Drop-down TV and Ultraleather questions...

[TheJazzMan]

These questions are related to my spec'ing a 2009 Essex:

Most of the Essex floorplans have a hutch that holds a 40" or 52" LCD TV. Not true with the new 4516, full-slide model. The only TV it has is the 32" one over the passender seat. First, for those with the hutch, can you see this TV from the sofas or do you watch the small one over the passenger seat? If the full-slide floorplan could use a TV that drops down from a ceiling box, then a much larger TV could be mounted there in the front. I'm guessing that since I haven't seen any drop-down TV lifts in any Newmar (just bus-conversions), that there just isn't room. Here's one that just requires 7.8":
Slimline TV LIft

Has anyone special ordered a non-standard color of Ultraleather? I would prefer an Ultraleather that is tan rather than the standard white,cream,brown or black.



Finally, what about a non-standard Corian color? I'd like to have a color that is not lt beige, med beige, or grey.

[TheJazzMan]

These questions are related to my spec'ing a 2009 Essex:

Most of the Essex floorplans have a hutch that holds a 40" or 52" LCD TV. Not true with the new 4516, full-slide model. The only TV it has is the 32" one over the passender seat. First, for those with the hutch, can you see this TV from the sofas or do you watch the small one over the passenger seat? If the full-slide floorplan could use a TV that drops down from a ceiling box, then a much larger TV could be mounted there in the front. I'm guessing that since I haven't seen any drop-down TV lifts in any Newmar (just bus-conversions), that there just isn't room. Here's one that just requires 7.8":
Slimline TV LIft

Has anyone special ordered a non-standard color of Ultraleather? I would prefer an Ultraleather that is tan rather than the standard white,cream,brown or black.



Finally, what about a non-standard Corian color? I'd like to have a color that is not lt beige, med beige, or grey.

[GaryKD]

The Newmar London Aire had a TV come down from the ceiling. It was located in the cockpit center, between the pilot and co-pilot seats. One should remember that the London Aire was a center entry coach. The Essex is a front entry coach. This may break putting the drop down TV in the cockpit area. I'm not sure if the LA and the EX have the same inside head room.

[soricobob]

Our "solution" to that was to utilize only the 32" Sony TV which lifts up from our fireplace (opposite the sofa).

[saydiver]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TheJazzMan:
These questions are related to my spec'ing a 2009 Essex:

Most of the Essex floorplans have a hutch that holds a 40" or 52" LCD TV. Not true with the new 4516, full-slide model. The only TV it has is the 32" one over the passender seat. First, for those with the hutch, can you see this TV from the sofas or do you watch the small one over the passenger seat? If the full-slide floorplan could use a TV that drops down from a ceiling box, then a much larger TV could be mounted there in the front. I'm guessing that since I haven't seen any drop-down TV lifts in any Newmar (just bus-conversions), that there just isn't room.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jetsmania's King Aire 4566 is the same floorplan as the Essex 4516 and he added a TV on the side of the refrigerator. Pictues of his coach are viewable at the following link:

The Amigos. Coming To A Campground Near You!

FlyingDiver and I came up with an alternate solution for our floor plan which had the TV on the pantry wall, because we thought the TV was too small for viewing especially when viewing it from the driver and passenger seats. We also did not like the idea of viewing it from the passenger side couch or looking up at the TV if it dropped down from the ceiling. Our solution to the viewing issues was to have Newmar build us an entertainment cabinet and install a Sony 52" HDTV on a Nexus Lift in place of the off door side couch. Pictures of our entertainment cabinet which also provides extra storage for entertainment electronics, books and kitchen items can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.flyingdiver.com/gallery/v..._1177.jpg.html

http://www.flyingdiver.com/gallery/v..._1178.jpg.html

http://www.flyingdiver.com/gallery/v..._1188.jpg.html

Sue

[DonnaB]

Jazzman, we did a mix & match across several color schemes. Our primary interior color scheme was sable, but our countertops were from a different color scheme, driver & passenger seats from another and floor from a yet different coach model & color scheme. Newmar is quite willing to do this. Talk to your sales rep. They can make it happen.

[RVDude]

One other item is to actually lay in each sofa (if you watch TV that way) and ensure the side bolsters extend far enough to be comfortable. In my 4502 the forward bolster is shorter than the rearward one and if I lay into that shorter bolster to watch the main TV I fall out making reclined TV viewing uncomfortable. Newmar states the shorter bolster is a "style" not a "functional" design. So much for style, it is uncomfortable!

So actually check it out for your needs!

[RVDude]

You can also order a non-standard Girard Sunbrella fabric color too! Go to Sunbrella and click fabric showroom. They'll also do mods to the window lambrequens. Also look at the floor tiles, you might want to change the hues on it too.

[TheJazzMan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RVDude:
One other item is to actually lay in each sofa (if you watch TV that way) and ensure the side bolsters extend far enough to be comfortable. In my 4502 the forward bolster is shorter than the rearward one and if I lay into that shorter bolster to watch the main TV I fall out making reclined TV viewing uncomfortable. Newmar states the shorter bolster is a "style" not a "functional" design. So much for style, it is uncomfortable!

So actually check it out for your needs! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

For those with the entertainment "hutch" beside the dinette, is this the TV you watch from the sofas? The Essex 4516 floorplan doesn't have a hutch, so the only TV in the living area is over the passenger seat. I have seen some motorhomes with a fairly large TV mounted on the MH centerline above the driver and passenger seats. I'm thinking it may have been about 40".

If I want to pick and choose fabrics, Ultraleather, Corian, tile, etc., I'm guessing that this will require a trip to the factory. Donna, did you go to the factory? I emailed Ken Williamson today and he said that if I got an order in next week that he could have an Essex done for me by the end of January - about 12 weeks.

[RVDude]

FWIW - I did all my color mods (paint, tile, awnings, lambrequens) using online swatches from the product manufacturers and then crossed my fingers. It all turned out very well and no trip to Nappanee just for colors.

[Lug_Nut]

Midship TV works the best for me. It allows use of the front two seats as the perfect viewing, with three other lay down positions if desired. This floorplan is great, in my opinion, as you actually use the front seats for more than just having company. You really gain an additional 4 to 5 feet of two people living.

Peter

[Dav5942]

We quite often watch both(on different channels!) with the DW watching the rear one from the front seat while I watch the front one from either the recliner or the sofa.

[DonnaB]

We did not go to the factory. All our ordering and color/option swapping was done at the dealer. They had large "books" with leather & fabric, corian & flooring samples that made this easy. We had also been to the FMCA rally in Pomona which allowed us the opportunity to go in & out of many coaches with the standard and modified interiors, so that helped a lot.

Another view on TV arrangement.....we have the single TV in the front middle overhead. Currently a 26", but soon to be a 40". We asked for no TV in the bedroom as we never watch TV there and had Newmar add doors & a shelf to have that cabinet be added storage. We did ask Newmar to run TV wiring to either side slide-out and we have connected the antenna to TV inputs on both our desktop computers. So we can also watch TV on 20" monitors right in front of us. Each computer can also act as a DVR (letting us record multiple channels simultaneously) so we do have the option of recording and watching on each later even though we do not have satellite (our option). This also lets one of us watch something with earbuds or headphones without disturbing the other.

A smallish issue, but really significant when you are in a smallish house.

[Route 66]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">we have the single TV in the front middle overhead. Currently a 26", but soon to be a 40". </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are you going to put the 40" in the front overhead?

I'm also considering a similar change, but it looks to be a real potential head knocker when coming in the door.