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03-19-2017, 01:56 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 47
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Custom Class A gasser
We love our 21 year old Allegro Bay, but are thinking it might be time to renew. Armed with that thought and a blank piece of paper, we started making a list of everything we wish were different. One of the biggees is a full size whirlpool bath tub. Yeah, I know, weird. But the boss topped her list with that, so that's what she'll get. We're still debating gas vs diesel, so I've been searching for all manufacturers that have the creativity (and willingness) to modify one of their standard floor plans to include a 6' long bath tub instead of a shower.
I've found a handful of higher end DP's that can do that, but only one gasser - Nexus. So my two part question is:
1) Are there any other manufacturers that might be able to work with us?
2) Does anyone know anything about Nexus?
__________________
Turtle = 2019 Showhauler 41', Toad = 2016 Subaru Forester w/canoe & bicycles
Innards = Maggie and her pet humans Phil & Margie
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03-19-2017, 02:03 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Newmar might be able to, they are well known for doing custom work. Both our Dutch Stars were modified to our spec's.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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03-19-2017, 02:51 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: western NC mountains!
Posts: 4,106
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I'll take a hot tub for two on the roof of mine, thanks : )
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03-20-2017, 07:25 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,849
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I suspect given the weight of a full tub of water you will be needing to look at a diesel chassis as once you count the weight of the tub, water, additional bracing, etc. will add a thousand pounds or more to the weight of the coach, then you still need an on demand hot water source to fill it.
p.s. given the space constraints you might consider a walk in style whirlpool tub as they put the occupant in a much more upright seating position and can double as a shower
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03-20-2017, 11:10 AM
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#5
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Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 65
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That's a LOT of hot water
Just about any coach builder could put a whirlpool tub into a coach but (I think) it would require designing the entire remaining floor plan around it!!
Secondly, that's going to take a LOT of hot water to fill. The water heater in my coach only has a 6 gallon capacity. From a practical standpoint, how are you going to be able to provide the required amount of hot water for the dear wife to soak and bubble in??
Just asking
__________________
Jay and Valerie - 1996 Monaco Dynasty, Count 36FD. Coach #66387 C 8.3-300 hp; Allison 3060, 6.5 LP generator, no slides. New to us (3-30-2015)
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03-20-2017, 11:22 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigPapaYams
Just about any coach builder could put a whirlpool tub into a coach but (I think) it would require designing the entire remaining floor plan around it!!
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That's one of the problems, most any if them COULD but won't do it. Newmar seems to be the only one left without going to a Prevost, Newell, or Foretravel.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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03-20-2017, 12:03 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,790
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Would a portable spa be an acceptable compromise?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-7...&wl13=&veh=sem
Set up a 10 x 10 Easy Up around it for privacy. Get a 120VAC water pump to drain it to the camp site hook up.
Coach builders are going to be difficult considering the extend of the configuration change. Post sale there are customizers who would probably be willing to work it out. Just need to find the right floor plan in the next coach that will work without have to move walls or maybe you'll have to give up the washer/dryer to make room.
Draining the thing will make for what could best be described as the ultimate gray tank flush. 100 degree soapy water.
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03-20-2017, 12:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D
That's one of the problems, most any if them COULD but won't do it. Newmar seems to be the only one left without going to a Prevost, Newell, or Foretravel.
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That's my thinking as well.
Would require an Oasis or Aqua Hot system for the volume of hot water needed altho a propane fired continuous flow water heater may work.
The other elephant in the room is the weight issues ie: heavier frame/suspension/flooring & left to right weight balance .
And how large of fresh/gray tanks would it take?
For the "walk in" tubs, any coach out there is nothing more than a rolling earthquake...so how long before the tub door & seals start leaking??
Do you call Moses to part the waters or do you call Noah to float your boat??
__________________
Retired truckdriver,
'02 Foretravel... "This Shack will do"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Box Elder, South Dakota
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03-20-2017, 02:07 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,674
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I have the feeling that your wife doesn't realize that the whirlpool tub is not a normal thing in a RV. She's not building a stick home!
Do you have one in your RV now?
You might try to explain about the amount of hot water needed and the weight.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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03-20-2017, 10:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: northern IL
Posts: 2,557
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Aqua hot system would provide enough hot water. I would also say newmar would be your best bet without getting into the prevost world.
__________________
2014 Fleetwood Bounder 35k
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03-20-2017, 10:36 PM
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#11
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,590
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If Keystone can do it in the cantilevered nose of their Montana (thread HERE), anything is possible.
Lori-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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03-21-2017, 11:18 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 47
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Newmar has a couple of floor plans that could be modified to accommodate a tub, I'll contact them, thanks Mr_D. Any bath-and-a-half floor plan could be used – keep the half bath with toilet and sink, replace the full bath with the tub and fill in the rest of the space with cabinets or whatever. The issue I've found is that most manufacturers aren't interested in thinking outside the box. Nexus is, but I haven't found any feedback other than on their website. Any Nexus owners out there?
As several have pointed out, that amount of HOT water is an issue. Propane fired on-demand heaters claim 115 degree water at 1.5 gpm continuous, which means a half hour to fill the tub, by which time some of it will need reheating. Supplementing that with a pot on the stove would help, but be a PITA. Since we'll only use this while hooked up, I should be able to go with a residential electric on-demand heater, but haven't investigated them yet.
Obviously this would only be used while hooked up to water and sewer. Her tub at home takes 40 gallons to fill to the level she likes, so standard fresh and grey tanks wouldn't last long. But hooked up it should be no problem. As Sweetbriar said, great tank flush. Could even install a diverter valve to use it to flush the black tank on occasion.
Weight is not an issue, Isaac-1. 40 gallons of water only weights 320#. If any unit needs additional bracing to support a random 320# they need to post a maximum occupant size in their sales brochures.
The picture I get in my head of her using it while I'm driving on some of the roads I've been known to drive on is hilarious! As SaddleSore suggested, Noah and/or Moses might appear, as well as Margie on a surf board.
MisterT and Sweetbriar need to get together – put the portable inflatable spa on the roof and you wouldn't even need the privacy screen
Margie knows it's not normal TwoGypsies. There's little about either of us that's normal. I'm an engineer. My function (and hobby) in life is to turn ideas into realities. I've already figured out how to convert the little minitub in our Allegro into something big enough. And if we don't upgrade I'll be tearing into that bathroom this summer. Alternatively, if we upgrade to a newer coach, one with a bath-and-a-half, that's what I'll do to that. But if we can find a manufacturer that will build us a brand new one with that and a few other features, that's what we'd prefer.
__________________
Turtle = 2019 Showhauler 41', Toad = 2016 Subaru Forester w/canoe & bicycles
Innards = Maggie and her pet humans Phil & Margie
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03-21-2017, 03:54 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,849
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A number of newer quality whirlpool tubs now come equipped with their own small 500-800 watt electric water heaters to keep the water warm once filled.
p.s. I was thinking of a more typical 80-100 gallon size whirlpool tub when mentioning the carrying capacity of the chassis,then you probably have to add a couple of hundred pounds for the empty tub and its support structure, remember most of these drop in style tubs expect the cabinet work to support the weight of the water.
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03-21-2017, 03:57 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 36
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Well, 100Akers, if you travel up to Elkhart, IN to the Nexus factory like my DW & I did, I'm pretty sure they WILL work with you to customize your coach. The big advantage is you can buy factory direct which saved us 100k on our Bentley DP. Our coach was one they were getting ready to ship to the RV show before we came along and said we'd take it. But, while we were there, we got to see the factory, they let us keep our 5th wheel at one of their RV sites while we requested the fixes on the Bentley. During our visit, they showed us how the customized a class c for a couple from Colorado and they just kept talking about how they will do whatever the customer wants on their design. So, if you were to consider NEXUS, my advise is to make a trip up there. Not only would they show you how they would do it, but they'll gladly quote what it's going to cost you. I'd also advise that you give them the time to do it....just don't ask for a rush job--get the better quality workmanship.
We're still very early in our Bentley (only 3400 miles)....so far, pretty good.
Hope this helps...best wishes!
TimnJamie
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