JMGOLDEN

99 Have you thought about also looking at the Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 series Class B's? It is a diesel that gets great mileage and several manufacturers have put a lot of amenities into their models. I would especially recommend you going to the Advanced RV web site and look at their Ocean One model. When you look at what you can get on this model as compared to the larger diesel pushers, it really comes down to how large a unit do you want. As you say, you have around 18 months to decide. Advanced RV is having an open house May 2 thru 4 in Willoughby, OH and you just may want to go and see for yourself just what a elegant and unique Class B looks like and just what Advanced RV puts into their units. You won't come away disappointed.

Good morning Mike.... I thought you had a visit scheduled with Mike Neundorfer of Advanced RV in Ohio coming up. I know the two of you met in Kentucky as he and Marcia were on their way down to the Tampa show. I am very curious what you thought about their Ocean One. I absolutely love the features they have added and feel the Ocean One is one of the finest unit available today. Good luck in all your travels.

Welcome to FMCA and hope you come to enjoy this wonderful organization. Call FMCA membership department, explain your needs and they will help you.

Now that you mention it, I have not seen any new posts to the type B, type C, super C since Sept. Anyone else??

BKFORD.... Welcome to the wonderful world of being a FMCA member. There are so many good people in this organization, it would take a life time to get to meet them all. I did not see you list a Class,(type) B in your list of motorhomes. While I realize most of them come in the mid 25 ft. range, I would recommend you look at them just to satisfy your search. A very recent manufacturer of Class B's is Advanced-RV out of Willoughby, OH. They build a classy unit using a Mercedes Benz 3500 van. It is loaded with the very latest electronics, heated floor, electric bed, super long life batteries and just about everything else you would want to dry camp and not pull a toad. They cost a little more than your average Class B but as the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for". Again, welcome aboard and join a chapter, get involved and you will never regret it!! John

I purchased a 38' Safari Zanzabar last October and by December was sorry I made the purchase. As Michaelhillhouse stated, the Magnum Chassis was to say at the least a big disappointment. Just before Christmas, I placed it with Camping World in St. Augustine to sell. Fortunately, it sold before the end of the year. I am now looking to downsize to a Class B and looking at the Advanced RV built on a 3500 MB chassis. It is a unique RV and at this time my choice. Good luck with your research and know there are many good people in the FMCA membership that will give you support as you go through the process.

What a great "reunion". To think, 10 coaches and 20 campers from a solid section of the USA and Canada being able to stop the ever present "rush" through life and take the time without a formal organization to gather together, break bread and make new friends. I feel left out. In reading your post though, roadtrekingmike, you may have been the culprit that put this all together and my hat is off to you. Best of luck for your next "unscheduled" reunion

Karsty.... Funny you should bring this topic up as I have suggested to a manufacturer of CLASS B mothorhomes, (Advanced-RV) out of Ohio to do just that. The owner is Mike Neundorfer and their web site is www.Advanced-RV.com. They build a great CLASS B for owners that are downsizing out of those 40 foot CLASS A's you refer to. He welcomes and encourages CLASS B owners to contact him with suggestions and comments. Don't let up as your idea is a super one that should not be allowed to fizzle out.

I have had a reason to look at the CLASS B motorhome recently and could not agree more with Karsty. There is a very distinct difference between B's and C's. With all the manufacturer's offering from "entry level" to "high Lines", "slide outs", "drop down beds", "heated floors", etc. FMCA does need to take another look at this catagory and make a determination if creating subsections for CLASS B's and CLASS C's would be in the best interest of their members. Thank you Karsty for the great suggestion.

I went to a tire manufacturer's site and as aztec7fan stated,the best life shown is the 5 to 7 years. I purchased a 2003 Zanzibar in October this year with Goodyear tires. The DOT label stated 4302 which means the tires were manufactured the 43rd. week of 2002. They look great with pleanty of tread on them and no visual sidewall issues. I want to say they are OK but 13 years? So I too am trying to determine just what to do. My gut feeling is WOW, 13 years, replace them now. Any suggestions out there from some of you who have been RV'ing for a while?

I purchased a 2003 38ft. Safari Zanzabar three slides 370 HP and am having a difficult time finding an owners manual. Monaco does not have one available. Can anyone suggest where to go to obtain one? Thanks. John

I recently purchased a 2003 Safari Zanzabar with a 370 HP CAT engine with 42,000 miles. I did not catch it at time of delivery but the coolant in the reservoir is down below the low level fill line. Being a CAT engine, is it important to use their coolant? If not, NAPA says its ok to use their brand. Being almost 10 yrs. old, is it better at this time not knowing the history of when it was changed last to have it flushed and refilled. Is their a test to tell if the current coolant in the engine is ok first? Thanks for any help on this as I am new to owning a diesel coach. John

I purchased a 34' 2006 Monaco LaPalma and am trying to find an Owners/Operations manual as the seller did not have one. I have looked on the internet but so far have not found any site that can tell me if they are even available. Any suggestions? John

Thank you for the info and suggestion to get it inspected. In response to your comment on the batteries, all four were replaced in March of 2011 which makes me feel the pilot kept the maintenance right up to the time he traded it in. I'm on the phone as I write to find a inspector in Jacksonville I can send over to look over the unit. John

I had been trying to decide between a 1996 Safari Serengeti and a 1996 Country Coach Affinity. After listening to these comments, it's hard not to lean towards the CC. This one is a one owner ex airplane pilot who has kept detailed books on any work done, trips made, fuel expenses, etc. The original manual looks like it just came off the press. It does need a good cleaning but nothing damaged or broken. I like you am looking for positive feedback and wish you luck with your purchase. John

I also am considering a Country Coach. It's a 1996 40 ft. Affinity. Looks great, has only 46k. You can view it at http://www.floridarvs.org/ It's much more coach than I have had in the past and somewhat scares me as to what I may be getting into. They will put 6 new tires on it if I buy. What do I need to look out for on a coach of 16 years. This is going to be huge for me and I need all the help I can get.

I would rather have the "cold-brutal-truth" than not know. Thanks....I can now see the value of having any used motor home inspected by a qualified mechanic or repair center before purchase. It reminds me of the line in the old white owl cigar commercial....pay me now or pay me later.....

You are right, typo error, should state 2005. I am not mechanically inclined and appreciate the info from all. It has been stored outdoors. No visible signs of lamination. what do you mean by SCA and a linered engine. thanks again...

I looked at a 1991 Monaco Signature last week. The owners have taken good care of the unit. What concerns me is they have used it very little over the last several years. The tires were replaced in 1995 and I am not sure if that is an automatic signal to have them replaced. I would like to hear from those of you who have had experience with tires used little but are now almost 8 yrs old. It has 77,000 miles on the L10 engine. Should I be prudent and have the unit inspected by a RV shop before I buy?

One day and it is not in the too distant future, there will be a product called the ZLD that will eliminate all this fuss and mess about black and or gray tank odors, bleach, etc. If you did not see it, go to www.rv-pro.com and look at the feature article on the ZLD. We are finally going on the road with one installed in a 10 X 8 trailer for the time being to demonstrate to several businesses. A bus leasing company that leases to race car drivers, bands, and entertainers, a tug boat company wanting an alternative to having to find ways to dispose of their waste without coming back to port and the army for their forward bases. We are also going to install one on a motor home and go to the various shows and rallys as soon as we can.

Bthomforde : What you said brought back memories of the time my wife JJ & I were in Mountain Home, Arkansas. It was a nice coast to coast at that time. The site I was given was great except for one small issue. The dump was somewhere between 30 to 40 feet away from the pad. I tried to get another site but it was the last one? 4 hoses to hook up and very little drop in elevation from the rig to the dump hole. I am sure I would have made Funniest Home Videos if someone put a camera on me as I tried to "snake" my waste to the dump. Boy could I have used a macerator then. And you are right, it's just a matter of time before you will have that "unique" experience with the 3" hose. It won't be fun then, but you will eventually laugh down the road. Now that you bring it up, I wonder how many stories there are out there on "dumping".

For you Bill, the ZLD is evidently not in your radar. That does not mean there are not a group of us that are always looking for other alternatives. That is why we purchase generators and solar panels so we don't have to find an outlet to keep our electricity up to needed levels. I completely agree it will not fit everyone's needs. Drilling platforms, boats or yachts, commercial buses, airplanes, etc. will definitely benefit from the ZLD as they are always running their engines. However, I am all for having the opportunity to have available to me an alternative to dumping the traditional way when it is not available and I am "full-up" to the brim because a rest area listed in the book or on the internet said they had a dump station and when you get there it is either being repaired or has been closed due to too many "hot shots".

When my wife and I full-timed for 2 years, I cannot remember being able to wait 2 weeks before we had to empty our black tank. That's great! Our gray normally needed to be emptied within 3 days. I am sure it's because of the differences in tank sizes. We had a 33' Safari Trek on a Spartan Chassis. It could be because we never used the campground bath house. I also would empty my tanks before leaving as you do. I am sure this product is not going to be for everyone. My dad always used to say to me, "That's why they made Fords and Chevrolets". Given the opportunity though to have an alternative when there is no available dump or the weather is bad enough that I don't want to go outside, I fully intend to explore the option when it becomes available. To me it's like the generators, solar panels, inverters, etc. Cost will be a factor of course, but convenience is what makes the world go around. I also am concerned that one day we may not have the numerous facilities available to dump our waste.

Namon told me the ZLD is not meant to replace dumping when you are in a CG or park that has full hook-up or a dumping station but is to be available in situations where you do not have access to one. Many times I know I have just wanted to stay overnite without having to pull out my hoses and hook up, or in a Wal-Mart lot, etc. without any access. With the ZLD, you can start out in the AM after the stay and eliminate your waste while driving down the road to your next destination. If it is storming outside and you need to get gone, you can simply start up and leave. Because it is a fully self monitoring system, it will eliminate the waste according to the available heat and flow of the exhaust gas and shut down when finished. Most of the time the driving distance between CG's, resorts, etc. will exceed the time necessary to empty the tanks. Namon did say, you can include the generator in the hook-up as an additional alternative to the engine of the motor home. I feel it will fit my needs and excited it can provide me with an alternative. At least there will be finally choices to the "old ways" and as the environmentalists continue to change the laws regarding the disposal of waste into our environment, we need to have alternatives made available to us who enjoy this exciting life style.

Larry, I presented your comments to Namon Nassef, the inventor of the ZLD. The ZLD will work with a gasoline engine. When the inventor, Namon, installed it in his GMC Suburban to test, he was running the test using a 350 gasoline engine. At idle, the sensor installed near the point where his exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe are attached recorded 550 degrees F. He then had an additional sensor 6" after the catalytic convertor and another 12" after his muffler just prior to the exhaust discharge into the air. At idle the temperature was 400 to 450 degrees F. coming out of the exhaust pipe. As he accelerated to 35 MPH, the temperature at the first sensor went to 750 to 800, then at 45 to 55 MPH to 900 to 1,000, then at 65 MPH, to 1,000 to 1,100 degrees F. Hope this helps in expanding on the comment made by Brett.