Lurking quite a while. Looking for a non slide model in the 320 series realm which I believe would be no later than 2000 or 2001 because of the non slide. Shorter models also preferred. PM me and I will get back asap. I am in the Kansas City area. Thanks.
Mark, have you determined what are your "must haves", "would like to haves". Beam alarm has all the specs on his website if you haven't been there. It was invaluable for me to figure out what year, make and model when I was conducting my search. I ended up with a 96 U320, 36' non slide and love it. It is my first coach, and probably my last one. I wanted the non slide for the simplicity, and more storage room. I live just South of KC, so if I can answer any questions, feel free to contact me.
GO CHIEFS ;D ;D ;D ;D
Larry
Thanks Larry, might do that. I found the Beam website, there is a lot of info there. I'm in Lawrence. I really need to look at and compare some of the class A's. Have thought about a road trip to Motorhomes in Texas would be a good chance to do a comparison with their different models.
I was kind of general in the search post, there are tradeoffs of course. Preference is simplicity at this time, just want the dang thing to work when it should you know.
Prefer: non slide, no tag, 320 series. That's pretty general:). And that could change re tradeoffs.
I understand Mark. I am in Louisburg, so not far. The coach is in storage right now, but when the spring thaws, I have been known to run up to Clinton or Perry Lake. If the timing works out, I will PM you ahead of time if you want to come take a tour.
Larry
Cool. Look forward to seeing it. I lived in Paola for about 20 yrs, moved over here 6 yrs ago. Sailed both lakes with catamarans though don't have any now.
Enjoy.
We might have unknowingly crossed paths. Been in Miami County for 28 yrs. Moved to Louisburg 14 yrs ago, before that it was in Paola. Small world. I'll let you know.
Larry
Simplicity is not fully defined, met or lost by slide or no slide.
A great British racing engineer once said his philosophy toward race car design was "simplify, then add lightness". That man was Colin Chapman.
I'm guessing he would
not have wanted a slide in his motorhome.
BUT, coaches with slides are very popular, so they must appeal to many buyers. I say "Each to their own, and DWMYH"
Colin's race cars also had a cycle out time. All of the rivits came loose and the tubes failed. I serviced Lotus and TVR, and still have the TVR for a reason.
I still service the Lotus clones, not fond of them , but they are fun when mobile .
Curious, like automobiles, do the '95 and later Coaches use R134?
For the race car enthusiasts, look up jblmotor.com. I still have one with the rocker arm front suspension, pull rod rear suspension, and cockpit adjustable front and rear sway bars with LED readouts. The designer is also British. Properly engineered equipment and parts are something I appreciate.
Body anatomy can have a lot to do with wanting/needing slides. If wasteband challenged more so the want of a slide(s).
I haven't seen a 95 or later without R-134a including sob's
Back to the topic .... as Mike says simplicity does not mean no slide and no Aqua Hot. If you want simplicity don't get a diesel pusher motorhome. Many (maybe most) who argue against a slide or an Aqua Hot do not have one now or may never have had one.
Please try to see as many coaches as you can with and without slides. Look at floor plans, see how they work for the way you are going to use your coach. You are the only one whose opinion matters so make an informed decision with as much actual information as possibl.
Hope you find a great coach.
Above is good advice. I remember the first winter I spent in Quartzsite, Az, in 2004. 35 at nite, 80 by day and I had Aquahot, first nite I slept all the way thru, due too no noise from a forced air heater, I thought wow, it was wonderful. SInce then, never had either Aquahot or slide in my opportunity and budget.
When we bought the FT, my wife said "I thought our next rv was going to have a slide", I said, "no that is our next motorhome".
From years of sailing, I learned, sometimes simpler is better. For me, no perfect motorhome, I just have the balance I need. Last month, paid off the FT, part of my balance.
Now I see the benefit of measuring my needs, before leaping, part of this realization is due to Roger's posts. An example, sure I'd love to go lifepo4 (and own a Tesla), the question for me now is to measure my usage first, I may not need lifepo4 if I'm mostly plugged in, see my point. When that "measurement " gets completed, I'll start another thread.
So to conclude my advice, gather your information, stay within budget and needs, make your choice, not just based on what others tell you, including me. Buy based on your research and measurements of your particular need and budget.
And the reason I haven't bought yet? All of the above! Good advice.
Another box checker is finding one that has been maintained, with documentation preferred. I would think people would carry a log book with the coach, detailing everything that is done, like an airplane, but that doesn't happen in what seems 90% of the case.
Most of the vehicles I have kept for long periods of time have been purchased new. Just cause someone else hasn't gotten ahold of it and done their thing or let their inexperience have an impact on the vehicle. So low miles have a preference also unless it is well maintained. Tradeoffs of course.
How many know that engine oil starts to degrade, like gasoline and the free radical thing, once it is used, hence the yearly recommendation if mileage hasn't been met? I don't see that happening.
I know these coaches are complicated. I can fix about anything if I have the tools and usually enjoy making something better. It is the lack of engineering and negligence that is the thorn. Or people designing things without regards for taking it apart! That is a big one.
I am looking at a couple other Makes and really need to compare.
This could also be a possible full time coach, so I'd like enough room to carry tools.
To the best of my knowledge only country coach and Foretravel and pre Monaco beavers and vogues were not built over carpeting.
The rest laid the carpet down and placed the cabinets on top of it.
Not laid and stretched.
Different build quality to have a non laid over carpeting coach that is dimensionally correct from top to bottom inside(other than the ozite ceiling) and to have no gimp molding and no squeaks when driving.
markb, I feel your correct in the search for a coach with that was well maintained with records. I was lucky, our PO was actually a pilot and his records are amazing. He was the only owner and had complete maintenance records from when he purchased it new. Every receipt down to a light bulb replacement, and even included pictures of most service. It was a reason we bought the coach. It has been a tremendous help in keeping me up to date and learning about it.
Your not going to find many with maintenance records like a pilot would keep, unless you buy one from a pilot.
You can find a well maintained coach without that. On mine, I had a drawer full of receipts going back to new. Was up to me to find out if it had been well maintained or not.
I started my own spreadsheet, but to be quite honest, record keeping is not my forte. When retired, I plan on doing a lot more that putting numbers on a spreadsheet. But will keep up with my maintenance best I can.
One can get to anal about this. RV's are not planes. Or commercial vehicles. They are privately owned by all kinds of people. If I went looking for the best coach out there, I would never have found it. To expensive, has carpet, owner had cats, holes in chairs, rust under genny, scratch on wood, stain in sink.... the list goes on. If you want the best built best maintained coach buy new. Then you can do your own record keeping.
But if your like me, you can't afford a new coach. Or probably wouldn't have bought one even if you could. So there are compromises. These beasts are built with commercial grade equipment. They last a long time. Sure you have to pay attention to them. But most of them, if properly owned and taken care of will outlast you.
But all will need some work.
All will need continual maintenance.
All will be frustrating at times.
No guarantee that the one with good records is better than another. As already been stated, go out and look. See what you like. For me, it was simple. For others may not so simple.
Also if you buy from MOT then ask them if they have done the maintenance on that coach. They may have records or just be familiar with it.
My coach didn't have much in the way of records but the PO had a lot of posts here on the work he did and had done. I verified that with the guys at MOT and felt confident it was in the condition it appeared.
Bought our coach for a very decent price. The dealer told us they didn't want non-slide coaches as they were hard to sell.
Lucky us!! We didn't want an older coach with slide(s) whose components might be worn and require expensive repairs that I couldn't do at home. The added weight was another factor.
Nice and warm inside when temp outside is below 32 and the wind is blowing. No drafts. No running every week for propane.
I live close to a state park. I sometimes ride the bike over and through or take a drive. The campers stay the winter at reduced fee. It is interesting what people put together to live in, the different life styles and what can be done. The number of tarps over a tent and still make it through with sub freezing temperatures.
A lot of it is expectations on what a person wants to get involved with, which is what I ask myself.
All good perspectives to consider.