Community Forums

Camera Man · 10-05-2011, 09:46 AM

It's nice to be able to communicate with people who know a lot about RVing especially since I know nothing.
My current MH is a 2010 Berkshire diesel. The first MH I purchased was a 2007 Jayco Greyhawk on a Kodiak chassis. It was a very nice unit but driving it made me nervous. The rocking motion made me feel like it was going to tip over. So my friends told me to drive a diesel and I won't have that problem anymore. Well they were right but now as before I won't go over 55 mph. The front end feels light because all the weight is in the back and I'm still nervous but for different reasons. My truck driver friends say that I need to drive the coach more to get the feel of it, Well they were right. This year I have been driving 60 mph but still a little nervous. So now they tell me to test drive a tag axle. So I went to my dealer and drove a 2012 Tuscany tag axle. What a difference. I was driving at 70 mph and not nervous at all. It seems that I will run out of money before I run out of friends telling me to go bigger.
This brings me to my dilemma. I want a 2012 Entergra Aspire tag 42RBQ. But it's like going from a car payment to a house payment. If I get the Aspire it will be my last one. The wife says she won't go smaller so downsizing is out. Which is easy for her to say due to the fact that she doesn't drive the MH. I've looked at the Aspire but never drove one and the fit and finish is excellent. Plus you can't beat the 2 year warranty. Love to hear what everyone thinks except please don't tell me to go bigger. Thanks

RickO · 10-05-2011, 10:49 AM

Hi Rich and welcome to the forum!

Ain't it great to have so many friends help spend our money?

A couple of thoughts come to mind:

*Driving ever faster shouldn't be an objective but we all want to feel comfortable while driving.

*IMHO, you shouldn't have to go to a 42 TAG to have your coach handle well. Yes, from what I understand, tags handle much better at highway speeds but there are LOTS of things that can be done to improve handling on an ill mannered rig. You say that the front end feels light due to all the weight being in the back. Have you gotten it weighed? This type of "road wander" is pretty common. Being in NJ, you are about as far away from the best shop I know of for this type of thing... Henderson's Line Up in Grant's Pass Oregon. When my coach had only 6000 miles on it I had them assess the performance and then add a Safe T Plus steering stabilizer, motion control units, a new Safe T Steer bell crank, and adjust the steering gear. Driving my coach went from being a two hands on the wheel/white knuckle experience to being nearly hands free. Best $2200 I ever spent.

Best of luck to you whichever way you go.

Rick

Camera Man · 10-05-2011, 11:12 AM

Your right RickO about the speed but I would at least like to keep up with the slower traffic. It's not that I want to go fast it's the feeling of stability that I liked.
Now that I've had this coach for two years there are things that have become annoying due to poor craftsmanship and design. Don't get me wrong I do appreacate the fact that I even have something like this, well me and the bank have it.
I met someone last month that put tractor weights on the front of a friends diesel, 300lbs was the magic number (he is a mechanic), and the rig handled great. He also told me if I asked the dealer or the MFG they would say not to do it.
And no I have not had it weighed but I carry very little and never carry water.

Park · 10-05-2011, 04:58 PM

Hey welcome to the site great folks here. I see you are from our neck of the woods.

Camera Man · 10-06-2011, 08:10 AM

Hi Jim & Toni:
We are neighbors.
Where is your favorite camp ground and how often do you get to go there?
I am going to Cape May this weekend with the guys. It is a once a year thing. Seashore Camp Ground in Cape May is our favorite.

TXUSGUY · 10-06-2011, 10:42 PM

Welcome!

Park · 10-07-2011, 05:56 PM

We have stayed at Seashore several times very nice campground. We have been staying at Beachcomber lately. The kids like to fish in the lake.

As far as a favorite campground we really don't have one.

JimM68 · 10-07-2011, 07:43 PM

Rich, I"m thinking 2 thoughts here...

Your driving comfort might be improved with, shall we say, a slightly more higher end coach. A Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Newmar, or a number of other higher line motorhomes just might have both a better driving experience and a better quality level, in a fairly affordable 40 foot coach.

Buying something a couple years old isn't really a bad thing, let someone else absorb the depreciation hit as well as the new machine bugs.

when we were shopping, my DW really liked the Sportscoach and the Damon Tuscany. After some considerable searching, I found a 3 year old monaco that had the features she liked, for about the same money as the above brand new. We bought it and am real glad we did.

btw, scary on an 8 air bag roadmaster chassis kicks in at about 82 mph.

That Entegra is a heckuva machine. A whole buncha money though.