Used DP reliability

[baja-chris]

Of these 3, rank the order of reliability (all are priced similarly):
5 year old Newmar luxury DP
10 year old Foretravel
15 year old Newell

 

[Shrub Lurker]

Pre Covid, Newmar built a pretty nice coach. As they age all of these need work and it’s expensive if you can’t do it yourself and even then….

 

[baja-chris]

Thinking of a 2018 King Aire but my 2020 DutchStar had a lot of issues (with the house not the Spartan chassis).
So for similar money I could get into a 10 year old Foretravel or a 15 year old Newell.
I can afford to pay the maintenance and repairs on any of them but want the least amount of down time, or frequency of issues.

 

[rivermobster]

I thought this was gonna be about something else...

 

[Kachina26]

I thought this was gonna be about something else...

Distributed Power locomotives? Me too.

 

[baja-chris]

Isn’t this the motorhome section of RDP?
Diesel Pusher commonly called DP.

 

[evantwheeler]

Thinking of a 2018 King Aire but my 2020 DutchStar had a lot of issues (with the house not the Spartan chassis).
So for similar money I could get into a 10 year old Foretravel or a 15 year old Newell.
I can afford to pay the maintenance and repairs on any of them but want the least amount of down time, or frequency of issues.

There is a fantastic Foretravel forum. Admittedly, it does not seem there are many members active with new coaches, most folks that are really active have mid 2000's and older coaches it seems, that is more of the DIY crowd I guess.

www.foreforums.com

I have a 2000 Foretravel U320, and the build quality is spectacular. If they carried that quality on through today, I wouldn't hesistate. There is a huge group of companies that work exclusively on Foretravels in and around the Nacogdoches, Texas area, where these coaches are still being built today.

 

[evantwheeler]

I don't have much input on newer coaches. I would want the largest engine I could afford. Side radiator, rear hatch, engine accessible without tearing the whole damn thing apart would be cool. I'm sure all of those other brands have one piece fiberglass roof caps, that would be a must for me spending that kind of coin. Three roof air units would be preferred, especially if a dark colored coach. Half bath is really nice to have. Fuel capacity is something to consider, my coach holds almost 200 gallons of fuel, everyone else I travel with holds about half of that.

 

[zhandfull]

If it was me, no question 15 year old Newell.
That should keep you out of most of the emissions crap.

 

[Kachina26]

Isn’t this the motorhome section of RDP?
Diesel Pusher commonly called DP.

Never know where you'll find sex and trains. Ask Grads, he's been in a train or two I'd imagine.

 

[Shrub Lurker]

If it was me, no question 15 year old Newell.
That should keep you out of most of the emissions crap.

Unless he is in California

 

[JFMFG]

We have a 17 year old newmar with the cat 330. Does everything I want and we love it. Pulls out 24 ft enclosed no problem.

 

[Mcob25rg]

15 yr old Newell for the win

 

[v6toy4x]

Newall, no question, can verify some sort of decent regular maintenance? Check tire date codes, house battery type/age

Be sure to post your outcome

 

[EmpirE231]

I'd get the newer Newmar, as long as it before they were bought out by winnebago. If I ever get a "next" rig, that is most likely what it would be.

the newell's are beautiful machines... but @ 15yrs old.... you're gonna have a lot of maintenance no matter what. Batteries, inverters getting old, appliances getting old... paint is 15YRS old etc etc

If you can get into a 5-7yr old newell, that would be the ticket.

 

[baja-chris]

Newmar was bought by Winnebago in July 2019 so perhaps a 2018 might have fewer issues than my 2020 did.
Crap shoot no matter what, it seems. Look for service records and have it checked out by a pro then take your chances I guess.

 

[EmpirE231]

Newmar was bought by Winnebago in July 2019 so perhaps a 2018 might have fewer issues than my 2020 did.
Crap shoot no matter what, it seems. Look for service records and have it checked out by a pro then take your chances I guess.

They all have their issues, but Newmar significantly had more after being bought out.

Buddy of mine got a brand new foretravel already had some issues.