www.RV-PartsPlus.com Blog: November 2011

Fleetwood Storm 33Q and Tiffin Allegro Breeze 32BR

Fleetwood Storm 33Q

Fleetwood has taken the step of combining the best features of a Class C with those of a Class A. This began last year with the re-introduction of the Storm and this year the 33Q has notched it up a step. The drop down from the roof, Hide-A-Loft Queen Bed is still there, however the 40” Hideaway LCD TV is quite unique. In this model, the TV is placed directly in front of a window beside the dinette and conveniently drops down when not being viewed to allow looking out the window. When raised into position the TV blocks the window and is perfectly placed for those sitting on the dinette to view. You can watch it from the dinette although some might find that a little close. Certainly it is another way of creating a day night shade! The floor plan also features number of steps up and down that some may need to get used to. Otherwise there is a broom closet, lots of wardrobe storage and low entry step. Lots of wood trim make this coach seem that it is not a budget priced RV. It is packed with features and looks great.

Fleetwood Storm - Bedroom

Fleetwood Storm - Dining Area with retractable TV

Fleetwood Storm 33Q Floorplan and features

Tiffin Allegro Breeze 32BR

Tiffin had the distinction of building the shortest Class A diesel coach however some found that length a little short for their purposes. Responding to customer feedback Tiffin is entering the 31-34 foot diesel market with a new 32BR. It features opposing slide-outs and a rear queen bedroom. The TV flips down from the ceiling in the bedroom and provides a small yet good size display giving the positioning. The coach is powered by a Navistar Max-Force Diesel engine and rides on Tiffin’s PowerGlide chassis. Space is compact, similar to the European feel we see in coaches built on the Mercedes chassis Class C chassis however this is a Class A when comfort and look is factored in. The wood faced refrigerator and beautiful wood trim makes the coach seem bigger and the wrap-around lounge dinette and floating table really open up the coach.

Tiffin Allegro Breeze 32BR

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Newmar introduces 3D TV to RVing

Walking into a top of the line coach and seeing a LED or LCD flat screen TV is not unusual in today’s RV marketplace. However when the TV is 3D the effect is enough to have you take a second look. Even without the 3D glasses, the images have depth and a perspective that heretofore is unseen in an RV. I am not a big TV watcher and have not been to see 3D movies however the effect of seeing a 3D TV in an RV is noteworthy. It is a quantum leap from the entertainment we enjoyed in RV’s 30 years ago. As the buyers of these RV’s are the most likely to have this technology in their homes, Newmar made the leap to placing Sony LED 3D TVs in the King Aire and Mountain Aire coaches. It is unique and I would expect the competition will walk along the same path shortly. Also noteworthy in this coach was the high gloss lacquer finish to all of the woodwork. The shine is distinctive and takes getting used to. Look for yourself and decide if the different look appeals to you.

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An "All Electric RV"

Don’t be fooled by the title, I am not referring to the industry trend to install residential refrigerators and electric smooth surface cooktops. This RV is powered exclusively by an electric motor! MVP showcased its Tahoe Class C with an electric propulsion system. This system uses Winston Lithium high tech batteries to power an electric motor through an Allison transmission. The prototype on display is built on a Ford Class C chassis and provides about 120 miles of range before requiring a charge. Battery Charging with the fast charge station can replenish the batteries in just 20 minutes. A system designed to be installed at an RV dealer will take about 1.5 hours. Now before you say: ”Are you kidding?” this is a prototype! Quiet, emission and fuel free travel is possible.

A Class A version, initially expected to achieve about 300+ miles before charging, is in the works as well. As a Hybrid fan I found the concept unique and credible although obviously in the development phase. Who would have thought that a segment of car buyers would buy a plug-in car (the Chevy Volt) and yet GM is selling them. You now know that RV’s are following right behind. I am sure the owners of short range delivery vehicles with defined routes will look seriously at this technology as well. I wonder how long it will be before one of the RV choices will be an “all –electric coach” with LED lighting, electric cooktop, residential refrigerators, using a fuel cell technology to provide charge power for the house batteries and an all-electric, emission free power train? All of the elements were on display at the 2011 RVIA National Trade Show. All of this, just a few short years after the pundits were predicting the demise of the industry. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the RV industry.

MVP Tahoe Electric Motorhome - Under the hood

MVP Tahoe Electric Motorhome - Electric Propulsion

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Roadmaster Eclipse Slide Out System

Roadmaster introduced a revolutionary slideout system that uses aerospace steel reinforced (toothed) drive belts to move the slide room assembly. The belts appear as a roughly 2” band near the top and bottom of the slideout box. They look like part of the graphics found on many RV slide box ends. The system requires little initial adjustment and virtually no maintenance, so it should be a win-win for the RV maker and the consumer. There is no additional slide lock, the slide can be manually moved if there is no battery power and the design channels water out of the RV. What impressed me is that it is virtually invisible and it allows taller slideout designs. It also connects the slide box to the RV at BOTH the top and the bottom greatly enhancing the integrity of the slide. Typically, slide boxes are moved in and out on tracks with the top floating or pulled in and out using cables or other mechanisms with the box floating. This creates the need for adjustments both at installation and during use. Conventional systems also require consistent maintenance to maintain the water and weather seal.

With aerodynamics becoming part of the RV design equation, this system will allow contoured walls, so curved surfaces can have slide-outs in them. It is a very simple and stable slideout system that I expect will be featured in many RV designs in the very near future.

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American Coach 45T Heritage

This amazing coach features 450 square feet of floor space. A third of the coach is the king sized bedroom and residential feel bathroom with hand laid stone floor and a shower stall that looks like it came from a luxury home. The multiplex lighting can be controlled by your iPad, while all of the Sony TV’s are LED models. The Girard roof mounted awnings feature articulated designs that come out parallel to the ground until well past the extended slideout then angle to provide more protection and a larger shaded area. These awnings are 110V powered. Even the dash air is a dual zone system similar that which is found on many high end luxury cars. This coach exuded space, quality and ultimate luxury.

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New Diesel Chassis Supplier

One of the items revealed at the Fleetwood introduction of their newest models was the transition away from Spartan as their diesel engine chassis supplier to FCCC. This will be a soft transition with some 2012 models being built on Spartan and others being built on Freightliner. Some of the characteristic Spartan chassis equipped features will find their way onto the FCCC vehicles. One that is familiar to the American Coach owner is the central servicing bay.

Related: Fleetwood's PowerBridge II Chassis
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American Coach Revolution 38S

After a 3 year absence American Coach introduced a 38S single axle Revolution coach. Featuring a full wall, street side slide and two additional curb side slide-outs this coach has ample space. It is built on the latest Liberty Chassis, now provided by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp (FCCC). It features a backbone structure and is electro-coated to virtually eliminate corrosion. Interior features include highly polished tile floors, Villa Ultra leather furniture and a bath and a half. The generator is on a powered slide, the residential refrigerator has 8 AGM batteries powering two pure sine wave inverters and Aqua-Hot heating system. The exterior features a slide mounted patio awning and flush mounted, flip out frameless windows.

American Coach Revolution Frameless Windows

American Coach Revolution Slide Out

American Coach Revolution 38S Shower

American Coach Revolution Floorplan and Features

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2012 Bounder Diesel Classic

Fleetwood introduces a Bounder Classic 36R Diesel. This front engine 36 foot diesel is said to be quieter than the gas coach with extensive sound insulation employed to really reduce the diesel sound. Air brakes and Air suspension makes this coach unique in an entry level diesel coach ($165,000 MSRP). This triple slide, bath and a half floor plan showcase the typical features expected in a Bounder. Ample basement storage and the ‘value for the money’ approach make this coach worth looking at. Even the logo is “retro” Bounder and is applied all around the coach exterior reminiscent.