Good & Bad Thoughts on a 2011 Mountain Aire 4344 & FWS

[Mr JP]

Hello I am considering 2011 MADP 4344 any body have good or bad experience with this model. It is on a Freightliner Chassis with a 450 Cummins. What should be expected for fuel mileage traveling about 65? Has the full wall slide been trouble? Thanks for your help.

JP

["007"]

Here is a Brochure and Owners Guide for coach.
FWS are no problem as long as coach is leveled first.
The weight you can carry and speed will affect your mileage.
Good luck with your decision.

[Clayobx]

Agreed FWS is not an issue if leveled and ample amperage is there for your multiple motors. That is if your system is electric not hydraulic. I'm not sure what the MA GVWR is but I have read a couple of post stating the owners were not impressed with their power to weight ratio. I personally have the 450 ISL at on or about 43 to 44 K GVWR. No issues climbing or towing. Our toad is just under 5 K. No issue. Newmar is a fine Motorhome. Drive the coach, climb if you can and put the coach on the interstate step on it from a merging ramp and see for yourself.

[plasma800]

Doubt you could go too wrong there... I wonder what major diffs there are between the most recent MADP and the 2011.... I wonder if SLABMAN knows any of the MADP history..........

Either way, anything ending in AIRE makes good sense to me, but that year, I don't know much about.....

But it sounds good

Does the search function here if you type in "2011 mountain aire" or "2011 MADP" reveal anything of interest? This might bring up some topics of interest for you.

Either way, I hope you find what you are excited for!

[Ramets]

Try to get the maint. records. The Mountaineer is a fine coach....IF... it's been taken care of. And I don't mean taking someone's word for it, unless of course it's a close family member and even then verify.

[Mr JP]

Thanks for the reply's. We have went forward with this coach. The owner does have all of the maintenance records that are right on schedule. Thanks again.

JP

[Terry43]

Originally Posted by Mr JP

Hello I am considering 2011 MADP 4344 any body have good or bad experience with this model. It is on a Freightliner Chassis with a 450 Cummins. What should be expected for fuel mileage traveling about 65? Has the full wall slide been trouble? Thanks for your help.

JP

We have the 2011 DSDP 4344 and have not had any real problems with it. Have not had any power issues as long as we keep the RPMs up when climbing long grades. Overall fuel mileage is about 7.5 to 8.0.
Terry

[Mr JP]

Thanks Terry43. That is good info. I will be picking up the new to us rig in a couple of weeks and will have to drive 2000 miles to get home. Lots of learning on the go right away.
Thanks
JP

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by 007";2273967]Here is a [B][URL="https://comnet2.newmarcorp.com/instance1Env99NEWMAR/html/images/2011MADPB.pdf

Brochure[/URL][/B] and Owners Guide for coach.
FWS are no problem as long as coach is leveled first.
The weight you can carry and speed will affect your mileage.
Good luck with your decision.

Didn't Newmar come out and change the requirement on leveling with the full wall slides to deploy it first them level afterward?

["007"]

Have not heard to much about the FWS issue lately, last I heard on subject people level coach with jacks, before deploying slide.
That model does have a FWS.

[Mr JP]

Yes that is a fws model. I have always leveled my old coach before putting out the slides. I this is different on the fws please let me know. Just don't seem right to deploy the slides before leveling.

JP

[OC Bill]

Originally Posted by Mr JP

Yes that is a fws model. I have always leveled my old coach before putting out the slides. I this is different on the fws please let me know. Just don't seem right to deploy the slides before leveling.

JP

I was just at the factory and the tech reiterated the FWS process is as follows:

Park
Deploy slides
Air down
Level, jacks down

When leaving:

Jacks up
Air up
Slides in
Drive off

This procedure has been imparted to me the last three time I was there, same story different techs, this the Newmar approved method for coaches with full wall slides.

The reasoning we were given is that the only time you can be sure that the big opening in the side of the coach is square is when the coach is resting on the suspension. If the jacks are down the opening may be out of square but the slide will still be square, therefore causing a bind.Bill

["007"]

Bill, not saying you or Newmar is wrong but there was a lot of discussion on the FWS deployment when a couple of HOOT's members had damage to their FWS's.
Have not heard any discussion since thought I would bring it up again since they have had their coach's for over a year.
Not trying to start a argument , between both methods of deployment, just want to hear everyone's thoughts on subject again so everyone is on same page as to their feelings on their FWS use.
We will wait for some of the Hoot's comments.

[OC Bill]

Originally Posted by 007";2278724]Bill, not saying you or Newmar is wrong but there was [B][URL="http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/new-instructions-for-deploying-slides-203643.html

a lot of discussion[/URL][/B] on the FWS deployment when a couple of HOOT's members had damage to their FWS's.
Have not heard any discussion since thought I would bring it up again since they have had their coach's for over a year.
Not trying to start a argument , between both methods of deployment, just want to hear everyone's thoughts on subject again so everyone is on same page as to their feelings on their FWS use.
We will wait for some of the Hoot's comments.

I understand, I also had damage to my FWS, but it happened when I was using the "level first" method, then I read the discussion you mentioned where some one posted the new "slides out first" method and since then no problems while using the new methodology. When I took the coach to the factory to have the FWS damage repaired, that is when the techs told us to stick to the new method.
Now, 6 months later and 15,000 miles down the road with at least 50 or more slide cycles, no problems since using the " slides out first " method.

It will be good to hear the others experiences.

Bill