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Side Aisle and All-in-one Bath Floorplans

gonesouth
Explorer
Explorer
A few weeks ago, one of our members posted a picture of his Beaver Emerald and discussed that the floorplan had a "side aisle" which meant that the aisle to the back bedroom does NOT go through the bathroom. Practically, this means that if someone stays over for a few days then they don't trap you in the back bedroom if they use the bathroom. DW and I looked at the pictures and realized that it solves one of our principal troubles with conventional split-bath plans.

Unfortunately, all the Emeralds I can find online are in the $100,000 to $150,000 price range, even in the 15-25 year old class, and my budget won't stretch that far. Has anyone seen another model with a side aisle floorplan?

Several people have pointed out that an all-in-one Bath accomplishes the same objective, so if you know of a model that has that, please suggest it, too.

Thanks
Currently planning for retirement.....planning to build a small home in Nova Scotia for summers and someday year-round. Trying to sort out a good way to spend winters in central Florida as I can't drive anymore.
31 REPLIES 31

DSDP_Don
Explorer
Explorer
"gonesouth"....We previously owned a 2005 Monaco Diplomat 36' side aisle motor home. We loved the side aisle model. The bath was very roomy. Monaco made several coach levels and years in side aisle models. They were typically denoted by the letter "S". Our model was a "SKT", which stood for side aisle, front kitchen, triple slide.

Here is the brochure for 2005, you can look through the Monaco archives for other models that will fit into your size and price range. You won't go wrong with a good used Monaco RV, as long as you stay with a Diplomat or above.

Monaco
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 - All Electric
2019 Ford Raptor Crew Cab

mtrumpet
Explorer
Explorer
2gypsies wrote:
gonesouth wrote:
The next time it moves might be in 10 or 15 years as we don't plan on touring anymore now that I can't drive. I am neutral on Newmar, Winnebago, and Tiffin. I'd consider them, but experience tells me that you need to watch roof construction, lamination, and chipboard cabinets if you plan to use something for 10-15 years.


If you're not going to drive it, why are you looking for a motorhome? Get a Park Model trailer.

You are incorrect with Newmar. There is no lamination in their walls. No problems with roof construction and they use real wood in their cabinets. We used one for 8 years of our full-timing and it's an excellent manufacturer.


That is correct with regard to Newmars construction.

We have the side aisle with fully contained bathroom in ours (Model# 3872). It was one of the things on our wish-list when we were shopping for a DP.
Mark & Cherie
2002 Newmar Dutch Star DP 3872, Cummins 350 ISC, Spartan Chassis

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
Almost all manufacturers have a few floorplans like this, but some favor them more than others. When I was shopping in the 2004-2007 era, that would have been Newmar and the Monaco Corp brands (at least the Monaco and H-R gassers being built in the H-R plant). It looked like there was a standard bathroom module that was fit somewhere in each floorplan.

Many other manufacturers were using mostly a split bath plan so that a center aisle became part of the bathroom space, usually opening into a rear bedroom. this saves some space in the RV but can be a problem for occupants that prefer more privacy.

What I've been seeing more of lately, particularly in larger motorhomes, is a bathroom combined with master bedroom, and a second more private half-bath nearer the living area. Usually at 38 feet or longer, and particularly in the 42-45 footers designed for two-person full time living.

Private bath with side aisle models are out there, you just need to do more looking. Price? When I was looking, and the motorhomes were new, some of these models were around $50-60K list price. That's about doubled since.

If you are not going to be traveling in the RV, just leaving it one place forever, doesn't much matter whether it is a diesel pusher, gasser, fifth wheel, travel trailer or park model. If the park handles park model hookups, that's probably the best solution short of an actual mobile home, which should be a better built house at any given cost because you are not paying for roadable chassis and RV self-sufficiency items like waste storage and on-board generators.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

gonesouth
Explorer
Explorer
prstlk wrote:
I would not buy a mh and then let it sit. There are really nice 5th wheels out there for 1/2 of 50 k. There much less complex and easy to fix. You could find a very nice unit and delivery is not a problem. 36ft 4 slides.... yay


Good idea....but, the stairs don't work for me. I can put a deck with a bit of a ramp to the door, but not inside. A park model might do, but we haven't found one that would work.
Currently planning for retirement.....planning to build a small home in Nova Scotia for summers and someday year-round. Trying to sort out a good way to spend winters in central Florida as I can't drive anymore.

prstlk
Explorer
Explorer
I would not buy a mh and then let it sit. There are really nice 5th wheels out there for 1/2 of 50 k. There much less complex and easy to fix. You could find a very nice unit and delivery is not a problem. 36ft 4 slides.... yay
2007 Keystone Challenger 5th wheel, Ford F350 Super Duty 6.7L Diesel, Short Bed, 2 dogs and the cat and rolling down the road full time since May 2014

gonesouth
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you all for the suggestions. I can't really understand why I've never seen one, but I guess the last 20 years just looking at DP's has done it, and of course glass-walled shower/ shower doors are a fixture in DP's that mean you are going through the bath full view.

These suggestions should keep us looking for a while. Thanks again. I'll check back periodically in case someone else has another one.
Currently planning for retirement.....planning to build a small home in Nova Scotia for summers and someday year-round. Trying to sort out a good way to spend winters in central Florida as I can't drive anymore.

mike_brez
Explorer
Explorer
I was looking at a Monaco SKQ with the layout you want.
1998 36 foot Country Coach Magna #5499 Single slide
Gillig chassis with a series 40
02 Ford F250 7.3 with a few mods
2015 Wrangler JKU

et2
Explorer
Explorer
For a little less than the Discovery 40x the Fleetwood Expedition 40x has the exact same layout.

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Explorer
I'll just add that a friend of mine bought a new MH just to have the aisle instead of the thru the split bathroom.

Ended up real unhappy with it. The wall to accomplish the aisle to the side cuts off the MH in half and it looks and feels real small then and the front of the MH is then real dark too. Just saying.

And how long can a guest stay in a bathroom that would make you feel trapped? :W

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Explorer III
gonesouth wrote:
The next time it moves might be in 10 or 15 years as we don't plan on touring anymore now that I can't drive. I am neutral on Newmar, Winnebago, and Tiffin. I'd consider them, but experience tells me that you need to watch roof construction, lamination, and chipboard cabinets if you plan to use something for 10-15 years.


If you're not going to drive it, why are you looking for a motorhome? Get a Park Model trailer.

You are incorrect with Newmar. There is no lamination in their walls. No problems with roof construction and they use real wood in their cabinets. We used one for 8 years of our full-timing and it's an excellent manufacturer.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

gonesouth
Explorer
Explorer
chloe's ranch wrote:
Or a park model.


Park models we've seen and liked haven't been price competitive.
Currently planning for retirement.....planning to build a small home in Nova Scotia for summers and someday year-round. Trying to sort out a good way to spend winters in central Florida as I can't drive anymore.

gonesouth
Explorer
Explorer
OldFogie wrote:
If you are planning to just leave it on a site year round why not go with a trailer?


Have never seen one we've liked.
Currently planning for retirement.....planning to build a small home in Nova Scotia for summers and someday year-round. Trying to sort out a good way to spend winters in central Florida as I can't drive anymore.

chloe_s_ranch
Explorer
Explorer
Or a park model.

OldFogie
Explorer
Explorer
If you are planning to just leave it on a site year round why not go with a trailer?
2007 Bounder 35E
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1999 Jeep Wrangler