New to Class A - About to buy used - any advice?

[kkbward]

This will hopefully be a very valuable thread for the search engine for anyone thinking of an entry level Class A to go full-time. It's impossible to read through all of the previous posts of these long threads - so I repeat the big update...

We decided to spend the money now to get the coach we expect to keep for the next 10-15 years. We landed on a 2018 Tiffin Phaeton 40 IH and yes we spent some money and we are well aware there will be more spend every year and we automatically lose our shorts the day we pick it up.

Some of our next steps:

• We are getting a service plan from an external vendor (not the dealer) - currently researching which plan to buy
• I am going crawl up, in, around, through whatever I can inspect - i am not mechanic, but pretty inclined
• The dealer put brand new Michelins on, so at least tires should be good for a while
• Start figuring out how we want to tow - likely 4 down (not looking forward to writing that check...ugh)
• We are going to do a shake-down trip at the beginning of march (no dinghy) - I will report back - it will be cold, but I am just hoping for no snow - forecast will drive our timing
• Getting all our other memberships in place - AAA, KOA and we are now Harvest Hosts members (wish i had known about this before)
• I am looking to put together a "kit" of the fluids, fuses and other 'stuff' that might be hard to find on the road and worth the weight
• I also need to set up the overkill internet set-up (wif-fi and cell boosters) - i am going to be working out of this thing and internet has to be good as it can be until Musk gets Starlink going for real (i think its still a couple years away)
  [*I am certain there is more - just what i could think of

Lastly - we are going to start 1/2 time for a couple of years. I will do all i can to pay all the advice forward - thanks all!

Brian

[dunnedom]

Congratulations on your decision. That Tiffin is quite the coach.
https://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/
These guides are great to help decide what vehicle to buy as a toad.
I was going to tell you to bring your 2013 coachmen to freightliner to change every belt, hose, fluid, etc. No need anymore!! lol
I installed the demco Air Force One braking system on my Traverse and my coach.
Complicated install, but after that, plug and play. works fine so far.
hook up the tow bar, air line and electrical plug and go.
Safe and happy travels.
Nothing like motorhome life!
John
PS Watch the extended warranty. I bought mine from wholesale warranties.
It was fine the first 2 years, but got sold to another company who are very difficult to deal with.

[dbteam]

KKBRK,

Congratulations on your purchase. That Tiffin IH Floorplan was our favorite! That was a hard model to find so kudos. Many happy years with her!!

[brokenrule]

Congratulations on your purchase. I think you made a very smart move with it. I now have my eye on a 2019 Allegro Bus 37... Having problems buying our last rig first...

[jabassmaster]

Don't forget to put fan belts on your list....put it (them) in a plastic bag that you can vacuum air out. .and place it in your compartments.

[vincee]

kkbward, Congratulations on the Tiffin. I have always been a big Tiffin fan, our first motor home was a 32' Tiffin gasses.

If I had the finances to purchase a late model Tiffin diesel, that would have been my first choice, over Newmar's or Winnebago's etc., Entergra way out of range.

Sorry that the "forum" was sort of rough on you with your initial post regarding the Sportscoach. Funny in a way, when we bought ours we pretty much had narrowed our decision down to a 2016-2018 Tiffin Open Road 36PA gasser. Then we came across the Sportscoach and now the decision changed to "entry-level" diesel, but a diesel none the less, vs. one of the better gas coach options out there. We couldn't refuse the like-new condition of the Sportscoach and some of the amenities mentioned in my prior post. We are happy with our decision, as I am sure you will be ecstatic with yours.

Congratulations again, and enjoy the open road! If you pull into a campground and notice a Sportscoach, go up and ask if its Vincee, and if it would be me, I'll buy the beer and we can talk RVs!


'

[PaulYork]

Be sure to have a jump start with you, an irreplaceable thing, I use JNC660
Here's what they write about him https://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-...6?pageNumber=2
Read about it here https://reviewerst.com/jump-starters...er-for-diesel/

[GDGorsuch]

We're searching for a used Class A. Would you recommend a pre-purchase inspection? Could you recommend a service in the central Florida area? What should we expect to pay for this service? Thanks

[fatsurf]

Originally Posted by GDGorsuch

We're searching for a used Class A. Would you recommend a pre-purchase inspection? Could you recommend a service in the central Florida area? What should we expect to pay for this service? Thanks

I just purchased a used class A gasser in CA. Scheduling an inspection is difficult to schedule and coordinate. Plan as far in advance as you can. Inspectors are few and far in between

//Greg

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by GDGorsuch

We're searching for a used Class A. Would you recommend a pre-purchase inspection? Could you recommend a service in the central Florida area? What should we expect to pay for this service? Thanks

We used Geoff to inspect our Class A before purchase.

https://inspectrv.com/

[momcat]

Beautiful coach!....However I truly feel like the bus is UNDER POWERED. A lot of weight, and a little motor. This is just an opinion, and I am only trying to help, not criticize. MOMCAT

[pnebel]

Congratulations on your new coach. Hope it works out all the ways you've planned! Safe travels.
From your neighbor in Fort Collins :}

[Shutterbug57]

Originally Posted by kkbward

This will hopefully be a very valuable thread for the search engine for anyone thinking of an entry level Class A to go full-time. It's impossible to read through all of the previous posts of these long threads - so I repeat the big update...

We decided to spend the money now to get the coach we expect to keep for the next 10-15 years. We landed on a 2018 Tiffin Phaeton 40 IH and yes we spent some money and we are well aware there will be more spend every year and we automatically lose our shorts the day we pick it up.

Some of our next steps:

• We are getting a service plan from an external vendor (not the dealer) - currently researching which plan to buy
• I am going crawl up, in, around, through whatever I can inspect - i am not mechanic, but pretty inclined
• The dealer put brand new Michelins on, so at least tires should be good for a while
• Start figuring out how we want to tow - likely 4 down (not looking forward to writing that check...ugh)
• We are going to do a shake-down trip at the beginning of march (no dinghy) - I will report back - it will be cold, but I am just hoping for no snow - forecast will drive our timing
• Getting all our other memberships in place - AAA, KOA and we are now Harvest Hosts members (wish i had known about this before)
• I am looking to put together a "kit" of the fluids, fuses and other 'stuff' that might be hard to find on the road and worth the weight
• I also need to set up the overkill internet set-up (wif-fi and cell boosters) - i am going to be working out of this thing and internet has to be good as it can be until Musk gets Starlink going for real (i think its still a couple years away)
  [*I am certain there is more - just what i could think of

Lastly - we are going to start 1/2 time for a couple of years. I will do all i can to pay all the advice forward - thanks all!

Brian

Congrats on the Phaeton. Strongly consider going to Red Bay on your shakedown trip. You will note things and the service bays at Red Bay can solve them at pretty good prices. Also, if you want anything done on your rig, there is a service provider for that. As to your spare parts kit - for chassis parts, Bay Diesel can fix you up. For house parts, the Tiffin store has it.

I have all the filters and belts our Phaeton needs. If I’m on the road and have a need for one, I have it. I suggest having a spare water pump - you will need it eventually. We needed ours when the old one failed at the start of the Christmas holiday break and the parts houses in the area we were traveling were closed for the week. Having the part made it a 15 minute swap out rather than a miserable holiday. I also put shutoff valves under each faucet (after having a faucet fail on a trip). Don’t ask me why the manufacturers don’t add these, but most don’t.

[Diesel-Lover]

KKBW: Power process and Torque.


Life is a journey and rushing from one relaxation spot to the next is generally counterintuitive and productive on many levels. As long as you take your time and not fight mother nature as to high wind driving you should be good. When driving always have your DRLs on... Yes even big boxes are hard to see at many times and in many situations. If the rig slows down when going uphill use your flashers to inform those coming up behind you that you are going a off their pace. Use the right lane to let faster traffic pass when going uphills (truck lane...). Uphills are taxing at times but its not a deal breaker, a buddy and I had similar coaches he had a gasser and I had a diesel. We made many a trips together and yes we always got their one with a gasoline powered the other with diesel! The mpg is a little different as are the driving characteristics for the two types of fuel powertrains but all else is what it is in the floor plan. (Big diesel vs Small diesel....). Pushing a huge big box through the wind faster and faster leads to the need of a larger fuel budget and the need for handling modifications and wear and tear on things.



Make a pretrip check list and a pre-wheels up checklist for every time you move the rig.... it only takes that one time... Have seen many rigs driving down the road with compartments open, door open, vents up, pipes and chords dragging and such and done some of those things as well.



Use synthetic oil and pay heed to the maintenance of the cooling system and always get clean fuel, if the fuel station feels wrong move to the next one! Best to stop at a place you trust and generally busy so you know the fuel is being guzzled by many!


When pulling over after a long hill, remember the engine is very hot and trying to cool off, so do not turn off right away and then if possible open the engine hatch as well after shutoff specially after a long uphill slog. Many a turbo mechanisms, manifolds etc have been affected after an early shutoff where the engine has done a lot of work and before the cooling system has finished cooling things off but the engine is shutoff!


Enjoy the rig and yes this is a lifestyle and all involving as the design parameters and construction process is not geared to worry free ownership and use. Warranty services are a nightmare by reasonable consumer standards as well! Once you are in you are at their mercy, but most of us are so sold on this hobby that we will endure anything from the manufacturers of these machines.


Life is a journey and take your time to enjoy the scenery and the people along the way.