit of luck with any brand of coach. I have read where some hate Newmar and then I have read where some hate Tiffin or Thor because some person starts these rumors without them even knowing anything about the brand they are bashing.

But Entegra is built just like the old Travel Supreme coaches, and they were superior to Newmar or many other brands. So that is why I would lean towards the Entegra.

Some of your high end coaches use chassis that have solid I-beam in the front instead of independent suspension. So that might be something to also think about. With air ride they ride just as good as the IFS.

[Blaster_Man]

To answer the OP's question...either will do the job, I've had both.

[2gypsies1]

Don't count on dropping off the trailer at your house when the RV need maintenance when full-timing.

First, you said you plan on selling your house.

Second, what if you're across the country when you need RV repairs? What if you have problems while you're driving? Being able to tow that trailer with your car to someplace safe would be necessary.

Full-timing needs a lot of thinking out situations.

[wolfe10]

Koop wrote:

RFCN2 wrote:
I believe Entegra still puts a custom chassis under some of their models. And I think Tiffin puts the Peak chassis under a few of their coaches which is a custom chassis.

The Peak chassis was designed by Gary Jones and made by Western RV exclusively for Alpine Coach. Tiffin has their own chassis available - it's called a Powerglide and shares some of the Peak features.

CORRECT. Gary Jones had his hand in the design of both. Similarities but not the same.

Having an Alpine, I can tell you that there are a few features that DO make this the BMW of motorhomes:

Very long Wheel Base to Overall Length ratio: our 38' Alpine is on a 262" wheelbase.

Four, not three ride height valves-- air is NOT transfered from the outer wheel position to inner wheel position rounding corners/it corners flatter.

Larger engines: ISL 400 HP/1,200 lb-ft torque on 26,250 pound (loaded) coach.

Side radiator-- better cooling, less HP drain under non-excessive heat conditions.

[Sully2]

Get a Spartan if you can

[Koop]

RFCN2 wrote:
I believe Entegra still puts a custom chassis under some of their models. And I think Tiffin puts the Peak chassis under a few of their coaches which is a custom chassis.

The Peak chassis was designed by Gary Jones and made by Western RV exclusively for Alpine Coach. Tiffin has their own chassis available - it's called a Powerglide and shares some of the Peak features.

[Big_Katuna]

I would not gloss over moving the trailer around when unhooked. I ran into places I had to unhook and not being able to move it with a toad would have been a serious problem as in you cant stay here and no; we cant help you move it. Some places wont allow it on your site and you had to leave the trailer in a storage yard that you had to back into. Not fun in a DP. Also, I hope your small framed. Loading a car and getting in and out of it is a pain. A Jeep makes it a little easier and will move the trailer around in a pinch.

Preferably, not a dropped axle with a side door so you can open the car door to get in and out.

[John_Joey]

Just some real life stuff here. There's a guy in my winter park that started out with a 44ft DP pulling a car. Found out it really couldn't see the country like he envisioned because of the length. He wanted to be more nimble and be able to get into and out of campsites.

Next came a 33ft gasser pulling a car. Now he could get around but hated the ride and the way it went down the road. For some reason he said it was worst pulling a car.

Current rig is a great looking brand new Super class C (maybe B?) diesel puller that looks like a true dream to see the country in. I was licking my lips when he gave me the tour. His wife hates it because the dining room table is too hard to use, and none of the cabinets have shocks on them. They're more things she didn't like but I stopped listening after awhile.

My point is your current planned rig will be great if you FT between just a couple of places and have pull thru camp sites between those destinations. If that is your intent, then don't worry about the chassis since you will not be using it's features that much. You'll be spending most of the time parked.

[richardclark]

Mr.Mark wrote:
RichardClark, this is somewhat off topic but if you pull a trailer, I would want the tow vehicle inside the trailer to have the capability to pull it.

Your new coach will have to go in for service at some point. The trailer will have to be stored somewhere while service and repairs are made.

Although we are not full-timers, you just can't beat traveling by RV!

MM.

Yes Mr. Mark. My plan is to put a roller-skate car in the trailer along with my motorcycle, toolboxes and misc. I think I'll be somewhere around 5000 lbs. including the trailer weight.

When the coach needs service, I'll probably drop my stuff off at your house before taking it in. 🙂 Seriously, I don't think finding some temporary place for the trailer should be a problem during such events but you bring up a good point.

[richardclark]

holstein13 wrote:
The Entegra Anthem is not in the same league as the Newmar King Aire.

If you want an apples to apples comparison, you have to look at the Entegra "Cornerstone" and compare it to the King Aire.

The Anthem has a Spartan Mountain Master chassis while the Cornerstone and King Aire have the Spartan K3 Chassis. There is a huge difference between the two. 600 HP ISX vs. 450 HP, 200 gallon fuel tank vs. 150, Passive steer tag (newmar only) vs fixed, Allison 4000 transmission vs 3000, Air leveling vs not. and on and on.

Take a look at this: ***Link Removed***

If you have any questions about the King Aire or the K3 chassis, that's my area of expertise.

You know what? You're right. I realized that after going back through and looking at the specs. I also started looking at used (a year or two old) and I can get an upgraded version for what a mid-grade new version would cost in some models. This stuff makes my head spin sometimes so I don't know how you guys mastered the RV buying experience but I admire it.

I think I'm going to stick with getting my specs down and finalizing what I need and what the wife wants, the budget, floor plan, etc and then look for the best deal. That's the name of the game, right?!

[Mr_Mark1]

RichardClark, this is somewhat off topic but if you pull a trailer, I would want the tow vehicle inside the trailer to have the capability to pull it.

Your new coach will have to go in for service at some point. The trailer will have to be stored somewhere while service and repairs are made.

Although we are not full-timers, you just can't beat traveling by RV!

MM.

[holstein13]

richardclark wrote:
The underlying theme amongst all the responses is to look more closely at Newmar. I've went to their site and it appears the King Aire is the line that I should consider in equivalence to the Entegra.

The Entegra Anthem is not in the same league as the Newmar King Aire.

If you want an apples to apples comparison, you have to look at the Entegra "Cornerstone" and compare it to the King Aire.

The Anthem has a Spartan Mountain Master chassis while the Cornerstone and King Aire have the Spartan K3 Chassis. There is a huge difference between the two. 600 HP ISX vs. 450 HP, 200 gallon fuel tank vs. 150, Passive steer tag (newmar only) vs fixed, Allison 4000 transmission vs 3000, Air leveling vs not. and on and on.

Take a look at this: http://www.entegracoach.com/compare-models/

If you have any questions about the King Aire or the K3 chassis, that's my area of expertise.

[John_Joey]

Not to rain on your parade, but have you done any long term RV'ing before? Seems like you've done a lot of reading, but very little doing from your OP.

I suggest you take into consideration that your first attempt at this will not be your correct answer. Budget accordingly!

As far as your original questions is concern, when we're on the road the ones with the Spartan tend to go farther per day, and talk them up more.

Not to many rigs on the road tow a trailer/garage combo. The last big one I saw hooked a picnic table and tore the heck out of the table and trailer as they were pulling out of the site.

Thor seems to have their problems. Maybe QC has gotten better.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

As a fulltimer of almost ten years with a Freightliner XC chassis, IF we upgrade our RV the next one, if a Class A (I'm leaning toward a Super C) will a be side radiator. My reason that any different Class A will not be a rear radiator chassis is simple: ease of maintenance. Easy access to hoses, belts, fuel filters, fan system, water pump, thermostats, injectors, turbo and the like without going through the bedroom floor. Mechanics as a rule "hate" standing on their head to work on engines, you can and will pay for that rear rear radiator in additional labor and interior cleanup.