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07-27-2016, 12:28 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 173
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Am I a snowflake - lack of good diesel bunk motorhomes
Maybe I am in such a minority that there is not market to build a motorhome that I want.
I have a family of 5 - 3 kids and we spend about 50-60 nights per year out in our Georgetown. I would like to upgrade for several reasons, but space, washer/dryer, mpg, air suspension and brakes, and to move the noise/heat back.
So ...what I would like is 1.5-2 bathrooms, 360+ with 3000 Allison, sub 40ft, washer/dryer and a decent television location that can be watched while driving down the road for the kids. I would also like it to be in the Sub 250k range.
The Winnebago Forza 38W and the Berkshire 38A would fit the bill if I compromised on power. The 38W also has an overhead bunk - awesome....but the both have around 2000lbs OCCC ....WHAT? That seems like a deal breaker why so low? Put some upgraded axles in it and I will pay more.
The Discovery 40G is a nice plan if we sacrifice the second bathroom ...plus it is a little on the long side for some of the parks.
The Newmar Ventana LE 4042 is awesome ...until you get to the dinette ...No seating while driving? Its a bunk model ...i.e. families ...(and yes I checked, they cant put in a dinette because of space).
The new Ventana 4310 is very nice and there are a couple Dutch Star models ...but they get really long and really expensive fast.
Tiffin makes a red and a phaeton model that are nice but dont have the second bath. The phaeton is pricey but you can find used and the red might be underpowered depending on the year. TV is in crappy place and would have to do something like I did in Georgetown (added tv/dvd for driving use onto cabinet)
Seems like there is always a compromise. Its pretty frustrating. Almost ordered the Forza because it seems like the best compromise for what we need right now ...but is 2000 pounds OCCC enough? (never weighed my georgetown before/after to see our typical load
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07-27-2016, 01:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Safety Harbor, FL
Posts: 2,483
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I am not ready to upgrade yet but always looking at what I would want in a bigger bunk model with similar parameters to yours and it pretty much comes down to the Discovery 40G which has some real nice upgrades for 2017 or the Dutch Star's.
I am not that hung up on two bath's, but my girls are still young. I really like the Discovery's floor plan with the single large bath and separate bunk room. Dutch Star used to have nearly the same floorplan but this year went to the two full bath or bath and 1/2.
Forza seems ok, but I agree the OCCC is low, its the same as my 31ft gasser.
I agree also usability while the slides are in is very important, seems obvious with a bunk model that the kids will wan to watch tv going down the road and sit at the table. I have seen some floorplans cover the TV with the slide when its in?!?
__________________
2022 Thor Palazzo 33.5
2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Toad - Readybrute Elite Towbar
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07-27-2016, 01:14 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 578
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There are still some 4040's out there....
__________________
2016 Ventana LE 4040
2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport
BlueOx BP w NSA ReadyBrute
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07-27-2016, 01:19 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 209
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Your title about the snowflake got my attention. Very nice. I feel your pain as feeling as if they don't make a coach for you. We were in an opposite position. We did not want bunks as we have no kids and don't expect to carry too many guests. So it seemed as if the only thing we could find were gas models, although we wanted a DP, or we could only find older models that were too small, or newer models that were 40+ feet which is also not what we wanted. We ended up narrowing it down to a few different makes and models, but when searching on RVtrader for example, we'd only get a few filtered hits on a nationwide search, and not many hits in our area for that matter. We did find one eventually (3 similar models actually popped up right around the same time). So, be patient and you'll find what you need.
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07-27-2016, 03:09 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Jayco Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poinciana FL
Posts: 7,781
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Not sure of your budget, but Newmar just posted photos of a bunk bed floor plan Mountain Aire on their Facebook page
__________________
Jay and Peggy Monroe
"Can't take it with you, not leaving any behind"
2024 Jayco White Hawk 26FK
2024 Ford Expedition
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07-27-2016, 03:48 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Freedom, NH
Posts: 1,520
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If you don't mind going a bit longer, Foretravel has a few bunkhouse floor plans in the '17 IH-45 model. But, they do list them at around $1.3M!
__________________
Fran, Mary & Zoey (silver Cocker)
2017 Thor Axis 25.5 "RUV", Ford E-450, V10, 6 speed
2016 Chevy Sonic LTZ Auto Hatchback 4-down
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07-27-2016, 05:24 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 691
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OP - I am in exact same boat...bunks, bath and half min, good tv angles 3000 tranny, etc. hard to believe they r almost impossible to find. I like the Berkshire 38a plan, but the one I looked at had 2200lbs ccc...that is terrible. Also most r quite limited in what they can tow. The new ventana(le) bunk looked good until I saw the dinette vs booth...no sitting there when driving down the road:(. Don't think they can out dinette in there due to space constraints
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07-27-2016, 05:57 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,637
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Do you need new? The Newmar Ventana for 2012 had bunks and a dinette.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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07-27-2016, 07:23 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 114
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Am I a snowflake - lack of good diesel bunk motorhomes
I feel your pain, we have a 2007 Newmar Allstar 3950 which we love but at 140k miles and nearly 10 years old we are on the repair something major each trip path. But I have yet to find anything even close to as functional for us.
__________________
Shaun & Jarese - Denver Co
3 Kids, Nicholas 16, Alex 13, Cassie 9 Years
Newmar AllStar 3950 (mid-engine diesel)
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07-28-2016, 02:28 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,666
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Am I a snowflake - lack of good diesel bunk motorhomes
The Fleetwood Excursion and Holiday Rambler Navigator XE both come in a 35E floor plan (actual length 36' 9") that is just about as compact as you can find with sleeping capacity for 5, a booth dinette with seat belts, and a washer/dryer. Two bunks are standard, and a drop-down queen bed over the front seats is optional. You only get one bath at this length, though.
Mike
2000 HR Endeavor
__________________
Mike
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07-28-2016, 11:53 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,637
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RE: The Ventana....are there enough seat belts on the sofas? That's where the kids could sit while traveling. A little safer than at a table - more padding and neck support. Just a thought.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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07-29-2016, 10:49 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 50
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Ive got 5 kids. Imagine planning for 7 people. I quickly went to super c's for practicality reasons. To find the sleeping arrangements in an A would be very nice for the next coach. Very unlikely without a custom build.
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07-30-2016, 06:13 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,636
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trs80, The last I knew the Berkshire units came in both a 340 or 360 hp. version at least they did when we were looking at one of their 38-39' units.
__________________
2012 Journey 40U (Our Incredible Journey)
2008 Dodge Dakota(TOAD) 2005 Honda Shadow in TOAD
AF-1 braking system
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07-30-2016, 11:18 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 374
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trs80
The Newmar Ventana LE 4042 is awesome ...until you get to the dinette ...No seating while driving? Its a bunk model ...i.e. families ...(and yes I checked, they cant put in a dinette because of space).
The new Ventana 4310 is very nice and there are a couple Dutch Star models ...but they get really long and really expensive fast.
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Totally with you on this. Would love to upgrade to the LE 4042, but lack of a dinette is a deal killer for sure. A large part of the value in motorhome travelling, for us anyway, is the ability to use the dinette while travelling. Doing schoolwork, playing games, even eating lunch. It's also really important to separate the kids sometimes, one on on the couch, one on the dinette.
Also agree on the 43-footers. Too large, too expensive. Otherwise, fantastic!
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