390BH vs 400BH

AlexG · 11-08-2014, 06:16 PM

Hi,

We are on the market for a new or pre-owned Berkshire BH motorhome. We are considering the 390BH and the 400BH 2013 through 2015.

I extensively searched the web, these forums and also called a number of dealers trying to find information on what the differences between these models are, but did not come up with anything.

I wonder if someone can share what changed in the 390BH between 2013 and 2014, 2014 390BH and 2014 400BH, and what was new for 2015.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Alex

seeg · 11-08-2014, 07:04 PM

I've wondered the same thing i.e. why a 390 BH and a 400 BH in the same year, 2014. All I know for sure is that my 2014 BH looks an awful lot like a 2015 with the exception of the new front and rear caps. I actually prefer the look of the 2014 model. The most obvious change in the interior is the "L" shaped seating arrangement facing the TV. I don't believe that arrangement was available on the 390 BH but I could be wrong. It may also have something to do with the 400 BH being released later in the model year. Another anomaly is that the 2015 seems to have a lower MSRP than my 2014 but a higher selling price. Check out mhsrv at
RVs for sale, New & Used motorhomes, New RVs, Texas RV Dealer for a comparison between the 2014 and the 2015 XL. I do like the darker wood (plastic) trim on the 2015's but that's about it.

grt1014 · 11-08-2014, 07:04 PM

Would like to know what you are seeing in prices for a used 2014 400bh like mine.

I think one of the biggest differences are the windows on the 2014. Also the L-shaped couch.

2014 Berkshire 400bh.
2014 Jeep Rubicon unlimited Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

AlexG · 11-08-2014, 07:29 PM

I actually heard back from Anthem RV in Arizona and they are emailing me some stuff on the 390 vs. 400 differences, there are 58 of them, but 390 is more or less 2013 model year rebaged as 2014 from the left over chassises, I've been told. I should know more soon.

As for 2014 to 2015 changes are less significant such as all LED lights, different drawer mechanisms and redesigned front and end caps.

Hope to find out more soon.

As for the prices, I did not really have any discussions with anybody yet.

Campin Cajun · 11-08-2014, 07:33 PM

The front and rear caps are different on the 2015 400.

The 2015 400 is standard with aluminum wheels.

The 2015 400 is priced higher.

The dinette and sofa are swapped, dinette up front on the 2015 400.

The 2015 400 has a fireplace.

The 2015 400 has the new flush mount windows.

The paint colors and schemes are different on the 2015 400.

seeg · 11-08-2014, 07:43 PM

Discounted price is right at $200,000 for 2015 XL from MHSRV some $15000 more than a 2014. Also, remember that FR sometime removes items from model year to model year. I understand that some years ago the 390 BH models came with slide out battery trays which quite frankly I'd like to have. No way of knowing w/o a thorough walk through but a reduced MSRP suggests something has changed

grt is right, the 2014 models come with frameless windows. They look nice but the jury is still out as to whether they are better.

seeg · 11-08-2014, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campin Cajun

The front and rear caps are different on the 2015 400.

The 2015 400 is standard with aluminum wheels.

The 2015 400 is priced higher.

The dinette and sofa are swapped, dinette up front on the 2015 400.

The 2015 400 has a fireplace.

The 2015 400 has the new flush mount windows.

The paint colors and schemes are different on the 2015 400.

My 214 360-BH came with everything on Cajun's list except for the new front and rear caps, paint and the higher price.

Campin Cajun · 11-08-2014, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeg

My 214 360-BH came with everything on Cajun's list except for the new front and rear caps, paint and the higher price.

Yes those were the split year coaches. The earlier 2014's were just like the 2013's.

AlexG · 11-09-2014, 12:29 AM

400BH seems to have only minor trim changes from 2014 and 2015. I was told that 2015 is all LED light, there are bushings in the drawers, redesigned front end cap and some minor trim changes one would expect in a model year. Considering that 2014 already took a hit of 1 year depreciation I'd be looking for about 15K price difference, and I was quoted about 190K for 2015.

As far as 390 vs. 400, I've got some controversial information, which makes me question if the person I've heard it from knows what the differences are. Here is the stuff that I find important to pay extra for which supposedly present on 400, but not on 390:

1. One piece fiberglass roof
2. Thicker 3.5" aluminum subfloor rails
3. 4 coats of clear coat of higher quality (Sikkens) vs. 2
4. Slide out generator
5. Wider slider.
6. Heated pads under water tanks (a must have for me as I plan to spend a lot of time winter camping)
7. Freightliner 360 vs. 340 chassis - now this one made me suspicious as they seem to use the same XT-R chassis which supports 340 or 360 engine and question the whole info.

There are obviously some other differences some of which are nice to have like L-Shaped sofa and layout that I like a little better and wider sofas. I am sure there are some differences that are too small too mention like color schemes and so on.

I know that there are different windows used, but probably don't care.

I was also wondering if there is a difference in the grade / quality of cabinets and other furnishing. I saw 2015 400BH and it seemed very nice. I could compare it to Legacy side-by-side and saw a huge difference and definitely would pay extra for it.

Campin Cajun · 11-09-2014, 08:58 AM

The 390 has a one piece roof also.

Not sure about subfloor, but I believe they are the same.

390 has 4 coats of clear.

390 has a slide out generator.

Not sure what a wider slider is.

390 has heat pads for water tank.

Chassis are the same.

I'm not sure about the cabinet work, but from looking at pictures I would say that the 390 & 400 have the same. The leather furniture does look different, but I have not seen a 400 in person.

AlexG · 11-09-2014, 11:11 AM

Thanks CC,

That's what I thought.

Can anyone chime in on the leather?

Alex

seeg · 11-09-2014, 11:53 AM

Hmm, I always thought it was ultra leather rather than the real deal.

Campin Cajun · 11-09-2014, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeg

Hmm, I always thought it was ultra leather rather than the real deal.

I believe you are correct. I know in my '13 390BH it is. I have not been inside of of 2015 as of yet.

AlexG · 11-09-2014, 01:30 PM

It is "not real deal". It is leatherette in all of them.

tmmar · 11-09-2014, 02:07 PM

Always has been what they call 'pleather'. Price would probably be a lot more if it was real leather.

AlexG · 11-09-2014, 02:51 PM

Back in mid nineties I was working at the auto dealer and I remember that we were charging $1200.00 to custom re-upholster the car with leather seats. Now that $1200 included a lot of manual labor to custom measure the seat and then manually stitch, take seats out, install the new covers - not just material. I would imagine that about 75% of the cost was labor. I don't see it being more than a couple of thou, as it involves the same amount of labor, so difference is only in the cost of leather vs. leatherette.

I wish that leather was an option, but it is what it is.

mcomer · 11-09-2014, 04:49 PM

40 has a longer wheelbase than 39

Mike

Campin Cajun · 11-09-2014, 05:25 PM

The split year 2014's started using HDMI cable also for HD satellite systems like the Travler'

AlexG · 11-10-2014, 10:29 AM

This Sunday I've heard fro a factory rep and he was nice enough to go over all the changes that Berkshire went through between the models and model year. Here is the summary:
2013 into 2014 for 390 the only real change was the cabinets. In 2014 they starts to use all wood construction, while in 2013 walls between the cabinets were not.

2014 390 to 2014 400:
Obvious changes were the floor plan and length of the bus. All structural and mechanical stuff stayed the same. They switched to a different furniture manufacturer of a somewhat better quality and and started to use softer leatherette.

Going into 2015, the entry door became 2" wider and quite air system required redesign of front and rear caps

JTN8 · 11-10-2014, 10:57 AM

When I orders my 2014 390BH a year and a half ago, this is what the differences were between the 13's and 14's. Actually quite a bit of stuff. All of these upgrades also went into the 400's....

-Optional wood accent dash insert.

-Full porcelain tile entry step well...used to be black metal.

-Flex Steel L-shaped sofas in select floor-plans.

-Stainless appliances.

-Hardwood cabinet trim throughout...used to only be wood in the passenger side slide cabinet trim.

-Molded bath sink...under mount now vs. mounted on top of cabinet.

-New booth dinette (larger with a solid surface Corian tabletop).

-Full coach HDMI ready. No more co-ax.

-Larger TV's

-Residential refer option on all floor-plans.

-Stack-able Washer/Dryer option on all floor-plans.

-Larger tires 275 vs. 255. This is due to the increased GVWR. They went up to 32,000lbs from 28,000lbs which gives you another 4000 lbs of cargo carrying capacity.

Jason

You may also like: