Community Forums

TLRV · 09-24-2015, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vacay Wheels

Thanks, everyone, for the warm welcome, I appreciate it. I'm in Eugene now getting a few more things estimated and/or installed. While I am passing through the west coast center of motorhome excellence, I might as well take advantage of it!

Here are some photos: 2015 Bay Star 3215 photo gallery | Vacay Wheels

Coming down has been no problem ever. I put it in Tow/Haul as soon as a mountain comes into view, and it stays there until there is prairie under the wheels again. Tow/Haul engine braking is a CHAMP. You dial in the speed you want using the brake, and the tow/haul keeps you there without flinching. Occasionally it would creep up again a few mph, which required another firm application of the brakes to get back on track.

Yeah, I was surprised that climbing long and hard at 110º was uneventful (other than the noise). There is an engine and a transmission temp gauge, both of which stayed steady. No unexpected smells or noises, and coolant levels stayed steady.

The next major mountain adventure was crossing the Klamath range in N.Cal/S.Oregon. As an experiment, I decided to keep the rpms always 3500 or lower, which keeps the engine just "loud" but not "painful". This meant cresting Mt. Siskiyou and a couple others at 35mph--me and the fully-loaded trucks.

Vacay Wheels,

Hey there, it's 'Coach' (Brandon) from Tom Lindstrom RV. Congrats on your Newmar. Just wanted to say thanks for the kind words. I love the page about your Bay Star and the pictures and descriptions are excellent. Hopefully you've had some fun trips. Here's to many more to come.

Coach Russell
Tom Lindstrom RV

Steady_Rest · 09-28-2015, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avid_dk

Are you referring to the Newmar expandable console/table. Can that be dealer installed? Do you know the total price is? TIA

Hi Avid,
Our Bay Star did not come with the cockpit table, I believe it was about the only option it lacked. After our first trip the wife saw a real need for this option. As an option it is $700, but just like car parts, building the mh after purchase is expensive. The price quote for the table from Newmar is a little over $1300, so it would behoove one to order this option rather than after the fact. With 25% off msrp of a new mh as a package the table would only cost you about $525, so that works out to almost an $800 penalty for purchase after sale.

Vacay when it comes to climbing hills I get behind the slowest semi and relax at a leisurely pace. The last time over Snoqualmie Pass I crept over at 25 mph and enjoyed the quiet, with the added benefit of going easy on the drive train. You have a nice Bay Star, with a great floor plan. Same colors as ours and we both have the overhead loft. We would not have bought ours without the loft and after learning of the price for a cockpit table, glad we held out for this option.

Vacay Wheels · 09-28-2015, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steady_Rest

Vacay when it comes to climbing hills I get behind the slowest semi and relax at a leisurely pace. The last time over Snoqualmie Pass I crept over at 25 mph and enjoyed the quiet, with the added benefit of going easy on the drive train. You have a nice Bay Star, with a great floor plan. Same colors as ours and we both have the overhead loft. We would not have bought ours without the loft and after learning of the price for a cockpit table, glad we held out for this option.

I envy your patience... The couple times I tried that, it drove me crazy. Now I use rifleman's ear protectors to cope with the noise. I am thinking of installing a wired intercom system like in small airplanes, so The Mrs. and I can carry on conversations that way.

Thanks. We do love our floor plan. It's a shame Newmar no longer offers it. Presumably, not enough people wanted it. I looked at a Ventana 3436 recently, which is more or less the FWS version of our floor plan, and that seems quite popular. In fact, if we get a diesel, I think that's the one. If it had the drop-down bunk, it would be SUPER tempting to trade up!

You know what, at this point we get more use out of the underside of the table, as an organizer for items while driving. Lacking that is a big miss for Newmar, IMO. The table is mostly there now for the occasional times when the dinette is full.