Tiffin history?

[Oh-one]

I have looked at several Tiffin products and am curious about the Zepher model. When was it started and why did they drop and then reintroduce it? I have looked at a 02 and it looks great, but I would like to know more about them.

[Oh-one]

I have looked at several Tiffin products and am curious about the Zepher model. When was it started and why did they drop and then reintroduce it? I have looked at a 02 and it looks great, but I would like to know more about them.

[Cruzer]

I'm not sure exactly when it was introuduced - I believe it's 2000. It ran a few years until 2002, which was the last year until it went into hiatus. It was built on the Freightliner Powerliner VC series chassis and had a 450 HP Cummins ISM engine. They were supposedly 40' and 42' coaches on a single rear axle, rated at 22,000 lbs GAWR. While the owners of these coaches liked them, they weren't the fastest selling coaches and the high end market was migrating towards tag axles so Tiffin stopped making them after the 2002 model year so that they could concentrate on the popular Allegro Bus line and on the new Phaeton. Meanwhile they began design work on a new high end coach and in 2005 the new Zephyr bowed. The new Zephyr was a 45' coach on a Spartan K2 tag axle chassis with a Cummins 500 ISM engine.

For specs on the Zephyr's Powerliner chassis check out This Link.

Actually, they very first Zephyr made after the reintroduction is now available at This Ad if you want a comparison.

I've met a few owners of the older Zephyrs and they all were very happy with their coaches. Most of them had that prismatic paint which changed colors as you walked by the coach. It was kind of a cool effect but the paint was super expensive. Tiffin built these things with the best attention to detail and quality that they could so they're good solid coaches but they just didn't target the market correctly so sales weren't as expected until the redesign in 2005.

[Oh-one]

Thanks. We saw a 2008 model at Red Bay a few weeks ago. The question still , to me at least, is it worth the difference over a Bus? There is a 02 that is on the market and it looks good on the screen but I was wondering if these had a specific problem that lead to the changes.

[Cruzer]

No problems that I know of, and the owners seem to be happy with them. I was always a bit concerned with the single axle design on that large of a coach. It's a 22K rear axle with heavier truck style tires so it's capable of handling the weight. Yet, there is that 20K maximum axle law called the Federal Bridge Law, which has been debated. Technically a 22K axle is illegal but there's some vaguery as to whether or not it applies to RVs. The tag axle RVs go back to a 20K rear axle with a 10K tag axle, which gives a total rating of 30K on the back end.

Whether or not the Zephyr is worth it over a Bus is highly subjective. There's no doubt you are getting more machine. The chassis is the Spartan K2 with 500 HP ISM Cummins and Allison 4000 on a 45' coach. The Allegro Bus is a 42-43' coach on a Mountain Master GT with 425 HP Cummins ISL and Allison 3000 transmission. The interior decor and amenities are also upscale. Yet the Bus is no slouch either. Whether or not you can justify the extra cost (assuming that you can afford either) over the Bus depends on how much you desire those features over the Bus. In my case I'm more than happy with the Bus so I have no desire to spend the extra money to get the Zephyr. Plus we prefer the decor of the Bus over the Zephyr. As much as I'd love to have the extra 100 HP, I can't justify the expense, and my 400 ISL does a fine job of keeping me moving. Then again, I can't afford the Zephyr anyway so it's a moot point.

[rotts4u]

I agree with Cruzer about the styling. I just dont care for the interior look of the Zephyr. Not that I could afford one anyway but I suppose it is a personal taste thing. But to me the Bus looks like a very nice house and the Z looks too much like a pimped out nightclub or something.

[rebelsbeach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">too much like a pimped out nightclub or something. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

OUCH!! I'd bet ole Bob would hate to read that one...

[george henry]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rebelsbeach:
[QUOTE]too much like a pimped out nightclub or something. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

OUCH!! I'd bet ole Bob would hate to read that one... [/QUOTE

I totally agree with you what would Bob think if he heard this.
I would put a front tag with the words PIMPING AIN"T EASY!!! on the Z version

[edgray]

In keeping with Tiffin tradation, that front tag would say "Pimping it Smoothly" ED

[george henry]

Edgray , I like that one better(smoothly)
Now I got to go out and get a custom made tag with that saying. Since here in Fl or Ga I done need a front dmv tag