Newmar Dash

JVR · 11-21-2009, 11:31 AM

Several weeks ago while at Urbanna for the oyster festival, I was visiting a friend who purchased a 2005 Am. Tradition, boy, did that make me miss the dash layout I had on the Eagle. I do prefer the Essex but the dash layout is ridicules, no usable space anywhere.
Has anyone modified the Newmar dash?
JVR

Chickadee · 11-22-2009, 06:32 AM

JVR:

Boy!....I've got to agree with you that the Essex dash is pretty inconvenient and nowhere near user friendly!! Even the single, two tiered cup holder at the left hand of the driver won't accomodate a standard sized (small) plastic water bottle and the ONLY spot to place anything that is even reasonably reachable by the driver is that little recessed pocket below the fan/heater control knobs. That's it!! No convenient place to set anything where it won't roll away, slide off or be just out of reach except the floor next to the driver seat!! POOR designing.

I think that the engineers who design the driver cockpits, be REQUIRED to actually sit behind the wheel and at minimum drive a prototype of their proposed design cross country and back to the factory spending at least six to eight hours per day in the driver's seat....before....adopting a design.

Gotta say that we kinda had a similar dissatisfaction with our 06 Mtn. Aire, and the best feature in that cockpit that I hated to loose when we traded, was a custom built flat surfaced/lip edged tray my brother-in-law (Wood Fabricator) made for atop the curving, sloping dash at the right of the driver. It was FABULOUS!! If we can find any pics of it I'll try to figure out how to attach em.

LOVE our Essex though. What a GREAT machine!!

Steve

footdoc · 11-25-2009, 08:36 PM

Steve...I'd love to see that tray if you can post it here or email me....thanks

fordcougar · 12-01-2009, 09:50 PM

After pulling the control panel off our 04 MADP I couldn't believe the amount of space under the dash. I always like to take my shoes off and have always thought that a small sitting bench would be perfect above the top stair... someone with a little fiberglass skill could make short work of this project.