Going to look at a 38a tomorrow

edmonh · 02-17-2016, 09:27 PM

So I know a few of you own the 38a model. I will be going to look at a 2016 tomorrow and would like to know the top things I need to check on. I really appreciate your help...Very excited!

jpcamper · 02-17-2016, 09:31 PM

we have had ours for two weeks and love it ....where are you shopping ?

edmonh · 02-17-2016, 09:43 PM

Dennis Dillion Rv in California...

moontrain · 02-17-2016, 09:50 PM

I ordered a 38a last week.

edmonh · 02-17-2016, 10:20 PM

JPCamper- do you have kids? We are a family of 5 and wondering if the space is enough. We are also looking at the 40bh which is about 20k more, but has great space/layout.

tnbendr · 02-18-2016, 09:09 AM

We have the 2015 38A and love the Floorplan. It's just the two of us, but with the bunks it ought to work just fine for you, especially if your kids are young.

Dkplace · 02-18-2016, 03:57 PM

Get in touch with
Grt1014 he has a 40bh for sale cheap

edmonh · 02-18-2016, 03:58 PM

Thanks Dkplace! I'm working with a trade so I need to go through a dealer.

Dkplace · 02-18-2016, 05:14 PM

Understand I have a 2014 36bh coachman and I don't like the gas engine
But like everything else same floor plan as the berk
Good luck on your buy

jpcamper · 02-18-2016, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmonh

JPCamper- do you have kids? We are a family of 5 and wondering if the space is enough. We are also looking at the 40bh which is about 20k more, but has great space/layout.

if your have three children , then the 38A should work , ..it has a hide a bed sofa and a bunkhouse ( about 71 inches long per bunk) , and a dinette bed , ( definitley for small child )

jpcamper · 02-18-2016, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmonh

So I know a few of you own the 38a model. I will be going to look at a 2016 tomorrow and would like to know the top things I need to check on. I really appreciate your help...Very excited!

so how did you like it ? did you make any decisions ?

ccupton · 02-19-2016, 07:58 AM

My 38a is in the shop at DDRV right now. Having minor things repaired. Will be picking up tomorrow.

Chris & Carol
2016 Berkshire 38A
2014 Honda CRV

edmonh · 02-19-2016, 11:14 AM

CCupton- how would you rate your experience with DDRV? I am working with Michael and Zack(GM) and so far they seem fair. How is service after purchase? Are they timely with repairs? Do they follow though with what they say they will do?

edmonh · 02-19-2016, 11:15 AM

jpcamper- actually going in today..couldn't make it yesterday...

ccupton · 02-19-2016, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmonh

CCupton- how would you rate your experience with DDRV? I am working with Michael and Zack(GM) and so far they seem fair. How is service after purchase? Are they timely with repairs? Do they follow though with what they say they will do?

Hello,
Didn't care for mikes attitude. Zach was great to deal with. As for service work. We work with ED in service. Have been trying to get certain repairs finished for 6 months now. They have been a little slow. Ed has tried to help me as much as he can. We only let a tech by the name of steven work on our coach. Our repairs are nothing major except for led lights, Diamond shield on front, bad window seal, missing screen on bunk window. I will be in there tomorrow to pick up my rig. Send me a PM and will give you my number so we can talk about ddrv. All in all I am happy with them so far. some things you need to know before you buy.

RKNOLA · 02-19-2016, 12:59 PM

We ordered ours through Motorhome Specialists in Texas. We were very pleased with the dealership. They gave us a fair price on trade in and sales price.
The 38A is a great floorplan. It will sleep about 8. The dinette back cushions are removable so the dinette is useable by an adult. (No, your basketball friends will not fit but an average size adult should have no problems). The sofa does pull out and makes a bed. We use a featherbed to make it more comfortable to sleep on. We keep the featherbed in a vacuum seal bag which makes it small and portable.
The bunks are fairly comfortable although the foam is a little stiff. Again, a featherbed helps make it more comfortable to sleep on. The featherbed we use for the bunks is made for a fold away bed so it fits perfectly on the bunk. Some twin size featherbeds are much too big and end up bunching up against the window.
The 38A drives very easily and comfortably. The engine is quiet and tows a car with no problems.
The floorplan is very usable even when the slides are closed. (Like when at a rest stop or parking lot).
The only problems we have had with ours so far is 1 bunk window that the seal/gasket came loose. It was fixed at the dealership, but it was cold and rainy the day it was glued so the glue didn't hold very well. When we returned home Rick re-glued it and clamped it to set the glue. It works fine now.
The other problem we had was with the refrigerator (which isn't a Forest River problem). The fan in the freezer that circulates the air to defrost the freezer wasn't working. 1 call to Frigidare, they sent a repairman to our house the same day. It took 2 days for the repairman to get the part but once the part was installed the freezer/defrost worked fine.
The 38A has great storage. Especially in both bathrooms. Towels fit with no problem, even beach towels. It the medicine cabinets we use office box dividers which are tall so bottles stay in place during driving. We bought them at Target in the paper/stationary department. Target also sells felt and material covered boxes which are the perfect height for the kitchen and livingroom cabinets. We use those for glass jars that we don't want to move around while driving.
The mirror behind the bathroom door in the bedroom is only useful if you want to see your shirt because of the bed. So we use a tall "hang behind the door" kind of mirror. (also purchased at Target) and we slide the mirror in next to the washer/dryer. To use it we slide it out and stand it up next to toilet. Works fine for seeing full length image.
To hang 1 or 2 dresses (since the bedroom closet is only shirt length) I use a strong magnetic hook (bought it at Home Depot) which I place on the side of the washer (between the washer and the cabinet wall) 2 hangers fit and dresses or full length items don't get wrinkled.
Good Luck with your RV shopping. I am sure you will love your 38A as much as we do!

Karen

RKNOLA · 02-19-2016, 01:06 PM

oh and Rick did replace the 7 pin hitch connector in the back. The tangs on the inside would bend very easily when hooking up the toad. So Rick replaced it with a heavier duty hitch pin connector and we have had no problems since.

Karen

edmonh · 02-20-2016, 02:43 AM

So I went and looked at the 38A and the 40BH today. Although the 38A was nice and would fit our family well, my wife and I decided to go with the 40BH. The price difference was 25k and felt the upgrades, look, feel and drive were superior. I am excited with our decision and happy to be a new Berkshire owner. Cant wait to take our first trip and super excited to be a new Berkshire owner!

ccupton · 02-20-2016, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmonh

So I went and looked at the 38A and the 40BH today. Although the 38A was nice and would fit our family well, my wife and I decided to go with the 40BH. The price difference was 25k and felt the upgrades, look, feel and drive were superior. I am excited with our decision and happy to be a new Berkshire owner. Cant wait to take our first trip and super excited to be a new Berkshire owner!

Awesome. Glad to have you in the Berkshire family. Now we need to get together and go camping. Congrats on the new rig.

Chris & Carol
2016 Berkshire 38A
2014 Honda CRV

RKNOLA · 02-20-2016, 10:18 AM

Congrats edmonh! We would have loved to have welcomed in another 38A owner but, hey, that 40 BH is pretty awesome too! I think you will love your new Berkshire! They are very well built coaches and the Berk Owners Group is filled with some really nice people. Welcome Aboard!

Karen

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