No steerable tag on a 2024 Anthem and photo vinyl plywood?

[tqqest]

I have been thinking about selling my 2022 DS4369 and buying a 2024 Anthem 44D. I really like that floor plan with the walk-in closet. It is very similar to our old Tiffin we had before our Newmars. So I went to my local dealer to check out a few 2023 Anthems they have in stock.

I was shocked to see that they don’t have a steerable tag axle. Since they are on a Spartan K2-450 chassis, I had just assumed that they were steerable tags since my 2020 DS4369 was on a Spartan K2 chassis and was a steerable tag. Any idea why and any inside info on if it might be something they will adding in 2025?

I was also disappointed to see that on the Anthem with the Almond woodwork option, that all the plywood on the wall by the kitchen, the refrigerator, the lower bedroom walls, and the underside of all the upper cabinets, is not actually stained maple plywood, but a pre-finished photo vinyl plywood. On a couple of spots the vinyl had been scraped and was already peeling back from getting scratched. You could also tell by the grain pattern on the plywood. I was definitely surprised to see that on a coach with a $720,000 retail price. Is this something new from Entegra to cut corners?

I did notice that on the Anthem with the $5,900 high gloss stonewall grey upgraded cabinets option, that all that same plywood was indeed real stain grade maple that was absolutely beautiful. I am saddened that option is no longer available for 2024. Just the matte gray stonewall that doesn’t upgrade the woodwork.

Neither is a big enough reason to not buy a new Entegra, but I was very surprised. My wife thinks we should wait one more year and see if they “improve” these features!

How do you guys see it? And are you seeing improvements in their quality control? Any word on who will replace Joyce and what the customer service will be like going forward?

One more thing, we would be going from all tile slides on the Newmar, back to carpeting on the Entegra, how often are you guys having to clean it? Do any of you that changed from Newmar to Entegra miss the all tile floors or the electric heated floors vs the hydronic heat?

Anyone else gone from the Newmar to Entegra lately?

Thanks
Tad

[JDANDDD]

Buy a Newmar then. Everyone has their own opinion. I own a 22 Anthem and have ordered a 24 Cornorstone. I think the Newmars are cheaply built comparing a 22 Anthem to a 22 Dutch Star. I would have a London Aire but not for 150 more than a Cornerstone. I have looked at new and used upper end motor homes for two years many in person. I want a Liberty but don’t want to lose 250 a year in depreciation on a new one. So, it’s all about what you like. Entegra and NIRVC will back your purchase up 100%.

JD

[bevandtomH]

I can only tell you after/still FT, the carpet in our 2014 Classic has held up well. Relatively easy to maintain and clean. EC had experimented with a non-carpet material, but have not seen it in person, nor no of anyone that commented about it one way or the other.
I like the flush, tile floor in the Newmar’s, but with sized 13’s, maneuvering down the aisle with the slides in, is not easy.
Our 44b floor plan has plenty of room with the slides in.
I agree with the prior poster, preference dictates.
Glad we don’t have a steerable tag. I’m not a tour bus driving down crowded urban streets.
Good hunting.

[Gary.Jones]

This is all My and my wife's opinion....

I like the interior quality of just about any model 2013 or 2014 model compared to my 2015 model year Anthem. We really like the same 2013 and 2014 quality interiors of any model to the woodwork and interior of our 2019 Cornerstone, but it should be noted we felt the interior woodwork of our 2015 Anthem was higher quality than our 19 Cornerstone. And I have looked at '22 model Cornerstones, and just don't like the quality of the newer coach's interiors, the finish. or the colors.

In other words, in our opinion, interiors have gotten worse almost every year from 2013-2014.

I'm too old to change my preferences... !

PS: An owner can guy a whole lot of new Michelin tag axle tires for no-steerable tag axle coaches for the crazy cost that that steerable tag axle costs. I'm losing money on that steerable tag every day.... (It is NOT worth the cost) IMHO!

Gary

[RVFunlovers]

Entegra added the steerable tag to the 2017 Cornerstone but that is on the K3. To me I could easily live without it.

The overall wood quality has been going down. I think it is still ok but used to be great.
My wife definitely feels the wood in our 17 was better than the 22.

I wish we did not have carpet in Entegra’s. But keeping the clean has not been a huge challenge. Mostly the carpet is in places that get low traffic. We clean ours like you would normal carpet.

I have looked hard at London vs Cornerstone. My version of what I would want on a London is more expensive than a Cornerstone but not 150K more. I really like the big windows of the Essex but that pushes the price.

I think Entegra and Newmar are both great coaches. Most people we know with the Anthem love them.

For Entegra 22 added the new paint jobs, 23 added the new dash, 24 added Star Link satellite, hot water by the windshield, and a few other features. We don’t know what 25 will bring. A few more standard features get added each year.

The D plan is a big seller. It is a little smaller up front but you get the big closet and the no step up rear bathroom. I really like the D with the fireplace / extra counter and cooler option. It opens the coach up which is nice on travels days.

Be aware the D floor plan has no DEF fill on the drivers side. Maybe that gets fixed in 25? I am used to the Cornerstone that drinks the DEF and we use truck stop DEF which is mostly only on the drivers side.

Good Luck.

[2cyber71]

I would keep the 2022 Dutch Star.
Put some miles on it, use it.
Even my lowly Horizon has a Steerable Tag
No carpet in my slides.
I’m at 47,000 miles and counting, runs better and better the more miles on that Cummins 450

[Ricci]

Hi - We had two DS 4369's prior to getting our Anthem 44B. In the B floorplan the carpet is a non-issue. We do have an area rug under the dinette as I have been known to be a bit of a messy eater but that's not an issue. The DS has much better wood elements such as cabinetry. Didn't use to be that way but Entegra doesn't make their cabinets and Newmar does.

Passive steer tag has turned out not to be an issue. Unless you are doing S turns in a blind alley is not a big deal and you always know the tag is pointing in the right direction.
I dislike the floor heat in the Entegra. It really is OK if you stay in a resort for longer periods but not if you travel constantly. Takes a long time to heat up evenly and can use a fair amount of diesel doing so. The electric floors are more prone to issues but much more usable. If Entegra would change over to Oasis instead of Aquahot the system would be better in my opinion. I've had two of each and find the Oasis to be superior in many ways.
Over the last 2 years Newmar has raised prices (take a look at the options that are much higher than other manufacturers for the same item) but held quality. Entegra has raised prices but also dropped quality of content. See the Furrion convection /mw instead of the name brand. For 3/4 of a million I don't want Lippert.

Entegra shines over Newmar in electronics. As I was told when I bought my first Newmar, "What do the Amish care about radio".
Both good coaches and both are trying to get through tough times by different methods. The call is yours.
Tom

[tqqest]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I don’t see the carpeted slide as a really big issue, and it does make for a lighter and far less complex slide mechanism. My DS4369 is definitely heavy on the full wall slide side.

The non-steerable tag was just such a surprise to me after having a Newmar K2-450 chassis. Again I definitely don’t see it as a deal breaker by any means. I would prefer to have it though.

I really do wish that Entegra used the Oasis instead of the AquaHot. After having both, I really prefer the Oasis. I do think that I would miss the quick heating electric floors, but we winter in Palm Springs so not a big deal.

I still find the woodwork disappointing, but that is definitely outweighed by the 44D floor plan that we like better than our DS4369.

Another surprise was the water pouring off the roof between the front of the passenger slide-out and the front door while it was raining. Now I realize why the sidewalls in that area, and just behind the drivers window on the other side, were both so dirty. I haven’t really thought about the built in gutters on my Newmar, but they are a great feature.

If I could get Angie and NIRVC to come down another 3% on their price, I will just order a new 2024 Anthem 44D right now. If not, I’ll probably just wait for awhile with my current rig and see what happens. I will say that Justin at the Las Vegas NIRVC store has been great to work with and been very responsive.

I still think that new motorhome sales will stay slow on the big iron, and we may see 2024 price discounts as low or lower than the 2023s. I have to get the Entegra price down to match what a new DS4369 would cost me for us to pull the trigger on the Entegra.

Enjoy your rigs and keep the shiny side up! Any additional info on what you prefer on your Entegra vs Newmar will be appreciated.

Tad