J Walker
Oakton, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
My nominal 34' DP measures 36' bumper to bumper and it rides fine. I don't have a desire for a shorter MH but who knows it might be fine also. You lose room for things in your MH when it is shorter.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
2009 Malibu
Brake Buddy
|
sowego
northwest panhandle of Nebraska
Senior Member
Joined: 03/14/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
If memory serves right...I think Tiffin was making a model of Allegro Bay with what they called a RED (rear end diesel) about the same as what others call a DP. The Bay is available in lengths of from 34 to 38 feet.
I'd not worry about a 34 or 35 being too short. Most of the coaches we've seen that size were very well organized and roomy. The best way to know -- head out to the dealerships and drive some!
You'll find that the larger coach you buy -- the more stuff you'll be tempted to haul around. In most cases -- a 35' coach will allow you to take what you need and be comfortable.
If we downsize one day we will indeed consider a 34 -36 foot coach.
2002 Tiffin Phaeton
2005 Malibu Max toad
|
MarcW
Tucson, Az.
Full Member
Joined: 10/29/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Test drive any coach you are considering. There are some who will tell you that a short coach has to handle poorly because of a wheelbase formula that has persisted as a constant. It is not. Some handle badly, some are fine. There's alot more to it than just the wheelbase.
I also have a 34' Newmar Ventana on a Spartin chassis and it goes down the road no different than the 40' model.
2007 Newmar Ventana 3330
34' Spartin Chassis, Cruizerlift motorcycle lift ('07 HD Heritage)
Cummins 300ISB/BanksPower (400+hp/900+tq)
2007 Honda CR-V 4X4 toad
|
robanddi
Burton TX USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2003
View Profile
|
We've had our 34' Foretravel for seven years and it has about 136,000 miles on it. Handling and comfort are great, I can drive it all day without getting tired. It got a little squirrelly after about 85k miles and a new set of Koni shocks corrected this.
Robert & Diann
2001 34' Foretravel U270
2004 Avalanche
Burton TX
|
st687
tampa Fl
Senior Member
Joined: 10/09/2003
View Profile
|
Motorhomes of Texas has 2 for a  good price for a Foretravel
Doris &Bill
97 U270 Foretravel
05 Saturn Vue 265HP
University of Parris Island March 1966
Semper Fi.
|
|
|
The Beave
Georgetown TX USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/07/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
We have a 30' 1997 Beaver Monterey and are very happy with both the ride and handling. We avg between 8.7 and 10+ per gallon at 65 toeing a C-RV. While our rig has no handling problems, some short rigs do, so make sure you drive them.
Our Monterey has air bags, although Beaver made some with Torsalastic (sp?) suspension (rubber compression units)that have been reported as having handling issues by owners.
Wheelbase/overall length ratios are a handy way to judge handling, however other issues also have a significant impact on handling.
The Beave
30' 1997 Beaver Monterey
(The shortest DP we could find)
2005 Honda CR-V
Remco surge brake
|
RCtime
Rancho Palos Verdes, Ca.
Senior Member
Joined: 01/18/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
I can comment on the 34 foot Winnebago Journey as I own one.
I has a very livable floor plan, actually excellent. Inside storage is more than enough, outside storage is adequate. I really like the basement air conditioning and heat pump set up.
It has excellent road manners, in fact you just tool along with very little driver input. Drive all day long and arrive fresh and happy.
Its Cargo carrying capacity is huge, loaded up and ready to go I am still almost 3600# under its gvwr.
The Caterpiller engine is what I have and cant comment on the Cummins, but it goes up hills like a billy goat, the allison 6 speed transmission is the preferred transmission and what come with the Cat. engine.
In the smaller diesel coaches I can highly recommend it.
* This post was
edited 11/06/09 11:03am by RCtime *
Ron
2002 34HD Winnebago Journey DL, Cat. 330
2004 Honda CRV - Garmin 2610
Great wife & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
TT/N
|
Triker33
Homestead, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 11/30/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
One fine air ride handling 34' here. Sometimes shorter is better. Last summer 10.781 MPG average towing 3,300 lb. It started with 5,989 lb. of CCC. All storage compartments are almost full inside & out as I Full Time with it. And still have 1,910 lbs. of unused CCC.
Some of the bigger MH's only have that 1,910 lb of CCC to start with.
A 30-34' DP does have a little overhang. Think about it.
It takes the same length behind the rear axle to fit a drive shift hooked to a transmission hooked to a engine with room for a CAC & radiator behind.
Get you tape measure out and measure the overhang on a 30', 32', 33', 34', 35' or 36' DP Let us know if there all different by much. Then do that to the same length of gas MH's and let us know which has the longest overhang.
Don't want a longer MH, not ever going to get a longer MH. I have 6' less to walk back to the bedroom then I would with a 40'
And I can do without that extra 48 cu. ft. to keep clean.
Larry Full Time Since 99
1999 34Q Discovery DP ISB 275HP 6 Speed Allison
Banks Powerpack
DataStorm SatMax5 | CoPilot Live 10 | VMSpc | Pressure Pro
14' Chariot Trailer
2001 FXSTI HD
08 HHR LT2
Click here to see where I am
|
bruceteri
Kingston, Ontario
New Member
Joined: 08/01/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I have a 1994, 34 foot Gulfstream Scenic Cruiser and it is big enough for the wife and I. It rides and handles great. Bigger would only make it harder to catch the wife...ha.ha.
Bruce Baldwin & Teri Wagar
Kingston, Ontario
1994 Gulfstream Scenic Cruiser, 34 foot DP
Oldie but a goodie.
|
M Herky
Northern Illinios
New Member
Joined: 01/25/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
We have a 34' 05' Fleetwood Expedition. It drives great. We like to go to state parks. I woudn't want anything longer. It has 2 slides that are on the curb side which is nice because when we camp we are outside most of the time and you get full use of the awning without the slides getting in the way. It's on a freightliner chassis with a CAT C7 300 H.P. We had a class C for one year, but hated the way it drove. I drive semi's with overloads, and I felt safer driving an 80,000 pound overwidth load at 70 mph. I woundn't let my wife drive. My only problem with the DP is when my wife drives it I can't get any rest because it drives so good she has a tendency to speed. Good luck!
2005 Fleetwood Expedition
Towing 2008 Honda CRV
|
|
|
