fagnaml Report post Posted February 12, 2019 The wife and I attended the Houston RV Show this past weekend (2/11/19) and toured many very nice, new motorhomes with the thinking that the time is right to "upgrade" from our current first-ever motorhome to a newer model with the goal of paying off most of a new loan before retiring 3-5 years from now. We especially liked the Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44H with tandem axle until we saw the sticker price -- $300,000 with the RV Show discount! Even the 2019 Thor Aria (which essentially is a direct replacement for our Damon Astoria) has a shocking $250,000 "show price". The wife said "NO" to $300,000 but is OK with a price in the $150,000 - $175,000 range so yesterday evening I looked for pre-owned motorhomes on PPL's and Motorhome Specialists websites. PPL currently does not have a motorhome that looks interesting. Motorhome Specialists does have a 2014 Forest River Charleston 430K model that does look very intriguing --> https://www.mhsrv.com/2014-forest-river-charleston-430fk-diesel-pusher-rv-for-sale-w-450hp-used-diesel-pusher-tx-i2449669 Google found only one review (a very poor review by an owner) of the Charleston. Per the Forest River website the Charleston is no longer made (which is not a good sign?). What does the forum know, good and bad, about Forest River Charleston motorhomes? Is it worth a trip to Fort Worth to view the Charleston that Motorhome Specialists has for sale? Thanks for your thoughts! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted February 12, 2019 Mike. You have a very nice coach that has/is serving your current (Limited time) well. It will continue to do so, until your retirement. I would wait and see, but there's nothing that say's you can't look in the meantime. Compile list of want's, in a new/newer coach, type of chassis and engine. I have heard bad/good about the FR Charleston. FR is now a Hathaway Company, owned by Warren Buffet...Quantity in sales make money, big, high cost, DP's don't. Just my opinion! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gemert Report post Posted February 12, 2019 I have never heard anything good about them and the forums are filled with the bad. BUT! Keep in mind that people don't generally post when they are happy with their RV. They post when they are mad and frustrated. Personally I would pass and look for a Tiffin or Newmar. Good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sstgermain Report post Posted February 13, 2019 For the money you want to spend I would not even look at a Thor Aria or any Forest River Product.In my opinion JUNK. You can get a nice 42' tour for under 190k like we did. Ours is a 2012 and had 26k on the odometer. Look on RV Traderat Winnebagos, Newmar's and Tiffen's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayne77590 Report post Posted February 13, 2019 Mike, We lost our 2008 Winnebago Destination to Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Insurance was good to us and we now have a 2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD. Some minor repairs but it has been good on a 5 month trip this past summer, and a few short trips about and around. Something to consider is floor plan. Besides the power plant and frame the floor plan was a big consideration for us. Take for instance the FR you posted. The kitchen is between the living room and the pilot and co-pilot chairs. For us that was a bad design as we have guest visiting when we travel. Turning those two chairs around are okay but then the people sitting in then have to talk to people "through the kitchen and into the living room." No brainer for us. Another thing was the location of the television. Many of the newer rigs, and a few year older ones, have opposing couches and behind one of the couches will be a television that raises up. Now that is all well and good for just two people. Can you imagine having a few people over to watch cartoons (couldn't resist) and they have to kneel on the couch to watch TV? Guess what the opposing couch is going to watch. Also, the FR you posted has a TV that will be behind a slide when the slide is in. It does not make for easy watching when stopped for lunch, etc. Yes, I realize that some MH's also have a TV up front but we would rather have our swing out TV inside the slide and not strain our necks. As suggested, and it is where we found our present RV, the RV Trader web site is really nice for looking at floor plans and trying to find a good RV. My above is what we like/dislike and there are many that are very happy with different configurations and designs. To each their own and let all be happy. Just think, that $300,000 MH you looked at will be 3-5 years old when you are ready to retire. Most likely it will still be a good RV if it is taken care of. Our present one was 2 years old and had 11,633 miles on it. We missed the RV Show, darn it. We live in Texas City if you are down and about this-a-way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
