Hung Wall Opinions

afrank1971 · 02-10-2008, 05:45 PM

We just got back from looking at a Mandalay Presidio 38D. The wife and I are looking to replace our Winnebago Journey with a bunk model, but unfortunately Winne as of yet does not make a DP bunk model. At the moment we are leaning toward a Kountry Star 3943, but figured we should check out the competition. Other than the front cabinet coming off in my hand, the Presidio 38D layout was REALLY nice. It was pretty scary, this thing hasn't even left the lot and it's falling apart... Anyway, to my point, during the conversation with the salseman I admitted that we were leaning toward a Kountry Star. He then began to educate me as to why Newmar is out of date and that their hung wall construction was essentially no good. I'm sure every method has it's goods and bads, but what is this forums thoughts on the subject? And while we're at it, he also claimed that Newmar still uses the same slide technology, un-updated, as they originally introduced in 1996, any thoughts on that as well? Thanks for your opinions.
Thanks,
Alan

afrank1971 · 02-10-2008, 05:45 PM

We just got back from looking at a Mandalay Presidio 38D. The wife and I are looking to replace our Winnebago Journey with a bunk model, but unfortunately Winne as of yet does not make a DP bunk model. At the moment we are leaning toward a Kountry Star 3943, but figured we should check out the competition. Other than the front cabinet coming off in my hand, the Presidio 38D layout was REALLY nice. It was pretty scary, this thing hasn't even left the lot and it's falling apart... Anyway, to my point, during the conversation with the salseman I admitted that we were leaning toward a Kountry Star. He then began to educate me as to why Newmar is out of date and that their hung wall construction was essentially no good. I'm sure every method has it's goods and bads, but what is this forums thoughts on the subject? And while we're at it, he also claimed that Newmar still uses the same slide technology, un-updated, as they originally introduced in 1996, any thoughts on that as well? Thanks for your opinions.
Thanks,
Alan

RotorWing · 02-10-2008, 05:59 PM

I own a 98' mountain aire and the one thing I can say about their old technology is that it works! The slide has consitantly worked with out a hitch. I have been reading on this forum for about 6 months and most of the complaints I read are on newer MH's with all there up-graded technology. I for one beleive that if it works don't fix it.

Of course this is just my humble opinion. I hope you find a unit you will be happy with for years to come.

Chris

DonnaB · 02-10-2008, 06:22 PM

Alan,

We own a 1992 Kountry Star DP with one slide....technology that was designed and patented by Newmar first. We also own a 2007 Dutch Star DP with 4 slides. Let me say that putting out the slides is very different in 2007 as opposed to 1992. However, although different, both work very well.

I wouldn't know how to knock the wall technology in the Mandalay or a Winnebago, but I do know that the Newmar quality is very good. We have beautiful wood cabinets throughout. We have cabinets at the top of the slides on both sides of the living room and they are quite full of HEAVY stuff and there is no sign of slippage, looseness or any fault in their attachment. I believe they are screwed into aluminum studs that are 16" OC and I don't think you will find that in many other motor home manufacturers.

I would be reluctant to depend upon a salesman for a Ford to be able to tell me how a Cadillac was built. However, I am always reluctant to depend upon what MOST salespeople say. I have found them too often to say whatever it took to make the sale and that wasn't necessarily always the truth.

Kind of like in politics....I hate it when they want to knock down the other guy. Just tell me what your product is and how good it is not how bad the other one is. Do your own research just like you are doing now and you will come up with the best solution for your family.

RVDude · 02-10-2008, 07:08 PM

Seems funny to call something "out of date" that works flawlessly. Slide mechanism and slide electronic controllers are two different things. I'll go on a limb and guess Newmar's patented slide stuff pertains to the mechanism and not the electronics. I don't think there is a person out there that can say that Newmar slide mechanisms have been a failure point at all - other than the extremely rare limiting rod breakage. So sticking with the "old" patented stuff works like a charm and is a good, rather, a great thing and a superb engineering choice. All the slide problems seem to be with the electronics.

Sounds like salesman politics and pretending to be an engineer by making statements they don't even understand... Take the factory tours and judge for yourself.

**Route 66** · 02-11-2008, 03:33 AM

Newmar does not use "hung walls".

Newmar sets the wall on the floor of the MH.

Fleetwood, and I'm sure some others use "hung walls".

GaryKD · 02-11-2008, 03:57 AM

Hi Alan,
I learned very early in my career that one does not disparage the competition. One sells the merits of what one has to offer the customer. Even if the topic is a known fact, never try to build one's product up by tearing the competitor down.

Whenever I hear a sales person disparage a competitor, I end the conversation and do not return.

rebelsbeach · 02-11-2008, 03:57 AM

Regrettably in every industry there are sales people that give the others a bad name....
As someone that spent some twenty-five years in the real estate industry, I've seen it every day for years.... I'm afraid the RV industry is no different.

One walk through the Newmar factory tour would shoot the aforementioned rv salesman's statement in the foot as they literally winch the sidewalls down onto the floor structure as part of the construction process. I've seen it with my own eyes several different times.

There are many pictures of the factory tour here on iRV2.. maybe cut and paste one in an email and send it to him....

rebelsbeach · 02-11-2008, 04:01 AM

Click HERE to view a link to a series of videos of the construction process.

Click on the one entitled "Sidewalls" to see the crew dropping a wall onto the floor section..... seeing is indeed believing!!

RustyJC · 02-11-2008, 05:26 AM

Hmmmm....perhaps a difference in terminology, but in 5th wheel parlance, "hung walls" refer to those that are NOT vacuum bonded and subject to delamination. I wonder if that might be what the salesman was referring to?

Rusty

JavaJelly · 02-11-2008, 05:36 AM

I cannot get into the details of the construction differences. However, I had the misfortune of having the American technical sales leader for the midwest get a hold of me at the Hershey show last fall. While he slammed Newmar big time, he did make a big deal about the vacubonded walls. He actually took 30 minutes of my time to tell me how superior it was. Most of it was how much pressure is applied uniformly when forming the wall vs. only having a few pressure points as in Newmar's process.

I can't argue for or against as I haven't really looked into it. Just putting this information out there. Also, having seen Newmar's process first hand, I'm not sure how much could be negative, e.g. Aluminum c-channel studs w/grommeted holes for wiring. Plus what Bob said.

**Route 66** · 02-11-2008, 06:11 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Hmmmm....perhaps a difference in terminology, but in 5th wheel parlance, "hung walls" refer to those that are NOT vacuum bonded and subject to delamination. I wonder if that might be what the salesman was referring to? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting how different things can be between 5th wheel and MH.

In the MH world, hung walls are usually vacuum bonded, laminated walls.

It's these types of walls that are subject to delamination, not stud built walls, as there is nothing to delaminate in a stud wall.

In Fleetwood's laminated hung wall instance, the entire sidewall from the roof to the bottom of the storage bay is "hung" on the side of the MH, and not placed on the floor of the MH.

Hung walls are held up by a piece of aluminum extrusion running front to rear on the wall at the floor level of the MH. The entire weight of the wall is supported by this piece of extrusion which rests on the floor of the MH

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Interlocking Floor-To-Sidewall Construction locks tightly to keep out water, dust and noise, and helps eliminate squeaks and rattles. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not to say this is an inferior way to do things, just different.

One way to tell if a wall is laminated, is there is no wiring in the walls. Light switches and receptacles are all on the cabinets. I'm not sure if this is still the case, however.