Mr.Mark
Out West and Mid South
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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Vette, tell us about your "new-to-you" Fleetwood. How many slides does it have? How many miles?
I know that you and your wife will have a wonderful time traveling!
Mr.Mark
Mr.Mark
2021.5 Pleasure Way Plateau FL Class-B on the Sprinter Chassis
2018 Mini Cooper Hardtop Coupe, 2 dr., 6-speed manual
(SOLD) 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach, 45 ft, 500 hp Volvo
(SOLD) 2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42 ft, 425 hp Cummins
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cassiecka
oregon
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Joined: 11/28/2006
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What an awesome post! That advice is priceless! Thanks so much, you just made my world easier!
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vettepilot
Enterprise, Alabama
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Joined: 11/13/2006
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Mr.Mark wrote:Vette, tell us about your "new-to-you" Fleetwood. How many slides does it have? How many miles?
I know that you and your wife will have a wonderful time traveling!
Mr.Mark
Hello Mr Mark,
We have been traveling for several years now, in fact we became diamond members of the Hilton/Hampton Inn group last year, we usually take a trip every month lasting from two weeks to as long as 6 weeks.
But this is a whole new ballgame for us in respect to the RV. This is our first RV, and from what we experienced on our first trip, I think this Expedition will work quite well for us for many years.
The Fleetwood Expedition is a 2005, 34h floor plan. The 34h has three slides, the living room wall, the whole galley and dinette area, and the bedroom slide. The engine is a C7 caterpillar turbocharged intercooled diesel that develops 860ft lbs TQ at 1400 RPM, and 300 HP about 2400. When we first looked at it the odometer had about 8980 miles, by the time I completed the test drive, it had turned over 9000. We are actually the third owners, the first owner had it for only 1500 miles, the second owners put the remaining mileage on during the 2006 summer.
The color scheme is the South Seas with the Fairfield Maple cabinets.
It came with the manual Satellite DirectTV dish, and a Kingdome 9702 automatic stationary system installed.
A panasonic 6 disc cd/dvd surround sound system, 6 disc cd/fm/am/Sirius sat radio, a 27" color tv up front and a 20" color tv in the bedroom. Also in the bedroom is the combo washer/dryer in a closet under the TV area.
It has a nice vanity sink, a full size glassed in shower in the necessary room, along with the basic required flushable equipment.
Norcold 4 door refridgerator/freezer with icemaker, two zone heat pumps and 2 zone 25,000 btu propane furnaces all commanded from one central thermostat control.
The chassis is the freightliner XC chassis.
Well, that's about the description, from what I could find on the 2005 Expedition, most everything comes as standard equipment, with a few things that were optional.
We just completed our first trip in it, we drove from Enterprise, Al to West Greenwich, RI for Thanksgiving. We surprised my wife's family by bringing our own bedroom. We got to experience just about everything on the first trip, day/night/rain/then snow/then ice pellets/very high cross winds,the hills of West Virginia, construction barriers that give nearly a half inch of clearance on either side,the traffic through White Plains, the Tappen Zee Bridge, toll booths, and of course the really pleasant drivers in the I-95 corridor through CT. Did we miss anything that we should go back for?
Oh, did I mention overnight subfreezing temps in West Va and PA. that froze the fresh water standpipes in a Flying J, so we killed 45 minutes trying to top off our fresh water tank. I can report that our furnace(s) worked so well we had to turn them way down for the night.
Well, I think that's about it for this trip report, I hope I didn't bore those who found it.
2005 Fleetwood Expedition
34h floorplan, C7 300 HP DP
2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid
2002 Corvette Z06
2000 Chevy S-10
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Horizon
Maine
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Joined: 12/26/2006
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Johnny T, thanks for such a comprehensive and well written posting! I am new to this forum as well as a new owner of a MH and appreciate all the info. I have to admit to a little different approach in getting into the motor home as opposed to my older TT.
While hunting in Alabama, I went to an RV dealer in search of a dump valve for my TT and ended up with a second hand DP. Knowing virtually nothing about motor homes, I asked the Lord to guide me in the purchase and I have to say that I am very pleased with it. I am also thankful that He has led me to this forum so I can now learn how to use the thing! Praise God and Merry Christmas!
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cafe11
st. augustine, fl
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Joined: 01/04/2007
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Very informative. We are doing our walk through tomorrow. Thanks!
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wogburn
Yuma CO
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Joined: 07/30/2004
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My wife and I are about to be first time buyers of motor home. We have owned a 38 ft. fifth wheel for about 3 years and are preparing to be full-timers. We plan to tow her 2007 Pontiac G6 behind whatever we buy in an enclosed trailer or on a dolly, not four wheels down. We are trying to decide between motor homes with the new full wall slide out and those with more slide outs. I am concerned about the structural integrity of the full wall slide out and that of the coach with such a big hole cut out of its side. Does anyone have any experience with a coach with one of these? Is it good? How long have you had it and how far have you traveled in it? How many nights has it been out? Does the coach flex any more than other coaches either parked or moving? I love the room it offers, but don't want to buy a major problem. We plan to keep what we buy for a long time.
Wayne
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swissdog1957
Morris county, New Jersey
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Joined: 01/30/2007
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Just wanted to throw my hat into the ring. My wife and I have just started thinking about going mobile again. We had a Coachmen 30ft TT for a couple of years then decided to homestead with a Dutch Park park model. We have 2-3 years to go yet before we buy a MH (son is a second semester sophomore in college) and this site, particularly this thread is turning out to be a gold mine of information. We plan on hitting the local shows, do a few rental trips during the next few summers, maybe rent one for our annual May trip to Disneyworld. Right now we are open in terms of size, powertrain, etc, although since we are both a decade or so at least from retirement, full timing is not a consideration for the foreseeable future. There's quite a lot to consider but fortunately the time constraint imposed by college tuition should prevent any impulse buying mistakes ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") . So I'll keep reading through the many conversations, through out a question or two as they come to mind and hope to see some of you friendly folks down the road. Oh and by the way, we have our park model on a site at Pleasant Acres Campground in Wantage Twnship, New Jersey. If anyone gets up that way drop me a line....
Terry and Marion
Brian (the son)
Lucy and Ethel (Golden Retrievers)
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Gaylene & Rick
Central Tennessee
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Joined: 01/30/2006
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Wogburn. I have a 40' Alfa Seeya. The slide out is not the full length of the unit but it is the full length of the livingroom and dining/kitchen area, as well as one about 8' long in the bedroom (the clothes closet). We have had NO problems with the arrangement. I'd never have an rv without a slide, now that I've had em. This was the first company, I believe, to come out with the 42" deep and 6'6" high (estimate- I never measured it) slideout. Initially they had problems with the slideout motors not being strong enough.. but once that was upgraded, there havent been any problems for anyone that I am aware of.
With the slide out, the unit lacks being 12' wide by only a couple inches. If you are going to live in a unit, the height and width mean everything! I also like the units with 4 slides.. like the Tiffin Phaeton.
Goodluck. You have plenty of time to think this through thoroughly, research the various brands and floorplans as well as the company's customer support system.. which is one of the most important things to consider, in my opinion. Have fun! This is going to be an adventure!
Rick, Gaylene and LadyPup the travelling beagle
2004 40' Alfa Seeya #1909
Not yet retired.. can't wait!
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Mr.Mark
Out West and Mid South
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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Well folks, I made the plunge. I ordered a 2008 Monaco Dynasty 42ft, four slide unit. It is at the factory right now and will roll of the assembly line early March. It will have the new "clean" diesel engine with 425hp.
I ordered it with full tile (living/kitchen), leather seating which includes leather sofa and two leather euro recliners with ottomans, legless dinette, electric privacy drape, CB, See-vision-system (can monitor the exterior through the outside cameras from the bedroom monitor), residential fridge w/solar, king bed, stacked W/D, Aqua hot system, Sirius radio/multiple CD, power reels, auto awnings, exterior 32" TV, 32" HD TV above windshield, 26" TV in the bedroom.
Also, central vac, in motion Digital Satellite system, RV sanicom, security safe and dishwasher. Air level was standard.
I had Monaco remove the propane tank as it just supplied the cook top. I had an electric cook top put in. I don't cook much so the convection/microwave will be just fine.
My next purchase is for a tow vehicle. Leaning towards the Jeep Liberty but also looked at the Honda CRV. Need to check out the Subaru. I want four wheel drive in case I'm in the mountains.
Mr.Mark
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Gaylene & Rick
Central Tennessee
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Joined: 01/30/2006
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Congratulations Mark! She sounds like a real beauty with all the bells and whistles!
We have a Honda Element right now, but we are planning on purchasing a Honda CR V. We did look at the Jeeps.. we also want 4wd so we can go off roading and exploring, but the Honda had the better gas mileage. Better gas mileage raises our overall fuel consumption.
Post some pics of your new baby for us!
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