kfintoni
Framingham, MA
Full Member
Joined: 01/20/2005
View Profile
|
Hello everyone, I am thinking of trading up from our fiver. We are looking at two models. The Seneca HD 36 FS and the Hurricane 34 B. We need bunks as we have 4 kids. Hubby wants the Hurricane as it has an outdoor TV, I want the Seneca as it has more interior storage. Has any one had any experience with either of these two coaches. We will be trading the 325 BHS and 2007 3500 HD as a unit as we would not need that beefy of a vehicle if not towing anything.
I am going to post this same question in the Class A thread so I can post it to the owners of Class A owners also. If this is not allowed I apologize in advance.
Any suggestions or comments are welcome.
Karen
Parents of 4 and a Berner.
2005 Jayco Eagle 325 BHS
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax. Stolen
2007 Chevy Silverado 3500HD Duramax.
|
woolfy
Saint Charles Mo.
Full Member
Joined: 10/06/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
If I were to make a choice TV or storage I would go for the storage. Specialy for the size of your family.
2007 Itasca Spirit 31' Ford V-10
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Mark Twain
|
cm
Dillon, CO USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/01/2002
View Profile
|
You could easily add a outside television to the Super C.
Have your husband do some simple maintenance things. Act like you are going to change the air filter. On the Super C you will open the hood. Probably takes about 30 seconds and you are looking at the engine. Now do the same thing on the Class A. How long does it take and how is the access?
Same idea except think about a mechanic having to change something like the alternator, or changing the brake fluid. How is the access in class A engine compartment? Remember the hourly labor charge now days runs about $100 per hour. And the mechanic has to bring his tools into the motorhome and possibly take the old dirty parts out through the motorhome.
Crack a windshield. Tell the glass company that you need a windshield for a Chevy Kodiak C-5500 truck. It will also be he same windshield as a GMC Topkick truck. You could also contact any Chevy Commercial Truck or GMC dealer. It is also the same windshield as the C-4500 trucks which are sold by a regular chevy dealer.
Now tell the glass company that you need a windshield for a Class A motorhome. See how long it takes them to figure out which windshield it takes and where you can find it.
Also both the driver and passenger have a entry door on the Super C. Even if the Class A has a driver's door it is not as easy to use. In an accident the Super C also gives you two additional exits. What if the accident jams the standard RV side entry door closed?
|
BEVAR
Lake Worth, FL
Full Member
Joined: 03/21/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
The Seneca wins...hands down.
Get it...you will love it.
Beave
|
03Ultra
Central Massachusetts
Senior Member
Joined: 07/20/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
I am not sure, but I think the Seneca is not an "entry level" rig. There are advantages to both styles, it all depends on what your needs are.
2004 Itasca 36M Workhorse
|
|
|
rockhillmanor
On the Road
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2003
View Profile
|
Hurricane is an entry level A, the Seneca is not an entry level C.
CCC should be included in making a decision to move up to a MH.
IMHO, JMHO I would be looking at CCC and type of engine more so than just the storage space and outside TV, with the size of you family.
I travel solo and am right now going thru making adjustments for the CCC and not being overloaded beyond the axles which 'does' affect handling.
Don't get all wonderlust about all those wonderful cabinet spaces you can fill up over and in the bedroom area. They are nothing more than added and unwanted weight beyond the axles.
Good luck on finding the perfect MH for you camping needs!
rock
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 Blue Ox
We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
|
AndyAmes
Southwest Florida
Full Member
Joined: 02/14/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Hurricane is an entry level class A. The Seneca is the top end of Class C's.
The outside TV is convenient, but you may find that you don't use it as much as thought.
Diesel engine has more torque and horsepower at lower rpm's than a gas engine.
The full bay storage on the Seneca wins hands down compared to the smaller bay storage doors on the Hurricane.
We just got back from a 2 1/2 week vacation in our Seneca 35GS (wife, 2 kids and myself) without a problem. With the FS model you should be in good shape. If you want to keep the entertainment center in the front of the Seneca, there is a slide out bunk for one child. And the hide-a-bed couch can sleep 2 children very well. With the FS you could sleep a total of 7.
Going from a 5'er to a class A or C will definetly be a change. Good luck with your RV hunting.
|
leeman
DeRidder, Louisiana, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/14/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
kfintoni
Ref the outside TV. In the Seneca FS, there are already hook-ups for an external TV in the first bay forward of the rear slideout. The TV that is in the hallway (for the bunks) and the TV in the rear bedroom are designed to be taken off the wall and installed in the outside bay if desired. Very easy to do.
leeman.
leeman
Rarin' to roam. Don't fence me in.
|
69RoadRunner
VA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/18/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I wanted bunkbeds, too. I looked at the Seneca, Endura and Newmar Class As.
If you ask this question in the Class C forum, you'll mostly get postives of the Class C. If you ask it in the Class A forum, you'll get mostly postives of the Class A.
Test drive everything that looks right for you. Newmar has lots of bunkbed floorplans. Other manufacturers are doing bunks, too. Look at the Gulfstream Endura and Supernova, too.
I know my Ventana has more interior storage than the Seneca. It has a lot more underneath storage, too.
Buy whatever works best for your family and your pocketbook.
09 Newmar Ventana 3942
|
Notar
California
New Member
Joined: 06/13/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
My parents have considered both as well, we currently have a 5er and loved the seneca so much we maybe trading ours in! In our looking we found the hurricane to be very nice too. But jayco has been around for a very long time for us that means alot and the 2year warranty was a comfort as well. Not to mention we Love Diesel but you need to realize it is more expensive to buy diesel nowa days then gas. Good luck!!!
ps. the supernova has one of the best warrantys on there engine ever 5 years! we maybe looking into those a little more..
|
|
|
