Downsizing?

[ginnyd]

Has anyone decided to downsize their current Tiffin motor home to a smaller one? To a different brand? We've had our 40 foot Phaeton for 4 1/2 yrs and the urge has struck me to downsize. Opinions? Don't plan on doing anything soon; just thinking.

[farmallbob]

curious as to the reason for the downsize?

[ginnyd]

Not full timing anymore. Bought a house last summer. MH feels too big.

[njs42]

I have seen the Bay Star model from Newmar----looks to be 30' maybe Class A----real nice looking outside----wife saw the inside and liked it----so maybe go take a look.

[kcolivier]

This is ironic! I just sold my 29 foot 2010 Newmar Bay Star 2901 and replaced it with a 40 foot 2005 Newmar Dutch Star DP. I had the Bay Star for 1 1/2 years and it is a nice coach, but it is not a diesel pusher. As long as you understand the differences you should be happy with your selection.

1. Interior cabinetry is as good as the more expensive Newmars in the gassers, at least, if not all the way up to the entry DP.
2. It is on a Ford F53 truck chassis, so it will ride rougher than an DP. I added Firestone Ride Rite air bag spring assist and it helped quite a lot, both with the roughness of the ride and the stability with cross wind. If I had kept it, I would likely have added a steering stabilizer as well.
3. With an 11 feet differential between a 29' and a 40' model, there will be less storage inside and out. I still have a lot of cabinet space in my DSDP that is not completely filled. Underneath in my new coach, I still have space to more effeciently use, but I'll have to get my corner weights before I put too much more on board.
4. The V10 engine will pull you up significant grades but she will complain about it and shift into a lower gear. When this happens, you will need to talk louder to your copilot to be heard. It sounds like a bunch of banshies, but I keep hearing that the tranny is designed for this type of service.
5. The lower you go in any model line, some compromises need to be made. However, I found these to be minor, like the hollow bathroom door and the 600 watt entry level inverter. But there are some good features as well, such as double pane windows; dash radio with weather channels, USB and external audio connections and satellite radio capable; one large pass through compartment in the basement. Mine also come pre-ordered with a small solar panel, automatic satellite dish, etc.

My wife and I spent 2 months traveling in the Bay Star last summer. We enjoyed the trip, but she declared that a longer period of time required a slightly larger rig.

I hope this helps. Now I am just learning the ins and outs of diesel pushers.

Happy Trails!

[Lault]

We will all be down sizing in the future years due to EPA regulations and fuel mileage. The Govt wants us out of these fuel hogs!

[Sumar]

We downsized from a 40 ft. SOB DP this past year to the Tiffin Breeze 32.
We found that the larger motor home was just a bit too big for the amt. of traveling we did, although we had put 40,000 miles on it in 3 years.
We love the Breeze..have had it since July, and have about 8,000 miles on it.

Downsizing was not a problem at all. We thought we would have trouble fitting everything in, but did not find that to be a problem.
Why take 6 outdoor chairs and 2 loungers, when it's just my husband and I?
There was a lot of stuff we found we weren't using.
I think the Breeze 28 would have been a little small coming from the larger DP, but the 32 is just right for us.
Good luck with your search...and have fun doing it!
Sue

[RVHealthy]

We are looking at upsizing and have a 2009 Itasca 35P for sale. Maybe we should consider a swap!

[ginnyd]

I'm thinking we should go down to something in the 30-32' range. Big enough to carry everything for extended trips but not big enough to carry everything we own. LOL

[ginnyd]

Also, I'm short and driving the 40' Phaeton is uncomfortable for me. If the seat is at its lowest position so my heel can touch the floor, then visibility is an issue. If I'm high enuf to see out, then my foot is hanging in mid-air even with adjustable pedals.

[OnNTwo]

I researched the the current offerings and ended up with the 36QSA DP. I almost bought the 34 ftDP from Tiffin but the floor plan (seperate shower and extra sink) sold me on the 36. Both had laundry which was a big deal for my wife. We could NOT do without laundry. There might be some 32 ft models with laundry in a gasser but I wanted diesel.