Community Forums

Ann n Gene · 04-28-2012, 02:49 PM

I agree Mark. Another negative for us with the full wall slides we have seen, with the slides out, a visitor sees completely back and into the bedroom when then enter the coach, they are just a little too open at times for our taste. We like to have the bedroom a little more private, besides, we can close the pocket door back there and not have to worry about the mess in the bedroom when company arrives unannounced. All just our opinion.

Gene

bcbounders · 04-28-2012, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ann n Gene

I agree Mark. Another negative for us with the full wall slides we have seen, with the slides out, a visitor sees completely back and into the bedroom when then enter the coach, they are just a little too open at times for our taste. We like to have the bedroom a little more private, besides, we can close the pocket door back there and not have to worry about the mess in the bedroom when company arrives unannounced. All just our opinion.

Gene

Really? Don't the full wall slide floorplans also have a sliding/pocket door to close off the rear of the coach?

I've never paid attention... but if that's true, that would be a deal-breaker for me, for sure!

RandyP · 04-29-2012, 08:29 AM

I am not a fan of the full wall slide either, just seems to open to me. There just seems to be no flow to the floor plan. Something about laying in bed looking at your fridge just does not cut it for me.

dfunde01 · 04-30-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruzer

Another note regarding full wall slides - while recently at American Coach I found that they were quite proud of the fact that all of there slides were a full 30" deep. That's fine when they are out but once they are retracted it's a tight fit. If you are sitting on the couch, your knees will be touching the opposite couch ior furniture. That's not so handy when the person has to pass you to get to the bathroom when traveling. The little space you gain when extended isn't worth the discomfort when they are retracted.

Cruzer,

The reasons I purchased a 2011Tradition over a 2011 Anthem was no storage space in the kitchen and lack of a full wall slide. I also like all 30" slides giving me 13' window pane to window pane space in the saloon. A secondary concern was that it appeared to me that the side walls were mounted through the 2x4 wood floor frame to the steel side rails rather than directly to the steel side rails. I didn't explore that issue since the other issues carried the day. Was I correct about my impression of the side wall mounting?

As with everything beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We would have considered a Cornerstone, but in July of 2011 Entegra product was just not available and the few that were were suffering from their early teething pains. In fact the 2011 Anthem we almost bought was still on the lot at Lazydays last month.

We wish Entegra well and will given a hard look at the Cornerstone in the future.

Dave

Cruzer · 04-30-2012, 01:43 PM

Entegra's biggest weaknesses were in the floorplans and lack of storage space in the galley area. Fortunately this is changing as they are developing floorplans that work rather than pass on what they inherited from Travel Supreme. That part is still a work in progress but they are getting there and the new floorplan to be unveiled in September will be a big hit. With the advances already made I can see why a 2011 is still on the lot. I'd much rather have a 2013.

As to the 30" deep slides, that's always going to be a "user preference". Personally I don't see the need for 13' from window to window unless you are maybe holding square dances in the coach. I would much rather prefer a bigger aisle during transport. But, that's just my opinion and everyone has their own so there's no right or wrong - just whatever fits their needs.

The A-C sidewalls rest into a C channel that is part of the steel flooring sub-structure so, yes, they do rest on part of the steel frame rather than the floor. But, what holds them into the channel and prevents them from popping out is a series of small self drilling screws. As you noticed, Entegra does fasten their wall right onto the 2x4 floor structure, which rests on top of the steel frame. That extra thickness gives them a much quieter ride and an R-33 insulation value in the floor. The sidewalls are hung, rather than laminated so they are fastened through the floor structure and into the steel with bolts and locking nuts. This prevents any uplifting movement and absorbs a lot of stress without worrying about shearing any screws.

While I personally feel that Entegra does a better job of holding things together there's certainly nothing wrong with the American Coach method either. Owners of either seem to be happy with them and many have traded to either one after owning another brand. I'm sure you are finding your Tradition to be rock solid compared to your "previous" coach. :wink

dfunde01 · 04-30-2012, 02:21 PM

Cruzer,

Thanks for the primer on the wall construction. My concern was compression over time by having 3 1/4" of wood between the bottom of the wall channel and steel side beams leading to rattling after several years.

We were really interested in the Entegra concepts, but in July 11 the quality of the upholstered furniture and floor plans were still several notches below AC. I hope they hit a home run with the 2013 models. From my perspective spirited competition between Entegra, AC, and Newmar for market share based on quality and value is great for all of us.

Regards,

Dave

Cruzer · 04-30-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfunde01

Cruzer,

Thanks for the primer on the wall construction. My concern was compression over time by having 3 1/4" of wood between the bottom of the wall channel and steel side beams leading to rattling after several years.

We were really interested in the Entegra concepts, but in July 11 the quality of the upholstered furniture and floor plans were still several notches below AC. I hope they hit a home run with the 2013 models. From my perspective spirited competition between Entegra, AC, and Newmar for market share based on quality and value is great for all of us.

Regards,

Dave

Amen to that. It's nice to see quality being competitive instead always seeing who can be a buck below everyone by cheapening the product.

slabman · 04-30-2012, 06:35 PM

I can tell you those bolts holding the walls to the floor really provide a great function....at least for me! Every time I overflow the blk. Tank, those bolds act as "relief" drains, allowing water to leave the flooded floor area. So far no structural issues with this method of attachment, so it's certainly performing it's intended function.

As for the lack of strength with a full slide, it appears Entegra is doing what Bob Tiffin did with the new "Z"....the two LH slides are extremely close together, shortening the span of that header which allows it to be not as deep. It appears it gives room for a little shear panel as well. This can give most of the visuals of the single wall slide without the potential issues.

dfunde01 · 05-01-2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slabman

I can tell you those bolts holding the walls to the floor really provide a great function....at least for me! Every time I overflow the blk. Tank, those bolds act as "relief" drains, allowing water to leave the flooded floor area. So far no structural issues with this method of attachment, so it's certainly performing it's intended function.

As for the lack of strength with a full slide, it appears Entegra is doing what Bob Tiffin did with the new "Z"....the two LH slides are extremely close together, shortening the span of that header which allows it to be not as deep. It appears it gives room for a little shear panel as well. This can give most of the visuals of the single wall slide without the potential issues.

Sorry, but I have to ask. Just how often do you overflow your blk tank?

slabman · 05-01-2012, 04:45 PM

LOL! Sorry...I guess i shoulda known the question would be asked. Actually, it's been about 5 times, I guess. Seems like all too often, though. Then there was the time I pulled the 3in. Line out of the black tank, due to repeated "jerking" of a sticky dump valve. This gave me a view of the tank floor and it showed the buildup on both sides of the flow path of fluids exiting the tank. So I've rigged up my plumbing with a separate manifold for rinse jets in both tanks. I can backflow gray water into the black tank, which gives me a real complete washdown of the tanks without having to attach a separate rinse hose and provides a good clean of the black tank.