Pace Arrow Features ?

[DenMc]

This is a fantastic forum.
I have pretty much decided on the Pace Arrow, used around '02 ~ '04.
But I have some question I hope some of you seasoned MH'ers might help me with...
- the 'letter'(on Fleetwood) after the lenght denotes the layout/floor plan does anyone know where to find the floor plans to view according to the 'letter'online , or am I wrong about this ?
- Driver's door, I really like the option to have a driver's door, it just seems to be handy. Do other owners of MH's with driver's door like or dislike them...pro's & con's ?
- also liking the Workhorse chassis combo with the Chevy & Allison trany...any Pro's & Con's on this ?
Looking forward to some great feed back.
Thank you all very much.
Dennis Mc.

[DenMc]

This is a fantastic forum.
I have pretty much decided on the Pace Arrow, used around '02 ~ '04.
But I have some question I hope some of you seasoned MH'ers might help me with...
- the 'letter'(on Fleetwood) after the lenght denotes the layout/floor plan does anyone know where to find the floor plans to view according to the 'letter'online , or am I wrong about this ?
- Driver's door, I really like the option to have a driver's door, it just seems to be handy. Do other owners of MH's with driver's door like or dislike them...pro's & con's ?
- also liking the Workhorse chassis combo with the Chevy & Allison trany...any Pro's & Con's on this ?
Looking forward to some great feed back.
Thank you all very much.
Dennis Mc.

[js9315]

I have an '03 36B -

On the issue of floor plans, my best guess would be the Fleetwood site. I have a drivers door and do not think I have used it since we bought the coach new. Funny, I always thought I would use it when getting gas and the like but it is not really that easy or convienent to get in or out of. I also have the Workhorse chassis and love it, the Allison transmission is the best thing that ever happened to gas motorhomes.

We are toying with the idea of moving up to a diesel pusher, if you get serious about a Pace Arrow and want to talk, give me a holler.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

As my signature denotes, we have the '04 36B Pace Arrow. Fleetwood states it's a 36 foot triple slide. It also has the driver's door. Like js9315 states I hardly ever use the door for entry/exit. The thing that does make the door nice is when you need to get under the dash to check/change fuses, etc. With the door open you can just stand on the ground and reach in under the dash, rather then stand on your head leaning over the drivers seat. Quite honestly this is the only time I use the door.

A definite disadvantage is road noise. Especially after you put a few thousand miles on the moho, the seals tend to lose their characteristics and you start to hear wind noise. These doors aren't built with the same quality as a car door. They don't seal nearly as well because the fit isn't that good.

[michelb]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bob (WA0MQE):
As my signature denotes, we have the '04 36B Pace Arrow. Fleetwood states it's a 36 foot triple slide. It also has the driver's door. Like js9315 states I hardly ever use the door for entry/exit. The thing that does make the door nice is when you need to get under the dash to check/change fuses, etc. With the door open you can just stand on the ground and reach in under the dash, rather then stand on your head leaning over the drivers seat. Quite honestly this is the only time I use the door.

A definite disadvantage is road noise. Especially after you put a few thousand miles on the moho, the seals tend to lose their characteristics and you start to hear wind noise. These doors aren't built with the same quality as a car door. They don't seal nearly as well because the fit isn't that good. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I do use the driver's door a bit but I could certainly live without it quite easily. I use it when we fill gas simply because it's a 'faster escape' and if our young son sees me leave he sometimes fusses. Strangely enough the time I use it the most is at pay tolls and such which are sometimes too low so it's just easier to 'transact' through the open door (or to get out completely) than it is to reach down from the window.

Bob makes an excellent point about the noise though; we have a 98 36B with about 100k miles on it and there is TONS of wind noise that comes through the driver door.

As far as the floorplan, the website is a good place to look but unfortunately it's not complete (i.e. although they list 98s and 99s, our floorplan isn't listed even though we have a brochure with it so they certainly printed it then)

As far as the chassis, I think most people are very happy with the Workhorse although if you plan on towing with it, you may want to look for W24 (not sure what year it was introduced in) (or at least see if it's worth it for you)

[redstoneguy]

I have a Southwind with the drivers side door. I like that option especially when I get out for gas. It is quite a climb up but it is still the best way for me. redstoneguy

[DenMc]

Thanks for the feed back 'redstoneguy'.
Did you have any noticeable wind / road noise like others said they've noticed from the door?
What chassis / engine do you have ?
And how do you like it ?
Dennis Mc.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Fleetwood doesn't keep older floor plan info online, except for its luxury coach division (American Coach). However, the pace floor plans haven't changed all that much over the last few years and you can get an idea of the letter designations by looking at the current models.

I never found a driver door to be useful when we had one, but at least a few people like them.

The Workhorse chassis and Allison transmission are an outstanding combination - you will love it.

[michelb]

One thing I really didn't like about the driver door on our last motorhome (94 Allegro Bay) is that it would open from the inside without actually unlocking the door (maybe something in the lock was broken) (i.e. even if the door was locked, you could pull open the inside handle and open the door but this didn't actually unlock it) so if you could easily lock yourself out when using the door and had to remember to check if the door was unlocked before closing again - since I'm absent minded I pretty much didn't use the driver door.

[Ottawa]

I have a Driver's side door in my Southwind and on my trip home today used it when I went to the dump station, when I got gas, when I got a coffee and when I got to the storage area. I think the door is great advantage. I find it easier to get out the drivers door than to get up and cross the MH and open the side door.

[blacktie.shooter]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ottawa:
I have a Driver's side door in my Southwind and on my trip home today used it when I went to the dump station, when I got gas, when I got a coffee and when I got to the storage area. I think the door is great advantage. I find it easier to get out the drivers door than to get up and cross the MH and open the side door. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Me, too.

[Avalondanes]

Gary,
Fleetwood has older product info online. You have to pick up to three coaches and then a drop down will appear for each. Pace Arrows go back to 1999, but Revolutions only go back to 2004, go figure.There are two downloads for each unit year, one is specs with floor plans.

Richard

[DenMc]

Richard,
Thanks for posting the information.
However, I can not find where I can pick 3 coaches for the drop down (?) Do I have to create a "My Fleetwood" account and go from there ? Sorry to be such a dummy.... but being able to look back as far as 1999 would be a bonus , as I am shopping for a 2002 right now.
Please , if you can give more details how to view the earlier years Pace Arrow floor plans.
Thanks very much.
Dennis

[DenMc]

Richard.
I joined "My Fleetwood" and there we go...all the information I need.
Thanks for your help.
Dennis