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wnytaxman · 06-10-2015, 07:27 AM

About ten years ago we got the bug to try RVing. At the time our twins were 8 years old. First we rented a small class A to try it. Really enjoyed the experience so on to the next step. My nephew also had an interest in the lifestyle so he and I banded together and found a rarely used Class C. For us the C was not a good choice because the passengers in the back sat up higher than the driver and could only see out the side of the unit so it was similar to riding in a bus. I should add that our experience with that unit soured me on ever buying used again when our brakes went out on I-75 at the Georgia/Florida line.

Next up for us was a small Class A gas unit, Coachman Mirada, with no slides. Fine unit for our purposes but knocking down the table an putting it back up every day and night got old really fast. Next up was an Itasca bunk house unit with three slides. Again it was a gasser. Loud and noisy, but adequate for our purposes. That particular model was on a Workhorse chassis and was known for brake issues.

That brought us to our current unit, a Berkshire 390bh which we have had for 5 years. Great unit that has served us well. We are looking at making a move to a non-bunk unit as the girls are off to college this fall and we will be able to spend more time on the road. Current search is narrowed down to Entegra Anthem or Newmar Dutch Star.

Statgeek · 06-10-2015, 07:35 AM

Wnytaxman--your experience sounds similar to ours, though we never tried the Class-C route. Interestingly, close friends of ours had a Berk 39bh and recently upgraded to a Newmar DSDP in a bunkhouse configuration. They have 3 kids (not in college yet) so the bunkhouse is the only way to go for them still. Other friends of ours have an Entegra, which is also very nice (not a bh). A third family that we travel with sometimes has a Tiffin Zephyr. All are really nice units, but I personally have eyes on the Newmar brand for our next RV. I might consider an Entegra when the time comes. I would probably not buy a Tiffin given what I've read about them and the experiences of my friend with their top of the line coach.

wnytaxman · 06-10-2015, 10:52 AM

Statgeek, yes it sure does sound like a similar journey. Like you I would not consider a Tiffin. One of the recent posts on the Tiffin RV Network had a lady who had waited 95 days to get her rig fixed at the factory. I can't really take a chance on getting a unit like that.

We still like the Entegras but they still don't have a booth dinette and a queen hide a bed that works for us. The two changes that were huge for us for the 2016 Newmars were the steerable tag and the emergency exit. When we have others with us it will likely be my wife's parents and there is no way they could use the current window exit on our Berk without one of them getting hurt. I'm really surprised that no one else has come up with a practical emergency exit other than Newmar and American Coach.

Statgeek · 06-11-2015, 07:42 AM

Yup--like both of those new feature. I believe the "steerable" tag is passive, no? My buddy's 2015 Newmar has an incredible turning radius already--can only imagine how the turning tag will improve that!

Lots of great things about Newmars.

TMan59 · 06-11-2015, 08:15 AM

It would just seem to me, doing what I call "dumb farmer math" that it is far safer driving a big class A motorhome than it is to drive the toad into town after you reach your destination.

Now I could google RV fatalities and automobile fatalities and come up with a ratio. But I wont. Anyone else have the time?