What "Specials" Would You Add When Ordering a 4154?

[69RoadRunner]

I'm debating between a used 2007 All Star 4154 and ordering a new one. I know Newmar will do "specials" beyond the standard options.

What would you suggest for a family of 4 that includes a 22 month old and 4 year old? We'll go to car shows, the rats nest, er, Disneyworld, the beach, etc.

Obviously we're not fulltimers.

Thanks!

[69RoadRunner]

I'm debating between a used 2007 All Star 4154 and ordering a new one. I know Newmar will do "specials" beyond the standard options.

What would you suggest for a family of 4 that includes a 22 month old and 4 year old? We'll go to car shows, the rats nest, er, Disneyworld, the beach, etc.

Obviously we're not fulltimers.

Thanks!

[afrank1971]

One thing I had to have was remote keyless locks for the entry and baggage doors. Just grew too acustomed to that on the Winnebago. Other specials we did were AGM batteries, pure sine wave inverter, auto gen start, and HD wiring and switch box. Don't know that any of these would be must haves for you, also not sure which may be standard now on the 2009, but things we wanted. However, I noticed on a previous post from someone that Newmar is apparently no longer going to offer specials on the All Star and Ventana line, only Dutch Star and up, so it may be interesting to see. Anyway, good luck!

[kneal]

Actually, Newmar will allow specials on the Allstar. They new specials policy doesn't allow for specials on the Gas Models or the Ventana Model.

Other things to consider for the Allstar - Upgrade Passenger Seat, Halogen Lights (I believe this is an option now for the 09 but it is not listed on the order sheet, any kind of prewiring for additional outlets, HD cabeling, etc...

[Dav5942]

Sounds like you will be drycampig some.

Make sure the Ice Maker is wired thru the inverter so you can make ice without Genny/AC on.

No carpeting-may be option.

We did many specials for our specific needs which we determined by spending two days doing thru the 4153 at a RV show. Some may now be incorporated in the '09s.

AllStar

Almost forgot "Energy Management System"!

[69RoadRunner]

I never would have thought about making sure the icemaker is hooked up to the inverter.

If you didn't have an icemaker, does the refrigerator need some electricity even when you're running on propane to control the temperature?

[Dav5942]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 69RoadRunner:
I never would have thought about making sure the icemaker is hooked up to the inverter.

If you didn't have an icemaker, does the refrigerator need some electricity even when you're running on propane to control the temperature? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, frig will work fine.

[69RoadRunner]

It sure looks like the RV business must be doing well right now. I've received 2 price quotes after sending out about 12 requests.

One was from my local dealer, and it was not a good one. It's going to take a lot of back and forth to get a decent price.

[Spikester]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If you didn't have an icemaker, does the refrigerator need some electricity even when you're running on propane to control the temperature? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just a note that, in order for refrigerator to work you need either 120VAC and 12VDC, or Propane and 12VDC. Electronic control module which controls the operation of refer needs 12VDC in order to function regardless of your heat source (120VAC heater or propane).

Spike

[Nathan Focht]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 69RoadRunner:
It sure looks like the RV business must be doing well right now. I've received 2 price quotes after sending out about 12 requests.

One was from my local dealer, and it was not a good one. It's going to take a lot of back and forth to get a decent price. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Contact Jim Clark @ Aloha RV in NM. Also I think Lee at Lee's RV in OK has a great company.

[Dav5942]

Don't know what the 4154 has but would want removable bed rails on the bunks for the kids.

[69RoadRunner]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dav5942:
Don't know what the 4154 has but would want removable bed rails on the bunks for the kids. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It has a fixed bedrail for the upper bunk, which should be good enough.

[DonnaB]

First of all, you must consider your lifestyle and how you will be living in the MH as you use it. So given that, this is just food for thought....

We ordered a larger inverter and asked that ALL outlets be on the inverter. Otherwise we were told that only a few would be wired. This lets us determine if we want to run something off the inverter as opposed to have to find an outlet. We also ordered added insulation and heftier wiring for the solar prep as we will be installing panels this spring/summer.

A retractable hose reel (keeps the fresh water hose off the floor of the wet bay)

An automatic hose reel for the electric cord

Auto door lock that also lock all bay doors.

Energy Management System

AquaHot or whatever they are offering today, for heat/hot water....diesel burner not propane

AGM batteries for the house batts.

"Tried" to get Newmar to add a 2nd battery tray (there is/was room) but they declined. We are having a company on the next street down, DH Machine, add a battery tray this Monday.

More electrical outlets (can you have too many?....I don't think so).

A backsplash behind the bathroom sink if it doesn't come with one.

A bathroom faucet with a lever is easier to use than one with the ball type handle.

If you cook, maximize kitchen counter space. There are ways to add a little here and there and 12" extra is a lot in these vehicles. If you don't cook, don't bother.

Ceiling fan in the bedroom (they do a great one that is 12V, very adjustable and quiet)

Tile from the bedroom to the front....down side is colder in winter, makes the vehicle heavier, but much easier to keep clean.

Substitute halogen lights for the florescent fixtures.

If the dash radio is important to you, you might look at what options are there as the standard radio speakers leave MUCH to be desired.

If you are using a batwing TV antenna, ask for the powered one. Push of a button and it is up or down (no more hand cranking), plus great HD reception. If you are doing satellite, not an issue probably.

We also asked for TV coax to come to either front slide as we have hooked that up to our PCs which can both view & record TV. That's our poor man's TIVO and with a headphone lets us watch two things at once without bothering the other person.

We asked for stainless steel double sinks in the kitchen, but if you really like the corian version, this may not appeal to you.


That's all that comes to mind at the present. Good luck in your quest for the right home.

[69RoadRunner]

Newmar told one of my local dealers they wouldn't do anything that isn't on the options list. I assume this just applied to the Ventana since that's what I want to order.