Class A models

Punchdrunk Monkey

Punchdrunk Monkey

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Tagging on to my previous post about switching from Class C to Class A.....

I've been looking online and at few local dealers for Class A's. Trying to get an idea on floor plans. Going with @HEADINJURY recommendation we have looked at a few Tiffin Open Roads. Looks like 31SA and 32SA at the best floor plans so far. 

What are other make and models that you guys like???

Here are a few items we need/like

We would like to stay around 33' +/-. Our side yard is 36'

Gas or Diesel???? I think the length will limit us to gas. There are short Diesel's but they have lower HP. We will be towing a full size car when we start traveling and a flatbed with SxS when Speed finally delivers 🙂  Nothing huge, I think the 5k lb rating on most motorhomes will suffice. 

Mostly local trips but we are planning on driving around the country soon. 

Occasionally have a kid or 2 camping with us. Couch bed, dinette bed or pull down??

We went to La Mesa RV yesterday and looked at new ones just for the fun of it. I can't believe the crappy quality of materials being used in 6 figure coaches. Even the 200-300k coaches are cheesey.

Right now we looking at 2014 and up. Around 100k but that is just a ballpark. 

What would you recommend?

 
Newmar New Aires could be had in a few 33' floorplans for a year or two (they're 35' only now).  If you want quality that you weren't seeing in the units you walked, they'll deliver... different ballpark though.

-TJ

 
Punchdrunk Monkey said:
Tagging on to my previous post about switching from Class C to Class A.....

I've been looking online and at few local dealers for Class A's. Trying to get an idea on floor plans. Going with @HEADINJURY recommendation we have looked at a few Tiffin Open Roads. Looks like 31SA and 32SA at the best floor plans so far. 

What are other make and models that you guys like???

Here are a few items we need/like

We would like to stay around 33' +/-. Our side yard is 36'

Gas or Diesel???? I think the length will limit us to gas. There are short Diesel's but they have lower HP. We will be towing a full size car when we start traveling and a flatbed with SxS when Speed finally delivers 🙂  Nothing huge, I think the 5k lb rating on most motorhomes will suffice. 

Mostly local trips but we are planning on driving around the country soon. 

Occasionally have a kid or 2 camping with us. Couch bed, dinette bed or pull down??

We went to La Mesa RV yesterday and looked at new ones just for the fun of it. I can't believe the crappy quality of materials being used in 6 figure coaches. Even the 200-300k coaches are cheesey.

Right now we looking at 2014 and up. Around 100k but that is just a ballpark. 

What would you recommend?
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Take a factory tour of both Newmar and Tiffin and decide what works best for you... 

I haven't been to Newmar, but I have been to Tiffin in Red Bay, Al. It's pretty impressive when you actually see how much of the coach is built in house.

 
tjZ06 said:
Newmar New Aires could be had in a few 33' floorplans for a year or two (they're 35' only now).  If you want quality that you weren't seeing in the units you walked, they'll deliver... different ballpark though.

-TJ
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Thanks but I think those are a little out of my price range. They are nice!

 
I would second any Newmar product. We’ve got a 2016 Newmar Ventana. Model 3436  360 hp DP  it’s 35’ long. I’ve never had to take it in to get anything fixed on it. I did have some overhead lights that went out in the first yr. I called Newmar they told me to count all of the lights and they would send them to whoever I wanted to change them out. I had them at my door 3 days later.  I’ve only had to change out 10 of them.  Other than that anything else that has been repaired has been self inflicted.  I’ve been trying to convince the wife we need a Dutchstar. 

 
A drop down bunk is nice when you have a kid.   

Gas coaches there are a lot of nice ones out there.  If you can find a Tiffin that would be the first choice, although they do not hold a lot of water.  We looked at Newmar and they are really nice.  The only thing I did not like with the Newmars was the lack of storage space in the jockey boxes.  Newmar likes to put stuff in those areas that takes away a lot of space. 

Seems the cheaper models had great storage.  

As you are buying used most issues have already popped up and presumably the previous owner had those issues resolved.  

 
Curious why you want a 2014 and up?  I would be hunting for a pre emissions diesel 07 like a tiffin, monaco, etc.  Did a gas rig once and would never do it again.  Look at how long the ass end hangs out over the rear axel and then imagine hooking a trailer to that.

 
r3meyer said:
Curious why you want a 2014 and up?  I would be hunting for a pre emissions diesel 07 like a tiffin, monaco, etc.  Did a gas rig once and would never do it again.  Look at how long the ass end hangs out over the rear axel and then imagine hooking a trailer to that.
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Our biggest issue is space. We only have around 36' for storage. So we are looking at 31-33' coaches. There are not a lot of diesels in that size. The Tiffin Open Road 32Sa Fits what we are looking for. 

I randomly picked 2014. We just dont want something dated. 

 
Definitely a Tiffin or a Newmar Baystar. Not the Baystar sport. I was also limited on space and ended up with an Itasca 30A. Love it so far. Pull a 6000 lb trailer.

 
Punchdrunk Monkey said:
Our biggest issue is space. We only have around 36' for storage. So we are looking at 31-33' coaches. There are not a lot of diesels in that size. The Tiffin Open Road 32Sa Fits what we are looking for. 

I randomly picked 2014. We just dont want something dated. 
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Does it have to be a Class A?  In that size there are some newer Super Cs on the Ford F550 platform that are really nice, and drive MUCH better than a Gas Class A. 

-TJ

 
tjZ06 said:
Does it have to be a Class A?  In that size there are some newer Super Cs on the Ford F550 platform that are really nice, and drive MUCH better than a Gas Class A. 

-TJ
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We looked/walked in a few Super C's and I was not impressed with them. I don't know how they drive but they don't "look" like something I want to drive across the country.

 
The Newmar Baystars look nice. They look comparable to the Allegro Open Road. 

 
Punchdrunk Monkey said:
We looked/walked in a few Super C's and I was not impressed with them. I don't know how they drive but they don't "look" like something I want to drive across the country.
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My '21 Thor Magnitude drove REALLY well, faaaaaaaaaaaaar better than my gas Class A.  Nothing drives like the tag-axles Newmars with Comfort Drive, but I was very impressed with the Magnitude.  The first trip I had it out I hit a huge windstorm (it was actually the storm with the wild wind, and dry lightening that started all of the big CA wildfires that season) and it honestly was not bad.  I was pulling a 24' box trailer too.  A good diesel pusher will always be best, but I'd take *the right* Super C over just about any gas Class A... 

-TJ

 
tjZ06 said:
My '21 Thor Magnitude drove REALLY well, faaaaaaaaaaaaar better than my gas Class A.  Nothing drives like the tag-axles Newmars with Comfort Drive, but I was very impressed with the Magnitude.  The first trip I had it out I hit a huge windstorm (it was actually the storm with the wild wind, and dry lightening that started all of the big CA wildfires that season) and it honestly was not bad.  I was pulling a 24' box trailer too.  A good diesel pusher will always be best, but I'd take *the right* Super C over just about any gas Class A... 

-TJ
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We walked through a few of the Thor Magnitudes and for 200k+ they felt like they weren't put together well. The inside felt like I was in my Coachman class C. 

 
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