Community Forums

Don59 · 02-10-2018, 02:01 PM

My wife and I are looking to buy a Diesel Pusher Motor Coach. We have been searching over all the information available, video, paper, online, and factory tours. We have narrowed it down to a American Coach Eagle or Newmar Essex.

The construction of the two are different, AC being a welded aluminum superstructure and the Newmar being wood. I am leaning towards the Aluminum frame AC simply because it will not deteriorate with fluid invasion over time.

Now both companies say their build methods are the best and that simply cannot be true. I have been unable to find any empirical data that proves either point.

Can anyone point me to a resource that could possibly clear this up.

Thanks,

Don
US Army Retired

cruzbill · 02-10-2018, 02:07 PM

You've found the bottomless well of opinions here on IRV2. AFAIK, there is no 'Consumer Reports' for motorhomes. Lots of well informed opinions here though. Take 'em all (including this one) with plenty of salt........

Our 2005 Beaver is all aluminum framed. No complaints yet.

Shawn6596 · 02-10-2018, 02:51 PM

if your looking at brand new and have the money I would look at the show hauler. they are absolutely built like tanks. They are all one off custom coaches. we checked out their place. they are in the $200k+ budget, but built unbelievably strong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yhK...s&pbjreload=10

Shawn6596 · 02-10-2018, 03:17 PM

when we did the tour I was impressed at how open and honest they were. When we sat down to go through the numbers we were looking at 38' with 3 slides. a 16' living room slide, a front slide at 8' that was bunks and a master bed slide. If I remember it was in the range of $350K and that was on a volvo 600hp chassis. In the process of bouncing numbers around they even offered to build me and empty coach and I could build out the interior, plumbing, and wiring myself. I think that was like $135k If I supplied the semi chassis.

Electra 225 · 02-10-2018, 04:12 PM

Don, unless I misunderstood something in your post, Newmars are not wood and never have been.

They're aluminum framed studs 16 inch on center like a stick built house.

Check Newmar's website, it shows the construction method.

Chargerman · 02-10-2018, 04:26 PM

A showhauler for $200k. You were misinformed somewhere. One like the one shown will be in the 700k range.

Brockx · 02-10-2018, 04:31 PM

Some high end parks won't accept your Super "C", class A only.

Shawn6596 · 02-10-2018, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chargerman

A showhauler for $200k. You were misinformed somewhere. One like the one shown will be in the 700k range.

there not all 45' long and loaded to the hilt. they build to suit. The one were had designed at the factory (described above) was around $350k. and even though it's rare they do come up used once in a while.

**TonyDi** · 02-10-2018, 08:53 PM

Don, I may have missed something but in my Newmar Dutch Star my wall studs are aluminum. I'm sure the Essex is the same. If you're looking at new why not take a tour of the plant to see them being built. Considering the cost of either coach. It would be time and money well spent.

saddlesore · 02-10-2018, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

You've found the bottomless well of opinions here on IRV2. AFAIK, there is no 'Consumer Reports' for motorhomes. Lots of well informed opinions here though. Take 'em all (including this one) with plenty of salt........

Our 2005 Beaver is all aluminum framed. No complaints yet.

Yup....'02 Foretravel 40', coach uses steel & aluminum framework NO WOOD... single slide..NO chassis, wall or roof structural issues.

pumper9x9 · 02-11-2018, 05:07 AM

Don a good place to start is rv.org. It will cost you a few bucks but they have a good product and their evaluations of the different coaches seems to be on the money. Good luck and happy hunting. (it is kind of a consumer reports for rv's)