Test Drove 2 DP's this weekend... and an earthquake...lol

[Ocean_Mist]

WEnt to a show here in California, and sat inside a few of the upper price DP's. The first one was a Winnebago...Holly Molly! we just had an earthquake as I am Typing this! I heard this rumble and then the house started shaking. Cat's ran around like WTH is going on. Only lasted about 10 seconds. Probably around a 4.5...

Anyway, the Winnebago Grand Tour had app 10,000 miles and looked nice, had a Tag, app 43',IFS, 2014 It had the sun roof above the drivers seat. So, i get in start driving, and i can barely hold a conversation with all the rattles going on.. I mean it was so bad that within 5 minutes of the drive i turned around. I couldn't wait to get out of it... and the List price...$329,500

Then, we saw a Tiffin Phaeton, that was also used about 40' Single axle, 2014, DP, with app 2000 miles on it. the salesman said it had Pinch rolled walls, the are the best in the industry...? It only had the cummins 380hp 1050 torque, and solid front axle. It was newer and didn't rattle so much, but it seemed the power was lacking.

I left kinda dissapointed that RV's will always drive terrible...? I really hope something out there will drive better, not have so many rattles, and feels a bit tighter. Dont get me wrong i understand that RV's will rattle and those items can be fixed, but for a first drive i left unimpressed...

I forgot which one, but one had the MAXUM chassis. It seemed like both were on some type of freight-liner chasis. with 4 or 6 airbags. the saleman said that we not want the inside and outside bags because the front tire is right there and could pop the airbag...?

He also said that he wouldn't take a Monaco if they gave it to him for free.. Something about thers no one there to service them

I have hope that Newmar, or CC, or pre 2007 Monaco, or...?? will feel tighter, and have some quality engineering done.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

rjxj wrote:
Sun roof? Just what an RV needs.

Done right, they're pretty nice!

[Mr_Mark1]

mtrumpet wrote:

Ocean Mist wrote:
WEnt to a show here in California, and sat inside a few of the upper price DP's. The first one was a Winnebago...Holly Molly! we just had an earthquake as I am Typing this! I heard this rumble and then the house started shaking. Cat's ran around like WTH is going on. Only lasted about 10 seconds. Probably around a 4.5...

Anyway, the Winnebago Grand Tour had app 10,000 miles and looked nice....

HA! Ocean Mist is a true Californian indeed! Wait, we just had a 4.5 earthquake here! Oh well, as I was saying about these motorhomes...

Being from the northeast, I would've been under the desk!:B

While in California, we like our martini's shaken, works for us! LOL!

MM.

[Ava]

Hi, Ocean Mist , I have a 36'. 1994 Diesel Fleetwood Bounder on an Oshkosh chassis. 5.9 Cummins, 6 speed Allison trans. Ava

[mtrumpet]

Ocean Mist wrote:
WEnt to a show here in California, and sat inside a few of the upper price DP's. The first one was a Winnebago...Holly Molly! we just had an earthquake as I am Typing this! I heard this rumble and then the house started shaking. Cat's ran around like WTH is going on. Only lasted about 10 seconds. Probably around a 4.5...

Anyway, the Winnebago Grand Tour had app 10,000 miles and looked nice....

HA! Ocean Mist is a true Californian indeed! Wait, we just had a 4.5 earthquake here! Oh well, as I was saying about these motorhomes...

Being from the northeast, I would've been under the desk!:B

[mtrumpet]

SCVJeff wrote:

rjxj wrote:
Sun roof? Just what an RV needs.

yeah..
We stress over drilling holes for solar and coax, and what's the best sealant, then the manfacturer comes along with a Sawz-All

LOL! You guys beat me to it! I was thinking it while you were typing it! :B

[BennieH]

Before we bought our Monaco last fall, I did a lot of research. Part of the process was a call to their tech support group. That call alone was one of the key factors in our decision to buy. As any other coach, do a very detailed inspection or hire someone to done for you. Get everything in writing. Just like any other sales operation, if it isn't in writing they will deny that it was agreed to.
I think the salesman was saying that just to keep you in his facility. Did not want to lose a sale.

[Bruce_Brown]

Ocean Mist wrote:
W
Then, we saw a Tiffin Phaeton, that was also used about 40' Single axle, 2014, DP, with app 2000 miles on it. the salesman said it had Pinch rolled walls, the are the best in the industry...?


I left kinda dissapointed that RV's will always drive terrible...? I really hope something out there will drive better, not have so many rattles, and feels a bit tighter. Dont get me wrong i understand that RV's will rattle and those items can be fixed, but for a first drive i left unimpressed...

I forgot which one, but one had the MAXUM chassis. It seemed like both were on some type of freight-liner chasis. with 4 or 6 airbags. the saleman said that we not want the inside and outside bags because the front tire is right there and could pop the airbag...?

He also said that he wouldn't take a Monaco if they gave it to him for free.. Something about thers no one there to service them

I have hope that Newmar, or CC, or pre 2007 Monaco, or...?? will feel tighter, and have some quality engineering done.

A few things;

First, based on what you're saying here your salesman was an idiot. There is so much misinformation it's almost laughable.

1. The Tiffin has laminated walls, like 95% of every other MH on the market today. "Pinched Rolled" - what the heck is that??? Sure, during the lamination process they pinch the walls between 2 rollers, but it's still nothing more than a laminated wall - and if it's laminated it will delaminate over time.

From Tiffins own web site:

We guarantee against all exterior fiberglass delamination or wall separation for 5 years.

2. A test drive of an empty coach is a bear, although thats usually our only option. The air pressures will usually be set of a loaded coach, and air pressure makes a big difference. Having said that, try a Newmar with Comfort Drive some time. If you can, get the most gusty windy day you can and do a back-to-back with another that doesn't have Comfort Drive. You'll see what a nice driving coach is all about. :B

3. Outside airbags have been used successfully for years. I'm thinking if tires popping them was a real issue you'd see it on here every day. I'm been on RV.net a long time and not once have I ever heard of such a thing. See above opinion on your salesman.

4. While Monaco sure has gone through some rough times since 2008, and they had a few dark periods along the way, they still are a quality coach. The pre-2008's were some of the finest quality MHs on the road, and with the new owners I suspect we'll be seeing that again. Look what they've done for Fleetwood. By most (all?) accounts the new overs have done an exceptional job of not only taking care of the mistakes of the past, they've also improved quality across the board. I wouldn't shy away from a Monaco one bit.

[smlranger]

Any of these beasts can rattle but, as noted, most of that comes from the stuff we have in cabinets, etc. Once you address those rattles, it gets much better. We traded a Winnebago Journey on our current coach and one of the most impressive things when I test drove the Allure was how quiet it was, even thru some construction on I-85. After we added our stuff, we had a few rattles in the galley due to dishes, etc.

Country Coach has a 37' Allure with tag for sale at their place in Junction City. If I was looking for something in the 35' - 40' range, I would certainly give it serious consideration. That coach should have plenty of power and drive like it is on rails.

37' Allure

Also, beware of lying salesmen. You need to do your research and know when they are lying. Pinch rolled walls is a reference to laminated walls which is how most of them are made (some use vacuum bonding, most just apply the glue and run the wall units thru rollers). Some like Newmar and Entegra use hung wall construction where they glue the fiberglass on after the wall is set on the coach. The statement about air bag placement is a bunch of hooey. No one builds a coach where the tires will contact the bags unless there is some mechanical problem.

[MRUSA]

My Entegra coach is extremely quiet. There are no rattles on most roads and I cannot hear the engine at all. They use a Spartan chassis and then Entegra welds in added x-bracing for extra chassis stiifness and strength. The ride is awesome.

Try to test drive an Entegra.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

Ocean Mist wrote:
WEnt to a show here in California, and sat inside a few of the upper price DP's. The first one was a Winnebago...Holly Molly! we just had an earthquake as I am Typing this! I heard this rumble and then the house started shaking. Cat's ran around like WTH is going on. Only lasted about 10 seconds. Probably around a 4.5...

Anyway, the Winnebago Grand Tour had app 10,000 miles and looked nice, had a Tag, app 43',IFS, 2014 It had the sun roof above the drivers seat. So, i get in start driving, and i can barely hold a conversation with all the rattles going on.. I mean it was so bad that within 5 minutes of the drive i turned around. I couldn't wait to get out of it... and the List price...$329,500

Then, we saw a Tiffin Phaeton, that was also used about 40' Single axle, 2014, DP, with app 2000 miles on it. the salesman said it had Pinch rolled walls, the are the best in the industry...? It only had the cummins 380hp 1050 torque, and solid front axle. It was newer and didn't rattle so much, but it seemed the power was lacking.

I left kinda dissapointed that RV's will always drive terrible...? I really hope something out there will drive better, not have so many rattles, and feels a bit tighter. Dont get me wrong i understand that RV's will rattle and those items can be fixed, but for a first drive i left unimpressed...

I forgot which one, but one had the MAXUM chassis. It seemed like both were on some type of freight-liner chasis. with 4 or 6 airbags. the saleman said that we not want the inside and outside bags because the front tire is right there and could pop the airbag...?

He also said that he wouldn't take a Monaco if they gave it to him for free.. Something about thers no one there to service them

I have hope that Newmar, or CC, or pre 2007 Monaco, or...?? will feel tighter, and have some quality engineering done.

It all depends on what you want, and what you're willing to pay for any given coach. You've got a lot of narrowing down to do and shopping is the only way you can do it sensibly. Two different coach models from the same manufacturer will drive and sound differently. Like I said, you're a long ways off from any decision. I would definitely avoid the units waay out of your geographic area. Too many pitfalls buying an RV from waay across the Country.;)

[Mr_Mark1]

Ocean Mist, just for the record, Prevost did make a 40 ft. coach which is sought after by those wanting a shorter coach. I know a fella who is just putting his on the market right now, a 1992 XL (I have not seen this coach on the inside) he just bought a 2000 Prevost (his 4th or so). Has a collection of airstream trailers too.

If you are halfway interested, PM me and I'll get you connected.

MM.

[Ocean_Mist]

mike brez wrote:

Mr.Mark wrote:
Ocean Mist, there is a '96 Prevost Vogue XLV (no slides) for sale at East Tennessee Luxury Coach in Vonore, TN. My understanding it has been brought up to date (new air bags, norgren valves, etc.)... $85,000.

It has 228,000 miles on the Detroit Diesel, barely broke in. I have not seen this coach in person but it is a great buy to get into a Prevost for little money. The place where it is located is at a Prevost service center. I have met the owner of the business and he is a really upstanding guy. He knows his stuff.

Just thought that I would mention it. If you want to look at it, go to www.prevostcommunity.com and hit 'coaches for sale' (I don't think you need to sign up). It's a little past mid way down on the first page (East Tennessee Luxury Coach).

The price leaves room to make cosmetic color updates to your liking.

Good luck,
MM.

Click here. With a series 60 yet. This one is pretty nice too.

thank yo both for those amazing RV's! After speaking to my wife we feel we need to stay in the 35-40' range. Especially being here in California. However, who knows, we might go BIG! hehe the Prevost, I'm sure is a dream to drive. But I just wish they made a 40' er.

WEll, I'm not speakng from experience but do you have any trouble in california roades or parks? any difficulties with the height or parking in parks? Casino's?

[dezolen]

LOL after reading this review. My 2013 Tiffin 36LA gasser rides like a dream and it's so quiet. Might here the roll down blind hit the window frame the odd time.

[mike_brez]

Mr.Mark wrote:
Ocean Mist, there is a '96 Prevost Vogue XLV (no slides) for sale at East Tennessee Luxury Coach in Vonore, TN. My understanding it has been brought up to date (new air bags, norgren valves, etc.)... $85,000.

It has 228,000 miles on the Detroit Diesel, barely broke in. I have not seen this coach in person but it is a great buy to get into a Prevost for little money. The place where it is located is at a Prevost service center. I have met the owner of the business and he is a really upstanding guy. He knows his stuff.

Just thought that I would mention it. If you want to look at it, go to www.prevostcommunity.com and hit 'coaches for sale' (I don't think you need to sign up). It's a little past mid way down on the first page (East Tennessee Luxury Coach).

The price leaves room to make cosmetic color updates to your liking.

Good luck,
MM.

Click here. With a series 60 yet. This one is pretty nice too.