Like Russell, I haven't had the pleasure of touring a 361BH. It looks like a wonderful coach, and Forest River generally has a good reputation. Thor does not have the greatest reputation with many folks, although we are very happy with our Palazzo, and have had a really good experience with our dealer (TotalValue in Indiana), our extended warranty (XtraRide) and Thor. (Our only significant problems have had nothing to do with product quality.)
From a quick look at the Forest River website, I can only offer the following comments for you to consider as you contemplate your choices….
1. My DW prefers the unobstructed view out her side of the Palazzo to most front-entrance coaches. Winnebago seems to have improved this in some of their latest models, but you should make sure to drive both coaches before choosing, as it appears as though this might be an issue in the 361BH.
2. I'm not generally a fan of carpeted storage bays. They become soiled quite easily, and I can't shake the memory of seeing someone's YouTube video recounting their experience with a black-water leak in a high-end Newmar that flooded the entire basement. My DW would make me burn the coach if that ever happened with carpeted bays!
3. You mention that a washer/dryer isn't important to you, but I have to tell you that it's awfully nice to have the ability to throw a load or two in while relaxing, rather than spending the evening at the coin laundry at the other side of the campground.
4. While the models with a washer/dryer don't generally have bunks, the retractible bunk over the driver and passenger seats at the front of the Palazzo has been fantastic. The grandkids see it as a "fort," and it doesn't impact the livability of the coach when it's in use.
5. It appears as though the television in the 361BH is mounted over the dash. That would have been a deal breaker for us. When we do settle down to watch a movie or show, we both really want to be able to comfortably view the screen without turning to the side. In the case of the 33.2 Palazzo, both the "euro lounger" and the couch face the television mounted over the dinette.
6. The "pure sine wave" inverter is nice (we have problems with our coffee maker that has a sensitive microprocessor if we are running on the alternator), although I doubt you'd find it a significant-enough issue to tip the decision one way or the other.
The only other thing I'd wonder about is the fact that the 361BH appears to be a new model for Forest River. Some of the problems with the Palazzo's reputation is undoubtedly due to the fact that the line became very popular, very quickly. Therefore, there were a lot of them built before Thor worked out the bugs and made some improvements that seem to have made us late adopters far happier than our unfortunate predecessors. Also…I'd generally advise buying something at least a year or two old, just because you'll save a lot of money (tens of thousands in our case).
In any event…you'll probably love either one of these coaches. Enjoy!
Linear Mode
