Well, we got several good comments about our first installment on this subject, so let’s push forward with more of our observations in our ongoing attempt to find the ideal diesel pusher motorhome.
So, where are we so far in our project to design our ideal DP? Well, we want a fairly large, midship LCD TV that you can watch with the slides in, and no full wall slide. So far, so good. Now, here is another item that we want, and that makes me wonder when looking at motorhomes on display at various RV shows. Our motorhome has solid surface countertops and we really like it. Our stove top is also covered by the same material. However, our stove top is also hinged. In other words, when you want to use the stove we simply raise the top, fold it to the back of the stove and it resides there until we are finished and the stove has cooled, then we fold the top back into place. On virtually all new motorhomes, the same stove top is supplied as two loose pieces laying on the stove top. If you want to use the stove, you lift the pieces off, and then stand in the middle of the kitchen, looking foolish while you decide if you want to put the pieces in the bedroom on the bed, or, better yet, put them in the basement for permanent storage. Cost of two hinges: $2.50. Go figure that one.
My next subject is not really within my area of expertise and I defer to my lovely wife and partner, Linda, to inspect and pass judgement. That is the area of storage within the living quarters which includes the kitchen, the bath area and the bedroom.
In the kitchen we need room for all sorts of cooking and storage utensils as well as an endless array of food preparation implements. Add to that the necessary food items including canned goods, boxed goods, bottled goods, spices and other ingredients, paper towels, plastic bags, foil and waxed paper, etc, and you have the need for a lot of kitchen storage.
In the bath area, you need room for towels, washcloths, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products including spares, hair dryer, iron, and the list goes on. Obviously a lot of storage space is necessary in the bath.
In then bedroom, you need closet space for the range of clothing items including hanging space, and drawers. If you live in your coach for extended periods, this supply of clothing can be extensive.
Finally, you will need room for the stuff you need to keep you entertained while traveling, including hobby and reading material. In my wife’s case, this is an extensive collection of sewing “stuff” which occupies a lot of room in our storage areas.
When you go into a motorhome and look around at the provided storage in these areas you begin to realize how poorly many manufacturers address this need in the category of Class A motorhomes. It should go without saying that all the provided storage drawers and cabinets should be built in a high quality manner with strong joints, solid wood and strong drawer slides. One recent example we came across was a DP that had no storage in the bath area, none! When Linda inquired of the salesman where she should store her towels, the salesman responded, “I’m sure your husband can come up with something”!!
So, a lot of usable storage space is essential for an ideal motorhome. We will talk more about this in a future installment. Until then, happy RVing.
Larry
terryd
We have had our first DP, a 10 year-old Newmar DutchStar, and I am afraid we too are totally spoiled by the quality of Newmar! There is 7′ of wrap-around mirrored cabinet storage in the bath, along with lower cupboard and drawer, overhead storage everywhere else throughout, major basement storage, huge capacity for clean water and holding tanks. It has the hinged solid surface cover on the stove, which I love and would have put in any other coach if I purchased one without. Yes, you can purchase them. Since we bought this DP, we have gone to shows, and have been gratified with our luck in the deal we made on this one we purchased for our entry into the motor home world after years of camping in tents and campers. TV placement is not yet an issue with us; not being fulltimers, the center windshield tv/bedroom tv’s are sufficient for our needs. AT shows, we were not excited about the half bath space use that we saw in new ones, for our needs, we would rather have the storage or living space. If people using our bathroom were not close enough friends or family to use the same room as we use, they have no business in our RV, and if there are too many people for one bathroom, there are too many people along!
larrycad
julie rea, we are continually amazed when we find very expensive coaches with almost no storage, in the bath as well as the bedroom. What are they thinking?
Jack Crans, I agree with your suggested bed arrangement. I don’t know why they build them the way they do now. I sometimes try to get some sleep when someone else is driving and since my bed is lengthwise, I am more comfortable. Don’t know what I would feel like if lying sidewise! 🙂
Jack Crans
We have a KS3910 and only have to remove the sink inserts in the kitchen. If I could design this coach I would put the bed length wise with the closets and storage in the slides so one did not have to step up on the engine cover to get into bed. It would allow for better access to around the bed and adequate side tables. Otherwise I’m down the road with 400hp and happy.
julie rea
cannot believe the lack of storage -especially in the bathroom. Not even a drawer for toothpaste!
larrycad
John Manning, I totally agree with you regarding driver control placement. The are some coaches that have decent dash arrangements, but for the most part, it is a matter of getting used to what is there and making the best of it. I recently purchased the Silverleaf VMSpc and a small 7” VGA monitor which is an amazing combination and I highly recommend it for diesel drivers.
Also good recommendation on the install of a second fire extinguisher.
Barbara Kirkhart, sorry you are having so much trouble. I also dislike the Captcha thingy. I have gotten into the habit of typing my responses off line on in Word, then cutting and pasting. That way if I get the code wrong, I haven’t lost all my work and I can try again. Please don’t give up.
James, I agree that Tiffin does a good job of taking care of details.
George James, is your coach a Monaco? I really like the way Monaco does their water distribution with the manifold. That is a nice feature that other manufacturers would do well to copy.
George James
What I find very handy is a water manafold on the main hot and cold water lines, that you can control each of the cold and hot water fixtures in the coach. You hope you never need it, but when you do, you can shut of the problem one and still have all the rest to make coffee and flush!
vet66
We have a 36 ft. Country Coach with no slide-outs. We rarely stay in a campground for longer than a week. Our 350HP Turbo Cummins with exhaust brake is a pleasure to drive and easy to maneuver. Have had no problems with anything other than the few irritations that are easily dealt with and window seal creep in the desert heat. Conveniences that are noteworthy are fuel receptors on both sides of the coach, east access to air filter, fuel filter/water seperator, and oil pan. We recommend the lifestyle to anyone with the ability to not fall off the roof when cleaning, do minor repair work when required and learn the basics of motorhome construction. Helps to know how to change out a house water pump, tighten awning springs, and most of the rest of the bolt ons.
Have fun and enjoy the experience. We always meet great people wherever we go. Towing a car? We usually rent one when necessary. Otherwise, many parks offer transport to the trainstation or have tour buses pick us up near the front gate of the park.
See you on the road…
Manuel Enos
For my money the best is a Newmar, any flavor you want – Kountry Star, Dutch Star etc..etc..etc..I have never seen another DB with a better layout..We looked at them all before we ever purchased and could not find another DB that offered what Newmar does for the price. Ours is 10 years old, rides just like the day it was bought gets exceptional fuel mileage for a Turbo 300hp and has never been in the shop for any equipment related problems. Has a full bath (I mean tub and shower) which is as big as my guest batchroom in our house!! As the RV evolves, I just update the good old Newmar and it just keeps on trucking down the road…Love it!!
James
We have a 2010 Tiffin Phaeton 42 QBH that has the stove top 2 piece Corian inserts. The sink also has 2 piece Corian inserts. But, our MH also has factory installed storage under the sink for these inserts. You just take them off and slide them into the storage slots under the sink.
Barbara Kirkhart
This is too much – I’ve spent almost an hour now trying to make a cogent reply and give some ideas to the other posters – and yet I’ve been stymied both times by your required into and the CAPTCHA code thing. If I’m ever going to share some of my experience, I guess you just have to come to Al Cohoe’s RV Living Workshop in Kelowna BC in June!
John Manning
Larry, I’ve got one pet peeve and that is from the driver’s seat. We have a 2004 Bounder 38N DP with three slides. It’s a nice rig and we bought it used. One thing I was amassed at was the lack of thought from both Fleetwood and Freightliner with the driver’s controls. There is no headlight flashing from the turn signal but there is a “clearance light” flasher for thanking vehicles that flash you back into lanes. Plus, those controls at the driver’s right elbow make no sense at all. Some are on when you push the insignia and others are on when you push the blank part of the switch. Do they understand that the average DPMH driver is not a professional sitting at the wheel for eight hours a day but a 60-70 something part-time driver who may not know where she/he left their glasses! (This is not an incitement folks it’s from experience!)
Also, the gages are such a wonder of symmetry. But, the wheel covers much of the information no mater how you adjust it.
The manufacturers have a long way to go to cover a lot of safety issues also.
PS I installed a second fire extinguisher by my side of the bed. I got to thinking of what would create enough smoke for the alarm to go off and most of the electrical stuff that could cause a spark is under the bed or in the basement under the bed. Where there is smoke….
Regards, John
Peter R
We have a 40 ft DP, Mountain Aire. It is our first RV and we love it. We do have the folding, 2 piece Corian, cover over our stove. I never thought about it much, but it is a great feature. Our storege space seams to be everywhere in the coach. The out side pass through basement storage I can’t do without. Possibly we have been spoiled by the space.
The 370 Cummins has no problem pushing the coach. We are lucky that our sales guy lead us in the right direction.
Jerry Shea
I don’t want a motorhome that sleeps 6, I want a motorhome with a real office/desk. Not a piece of plywood stuck in the corner. Don’t these designers
know what a real desk looks like?
Barry Engleman
Larry:
I got annoyed everytime I had to take those two Corian pieces off the stove top and find a place for them to hang out while cooking. I had some space at the end of the kitchen counter so I built a little towel rack with two flat rails to hold the towel rods. the rails have grooves so I can lock in one of those Corian pieces so it can be used as extra counter space when it wasn’t covering the stove top. The other smaller piece of Corian is just flat without a molding and works well in the middle of the table to set food bowls, etc. on. bIt works pretty well. It works pretty well. Better than tripping over them while you are cooking.
Thanks
Barry
Timothy Shively
Kudos on the hinges. I have an 2005 Alpine Coach 36′ double slides.
The coach is PERFECT for us that is. I’m sorry they we broke.
I love the high up front TV – when I’m laying in the lounge chair it’s a perfect view – no in the living room TV for me.
The bedroom is great. When my wife is in bed she can see all the way up the isle to the front windows. No having you heads in hole and looking at the rear window.
She would like a hand in the head jus to wash her hands – no problem for me – the sink in just across the hall.
Perfect coach – drives like a BMW – the Cummins 400 goes right up them mountains in Colorado.
We actually like it because it’s more like a camper than a coach and that what we prefer.
Good article – keep it up.
I wish you address winter fuel treatment. I have tried everything and have gelled up twice at 25 below. Had to use 911 to run at more that idle. I called the support folks at all the products companies. They ALL made it out to be my fault.
Like – well you used too much bio fuel – jeck I just fill up at Flying J – what do I know. We need an in depth article.
Thanks
TJ