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06-02-2016, 04:02 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 1
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Need advice
Been looking for a diesel pusher for a couple months and not able to find one that fits my needs except for new ones. The new ones are a 2016 Fleetwood Excursion 35E and a 2016 Holiday Rambler Navigator XE 35E. I know they are both made by the same company but I don't know if they are a quality coach as this is my first purchase of an RV. I need the bunk beds so my choices are limited and I really don't want to go bigger because of site limitations. Thanks in advance for any advice.
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06-02-2016, 05:58 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Country Coach Owners Club Appalachian Campers Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Chattanooga, Tn.
Posts: 12,060
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Hello and We are glad to have you join us here and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. I am sure you will enjoy our website and forums. Good luck, stay safe and keep us posted.
__________________
Mike, RVIA & RVSA Certified Master RV Technician
Amy, Dr. Assistant - Roxie & Mei Ling, four legs each
2000 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser 450 hp & 1330# torque
06 Saturn Vue, 06 Chevy Z71 4x4 & 2014 Corvette Z51 M7
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06-02-2016, 07:24 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,456
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I own a Monaco 2002 Windsor and have always been proud of the way it looked and performed. It has a 350 ISC engine with a 3000 transmission. The inside looks really high quality with solid Walnut cabinetry that has held up well.
To be honest I looked at the current Navigator lineup and was disappointed. The standard engine seems under powered and they transmission has stepped back to a 2500 series. I would be surprised if it could tow 10K and/or handle any grades.
My recommendation would be look for a 2006-2008 model and have bunks retro fitted as you need. The cost would be much cheaper and you'd have a higher end product.
__________________
Jim J
2002 Monaco Windsor 38 PKD Cummins ISC 350 8.3L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/5.7 Hemi
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06-02-2016, 07:48 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Posts: 2,744
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I would start looking at the used market. You may need to travel to get the best deal. I would start with ppl.com amd Texas RV Dealer, Used RVs for sale, motorhome sales, new RVs
I wouldn't limit myself to a short 35-36 foot coach. I would make the cutoff at 40. I am working on getting campgrounds located and reserved for my trip starting the 16th. I am on my 30th campsite(I haven't turned toward home yet) and have had no problem getting/ finding a place to stay with a 38ft coach. I was in about 32 places last year and more the year before that.
Bill
__________________
2008 Newmar Mountain Aire
450 HP Cummins ISM 4000MH Allison Trans.
Towing a 2014 Honda CRV with a Blue Ox tow bar.
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06-03-2016, 05:30 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 215
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We've compared our '04 HR with the new '15/16 models...although the new coaches look nice at first glance the quality of the build in our '04 is much better. Met a couple of owners of brand new HRs and they are not impressed with the quality nor the long list of problems they've had since purchased.
If you purchase new...be ready to have your rig in for service which can take prolonged periods of time. You might want to consider watching your rig being built at the factory, then taking delivery of it nearby and giving it a shakedown while close to the plant. That way if you do have issues you're close enough to take it back and not be at the mercy of a dealer who is a middleman with their hands tied.
What you are going to spend for a new coach, you could buy a used one that is sound mechanically and have it remodeled/refreshed to meet your needs and have money left over to travel and enjoy your rig. There are several coach works that do just that...one being Texas Custom Coach in Pipe Creek TX.
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07-21-2016, 09:02 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Posts: 49
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Just picked up a 2016 Excursion 35E a week ago in Phoenix, AZ and drove it back to Maryland. Overall I like the coach, especially the bunk layout with the front drop down.
I do have a laundry list of items to be repaired or adjusted now that I am home. Although many of these should have been done by the selling dealer. I would never deal with them again. Fortunately Camping World is willing to do the warranty work for me since a local dealer (who doesn't carry this model) won't do the warranty work since I didn't buy it from them.
A few things I found to keep in mind. This chassis does ride low, much lower than my gasser. It is an "Entry Level" diesel, but I had no problem with any of the hills coming back cross country. True it was empty, other than a full tank of water, but with one or two exceptions, it pulled hills in 5th or 6th gear. I think the worst one dropped to 4th gear and maintained 55 mph on an 8% grade. I don't recall needing much accelerator on any of the other hills, most being between 5 and 7% grades. My gasser would have been screaming.
On most roads it was pretty quiet, although things do bounce on the bumps. The overhead bunk just adds to the noise when hitting bumps.
I stayed under 38' due to limitations in some parks.
Having looked and compared for several years, I found this coach to appear to have the most storage among bunk models.
Being an entry level, I didn't expect it to be exceptionally high on quality.
FYI, for 2017 the Excursion is getting a name change to Pace Arrow. Same floor plan and specs, just a new price.
Good luck with your search.
__________________
Rob - 2016 Fleetwood Excursion 35E
2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Custom
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07-21-2016, 11:12 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,052
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I've been shopping for bunkhouse class A RVs and there's not much out there in the diesel variety. It seems the ones I like are gassers and the ones I really like are poorly made gassers
I would really prefer to go diesel and the 35E definitely has my eye. All the used pushers seem totally outdated (small square TVs, ugly furniture, etc.) and aren't priced that much less. I find myself looking for new or maybe a year or two old.
I think the reality is folks who need bunks tend to be younger and are missing the money and/or time to hit the road in a diesel pusher.
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07-22-2016, 10:52 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 136
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Check out the Winnebago Forza 38.
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