What Could Have Been Better On Your Coach?

[Lug_Nut]

No matter what make or model of coach you get there are always things on each that could have been better.
On mine for example, there are a number of screws on the outside at the driver window that are rusted. Now I've only had my coach 6 months. Are saving on stainless screws really the right thing to do? I don't care whether you by the lowest entry level gas coach, they are expense. And for that kind of money you should get reasonable quality, not rusted screw heads in six months.

So, what could they have done better on your rig?

[Lug_Nut]

No matter what make or model of coach you get there are always things on each that could have been better.
On mine for example, there are a number of screws on the outside at the driver window that are rusted. Now I've only had my coach 6 months. Are saving on stainless screws really the right thing to do? I don't care whether you by the lowest entry level gas coach, they are expense. And for that kind of money you should get reasonable quality, not rusted screw heads in six months.

So, what could they have done better on your rig?

[Road Pilot]

Peter,

The chassis speaks for itself. On the coach I wish the manuals were better. And the construction under the bed could be improved. But we just had another Pelican Lake show with lots of high end coaches and the Essex compares very well.

[Route 66]

I too have some rusted screws outside, and I always replace them with stainless.

Some things seem to engineered/built well, but others seem to be so poorly done that Newmar should be ashamed.

The baggage door catches are attached to the frame with two oversized sheet metal screws that don't always hold. I've replaced some with bolts.

Overall I'm very pleased, but the few minor problems are annoying.

[Lug_Nut]

Dirk, I had the same issue on one basement door. The screws were stripped so I taped them and installed new over sized bolts.

Peter

[Route 66]

I drilled a 1/4" hole through both sides of the 1 1/2" square tubing and used 2 1/2" bolts.

Now that holds tight!

[rebelsbeach]

Now owning a London Aire,there are so many "different" things that don't compare,but I did have an issue I can relate to the MADP and EXDP folks...
With respect to the front and side shades,the London Aire originally came with the "scissor type" that let a scissor bracket come down with the shade. What Newmar found was that while these were supposed to be better,they actually failed under continued use.
Mine on the drivers side even failed such that it was rendered useless and I had to wrap it until I got to Newmar....Thank goodness it failed on Route 6 about ten miles from Nappanee...
Newmar replaced all of my scissor shades with the roll up models in the Essex and the rattles have stopped and they work fine.

The "scare" lights,or lack thereof aren't a big deal to me,as I have cameras on all four sides that operate in low lux relatively well and I have a porch light and a camera there to see who is at the door....

[Jetsmania]

Hi Peter! To put a crank up TV antenna in a 400k plus plus coach is a joke. They hide everything out of site and then they put this ugly crank right over the Nagavators seat. The electric ones are not much more to purchase. Also they install the same lousy tank monitor system that they have been using for way too many years. For the cost of the current MADP they could do better. Paul

[Jetsmania]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">But we just had another Pelican Lake show with lots of high end coaches and the Essex compares very well </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi Dick! Sorry we missed you guys when we left. I agree with you. After seeing the High End Show last month, I felt the Essex compared very nicely, especially against the 2 slide Prevost. Paul

[Route 66]

The front overhead TV on the DSDP is HD ready. It has a HDMI input, but no HD tuner.

For about $100 more, Newmar could have put a HDTV in.

[Dav5942]

Wasn't going to reply-too many to list. But DW just cleaning window screens and found corner broken on one-they are cheap! Also screws rusting on window mounts. They also howl when open traveling-tried to find the drip plugs like Fleetwood has on their windows but different window maunfacturer-seems none are available.

[Mahlon]

OK, here's an opinion from a "gasser":

- My wife's pet peeve: Get rid of the front-TV floorplans. Why would you put a (relatively small) TV waaaayyy up front where no one can see it? Side mount plasma screens are the way to go, and incrementally won't cost that much more if the floor plan is designed around it.

- My pet peeve: Certain construction components/methods just aren't road-ready. Case in point: on a recent trip through the washboard roads of Louisiana five cabinet latches were shaken apart; when I went to repair them I found that they were screwed to a tiny cleat that was just glued to the back of the face frame. Wound up replacing all of the cleats too (poplar this time, spanning the full length of the face frame). Also, screws into hardwood need to be pre-drilled to avoid splitting.

[GaryKD]

Dave,
If I read you post correctly, try puting black electrical tape over the drain holes (all but the farthest toward the back hole). I have found this to be a realiable way to eliminate almost all of the wind noise.

[Dav5942]

Gary, thanks will try. Dave