Palazzo motorhomes

[gkidsdlite]

Wanting to get some opinions from people that own a Palazzo about their experiences with them! The wife and I thought we wanted a fifth wheel but then after looking around we may have changed our mind! Any owner replies would be appreciated! Thank you!

[time_to_go_now]

JimM68 wrote:
It would be nice if small motorhome did not also need to be cheap.

I really like the idea of a 32-36 ft DP...

I do NOT like the idea of anything done by Thor or Forest River or Coachman.

x2

[Groover]

Be sure to ask what the wet weight of the Palazzo is and subract that from the gross combined weight to get actual tow capacity. A 10,000lb hitch rating does not make for a 10,000lb tow capacity. It turns out that my Palazzo is actually only rated to pull about 5,000lbs when loaded for camping. Any more voids the transmission warrentee.

[gkidsdlite]

Thank you all for your replies! I should have mentioned that I needed to tow at least 10k and the Palazzo 35.1 that I am looking at does that while some of the others mentioned only go up to 5k or 7.5k! I also want air brakes and air ride so gas is out also! Most of the ones I have researched are a little underpowered including the Palazzo but one the Pathfinder 404rb has a 400 hp diesel with 1250 ft lbs of torque! We just like the layout of the Palazzo with the door in the middle instead of where Nana will be sitting! Im not cheap just have to live within my means or I would look up the ladder! I have looked at hundreds of used but don't like the smell of used units, maybe I should buy some febreeze or a noseplug huh? Again thank you for your help!

[fredbon]

This link is Winnebago issues

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?action=search2

Fred

[FrontRangeRVer]

Effy wrote:
I've read a few posts on Forza issues with the same system.

I've searched here and can't find any Forza slide issues. Link?

[JimM68]

It would be nice if small motorhome did not also need to be cheap.

I really like the idea of a 32-36 ft DP...

I do NOT like the idea of anything done by Thor or Forest River or Coachman.

[spadoctor]

per the Lippert rep I spoke to at Hershey....most Schwintek issues are a result of the coach manufacturer building the slide boxes out of square or a design that overloaded the rails. He did say that they have redesigned the rails to take a heavier load too. I'm sure there are combined issues that cause the problems. I for one would not hesitate to have a Schwintek on a small slide but not on a full size one....no cables for me either.

[Effy]

The slide issue isn't solely Thor's black eye. Any brand with the schwintek system is subject to the same woes if it isn't cut and installed perfectly and even then it's under-engineered. I've read a few posts on Forza issues with the same system. They all have gone to a triple rail design. To me it's a bit of a Band-Aid instead of fixing the real issues. But if it works I guess the end result is the same.

If I were looking at entry level DP's I would throw a few others in the ring (in no particular order):
-Winnie Forza
-Newmar Ventana LE (Rv direct is selling these now)
-FR Charleston
-FW Excursion (they finally moved away from the black furniture)
-Coachmen Cross Country (the new 404RB has a salon bunk, best bunk design I have seen thus far)

I had my head settled on the Palazzo as the best bang for your buck, but after some of the stories I have heard and having friends that own one, I would strongly consider other brands. Shame, of all of them the Palazzo has the best floorplan designs and décor. And after owning a Thor I question it's quality. I love my ACE, but it is what it is - about as entry level as it gets. I expect concessions in quality for what I paid, I wouldn't be so forgiving if it were a DP I paid 2x as much for. Most owners still love them, but look hard at other offerings. All that said, in my personal experience after owning 2 Thors, they have some of the best customer service I have ever had with any product. That means a lot.

[mustang652]

93mastercraft wrote:
......I still have the Palazzo. Thor finally fixed the large slide out with a triple rail system last year. However, it does not give me comfort knowing the slide out might self destruct anytime I push that button........

Here's hoping that 93mc has finally got his slide problem resolved. There's an old saying that I use for the new Thor I owned for a whole five months. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" or "did that once, won't do it again". Experienced the above problem mentioned in the quote, but before the development of the "triple rail repair system". After four plus months in the shop, the slide on mine was not repaired to my satisfaction, so I traded for an Itasca.

[93mastercraft]

gkidsdlite wrote:
Wanting to get some opinions from people that own a Palazzo about their experiences with them! The wife and I thought we wanted a fifth wheel but then after looking around we may have changed our mind! Any owner replies would be appreciated! Thank you!

I still have the Palazzo. Thor finally fixed the large slide out with a triple rail system last year. However, it does not give me comfort knowing the slide out might self destruct anytime I push that button. But I live with it and hope that Thor will be as attentive to the issue when I am out of warranty as they were when I was in warranty. We will have to see.

If it hadn't been for a poorly engineered Schwintek full wall slide, this coach would have otherwise been a perfect entry level Diesel Pusher. I love just about everything else about it.

[mike_brez]

Run Forest Run. Lol if I were looking for a entry level along the same lines I would check out a Fleetwood Excursion.

[Groover]

I have had mine for two years now and am satisfied with it for the price. I have had some issues with mine but nowhere near what 93mastercraft did and I have not seen anyone else with that many issues either. There are things that I wish were done differently that I have changed and am still changing but it works. I don't want to kill anyone here with all the boring details but if you want to send me a PM I could discuss it with you at length. I did just look at at Thor's website and it looks like they have made some improvements over mine.

You might want to look at Forest River and compare build quality.

[2oldman]

Palazzo in heading in Class A.

[bullydogs1]

Do a search on 93mastercraft's posts...while there are good/bad in any lot...you should make sure if you are considering one that it has the latest improvements with the schwintek slides...so date of manufacture counts here.