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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / January 2005RV Consumer Group (www.rv.org)
Soliciting feedback on their RV ratings. I purchased their CD, which at $75, I expect to be accurate and complete. There are no indications that it is not, however, being new in the RV buying bidness, I'd like to know a little more about it before let it sway my decision on which one to buy. Does anyone out there have experience they can share? One possible anomaly I'd like for them to explain is why the Highway Control scores for two models that differ only in 18 inches of length (and the weight that goes with that) differ so much. The 31.7 footer has an 86, the 33.3 footer has a 60. Based on that difference alone, the former gets an overall rating of 3.5 stars (out of 5), the latter, just 2.0. Advance thanks -- Ted in Tempe > Soliciting feedback on their RV ratings. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > latter, > just 2.0. While many here advise doing what you did, and get the material from them, they don't actually test anything. There scores are based on specifications. The models you are looking at most likely are both mounted on the same chassis with the longer overhang in the rear that MAY cause more sway, suggesting the lower score. Use what you bought as a guide on what to look for, but it's not a bible!! Tom J > Soliciting feedback on their RV ratings. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Ted in Tempe What you bought is a $75 CD. I bought one too when I was in the market for a motorhome. I found that they only rate high end stuff, and those MHs in the mid price range and lower were not included, or barely. The coach that I ended up buying has been a great coach and we like it a lot. We have traveled in it a good deal. It wasn't rated that highly in the overpriced CD or overpriced book. Guess, according to them, I shouldn't like it this much. Shows what I know. Steve Steve, can you tell me which motorhome you chose? > Steve, can you tell me which motorhome you chose? It was a '96 Newmar Mountain Aire made by Tiffin. It is the gas model with the tag axle. It is 38' long, and has a 460 Ford with a Banks system. It has one 14's slide. The statistics quoted about wheelbase to length ratios rated the coach as unacceptable. We have put 27,000 miles on it in a year and a couple of months, and have never had a handling problem. It does take some adjusting to learn about driving something that big. If you ever got into a situation where all the computations on stability came into play, you would be in deep sh.t anyway, and it would be a coin toss, even in the BEST rated units. The cabinets are oak. The workmanship is pretty good. The coach is comfortable. It has every bell and whistle that can be ordered for the coach. The previous owner kept it in a metal barn and covered. He kept every scrap of paper relating to the motorhome. He put 27,000 miles on it in seven years. We got it for $40k cash. He lost $64k in seven years. We figure we can keep it for seven years, and not lose very much in depreciation. There are many things to consider when buying a motorhome. There is no such thing as THE perfect motorhome, and compromises must be acceptable in many things. So, depending on who you ask, their story and experience will vary. My deepest regret was wasting the money on the useless books and CDs. Information that I already got or could have gotten in rv related newsgroups. There are main considerations such as inoperative systems, needed repairs, damage, mold, mileage, age, nasty stuff that really affects the value. Other than that, I believe issues go in descending order. For example, I wouldn't consider a coach with Corian, as every one I have seen with Corian has a cracked piece somewhere. I hate coaches with a lot of mirrors because they look like a whore house. They also require cleaning. But, as I say, those things vary with each individual, and tastes vary. I could condense everything in rv.org's material considerably, give it out for free, and the average person would have a decent guide to buying a motorhome. Common sense is vital when buying a motorhome, but lacking in most of us. Emotion takes hold a lot of times, too, and someone jumps into a bad unit. Then fear keeps the next guy out of a totally good coach. It's impossible to have hard and fast rules. HTH Steve >I hate coaches with a lot >of mirrors because they look like a whore house. They also require >cleaning. But, as I say, those things vary with each individual, and tastes >vary. I solved that problem by driving across Louisiana at a slightly higher than normal speed (8 over?). The mirror on the bedroom door came loose and shattered. Cleaned it (up) one last time and never thought about it again. ;-) Greg >>I hate coaches with a lot >>of mirrors because they look like a whore house. They also require [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Greg Boy, you like living on the edge. I lived in Lafayette for about eight years. There were countless instances of police abuse on the Interstate there for out of state travelers. The worst was a long haired but successful businessman from Houston. His expensive car was stopped near Henderson. It was summer. He fit the profile for a drug trafficker, but was actually just a successful ex hippie with long hair. He went into a heart attack. A lady who owned the land next to the freeway saw what was happening, and tried to cross the fence to help. She was a RN. Police prevented her from helping. He died. Not sure how that case ended up, as I moved shortly thereafter. I would rather rassle with a cactus than speed in Louisiana. And son, if you get caught down into the smaller towns, all that stuff in Deliverance is considered foreplay. Steve [snip] >I would rather rassle with a cactus than speed in Louisiana. [snip] Actually, you shouldn't be speeding anyway. Set your cruise control a whisker under the posted speed limit and you don't have to worry about ever being stopped and ticketed for speeding. Driving speed laws are as clear as they can be: it is illegal to drive faster than the posted speed limit. What part of this don't you and the 98% of other drivers on U.S. roads understand? Boy, if I had $5 dollars for everytime an RV sped past me at 85 mph, I could buy this nice 2005 model Fleetwood I've got my eye on. :) -bug >Steve >Boy, if I had $5 dollars for everytime an RV sped past me at 85 mph, I >could buy this nice 2005 model Fleetwood I've got my eye on. :) > >-bug No kidding, I was just doing 70 on I-75 and a truck pulling an Airstream went by me like I was in reverse.... had to be going at least 80. Hunter >>Boy, if I had $5 dollars for everytime an RV sped past me at 85 mph, I >>could buy this nice 2005 model Fleetwood I've got my eye on. :) > No kidding, I was just doing 70 on I-75 and a truck pulling an > Airstream went by me like I was in reverse.... had to be going at > least 80. This sort of discussion was a subject on another, totally unrelated list up for which I have signed (with apologies to Winston Churchill). In California, many people speed. The penurious citizens of the state have, in their infinite wisdom, decided that they can derive progressively more services for a progressively declining contribution to the state's operational funds. Ergo, the ratio of CHP officers to motorist has been in a steady decline for some years. NEVERTHELESS, when the CHP *do* see you, the following truths still obtain: 1) Automobiles will be granted a margin of 6-10 MPH, probably depending on the mood of the officer in question and the prevailing traffic conditions; 2) RVs will be allowed the same margin, AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT TOWING; 3) The state speed limit of 55MPH for ALL vehicles (auto, RV or truck tractor) WILL be enforced, with generally a margin of 5-7 MPH over the limit allowed. (Don't argue with me...I know people who, while driving an auto towing a trailer on an Interstate highway, have been ticketed for towing in excess of 63MPH); 4) To a lesser extent, the law requiring ALL vehicles of ANY sort, towing trailers of any sort, to restrict themselves to the two right hand lanes, will also be enforced. This law is much more strongly applied to truck and RV operators than to automobile operators, and is more strongly enforced in urban environments. I hold no brief for any other state, but I certainly feel better here than having triples whisk by me at 70MPH (or more) in Oregon or Nevada. These are, of course, state's rights issues. If you would like to see uniform Federal regulation, please don't demand state's rights for other issues. Ken H > Driving speed laws are as clear as they can be: it is illegal to > drive faster than the posted speed limit. > > What part of this don't you and the 98% of other drivers on U.S. roads > understand? Well, nasty boy ......... I was just trying to relate my experiences based on living eight years in Louisiana. Now, I know that you think you know more than anyone else, so why don't you tell us all about the laws in Louisiana and your experiences there. I do know that in many Louisiana towns, the roads are not straight. There will be a speed sign that has the posted speed limit. Then, at the edge of town, there will be an obscurely placed speed limit sign that has the town's speed limit on it. And a conveniently placed small town police unit with a radar setup. Unless you are aware of the placement of these signs, you are on them before you know it. It is almost impossible to slow down to that posted limit without a four wheel skidding brake locking slow down maneuver. What us your claim to belonging to the 2 percentile club you mention? Is it your arrogant superiority complex? Or is it that you look down on so many other people? Maybe that would be one of the reasons you got beat up so much as a child. And probably why you get your a.s kicked on a regular basis today. Just a thought. Steve >> Driving speed laws are as clear as they can be: it is illegal to >> drive faster than the posted speed limit. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Well, nasty boy ......... No, I was hardly being "nasty" - - just truthful. > I was just trying to relate my experiences based >on living eight years in Louisiana. Now, I know that you think you know [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >your arrogant superiority complex? Or is it that you look down on so many >other people? Stating the obvious isn't looking down on others. Stating the obvious is...well...uh...stating the obvious. >Maybe that would be one of the reasons you got beat up so much as a child. >And probably why you get your a.s kicked on a regular basis today. See, I knew "Carnac the Magnificent". Carnac the Magnificent was a television friend of mine. You, Steve, are no Carnac the Magnificent. -bug (Rest in peace, Mr. Carson aka Carnac the Magnificent.) >Just a thought. > >Steve > (Rest in peace, Mr. Carson aka Carnac the Magnificent.) And here I thought Carnac was spelled with a "K."<g> Either way, we shall not see the like of Mr. Carson's again, and we are far poorer for that fact. Ken H POST SCRIPT TO PREVIOUS POST: Had the price and condition not been so good, I would have shopped on and looked for a better wheelbase/length ratio. We also wanted a diesel pusher. But $40k versus $100k was a big factor. Age condition features mileage equaled value for us. We also weren't sure how much we would travel and how much we would like it, so opted to take less risk on taking a beating on depreciation like the original owner did. I can do a lot with the extra $60k on 14% first deeds of trust. Enough, we figure to buy the diesel pusher in a few years should we choose to do so. We love to go, and find that motorhoming is one of the funnest things we've done with our clothes on. ;-) Some people can't say that, hate MHing, then lose a big bundle after buying a new unit. Or even a used one. HTH Steve >> Steve, can you tell me which motorhome you chose? > [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > > Steve >> Steve, can you tell me which motorhome you chose? > [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > > Steve Huh??? "It was a '96 Newmar Mountain Aire made by Tiffin." Uh, the Mountain Aire is made by Newmar. Neither the model, nor the company, have any relation to Tiffin. Newmar is also located in Indiana and Tiffin is located in Alabama. > Huh??? "It was a '96 Newmar Mountain Aire made by Tiffin." > > Uh, the Mountain Aire is made by Newmar. Neither the model, nor the > company, have any relation to Tiffin. Newmar is also located in Indiana > and Tiffin is located in Alabama. You got me. Actually, I was just seeing if you were paying attention............ I have no clue where I got the Tiffin from. I got a concussion at work about four months ago, and have been doing a lot of weird things. Or so they tell me ........... I don't think they are weird ........... well ...... not that weird ............ Thanks for correcting me. Steve PS: I still like it. That hasn't changed. I'm positive about THAT answer. ;-) > Soliciting feedback on their RV ratings. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > the former gets an overall rating of 3.5 stars (out of 5), the latter, > just 2.0. Have you tried asking them? Unlike others here, I have. There is more to the highway rating then just the length/wheel-base ratio, although that certainly is a large part of the rating. Other things that also figure in: is the relative balance of the load, that is where is the load placed and how well balanced the rig is front-to-back and side-to-side. Also how loaded are the axles? Does one have a higher rated axle, frame, etc then the other? Lots of things figure into the highway ratings, but all those things are numbers and formulas.  SignaturePersonal email n7bsn@amsat.org (@callsign.net's a SPAM trap) > Have you tried asking them? I called them with the question and the lady said "E-mail it to us please." So I e-mailed them the question, and have received no answer. -ted > > Have you tried asking them? > > I called them with the question and the lady said "E-mail it to us please." > So I e-mailed them the question, and have received no answer. I have had it take up to three weeks, so if you are in a hurry.... Signature-------------------------------------------------------- Personal e-mail is the n7bsn but at amsat.org This posting address is a spam-trap and seldom read RV and Camping FAQ can be found at http://www.ralphandellen.us/rv I too am new to RVing and in the market for a "recent" Class C. I am surprised at the lack of real reviews of RVs, especially being a sailor and having huge amounts of very detailed info about boats, quality, layouts, specifics to look for etc. Anyway, I also bought the ratings CD and book, and it is the best thing I have found so far - not that it is enough info by any means, but it does give you a idea about what is good and not so good, and what to look for... As for your question, the information provided pretty well explains that the L/WB ratio is important, but also the weight distribution of tanks, etc. as well as overall weight on the given chassis. The info also claims that all the ratings are based on multiple sources of information, including inspecting (although nor necessarily testing) a large number of vehicles.. Everything I read so far from them makes sense. The only thing I found "interesting " is that the wheelbases of supposedly standard chassis seemed to vary a bit...so I emailed them and got a reply in two days. the explanation is that each manufacturer tends to modify the standard chassis a bit. I do it hard to imagine a manufacturer going to all the trouble of modifying a standard chassis for 2 or 3 inches.... As with all info..take it with a grain of salt.. Good luck! Don > Soliciting feedback on their RV ratings. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Ted in Tempe "Don and Deb" dkeskula@rochester.rr.com says > ... the information provided pretty well explains that the >L/WB ratio is important ... I've noticed several people referring to a "length to wheelbase ratio" lately. IIRC, RVCG and other reputable sources speak of a "wheelbase to length ratio" -- which they then (necessarily) express as a number less than one or as a percentage less than 100. :-) Jenny >"Don and Deb" dkeskula@rochester.rr.com says > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Jenny Hmmm. Are they not the reciprocal of each other? unk |
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