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Old 05-13-2018, 11:56 AM   #1
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Tiffin to Newmar.. is why I am here

Hi all. We are current owners of a 2014 Tiffin Pheaton 40 Qbh, we are looking at moving into a 2016, 17 or 18 Newmar Dutch Star or Mountain Aire. We have done our homework as far as the dealership goes. We looked at the Tiffin bus as well as the Newmars. We really like the Newmars. They offer so much more than the Tiffin on the coach itself. The only concern we have is service. We know Tiffin has amazing personal service. I joined the forum today to reach out to newmar owners for their insight on their newmar and their service. We tend to not throw our wallet out the passenger window while we drive off the lot.. so we buy used, 1 owner low miles. Our Pheaton was purchased from a private owner and it has been amazing... but there are some things I love about the newmar that I don’t have on the Tiffin. Any feedback will help tremendously in our final decision. Thank you all.
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Old 05-13-2018, 12:03 PM   #2
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We have owned Newmar's for 21 years and just purchased a 18 London Aire. I think if we talked 6 months from now when you get your Newmar you will be very pleased with your Newmar purchase. Great customer service form the factory, irv2 Newmar forum, excellent factory club called Newmar Kountry Klub and all the other Newmar family members who will be there.
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Old 05-13-2018, 12:41 PM   #3
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We are pretty new w our '13 Ventana. Had other brand gassers prior. We are also the type that prefer buying used.

I don't have a good dealer nearby so will rely on independent repairs of factory if necessary. Only you can judge quality of local dealers based on info from other locals.
I can say we looked at the Tiffin RED 33aa and there were some things we didn't like.
We've been VERY pleased w our Ventana and resonsiveness of tevh svc when emailling for info.
The Comfort Drive is one of my favorite features... makes most days much more pleasurable.
The Newmar owners here have also been very helpful.
Good luck w yours if you join the family.
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Old 05-13-2018, 12:44 PM   #4
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Hi -Made the jump after 4 Tiffin coaches. You have nothing to worry about. With some of the recent changes at Tiffin that reputation is in danger of being damaged.

Tom
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Old 05-13-2018, 01:45 PM   #5
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We came from a 2015 Phaeton 40AH. Love our Newmar despite some new coach issues. Service has been great from Newmar. Better than Tiffin.
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Old 05-13-2018, 01:51 PM   #6
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We live in an area where "good" Newmar dealers are few and far between, yet we've received excellent service when we've needed it. Most issues have been relatively minor engine- or chassis-related and both Cummins and Freightliner have stepped up. We do have both service centers relatively close by, but have only needed that kind of service help on the road. And, it was readily available.

We did have one Newmar-related issue and it was handled very well. We did have to drive about 350 miles to a Newmar dealer/service center in Oregon, but they got us right in, did the work quickly and got us back on the road. And, the work was done exceptionally well! Absolutely no complaints.

I can't imagine any other motorhome manufacturer providing better access to warranty service than Newmar. And, they will work with you to ensure the work is done expeditiously and well.

TJ
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Old 05-13-2018, 04:59 PM   #7
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We are going into our third Summer of using our 2002 DSDP 4090. The comments about Newmar dealers/service in the great Northwest are valid. There are none. You have to find a "no brand" repair facility or use cummins/freightliner for frame/engine work. Luckily we have had few problems so far. We have actually been considering a Tiffin RED 38QBA in the 2012-2015 model year. I actually love this floor plan and the fact that it is just under 40'. It also has built in bunks and a lot more sleeping areas for kids and grandkids, when they go with us. We are not full timers and don't intend to become one, even though we are retired. The only thing that has really stopped me from actively pursuing this is that fact that it is hard to justify, for us, 120-140K for a motorhome that we use 7-8 weeks a year....
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Old 05-13-2018, 05:04 PM   #8
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We, too, moved from Tiffin to Newmar in 2016 when we purchased a Dutch Star 4369. I agree with everything that has been said with one caveat. If you like to do the warranty repairs yourself and not take your coach to a dealer, it is doable with Newmar, but it takes a little more effort.

I found with every warranty repair, no matter how large or small, the answer from Newmar Customer Service was, "Take it to a dealer." After some discussion, Newmar agreed to let me make the repair. Unlike Tiffin that will gladly send you the warrant replacement part, Newmar charges you for the part and you are reimbursed after you return the defective part to Newmar. Then, Newmar's reimbursement process takes about 3 weeks. It is a pain, but still better than taking our coach to a dealer and waiting for the repair.
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Old 05-13-2018, 05:13 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LK23 View Post
We, too, moved from Tiffin to Newmar in 2016 when we purchased a Dutch Star 4369. I agree with everything that has been said with one caveat. If you like to do the warranty repairs yourself and not take your coach to a dealer, it is doable with Newmar, but it takes a little more effort.



I found with every warranty repair, no matter how large or small, the answer from Newmar Customer Service was, "Take it to a dealer." After some discussion, Newmar agreed to let me make the repair. Unlike Tiffin that will gladly send you the warrant replacement part, Newmar charges you for the part and you are reimbursed after you return the defective part to Newmar. Then, Newmar's reimbursement process takes about 3 weeks. It is a pain, but still better than taking our coach to a dealer and waiting for the repair.


Good to know about their stance on self-help warranty service. Sounds kind of cumbersome but at least there is somewhat of a process.
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Old 05-13-2018, 06:36 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RJOL View Post
We are going into our third Summer of using our 2002 DSDP 4090. The comments about Newmar dealers/service in the great Northwest are valid. There are none. You have to find a "no brand" repair facility or use cummins/freightliner for frame/engine work. Luckily we have had few problems so far. We have actually been considering a Tiffin RED 38QBA in the 2012-2015 model year. I actually love this floor plan and the fact that it is just under 40'. It also has built in bunks and a lot more sleeping areas for kids and grandkids, when they go with us. We are not full timers and don't intend to become one, even though we are retired. The only thing that has really stopped me from actively pursuing this is that fact that it is hard to justify, for us, 120-140K for a motorhome that we use 7-8 weeks a year....


We did the opposite, we had a Tiffin 38QBA & moved to a Newmar bunkhouse model (17 DS 4310) for many reasons. Loving the move so far and can’t imagine owning anything else but another Newmar when the time comes up again.
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Old 05-13-2018, 07:47 PM   #11
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i went from a '16 40QKH to the '18 DS 4326.....i was very happy with my phaeton, but there was nothing in tiffin floor plans that i could move to for more room, bunks, and a second bath.....now i am very happy with my DS, so far....not been a year yet, but it's been a great coach with only minor issues.....

the tiffin warranty repair facility about 40 miles from my home is now doing newmar warranty work for me, and doing a fine job....they don't sell anything except repairs...which is great....

see if you have any non dealer warranty repair shops around that can do tiffin work....they can get connected with newmar....
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Old 05-13-2018, 08:38 PM   #12
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My first two Dp's were Used buys. The last one a Tiffin Phaeton 42QBH.

My Newmare 16 DS 4369 is my first new Coach. I am out of warranty and the Customer Service Staff at Newmar goes out of their way (in my personal experiences) to 1. do the right thing 2. continued follow up 3. Do their best to meet our needs and requests.

Not to mention.....Comfort Drive...speaks for itself!!!

They are a great company.....and if you have to go to the factory, its not the desolate place that Red Bay is.

Just my 2 cents
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Old 05-13-2018, 09:56 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Ldubeau View Post
I joined the forum today to reach out to newmar owners for their insight on their newmar and their service. We tend to not throw our wallet out the passenger window while we drive off the lot.. so we buy used, 1 owner low miles.
Our 2001 Newmar Mountain Aire is probably more used than you plan to go, but Newmar has treated us just fine.

A year or so ago we ordered a replacement cabinet door from Newmar. When it showed up, the door was the wrong color. Newmar Service just asked me to take a photo of the original door (dark Cherry) and the one they shipped (very light Cherry). They told me to keep the door they shipped and sent out the correct one.

Last month I ordered a replacement side window from Newmar Parts. The rep quoted me one price but then the window company (Hehr) charged me a bunch more. I told the parts rep and he changed it to the price he had quoted. That's service.

We're full-time RVers so for yearly service we find a good Spartan service center. We don't return to Nappanee (Newmar's "Red Bay") for service.
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Old 05-13-2018, 10:57 PM   #14
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Hi -Made the jump after 4 Tiffin coaches. You have nothing to worry about. With some of the recent changes at Tiffin that reputation is in danger of being damaged.

Tom
Not to hijack the thread, but I'm curious what changes are you referring to?
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