How old is too old for a Newmar Coach?

[tizzyfit]

Buy the diesel with the floorplan that works for you. Spend the money to have a professional inspect the rig starting with the roof and all the electrical items. Run the codes on the engine and gen set and review all service history. Be prepared to spend THOUSANDS on everything from tires, shocks, fluid changes, and the replacement of A/C units and refrigerator, along with engine related issues like exhaust manifold cracks, turbo failure, and fuel injector pump.
Hopefully, NONE of these items will need to be replaced after your purchase. From personal experience, I can tell you, you may have 4 or 5 years of trouble free travels with a used diesel pusher, but when things break, be prepared to pay up.

[ewlee]

I will go a little off topic but still related to your situation. When traveling in the RV, your daily driving range will be 350-500 miles. Once you get to your destination, you will have to have local transportation in the form of public transportation or have a tow car that you tow either four wheels down or on a dolly. In addition, what is the availability of campgrounds close to your destination. I say campgrounds because we have found that our first choice was full and we had to fall back to a second or third choice.

Now closer to your original post. The newer the coach; the better the electronics will be, the better insulation will be, inside appointments will be better, and probably have more power. Gas coaches must mix with cars at the gas stations where as a diesel coach can mix with trucks at truck stops. I mention this as the bigger the coach the bigger hassle to get to the gas pumps instead of the truck lanes.

Others have mentioned the things like price and having an inspection done on the coach before purchase. An inspection is very important when buying an older coach. You are wise to gather all the data you can prior to jumping into the RV lifestyle. Happy hunting and good luck in your purchase.

[Qwert66]

Age question carries less weight than proper care in our opinion. We would stay away from the ones with no records. For the record we are still happy with our fully functioning (yes) 1999 MADP and can't see upgrading any time soon. Newer coaches have more bells and whistles that make it more difficult for us to fix ourselves. We have never been towed and in the shop only once for a shorted/open wire associated with the gas (diesel) pedal and once to have a cracked windshield half replaced. No hazed dual pane windows, no cracked exhaust manifold, updated led tV's. Yes our ball studs have cracked boots but operate just fine with greasing.

[Stripe34]

Brandss, do consider your travel logistics regarding those cross-country trips. 3x per month for only 3 days in each location - or am I reading that wrong? And you have to go back to original location ## miles away in between?

At any rate, as far as rig selection - you obviously want as high quality, newest age, lowest miles, and best maintained that you can afford. Many people find that they get a very satisfactory result choosing an older, quality "luxury" model vs a newer more originally economically built rig.

So all other things being equal, a bit older King Aire might be better than a few years younger Ventana DP.

If you will have to be working out of the rig, make sure you stick with the double-paned windows (not sure when those started) and good insulation for background noise reduction for conference calls etc. Also, newer models have built-in USB chargers throughout the unit - a big convenience (you could swap out old plugs for these though).

Good luck with your choice, and let us know what you decide!

[brandss]

Thanks so much to everyone for the very wise comments. I love this forum and hope to contribute one day.

In regards to my travel, we will not have a home base. We will travel as my work takes me to different places. When I mentioned 3 days, it was really 3 days being on site at a customer facility but we may stay at that same campground a week or two before traveling to the next spot. Currently I work out of my house and do the old airplane, rental car, hotel, return home, repeat in the next week or two.

[BBelanger]

Consumer reports had an article about when should you trade your older car for a new one. The bottom line wasn't money or age, it was the newer amenities and safety features that you give up even if it is "cheaper to keep 'er". Each year newer bring more updates, some are worth the extra money. So maybe you should look at the features of the new coaches and decide which ones you can do without. You might end up with a new one! While some may be OK with being down for a week or two with a problem part, it seems reliability is a pretty big priority for you.

[Ludmilla]

I would not hesitate to purchase an older Newmar as long as it has been well maintained and the owners have the records to prove it, and it has been kept out of the sum when not in use.

[jhick120]

I feel like I need to post. My wife and I purchased a used 2009 BayStar almost a year ago. It had 14K miles and looked brand new inside and out. The coach had been very well maintained/serviced and kept inside. It was a deal we couldn't pass on, even though we really weren't serious about buying as soon as we did. We just knew we wanted to get back into it.

I have to say that the quality of a Newmar coach is top notch. Yes, when buying an older coach you don't get all the new bells and whistles, but my wife and I are not full timers and don't need them. We are very basic. With that said, the quality of the build and materials used are still as good of quality as used today. We are very pleased.

As mentioned on here by several, it really comes down to what you want and the features and floor plan that make you happy. If that coach happens to be 10+ years old don't hesitate because Newmar makes quality coaches. But also as mentioned on here, things break/wear-out and no matter what you go with there will be ongoing costs. As long as you understand that it makes the total experience much better.

The only other thing I will add. If, for example you want DP in the long run, try to find one first and if a very nice gasser turns up I dont think you can go wrong.

Hope some of this helps.

[Desertboyz]

If I were you, I'd go with this to get out on the road sooner than later! haha!

There are other options too you may want to consider. A fifth wheel or trailer with a dependable truck. Just a thought!

[BBelanger]

Originally Posted by Desertboyz

If I were you, I'd go with this to get out on the road sooner than later! haha!

There are other options too you may want to consider. A fifth wheel or trailer with a dependable truck. Just a thought!

You'd never get any work done at a campground!!!
That is too cool!

[BBelanger]

Originally Posted by Desertboyz

If I were you, I'd go with this to get out on the road sooner than later! haha!

There are other options too you may want to consider. A fifth wheel or trailer with a dependable truck. Just a thought!

Trying to figure out the make and model of that chassis. Any ideas?

Bill

[Desertboyz]

Originally Posted by BBelanger

Trying to figure out the make and model of that chassis. Any ideas?

Bill

Check this link out. It's the first 1930's era motorhome from Britain. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3758169/A-relic-golden-age-Brit
sh-holidays-Britains-motorhome-goes-sale-40-000-complete-grapefruit-tins-Oxo-cubes-1930s.html

[Indyspecrace]

My first MH was a class A gas, second was a super C diesel and current coach is a 2007 Mountain Aire DP. The quality of the MADP is really high. It feels like a home rather than an RV. At 55 years old, I really don't think I will ever need another Coach.

[bydnar]

Originally Posted by brandss

With this background, and my initial question, how old is too old when it comes to a Newmar Coach? What is the year, when you look at RV Trader.com that you list as the oldest you would consider. We are stuck in two worlds, a Ventana DP that would serve us for many, many years, or, a Canyon Star to start with, with the idea of upgrading to a DP 4-5 years later. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Brandss,
I purchased my very first RV not quite 2 years ago. I chose a gasser because I just plain don't like diesel. Really don't. Higher initial cost, higher maintenance cost, stinky fuel, stinky exhaust and noise tops my list of diesel disgust.
The Newmar coach is a fine unit. Mine sits on a Ford truck chassis with circa 1910 suspension technology. I've spent a thousand dollars and a mountain of time trying to solve the ill-handling of the Ford bread truck. There are numerous threads on the subject in the Ford chassis forum of iRV2. I'd like to spend another couple thousand, but won't. The Canyon Star is on the same basic chassis as mine. Knowing what I know about my smaller bread truck chassis, I assume the larger one would have the same ills and require a boat load of modifications to make it better, but still not compare to a purpose-built motorhome chassis.
Even as my hatred for diesel continues, I have concluded that my next coach will have to be a diesel, just for the suspension that comes with it. As for the noise and stink-out problems, they were solved by government regulations implemented in 2010. Those rules brought in diesel regulations that tightened up pollution controls. The advent of diesel particulate filters and diesel exhaust fluid.
To your question of what to buy? Diesel
To your question of age? nothing older than 2012 (2 years after new regulations, to sort it all out)
Me? I'll be looking for independent front suspension, air ride and comfort drive.