Community Forums

Dunda · 01-03-2009, 06:55 PM

We are considering purchasing a diesel pusher MH that has mainly real tile floors. How does the grout/tile hold up over time with vibrations, coach flexing, bumps, etc?

Dunda · 01-03-2009, 06:55 PM

We are considering purchasing a diesel pusher MH that has mainly real tile floors. How does the grout/tile hold up over time with vibrations, coach flexing, bumps, etc?

historyljc · 01-03-2009, 07:36 PM

No problem with ours in 2 1/2 years. They look brand new.

Drifter · 01-03-2009, 07:43 PM

We bought extra tile to tile the bedroom area, while we in Elkhart for service. We purchased the tile, grout and mastic from Cherry tile. They gave us and epoxy grout and mastic that they said was most suitable from motor homes. This tile company was the supplier for Monaco.

MonacoMama · 01-03-2009, 10:05 PM

Dunda...Welcome to iRV2!

We certainly hope you are able to gather the information you may need to make your RVing experience a memorable one..whether it be regarding a purchase to your first trip in your new rig.

As far as the tile in the DP - I think a lot depends also on the type of tile it is. Our rig had a few hairline cracks that we did not have fixed because you had to be on your hands & knees to see them. They still look the same -BUT I was in another coach that had different type of tile- and it had a few big chips or gouges.
Again...welcome to iRV2..we hope you visit & post often.

MM

RV Wizard · 01-04-2009, 12:47 AM

Dunda, welcome to our website and forums. We are glad to have you join us. What brand of coach are you looking at? Hopefully it will have automatic leveling jack system. This should prevent flexing of the floor and loosening tiles. A manual leveling system must be operated properly to prevent damage to flooring and other components. Good luck and keep us posted.

smlranger · 01-04-2009, 03:54 AM

Our 6 year old Journey has ceramic tile in the kitchen, hallway and bath area. While I would not have thought grouted tile would hold up well in a motorhome, it has. There is one hairline crack near the shower but it cannot be seen unless you get down on the floor.

Frankly, I would have preferred a floating laminate floor but in our entry-level DP, the tile is holding up very well.

Dunda · 01-04-2009, 06:59 AM

Currently we are looking at three different coaches - 2008 Monaco Diplomat, 2009 Damon Tuscany and a 2005 Newmar Dutch Star. My wife realy likes the floor plan of the Tuscany 4056. I'm mainly concerned with the chassis and construction as to plow the money into the motorhome and related expenses, I would like to make use of it for approximately ten years (several years before retirement and the first seven years of retirement). All three coaches use different chassis, Damon uses the Freightliner, NewMar uses Spartan and Monaco uses a custom Roadmaster chassis. I know very little about what features are best for what chassis, but talking with folks we get different impressions of handling, maintenance expense and where you can get maintenance. The Newmar folks seem to be dedicated to the Newmar coaches, Monaco owners we talked to like their coaches and looking at the various owner comments for Damon, there appears to be few problems with the Tuscany. For the money, the Tuscany seems to offer many standard features that are optional on the others. I expect just researching which one of these three would be the "best" will take some time, but we would like to take advantage of the lower prices being offered in the current difficult economy.

GaryKD · 01-04-2009, 07:28 AM

Hi Dunda,
Welcome to iRV2. If you haven't already, go here to see the Newmar Dutch Star. You can view everything online and download a brochure. Having the brochures next to one another allows you to compare all the different specs. Newmar does have and additional feature called Comfort Drive. One must test drive a coach to fully understand the value of this feature. Comfort Drive is computer assisted driving and is truely effortless.

The bottom line is the floor plan will allow you to love or hate the coach you buy. Good luck with your search. If Newmar is your choice, may I be the first to welcome you as a Newmar owner.

If you are near the Tampa area, the largest RV show, in the country is held in Tampa, Florida January 14th through the 18th. Over 100 Newmar owners will be there, starting on the 13th.

CARVAL Motorsports · 01-04-2009, 07:51 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RV Wizard:
Dunda, welcome to our website and forums. We are glad to have you join us. What brand of coach are you looking at? Hopefully it will have automatic leveling jack system. This should prevent flexing of the floor and loosening tiles. A manual leveling system must be operated properly to prevent damage to flooring and other components. Good luck and keep us posted. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
RV Wizard, what do you feel is the proper method if system is manual? (by manual I assume you mean independent front/rear and left/right)

Toby · 01-04-2009, 10:15 AM

Dunda
Pick the one you like. I bet the salesman will match any offer you have on the other two coaches. BTW, I would not settle for anything less than 25 to 30 pecent off the sticker price, More towards the 30% price. s/Toby.

AFChap · 01-04-2009, 11:29 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">How does the grout/tile hold up over time with vibrations, coach flexing, bumps, etc? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Our coach has ceramic tile in the galley & bathroom areas. We've had it 5 1/2 years and driven it almost 50k miles. The only crack I have seen is a hairline crack in a tile that was cut to accomodate a furnace vent. The crack has been there for at least a couple of years, and is quite difficult to see unless you are looking for it.

RV Wizard · 01-04-2009, 03:30 PM

Naturally you will try to find as level a spot to park as possible. Then you would dump the air in the suspension. extend a jack until it touches the ground. Extend another until it touches and do the same, one at a time with the remaining two. Once all are on the ground look at a level (or two) & raise the front, rear or sides in pairs that are low. Always operate sides, front or rear jacks in pairs. This will prevent twisting of the frame.

Sixpack98 · 01-06-2009, 10:26 AM

Our '06 HR Endeavor has ceramic tile and it has held up very well, much better than the carpeted sections. No tile cracks at all and only one group crack. I'm in the process of ripping out the carpet and replaced with tile or vinyl planking.