Community Forums

omaopa · 02-15-2011, 10:57 AM

We are looking to buy a class A, preferably 2005 or newer, but do not like the tv up high above the front window. Found one this weekend, the Intruder 391, but don't really want to go that long due to park limitations. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

LVJ58 · 02-15-2011, 11:42 AM

For whatever it's worth, our 2000 coach is 37' 8" long and in the 11 years we've had it, so far have never had a problem with RV park limitations. Perhaps there could be a problem with State & National parks but we usually don't frequent those.

Like you, we don't care for those overhead TV's so we bought one that had an eye level TV mounted in a cabinet directly behind the passenger seat. An even nicer touch is the electric fireplace below our TV.

Most important is to get a coach with a floor plan and aesthetics that satisfies your desires, as it will be your home away form home and you want it as comfortable as possible.

Good luck with your choice

Nick-B · 02-15-2011, 01:15 PM

Look at some of the Rexhall coaches. Many of their designs had unique floorplans with TVs mounted across from the couch rather than above the driver.
Good luck on your search!

wildtoad · 02-15-2011, 01:21 PM

The nice thing about the new lite-weight flat panel TV's is that you can mount them just about anywhere you like. So if you find a floor plan you like, consider removing the overhead TV, replace it with additional storage, and mount a replacement TV where you want. Yes you will need to consider how to get cables to it, but that is fairly trivial.

elainee · 02-15-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omaopa

We are looking to buy a class A, preferably 2005 or newer, but do not like the tv up high above the front window. Found one this weekend, the Intruder 391, but don't really want to go that long due to park limitations. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

i'm with you, no front tv... the last rv had 3 tv's, a tv up front (optional on tiffin's) one tv in the living area and bedroom..the 2 tv's in a small area was useless .When we ordered our 09 tiffin ,i deleted the front tv (now have extra storage space)which was $1200, used that money and a few more bucks for a 2000 watt invertor and Hadley air horns

peter d
09 tiffin allegro red
toad is an enterprise rental car

**NLOVNIT** · 02-15-2011, 03:54 PM

omaopa

. Glad to have you here.

If you can let us know if you want a gas or diesel coach & what length you're wanting, I'm sure our members can narrow models down for you.

Lori-

RickO · 02-15-2011, 04:03 PM

Welcome to the forum!

We bought our coach for the very reason you mention. Hated the TV up front and got the entertainment system with the fireplace and love it.

We also found Rexhall rigs to have very attractive floorplans like this.

Rick

omaopa · 02-15-2011, 04:31 PM

We are leaning towards a gas unit. Most likely about 32-34 in length. However, at this time we are anxious to look at all possibilities. Will be going to the rv show here in Phoenix and will definitely look at Rexhalls.

**NLOVNIT** · 02-15-2011, 06:39 PM

These are all gas coaches, have mid-ship TV's & are at or very close to your length specs:

Fleetwood:
Bounder 33U
Terra 31TS & 34DS

Newmar:
Baystar 2902

Winnebago:
Vista 30W
Sightseer 31E & 33C
Adventurer 32H

Rexall sells new only factory direct now (Lancaster CA), used are available from other means.

I'm sure other members will chime in with more options.

Lori-

Dixieray53 · 02-15-2011, 06:54 PM

Check the pictures of the 2009 Gulf Stream Crescendo Trio it has one of the most unique floorplans out there. We posted pictures of ours. Also Dan1125, just bought one also. But yes make sure whatever you buy fits your needs. And to me and Tracy floorplan was the most important. Many of the motorhomes share alot of the same parts. Good Luck....D

Oh our's has 3 TV's also, one above the passenger seat one mid. and one in the bedroom.

offthewall · 02-15-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omaopa

We are looking to buy a class A, preferably 2005 or newer, but do not like the tv up high above the front window. Found one this weekend, the Intruder 391, but don't really want to go that long due to park limitations. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

We have an Itasca Meridian V Class 34Y which has a large 42" tv mounted directly across from the couch. The identical Journey Express 34Y has the same arrangement. Both are diesel pushers. Winnebago/Itasca also makes the 33c gasser with a similar floor plan.

Floridafran · 02-15-2011, 10:11 PM

Like you, we didn't want a TV in the front where one, or both, of us would be sitting with our heads turned to watch it. Although watching TV isn't something we do a lot of, I want to be comfortable when I do. We also didn't really want a booth-style dinette, preferring a table & chairs set up. And we didn't want to go over 32 feet, preferably not over 30 feet.

We ended up with a 2011 gas Winnebago Vista 30W (30' 11", so don't go by the #s to guess the length) and we're very happy with it. Is it perfect? No. But I'm not sure such a coach exists short of having one custom built. Even then perfection is an illusive thing that can change as time passes. It meets our current, and foreseeable, wants and needs.

To get everything we wanted that the 30W had available, whether standard or as an option, we had to order ours and wait for it. That turned out to be a good thing as it gave us time to find a toad. More importantly, it gave me time to continue to come to these forums and learn so much. This is our first RV of any kind and we really knew nothing.

My best advice is take your time. Look at as many RVs as you can to compare quality, craftsmanship, fit and finish, etc. Once we thought we knew what we wanted, what mattered most was being able to sit in the model we were considering. The closest one we found was over 100 miles away. It wasn't the right TV/dinette configuration, but it was a 30W and we'd seen the the TV set-up in a bigger Sightseer at our local dealer's place and knew we liked that.

We drove to the out of state dealership and spent a ton of time looking at everything. Sat on the john, got in the shower, bent over the bathroom sink, you name it. In short, we did all the things I'd learned to do by reading different threads on this site. Satisfied that the 30W was the RV for us, we gave that dealer a chance to give us a price ordering exactly what we wanted. After all, we'd taken up his time (although he wasn't with us the whole time we were there) and he'd been very helpful. Ended up buying from our local guy for several reasons, not the least of which was that his price was thousands below the other one.

Hope this helps a bit. Happy hunting and safe travels.

Wayne M · 02-16-2011, 06:58 AM

We were at the Houston RV show this past weekend. There were many RV's there with the tv in other locations than up front. Just about all the mfg's are doing that. Some have two LR tv's - one in the middle and one up front,

denochs · 02-16-2011, 07:29 AM

Since you are looking to buy used, your floorplan choices may be limited. Why not consider doing what we just completed, install your own mid ship TV and make a storage cabinet out of the overhead space where the old one is?? It's not that difficult with the lighter weight flat screen TVs.

Dave