Beaver owners

[rdfugere]

This question is for Beaver owners. What year and Model do you own? If you didn't own a Beaver and could buy any Beaver, what would you buy and why? My wife is retiring in June and I was going to buy a Newmar until I seen my first Beaver.

[Cdnw30]

Check out Beaveramb.org a couple of very nice units listed for sale, with a lot of updates done already. You can't beat the quality of a Beaver.

[gemert]

Originally Posted by Cdnw30

Check out Beaveramb.org a couple of very nice units listed for sale, with a lot of updates done already. You can't beat the quality of a Beaver.

Xs 2. This is the link to the coach if it will work. You will be lucky to get this coach.
For Sale 2002 Beaver Marquis

[tomckeon]

2007 Beaver Contessa Bayshore IV
Cat C9, Tag axle Hydrolift for the Harley or dirt bike


would buy this coach again


Tom

[RVNeophytes2]

Originally Posted by rdfugere

This question is for Beaver owners. What year and Model do you own? If you didn't own a Beaver and could buy any Beaver, what would you buy and why? My wife is retiring in June and I was going to buy a Newmar until I seen my first Beaver.

My wife wanted features our first rig, a stellar 2005 Fleetwood Excursion, didn't have, like pass-thru basements, Aquahot, residential fridge and toilet, etc. I was busy doing other things; so, she researched the rig, spoke with dozens of dealers, and finally put down money on the one we now own.

The quality is indeed impressive, but the low-slung chassis of a 45-footer takes getting used to. Additionally, those Caterpillar C-13 engines gobble gas like there is no tomorrow.

I slammed the door in a friend's Newmar Essex the other day, and another Beaver advantage was revealed: they are encased in heavy steel beams; we forget how rigid they are, until us Beaver owners return to aluminum-framed Class A's. You can really tell the difference. Ours is certainly not as solid going down the road as a Prevost, but it lies somewhere in the middle. Plus, that crazy Euro woodwork always makes visitors gush. They are gorgeous buses.

In all fairness, I'd say the quality gradient from Fleetwood, through Newmar, up through Beaver, then the pricier Travel Supremes, Foretravels, Newells and finally the Prevost is linear. All good buses, just different price-points and levels of luxury.

[GreaTOne65]

We have driven a '99 Discovery for the last 12 years to AZ. and back to MI. and thought we really had a nice coach, and it is, but it's not even close to this '05 Beaver. When we started shopping, I had a criteria that I thought I needed to buy a different coach. First, a Freightliner chassis, and a Cummins motor. Well, I didn't buy either!! The Beaver, has a Roadmaster, M8S-Series chassis and a C-9 Cat!! We have only made one trip to AZ, in this thing, and to say I am impressed and pleased, would be an understatement.

[UncleBilly]

Good luck, very nice rigs! I looked for 10 months and always got left out when I tried too buy. Seems you pay whatever the seller wants 😜


1996 Country Coach Intrigue 😜

[FunGus]

I looked at a Newmar before I bought the Beaver and I wasn't impressed either, but I was coming from a Country Coach. The Beaver is a solid rig with a lot of nice features.

.

[zmotorsports]

We had an older Beaver (1991) back when they were actually Beaver. Loved the coach and the woodwork was amazing, my wife still liked the woodwork in that old Beaver over our 2003 Dynasty. It was on a Gillig bus chassis which was very high end "at the time". That coach was a head turner and I loved pulling into a campground. But it was short on power only being a CAT 3208 (300hp) and 4-speed Allison. It did its job but I needed something that would tow our race trailer better.

Keep in mind though that Beaver quite being Beaver for the most part around 1995/1996 when they went bankrupt. Safari purchased them and incorporated the Magnum chassis into the Safari line yet ran them as separate companies until 2002 when Monaco purchased them and put them on the Roadmaster chassis in 2003. From then to the end they were an upscale Monaco, still with the burl wood though which was gorgeous. But foundation wise after 2003 they were a Monaco Dynasty/Executive/Signature chassis wise.

Also the CAT C13 was getting a bad rap near the end as not being very fuel efficient, much moreso than the Cummins counterpart of similar displacement and HP. My aunt/uncles 1996 Beaver Marquis with the CAT C10 (385 hp/1250 ft/lbs. torque) was a very, very nice coach and ran up the hills fantastic.

Mike.

[96 Wideglide]

Looked at a couple of 06-08 Marquis before we bought our HR.
Beautiful interiors, but just too shiny for our taste.

[Bob&AnnaMari]

Originally Posted by zmotorsports

Safari purchased them and incorporated the Magnum chassis into the Safari line yet ran them as separate companies until 2002 when Monaco purchased them and put them on the Roadmaster chassis in 2003. .... But foundation wise after 2003 they were a Monaco Dynasty/Executive/Signature chassis wise.

Mike.

Not true. Chassis in 2003 through 2005 Beaver Monterey, Patriot and Marquis models were all Roadmaster "M" chassis which was the Safari Magnum chassis. Only in 2006 and beyond did they convert to the Roadmaster (whatever) chassis models used in corresponding Monaco coaches.

Beaver coach bodies also continued to be constructed from tubular aluminum during this time period versus the tubular steel used in corresponding Monaco units. Beaver interiors on these models continued to be solid wood construction during 2003 through 2005 versus the vinyl clad chipboard frames used on the Diplomat model of Monaco. Interiors, in general, maintained the Beaver quality during this period.

[zmotorsports]

Originally Posted by Bob&AnnaMari

Not true. Chassis in 2003 through 2005 Beaver Monterey, Patriot and Marquis models were all Roadmaster "M" chassis which was the Safari Magnum chassis. Only in 2006 and beyond did they convert to the Roadmaster (whatever) chassis models used in corresponding Monaco coaches.

Beaver coach bodies also continued to be constructed from tubular aluminum during this time period versus the tubular steel used in corresponding Monaco units. Beaver interiors on these models continued to be solid wood construction during 2003 through 2005 versus the vinyl clad chipboard frames used on the Diplomat model of Monaco. Interiors, in general, maintained the Beaver quality during this period.

Thanks for the correction. When I looked at a 2003 Beaver Patriot back in 2006 I was told it was on the Roadmaster chassis same as the Dynasty we were looking at, the only difference was the CAT engine vs. the Cummins. Never did actually go look at it though, this was all over the phone.

Mike.

[gemert]

Originally Posted by Bob&AnnaMari

Not true. Chassis in 2003 through 2005 Beaver Monterey, Patriot and Marquis models were all Roadmaster "M" chassis which was the Safari Magnum chassis. Only in 2006 and beyond did they convert to the Roadmaster (whatever) chassis models used in corresponding Monaco coaches.

Beaver coach bodies also continued to be constructed from tubular aluminum during this time period versus the tubular steel used in corresponding Monaco units. Beaver interiors on these models continued to be solid wood construction during 2003 through 2005 versus the vinyl clad chipboard frames used on the Diplomat model of Monaco. Interiors, in general, maintained the Beaver quality during this period.

You beat me to the punch! My Patriot Thunder is a Magnum chassis (roadmaster M) also. I have heard of many handling issues with the Monacos and my Beaver is very stable and handles very well on it's 10 air bag tandem axles. I also lucked out with the wood work. I am not a fan of all the shiny glitz and glitter. Our cabinets are very nice solid wood but without all the really shiny finish. I lucked out because I basically knew nothing when I bought it.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2

The quality is indeed impressive, but the low-slung chassis of a 45-footer takes getting used to. Additionally, those Caterpillar C-13 engines gobble gas like there is no tomorrow.

I really hope you don't use gas in a C-13!!