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07-23-2014, 06:04 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Flourtown, PA
Posts: 394
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31IKE On the Line Next Week
We nailed down the last few details and gave up the credit card for our post order additions yesterday. PI says they'll start building our 31IKE next week and we're expecting to take delivery by the last week of August after dealer install of our solar/inverter system and slide toppers.
The customer service we've received from Bryan and the Smith Center crew has been outstanding, especially since we've got a very long list of options and custom stuff. We got everything we wanted from standard options like dishwasher and auto leveling to custom items like the center rear window with TV Lift and a 3 camera backup system.
With helpful suggestions from forum contributors we really dialed in a lot of little things to make this coach outstanding. That useful second See Level monitor in the utility bay would be a good example. The final details were pre-wiring for cell and wi-fi booster antennas. I did plenty of research including very good info from Technomadia.com and RV Dreams.com and also got some help from Jack Mayer, so we've got a nice plan for the antennas/boosters and clean internal wiring.
Ready to hitch up and roll by Labor Day!
__________________
Brad
2020 Chevy 3500HD High Country CC SB SRW Dmax
2015 Excel Limited 31IKE -
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07-23-2014, 08:29 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 293
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That sounds awesome! We are looking closely at Excel for a fulltiming rig, and may need some pointers if you would be so kind. We'd love to see pictures when she comes off the line!
Enjoy!
Roy
__________________
Fulltimer Class of Late 2015, with my bride, Lori.
2015 GMC 3500HD Denali DRW CC LB TrailerSaver TS3
2016 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSB3, MorRyde IS
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07-23-2014, 08:46 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Whitney, Texas, USA
Posts: 2,284
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Congrats. I'll be in Smith Center 8/21. If your 31IKE is still there I'll take and post a picture.
__________________
Russell
'13 Excel Winslow 34IKE
'16 GMC Sierra 3500HD
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07-23-2014, 08:59 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fulltime TX Escapee
Posts: 8,901
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BRS50
We nailed down the last few details and gave up the credit card for our post order additions yesterday. PI says they'll start building our 31IKE next week and we're expecting to take delivery by the last week of August after dealer install of our solar/inverter system and slide toppers.
The customer service we've received from Bryan and the Smith Center crew has been outstanding, especially since we've got a very long list of options and custom stuff. We got everything we wanted from standard options like dishwasher and auto leveling to custom items like the center rear window with TV Lift and a 3 camera backup system.
With helpful suggestions from forum contributors we really dialed in a lot of little things to make this coach outstanding. That useful second See Level monitor in the utility bay would be a good example. The final details were pre-wiring for cell and wi-fi booster antennas. I did plenty of research including very good info from Technomadia.com and RV Dreams.com and also got some help from Jack Mayer, so we've got a nice plan for the antennas/boosters and clean internal wiring.
Ready to hitch up and roll by Labor Day!
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Great! Sounds like you've really thought this thing thru! Keep us posted and look forward to see this beauty when it's done. rockin'
__________________
2012 Excel L33ft. GKE named Charm as in 3 times is a Charm. Love Fulltiming. Bullet '14 Chevy D/A 3500 LB CC DRW Summit White - Ebony Interior. Check out our blog at: https://claphamstravels.blogspot.com
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07-24-2014, 06:15 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Flourtown, PA
Posts: 394
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Roy,
I'd be happy to share and help others, we got plenty of assistance here. Rockin' I think our unit will be at the dealer by 8/21, my wife thinks PI needs a production line web cam. We'll be sure to post some pictures after we take delivery.
__________________
Brad
2020 Chevy 3500HD High Country CC SB SRW Dmax
2015 Excel Limited 31IKE -
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07-24-2014, 08:04 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Tomball, Texas
Posts: 263
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Brad- this sounds like a beautiful rig. Where do you live? I'd like to view it sometime. Are you planning on going to any ralleys in the future?
__________________
Don & Melissa White
2011 Winslow 31RLE or "Harvey the RV"
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07-24-2014, 10:17 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Flourtown, PA
Posts: 394
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Don,
We're in SE Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. We'll check the rally schedule and try and make it to one in the future.
Brad
__________________
Brad
2020 Chevy 3500HD High Country CC SB SRW Dmax
2015 Excel Limited 31IKE -
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07-25-2014, 11:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,067
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Congratulations. We got to see ours when it was far enough down the line that there was only one ahead of it and it was mostly finished. We got to make some last minute changes some of which were suggested by the employees.
One question and I kind of hate to ask, but has PI changed their position on slide toppers? I see your dealer is doing them so maybe not, just curious.
__________________
Jim,
2020 Ford F350 Platinum, 4X4, CCLB, SRW, diesel, 12,400 GVWR
2020 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Reese Goose Box
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07-26-2014, 12:37 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Flourtown, PA
Posts: 394
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Bryan and PI still are not big on the slide toppers but as I told him Kansas isn't big on trees and leaves. Here in Pa and the East in general wooded campsites are the norm and so are leaves and debris on top of the slides. I was determined to reduce the work quotient that's a part of RVing with options like auto leveling and frequently climbing up to clear that junk off the slides manually had little appeal so we're adding the Carefree toppers. Closing a slide with tree debris on top can be a real mess when is gets under the slide seal. I had one on our single slide FW for years and the only issue was the one time I left the slide out in winter prepping for Florida when it snowed then froze. My light sleeping wife also likes the fact the noise from rain on the slide roof is eliminated. Our dealer gave us a good price, under $2k for all three installed and they're the nice ones not the base model.
__________________
Brad
2020 Chevy 3500HD High Country CC SB SRW Dmax
2015 Excel Limited 31IKE -
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07-26-2014, 06:07 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Whitney, Texas, USA
Posts: 2,284
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I had slide awnings on my previous trailer.
I thought I would miss them on my Excel.
Not having them has turned out to be a non-issue.
I do not miss them and it's one less thing to maintain and replace.
__________________
Russell
'13 Excel Winslow 34IKE
'16 GMC Sierra 3500HD
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07-26-2014, 08:08 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Flourtown, PA
Posts: 394
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I went without a topper for the first couple years in our previous FW but found myself clearing junk off before many campground departures. If I pulled the slides in without clearing them off I'd frequently find leaves and twigs inside the coach and even clearing them left small stuff we'd find inside after the ride home. Also the slide roof got pretty dirty from the wet stuff sitting up there and you're pulling that inside your coach too.
I'd thought of going without and looked into the Rhino roof on the slides only but that was going to cost more than toppers and wouldn't solve the debris on the roof issue. Location has something to do with it too. If I lived in the land of wide open spaces and big sky I'd probably do without them but here in rainy, heavily wooded NE US we find they're worth it. I see in Russell's signature pic he's in the trees so Texas has some but it's probably less of an issue out in the Lone Star state.
I also considered the Rhino over fiberglass on our Limited for weight savings but Bryan said the difference would be minimal and the solid fiberglass roof is reassuring for leak prevention with a wood framed trailer. My rubber roofed FW did end up leaking in a couple tough to detect spots after a number of years of service.
__________________
Brad
2020 Chevy 3500HD High Country CC SB SRW Dmax
2015 Excel Limited 31IKE -
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07-27-2014, 08:19 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Graham, WA
Posts: 357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BRS50
Don,
We'll check the rally schedule and try and make it to one in the future.
Brad
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Hi Brad, where would I find the rally schedule?
Rob
__________________
Rob & Cathy
2011 F350 6.7 SRW LB CC
2014 Excel 34ike
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07-27-2014, 01:13 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fulltime TX Escapee
Posts: 8,901
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Here's one way.... State Clubs - Excel RVs
Many rallies are mentioned on this forum too. HTHs.
__________________
2012 Excel L33ft. GKE named Charm as in 3 times is a Charm. Love Fulltiming. Bullet '14 Chevy D/A 3500 LB CC DRW Summit White - Ebony Interior. Check out our blog at: https://claphamstravels.blogspot.com
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07-27-2014, 11:42 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Graham, WA
Posts: 357
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Thanks, it looks like the closest club for me is Colorado.
Rob
__________________
Rob & Cathy
2011 F350 6.7 SRW LB CC
2014 Excel 34ike
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