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Texas TC
Corinth,Texas
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Joined: 05/28/2007
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I have had the pleasure of seeing, but not driving, the Damon Avanti and the Winnebago Via. Have not seen the Itasca Reyo as of yet. From the specs, I would be more inclined to favor the Damon Avanti. It is on a Workhorse chassis with a 200 hp Maxx Force diesel engine. The GVWR is 16,000# with a list price of $146,000.
The Winnebago and Itasca products are built on modified Dodge Sprinter chassis with 154 hp MB diesel engine. The GVWR is only 11030#. They list for $135,000 but are on, IMHO, a much lighter frame.
I really like the looks of these baby type A coaches. The lines are clean and the interiors are simple, yet quite elegant. No too much space for clothes or storage but they are a different animal with a niche market segment.
The list prices would get you in to a pretty nice Super C which, for the money, is the way I would go.
Good luck on your research.
2008 Gulf Stream SuperNova (6331)
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ron.dittmer
I Will Be Dancing With The Stars On 1/23
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Those who know me, know my recommendation... a Phoenix Cruiser
Why You Ask? Here Is Why.
- The shorter models are available on both the Sprinter-Diesel & E350-V10 Chassis
- All are priced competitively, as low as $60,000 for a Sprinter
- Lower over-all height for better drivability, only 9'-10" to the top of the roof a/c unit.
- Not straight vertical walls, but rather curved & angled walls for less wind influence when driving
- Very strong and durable framed entry door with integrated roll-away screen door. It has a nice quality feel and seal, with good locks too.
- Quality glass windows, We have the thermal pane option. Wow! Road noise, rest area noise, and camp ground noise is greatly reduced. The windows by the bed have much less cold radiation while sleeping in freezing temperatures. The furnace runs much less too.
- Clean-Hands Sani-Con sewage management system. Need I say more about this feature?
- Quality materials and workmanship.
- Well engineered for maximum comfort in a minimal over-all size.
- Adequate holding tanks, not novilties but truly practical.
- A "real" bathroom with a nice shower, even in the smallest model.
- Offered with slide-outs if you desire bigger living quarters.
- Exterior storage compartments are well thought out. Every model has at least two of them.
- Customer Service is great, regardless of how far away you live from any of their dealers.
- Phoenix USA is a privately owned company. They do what they can to keep PC owners happy so they become return customers and/or offer referrals. They do NOT have to answer to stock holders. The owner doesn't find ways to make it cheaper, but rather better, and it shows. He will do what is within reason to build a quality motor home, not trying to save a few dollars here and there.
- The company is flexibile in making deviations from their basic model floorplans as long as such changes don't require re-engineering of basic systems, for example....re-plumbing. Such deviations are not priced rediculous either. Some are done for free, others at their cost, and some at an extra cost. We requested minor deviations which cost us nothing extra.
- Built to last
1) Crowned roof eliminates puddling of water on the roof, which otherwise has water & ice problems around the a/c unit
2) Single sheet fiberglass roof, rolled over rounded edges with rain gutters on the sides
3) 5 sided rear fiberglass cap with integrated storage compartment and spare tire compartment, the cap moves all seamwork in-board where there is much less stress
4) Exterior walls are made of gel coated structural fiberglass, not simple sheet stock where you'll find wood behind it
5) Thick steel box-tube floor frame, with block insulation floor and a thick fluted plastic under-barrier. Marine plywood decking too
6) Aluminum studded walls and roof with block insulation
7) 12 gauge wire for all 15 amp electrical circuits, 10 gauge wire for all 20 amp circuts
8) 12V is thicker gauge too, done with continuous wiring, no connectors. This done to handle all power surges better.
9) 110v and 12v separated for electrical safety isolation
10) All plumbing uses solid brass joints and elbows for strong plumbing durability
11) The wing walls between the driving cab and main cabin, are structurally sound. They are steel framed and bolted solid for a strong transition between compartments
12) Cut-outs in walls and roof for windows, a/c, etc, are metal framed behind, for improved structural integrity.
A lot of this data is covered in Phoenix USA's Power Point presentation Here. The quality of the presentation isn't very good, especially the sound, but watch and listen to see what I outlined.
Here are numerous pictures inside & outside of our 2007 model 2350 (rear corner bed) with no slide-out. We paid $67,200 in June of 2007. I added the two TVs myself and upgraded the bathroom faucet, so don't think it came that way from the factory.Click Here For A Slide Show
Adding: For The Record......We had no warranty issues with ours.
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Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
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We bought a 2004 Fleetwood Tioga "26Q" model Class C new in late 2003 for $52K. It had some appliance installation and factory assembly defects that we had fixed under warranty. We installed a heavier duty fresh waterpump and a better quality outside radio/CD player. Main reasons for buying it were rear bedroom with RV-size queen bed and huge rear lighted cargo area with access on three sides. We didn't want a longer rig, didn't want slide(s), wanted it to fit into all campsites. Most RV manufacturers install the same brands of appliances, furnaces, generators, awnings, etc. For $10K more, we could have gotten a more solidly built Lazy Daze, with less initial warranty fixes. The Ford Triton V-10 gasoline engine and drive train have been trouble free and can be serviced anywhere. Front engine diesels are noisy and smelly and often more expensive to have serviced.The additional costs of diesel engines are usually not recouped in mileage by average motorhomers. Be open-minded and do your homework, then decide based on brand, length and floorplan to suit your forseeable needs and wants. Consider buying 1-2 years old with warranties on chassis and housebox still in effect.
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TyroneandGladys
Chandler AZ
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JMHO’S
Roofs are the weak point on any RV so make sure it is a radius or domed roof so you do not get ponding.
On class C’s especially you will fight weight capacities and that is a huge drawback to the diesels in the fact they add considerable weight over the gas engines.
Tyrone
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ralyn43
Colorado Springs
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Wow! The Phoenix Cruiser sounds like the right rig for me and the wife. We will be moving up from a pop top truck camper, so this will seem like heaven. Now, to find a used one or to come up with the money to make a new one happen. I think the main reason most of us on the forums keep hen pecking everything to death is that we want to find the right compromise/fit that will last us for many years instead of trading around for eons because we did not make a dedicated study in the first place.
Where on the net would be the best place to find a used Cruiser if there is any such animal? We know from Ron an excellent place to buy a new one.
Alyn
* This post was
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ron.dittmer
I Will Be Dancing With The Stars On 1/23
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ralyn43 wrote:Where on the net would be the best place to find a used Cruiser......Alyn I see them on ebay but mostly on-line on RV websites. Go to www.google.com and search for Phoenix Cruiser. When looking at used ones, there are a few things to watch out for.
- The better ones are made starting in 2004. Prior to then, the rear wall was of a differnet design. It was not as good, lacking the rear storage compartment, the nice spare tire compartment, and the seamwork was not brought in from the corners. The older ones also had Formica counter tops. 2004 on up have Corian. The newest ones might have something better yet.
- Another good reason for an 04 or newer is related to the Ford V10 engine. Just prior, there were issues with the engine heads, ejecting spark plugs. Every V10 engine made 1998-2002 or 2003 is suspect.
- Watch out for PC options in 2004 and 2005 that became standard later. Some do not have the clean hands Sani-Con system, and some have a single coach battery instead of two. Two is good, one is not.
- There are other lesser differences not worth mentioning. If a family member of mine was determined to buy a used Phoenix Cruiser without my guidence, I would advise them to pay a little more and get a 2006 model or newer, just to be guarranteed of getting the latest and greatest features that make it best. But a 2004 or 2005 are fine as long as they meet a check-list of requirements.
- As with anything, the newer, the better. The 2008 Ford chassis with the dump truck front grill style has some improvements in brakes and suspension to improve handling and stopping. The 2009 Ford chassis dash board was restyled, now having a glove box.
There are numerous Phoenix Cruiser models offered in many different floorplans, lengths, slide-out variations, etc., so be sure you know what you are looking at on-line. It can get confusing. The best thing to do is find "any" model close to home. Check it out for quality of construction, and general design, size, etc. See if it's right for you. If you like what you see, then go find the right model that suits you best.
The factory in Elkhart Indiana sells used ones that were traded in on new ones. Check out their inventory page Here.
If you don't mind traveling even further, the dealer we ordered ours through in Mendon MA, East Acres has three brand new 2007 models 2400, 2350, and 2551, discounted heavily because of their age. They are loaded up with lots of PC extras and also his own add-ons like a big roof-top solar panel and some suspension upgrades. Ask him to confirm that. All have full new Ford chassis and PC warrantees. He used them as displays for walk-in customers. His 2551 is a Ford E450 diesel. Don Keller is a one man opperation there, a great fellow to work with. He and his wife are semi-retired, now in their 70's, selling Phoenix Cruisers out of their residence. He has no over-head other than the RVs parked there, which is how he gave me the best price at the time, in 2007.
Be sure to take your time and enjoy the experience of shopping around. It is the right time of year to make a deal, regardless of motor home you consider.
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ralyn43
Colorado Springs
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Good info, Ron. Will keep that all in mind. Thanks for being such a wealth of information on the Phoenix Cruiser.
Alyn
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ron.dittmer
I Will Be Dancing With The Stars On 1/23
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Another point about general RV construction. A huge cab-over bed design that over-hangs the front of the motor home in a conventional class-C is asking for trouble as ther RV gets driven and ages. Threads keep popping up with structural issues and water leaks because of them. HERE is the most recent post asking about bracing the over-hang. The overhang will resonate more and more as the RV gets older and older, and with more miles driven. The seamwork will fail. The question is when.
If you absolutely must have that bed up top, the best design to consider is one with the frontal area constructed of a single piece seamless fiberglass, resembling a rectangular bucket turned sideways. You may still have issues where the cap attaches farther back, but that would be in a low-stress area, maybe never giving trouble. That is a much better design than your conventional C with seamwork all over the place.
The B+ aero-dynamic cap gives up the extra bed, but completely eliminates all concern of such structural fatigue. It improves handling & fuel economy, and also provides nice cabinet storage and a good location for a big flat panel TV. It has great advantages as long as the design meets your needs.
I don't think people give that enough consideration when shopping for one. They get snagged in on accomodations and price. Maybe they figure by the time they have such issues, they will trade it in for another new one anyway. Or they accept the inevitable, and caulk all that seamwork anually. Or caulk, regretably in the Spring after they learned of water damge inside.
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burlmart
Baton Rouge
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I think I read of similar issues with the cantilevered bed of Truck Campers back in the research years. I then saw it pop up as a C issue, as well.
Still, if you have a family, it is just this cab-over bed that attracts many to a C.
2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy
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ron.dittmer
I Will Be Dancing With The Stars On 1/23
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burlmart wrote:.....if you have a family, it is just this cab-over bed that attracts many to a C. Burmart, I surely understand your point. That extra bed in the same over-all RV footprint is great for 3 or more people, especially with kids. Then consider my suggestion of finding one with a seamless cab-over-bed structure......a huge rectangular fiberglass bucket turned sideways.
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