Newmar Fivers...high line?

[rebelsbeach]

I am starting this topic to not only learn more about Newmar's fifth wheel offerings, but to try and jump start the "fifth wheel" portion of our Newmar Owner's Forum.

As I've been in and around the forums and the RV industry, I have seen many different "price point" offerings and wonder where Newmar's offerings "fit in" to the mix.

I do recall Newmar having "dropped" a recent offering and would like to hear thoughts from the fiver owning crowd as to this as well...

Does Newmar still make what you would call a "high line" fifth wheel?

Why or why not?

Thank you all for your continued support, I look forward to reading your responses.

[rebelsbeach]

I am starting this topic to not only learn more about Newmar's fifth wheel offerings, but to try and jump start the "fifth wheel" portion of our Newmar Owner's Forum.

As I've been in and around the forums and the RV industry, I have seen many different "price point" offerings and wonder where Newmar's offerings "fit in" to the mix.

I do recall Newmar having "dropped" a recent offering and would like to hear thoughts from the fiver owning crowd as to this as well...

Does Newmar still make what you would call a "high line" fifth wheel?

Why or why not?

Thank you all for your continued support, I look forward to reading your responses.

[Hitchhiker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Does Newmar still make what you would call a "high line" fifth wheel? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

They sure do Bob, click here for the 2008 Kountry Aire. They're almost as nice as a HitchHiker Champagne.

[buc1980]

I like this post let talk about Newmar FW in general not only the expensive one.I read a lot about motorhome on this webside but not too much about FW. Newmar build nice FW I think better looking than HitchHiker and a lot more of the other brands.

[rebelsbeach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by buc1980:
I read a lot about motorhome on this website but not too much about FW.... Newmar builds nice FW . </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Part of the reason there's more MH than FW talk is that out of every ten units down the assembly line, only THREE of them are fifth wheels...

Since this is indeed the "Newmar Owner's Forum" I am doing my best to keep the fifth wheel owners represented, AND learn more about the fifth wheel products myself.

WELCOME to iRV2.....Come back often!!

[RustyJC]

Before we bought our DoubleTree Mobile Suites we looked at a Newmar Mountain Aire that certainly fit in the upscale category. We haven't kept up with Newmar's product offerings lately, but if the Kountry Aire is comparable with that Mountain Aire, then it would certainly be a desirable RV!

The particular Mountain Aire we looked at had a GVWR of 19,999 lbs, so one would have to look at truck capabilities and driver licensing requirements (Class A non-CDL here in Texas) to pull one.

Rusty

[Hitchhiker]

I looked at the Newmar fivers too before swapping for another HitchHiker. In comparable floor plans, decor, features, options, and lengths, the Newmar was heavier than the Champagne we bought. To get what I wanted in a Newmar would have required a MDT or an F450/F550. I can handle the HitchHiker's loaded 16.3K with a 1 ton dually.

I may be wrong but I don't think the Mountain Aire is offered any more, was dropped with the 06 or 07 models.

[rebelsbeach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I may be wrong but I don't think the Mountain Aire is offered any more, was dropped with the 06 or 07 models. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is correct...the Kountry Aire is now supposed to be their top of the line, which is partly the reason for my questions.

[Lug_Nut]

The Kountry Aire used to be, in the mid '90's, Newmar's top of the line motorized coach under the London Aire. I think maybe they have removed the name Mountain Aire from the 5ers and now have KAFW (Kountry Aire Fifth Wheel), I don't know whether that is correct or not, as the top of the line. This would also make sense to avoid confusion between the two different RV types.

Peter

["007"]

All the 2008's 5th's are in the fixed Topic on top of Newmar forum.
268 views so far. The fiver RVers must have trouble free RV's or are getting all the answers just viewing.

[K-Star]

Back in the early 2000 time frame, Newmar offered the following 5ers:

American Star
Kountry Star
Mountain Aire
Kountry Aire

First the discontinued the American Star leaving 4 5er models. I had an `02 Kountry Star.

In 2004 they offered the Cypress. In terms of decor, this unit was between the old American Star and the Kountry Star. Then news came out that the Kountry Star was to be discontinued. That is when I bought my current Kountry Star. I can't believe the difference in the decor between my `02 and `05. My `05 has much nicer decor than my old `02 KS.

When the Kountry Star was discontinued, Newmar came out with the Torrey Pine. It was planned to be at a level between the KS and Mountain Aire. I am not sure exactly when, but then the Mountain Aire was discontinued.

Today Newmar offers the Cypress, Torrey Pines and the Kountry Aire.

As we inch closer to full timing (by end of `08) we are looking at a specific floor plan in each of the Kountry Aire and Torrey Pine models.

The Kountry Aire is certainly a higher end unit. the Torrey Pine is not far behind it. What I like about the KA is that they use dual tandem 9000# axles with 16" LR-E tires. If I go with the KA, then I'm in line for an F-450. The Torrey Pine uses dual single wheel 8000# axles with 17.5" LR-H tires.

I toured both the Newmar and Travel Supreme plants during my visit to Elkhart in `05. The construction is very similar. The KA is in the 100-110K range. Not sure of the Torrey Pine.

My take on this subject.

[Toterman (David)]

My take on this is:
Newmar actually dropped the Kountry Aire when they did the rename. The now Kountry Aire is what use to be the Mountain Aire. They reduced the frame size down to what the Mountain Aire was and added the glitz of the Kountry Aire. You could just about order all the high end options on the Mountain Aire from the start.So what you are now getting is a modified Mountain Aire at the price of a Kountry Aire with one year warrenty instead of three.

JMHO

David

[Dennis M]

David,

I agree with your opinion. When we were shoping the Newmars a few years ago our local dealer (who is one of the good ones and I trust his opinions and recommendations) said that the Mtn Aire and Kountry Aire were comparable quality, but the KA had more glitz, which meant more weight and less carrying capacity. His idea was a KA if you didn't move very often, a MA if you were planning on traveling frequently.

In the early 2000's the line up went exacly as K-Star has it listed above. Each one was a step up in weight and features. The differences we saw between the MA and KA were mainly cosmetic (other than the frame) and added unnecesary weight.

When they dropped the MA they seem to have moved the KA down to the MA level.

[rebelsbeach]

Ok....now that we've moved around the dance floor a bit, where does the top of the line Newmar fiver "fit" in the high line market?

Teton,Carriage Royals,Nuwa Champagne,Excel Limited,Travel Supreme...Newmar?

Maybe it isn't fair to list the Teton in the same topic,but you're getting my drift...