Community Forums

mmhh22 · 12-01-2018, 01:05 PM

Hi all. Newbies here. By way of background, we have never owned but have rented several Class A RVs. We have been to the Tampa and Hershey shows (2x) and learned a lot from the seminars and talking to other owners. We plan to use our RV for 4-6 months a year from our home base in Maine. We will both be retired in 2019 and while not especially handy, we are eager to learn and may take the repair classes we have seen offered. We had narrowed our search (like so many others) to recently used Newmar or Tiffin, 37-42 DP, preferably with tag. Budget $150K - $200k. A few weeks ago while in Dallas we made a side trip to the Foretravel factory. Very impressive to watch hand built coaches being made, and we met some wonderful Foretravel owners on the tour. We also went across the street to MOT and really liked some of the older Country Coaches and Newells. I know many here suggest buying an older coach from one of these high-end manufacturers, which we are now considering. We would like to purchase in mid 2019.

We have some random questions about going the older route and are seeking advice.
1. Other than taking it to the factory for service, are there options for servicing the Foretravels made on the Foretravel chassis? 2. Older units with slides do not appear to have slide-toppers. How important is this? 3. One of the CCs we looked at (a 2007 I believe) had several fogged windows. MOT did not seem to be offering to repair them and mentioned going to the window manufacturer somewhere in the midwest. Cost and hassle factor? Other options? 4. How costly/practical is it to upgrade an older coach to all-electric? 5. Same question for adding solar. 6. Salesman at MOT told us he would never sell a Newell coach to first-time owners. Is this legit? (Or maybe we just didn't look too bright.) 7. Lots of advice to stay away from CAT engines, but are there any particular ones that are generally OK? That's all for now. Thanks for all replies!

1doodadd · 12-01-2018, 03:56 PM

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f123/isx-...in-420406.html

Sco70ttie · 12-01-2018, 04:03 PM

Check out RV.org. They rate RVs and have the most complete information on the selection and buying process. Good RV hunting.

MSHappyCampers · 12-01-2018, 04:07 PM

Hi !

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Sorry I can't help with those questions.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Mr_D · 12-01-2018, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1doodadd

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f123/isx-...in-420406.html

The above thread is one of several on the older ISX CM871 problems that have been posted. This one happens to be one of mine.

2 Stroker · 12-01-2018, 04:38 PM

Nothing wrong with the larger Cat motors, they just like fuel. A few in our group have the Cat 525 and get around 5.5mpg in a 07 42' Country Coach and one with a 02 C10 in a 40' and get around 8mpg. I have a C-9 and get 6.5 nothing to brag about, where the Cummins my gets better mpg.

If you do some reading in the Cat & Cummins section, I think the Cummins has more problems than the Cats.

2 stroker

brandss · 12-01-2018, 08:09 PM

I'm a newbie so take it for what it's worth. We did our research, learning everything we could from reading to watching videos. At you budget you certainly have a lot of options.

This is only what we did, after a lot of discussions. We immediately ruled out new. We didn't want to suffer the depreciation buying new (although, I'm not sure I'm in the camp that believes you lose 30% when you drive it off the lot; see below the manufacturers we decided upon). The biggest reason for us not to buy new is that we are full timing but still working. We don't have the ability to keep going back to the dealer to get the "new issues, that seem to be with every coach, worked out".

We also didn't want an older coach. I must admit that I am too old to replace old tv's, older technology, and the general work that comes with an older coach. When i say older, I'm talking 10 years old or so. Don't blast me, just my opinion.

We ended up deciding on either a Newmar Dutchstar 4369 or a Tiffin Bus 45LP. As many have said, decide on a floor plan and let that guide you. I have a different view, decide on a manufacturer, year range, and then floor plan, based on your budget. Then get into the must have options. For us, because we live in KY we decided we needed aquahot or the oasis heating. We also put a premium on heated floors based on the reviews and the heat it provided. We also wanted a tag axle, but you get the point, it is now getting down to personal preference, where you plan to stay, and what you want in a coach. One funny thing is that we decided we had to have the "L" couch to keep it from looking like a "shotgun home", having it seem like a "family room" but we found out most don't like that option and it's a niche coach.

Point is, give it a lot of thought, sit in a lot of coaches, talk to a lot of people, and drive as many as possible. We heard early on to buy your last coach first. Thought it was a joke but it's kind of true. This is the first coach we have ever owned and two months into it, wouldn't change a single thing.