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06-15-2018, 06:39 PM
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#61
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Agree. I’m sure larger units require more steel and aluminum, but as a percentage of retail costs, I’m not sure the difference is that great. If anything, I’d expect higher-end RVs carry a higher labor percentage.
Some of this may be spin to make analyst think they are working on correcting the problem, which sounds a lot better than saying that higher-end products, which normally have highest margin and contribute more to earnings, are declining for other reasons.
P.S. — If they want a suggestion to lower steel and aluminum costs, build an Axis 24.1 w/o slide as an option, and use E-350 chassis due to lower weight. I’d gladly pocket the $5,000 plus in savings.
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06-15-2018, 06:43 PM
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#62
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
. — If they want a suggestion to lower steel and aluminum costs, build an Axis 24.1 w/o slide as an option, and use E-350 chassis due to lower weight. I’d gladly pocket the $5,000 plus in savings.
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If they DID do that: you can bet that they'd make it 29 feet long...
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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06-15-2018, 07:10 PM
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#63
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Slides indeed add a lot of weight. Thor has made a Chateau 28A Class C that is nearly 30-ft long on both E-350 and E-450 chassis if I recall correctly. I’ve rented it and like it a lot, but is much larger than we need. Regardless, it shows that E-350 is very capable chassis if RV weight is limited.
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06-15-2018, 07:26 PM
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#64
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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my 450 based rig shows a GVW of 14,500 pounds.
Where does the max GVW of a 350 based rig usually fall?
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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06-15-2018, 07:51 PM
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#65
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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E-350 is commonly 12,500 pounds. I personally think that that rating is a bit more conservative than 14,500 of E-450.
E-350 allso comes in 11,500 DRW and 10,050 SRW.
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06-16-2018, 08:39 PM
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#66
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Thor Hurricane 29M
State: Florida
Posts: 358
THOR #9033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
Question: Where does the toilet paper sit; when you've got a wet bath?
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The day I buy a B or ANYTHING with a wet bath, I know I have lost my battle with insanity or been overtaken by that Old-Timers disease. They're just creepy.
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06-16-2018, 09:14 PM
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#67
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport
State: Florida
Posts: 746
THOR #3918
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Golfbum18
The day I buy a B or ANYTHING with a wet bath, I know I have lost my battle with insanity or been overtaken by that Old-Timers disease. They're just creepy.
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LOL I agree totally. When we were looking at RVs the DW said don’t even think about it. I said don’t worry I wasn’t.
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06-16-2018, 09:56 PM
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#68
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
E-350 is commonly 12,500 pounds. I personally think that that rating is a bit more conservative than 14,500 of E-450.
E-350 allso comes in 11,500 DRW and 10,050 SRW.
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From what I've been able to figure out: the rear axles on the 450s are actually rated in a rather timid fashion...
I believe that they're good for 9600 pounds (according to Ford); yet the manufacturer of them seems to think that they're good for well over 5 tons...
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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06-16-2018, 10:02 PM
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#69
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Member
Brand: Keystone
State: North Carolina
Posts: 83
THOR #5391
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After the 40' DP I looked at a Roadtrec. Figured it was about the size of the coffin they will stuff me in one day. Very happy we went with the 43' 5er instead. But I'm only 70 and prefer comfort. No place for a separate washer and dryer in that either.
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2019 Montana 3761 FL
2019 F350 4X4 DRW
Edgewater 205 EXP
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06-16-2018, 10:43 PM
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#70
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 29.2 ACE
State: California
Posts: 71
THOR #11409
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Well gentlemen and ladies my wife and I have a 29 foot class A type RV that she so desired. I can say It's nice however she wants to upgrade to a Fleetwood 36 foot beautiful it is however she rarely drives, if I had a chance to get into a class C believe me I would just for a more relaxed driving experience.
Yes I know we lose storage however like others stated the kids and grandchildren are have moved on and just the wife myself and the dog.
I believe 1st thing should always be the comfort of driving second the interior comfort and last storage.
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06-16-2018, 11:07 PM
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#71
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff van
Well gentlemen and ladies my wife and I have a 29 foot class A type RV that she so desired. I can say It's nice however she wants to upgrade to a Fleetwood 36 foot beautiful it is however she rarely drives, if I had a chance to get into a class C believe me I would just for a more relaxed driving experience.
Yes I know we lose storage however like others stated the kids and grandchildren are have moved on and just the wife myself and the dog.
I believe 1st thing should always be the comfort of driving second the interior comfort and last storage.
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That’s interesting. We traded our 2017 26ft class C for a 2017 29ft Class A and I find the driving to be easier and more relaxed in the new coach. I miss the safety and serviceability of the C sometimes but the storage, space, drivability and view from the A are wonderful. I can’t see owning a B. Just too many compromises. But to each his own.
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06-16-2018, 11:19 PM
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#72
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 24.1
State: Florida
Posts: 887
THOR #5313
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We started looking for a replacement for our Suburban, it reached 10 years old. I did look at large vans, class B type units etc. Wife was away to a herding clinic and one of her pals showed up in a Navion. Dshe came home and said a small RV might make an effective replacement. We ended up with the Vegas 24.1 and still have Suburban that just turned 12.
The class B units just did not have towing capacity. All of the smaller class c units seemed a little cramped for me. The Vegas had right combination of utility and GCVW. I tow a 5500 lb open racecar trailer.
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06-16-2018, 11:51 PM
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#73
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Thor Hurricane 29M
State: Florida
Posts: 358
THOR #9033
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Good thing....now pick out a good one...with a real toilet and shower.....in separate place.
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06-17-2018, 02:39 PM
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#74
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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A separate shower and toilet can be done on larger vans, but most designers must feel that the extra room that is used up can be better used in other ways. The Class B forum discussed it here if interested.
Searching Class B with independant toilet/shower - Class B Forums
I don’t recall ever seeing a true Class B (van camper) with a dry bathroom in person, but have to say the Coach House Arriva looks very roomy and nicely done to me — given we are small and can fit in small shower. The rest of bathroom looks as large as what you may have in some smaller A or C motorhomes.
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06-17-2018, 02:40 PM
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#75
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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And yes, it also keeps toilet paper dry.
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06-17-2018, 03:21 PM
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#76
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: British Columbia
Posts: 78
THOR #2763
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Why we downsized
Our first motorhome was a 32’ Newmar Dutch Star. Yep, started high and worked our way down. We loved that Class A and it was great when we had a kid and a dog to travel with, but the kid is grown and the dog is gone. Now we are approaching retirement and recently bought a 24’ B Plus - a Citation model on a Sprinter chassis. We wanted to get a B but the lack of storage was the fatal blow to that plan.
I had always thought we’d want to get bigger models as we got into the retirement years, but ten years of maneuvering around a 32’ motorhome made me really happy with how easy it is to have a smaller unit. When we would move house, we always had to have RV parking as a criterion for the new place - now it’s much easier to park and store. We toured the Canadian Rockies in the Class A many years ago and I remember driving on by places we would have liked to have camped, because the campgrounds didn’t accommodate big rigs. Same down the California coast - I recall one nightmarish evening when we had to just keep on driving - endlessly it seemed - trying to find a place to stop for the night. I learned that life in a long RV requires preplanning and reservations.
Last summer we returned to the Rockies in our B+ and we spent two weeks meandering around the beautiful little areas, camping anyplace that anyone with a smaller unit could go. No more towing to be able to buy groceries in a town. The driving is a bit easier, but the ability to stop wherever gives us so much more freedom!
Yup, space is smaller and we’ve had the odd stretch of time in bad weather where we are both indoors for days. Honestly don’t see any difference in how that feels compared to having the extra 8 feet of length. The bathroom is cosier for sure. The shower is narrow and we only have an “airplane” sink with minimal counter space, so that’s a compromise over our former life. But the freedom of camping wherever there’s a spot - instead of wherever there’s a spot that fits - is totally worth it!
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06-17-2018, 06:38 PM
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#77
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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A great point that was made in Class B forum is that van campers usually don’t have enough fresh or grey water capacity for a couple to take normal showers, so if needing hook-ups (water and sewer) at a campground anyway, then why not use the CG showers? Many custom Bs don’t have showers at all.
It’d be nice to have a separate shower even if it takes up an extra 4 to 6 square feet, but only if it got regular use. At a very minimum it would make boondocking a few days at a time between campground stays more practical/enjoyable.
I’m curious how much water you guys estimate you use per shower on average? Maybe 5 gallons? Class Bs often don’t even have 20 gallons of fresh or grey, so would a shower (wet or dry) get much use regardless of spaciousness?
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06-17-2018, 06:40 PM
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#78
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 KC's Big Box
State: Kansas
Posts: 2,171
THOR #3510
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In all the years we have had motorhomes, we have not gone larger than 25' ..We came to appreciate, many years ago, the convenience of a
'short' motorhome when it comes to parking ANYWHERE !! Sure, we give up the spaciousness of a long unit...but, we enjoy our Axis and recently, found that we definitely do not want to go any smaller...Camper Van is not for us. We took a look and it made us realize what we had !
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Ron & Kay n KC too !
2001 Scamp 13'
'KC's Little Box'
Jeep Wrangler TJ
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06-17-2018, 06:51 PM
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#79
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 Windjammer
State: Illinois
Posts: 1,179
THOR #7074
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Amen!
__________________
Rev. Jeffrey 2017 Thor Axis 24.1 E450 Windjammer.
Silver Safe-T-Plus Steering Control
SSF-106-40 SumoSprings Solo Front Bump Stop SSR-107-47 SumoSprings Rear Bump Stop
Hellwig 7718 Front Sway Bar & 7180 Rear Sway Bar
Koni FSD Front Shocks 8805-1042 / Koni FSD Rear Shocks 8805-1043
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06-17-2018, 08:01 PM
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#80
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vkb
In all the years we have had motorhomes, we have not gone larger than 25' ..We came to appreciate, many years ago, the convenience of a
'short' motorhome when it comes to parking ANYWHERE !! Sure, we give up the spaciousness of a long unit...but, we enjoy our Axis and recently, found that we definitely do not want to go any smaller...Camper Van is not for us. We took a look and it made us realize what we had !
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Comparing specs, a Travato has 13 or 15 gallons gray capacity, whereas your Axis is ~ 40 gallons. In practical terms it means that if a couple takes showers at 5 gallons each (not sure that’s the right number) the tank would be so full you’d have little space for washing hands, ditches, or brushing teeth. You’d be looking for a place to dump each time you shower. That’s why I think most owners don’t use shower in Bs.
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