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05-21-2019, 09:23 PM
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#41
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Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 40
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Thanks for the fast reply, I must have missed the post about the fuel problems Ram was having with the two tank set up. Because the new 2019 is putting out 35 more HP and 75 more torque, It seams like the 444 gear would work great and hopefully better fuel mileage. As far as a better design, I see your making a shorter RV with a solid bed, how about dropping the height by 3 inches to save weight and the front nose over cab could be offered in a no sleep area but storage making the front more sleek. There's some built like that on the Sprinter chassis. All Phoenix Cruisers coaches are that way and they sell ok. Lighter weight= more CCC Lower profile and sleeker nose/cap = better looking better fuel economy. Just my opinion.
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05-22-2019, 06:48 AM
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#42
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bclemens
We have actually listened to the buyers. And by far and away, people wanting the 4.44 gearing were in the minority. Most people seem to be happy with the current power and would rather not fix what is not broken.
As for the floor plan, what exactly are you not happy with?
In regards to the 53 gallon fuel tank...we used to have the dual tanks. But, there were complaints about CCC, so by removing the aux tank we saved a couple hundred lbs. Also, the way the aux tank worked was odd...the larger tank would pump fuel into the smaller tank, adding complexity and another fuel pump. After we had some issues with that pump not cutting off, it was a win-win. More CCC and less potential to have fuel spewing out of the fill. So by listening to our customers we made those changes. While we can't accommodate every single request....we try to accommodate the ones that make the most sense to the most amount of people.
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I have the dual tank set up. Completely understand removing to increase CCC.
Never had a problem with the 2nd tank and I do like the extra fuel. Have run several times only on the 2nd tank.
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Pat
2017 Isata 5
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05-22-2019, 09:14 AM
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#43
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,899
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GPCruiser
Thanks for the fast reply, I must have missed the post about the fuel problems Ram was having with the two tank set up. Because the new 2019 is putting out 35 more HP and 75 more torque, It seams like the 444 gear would work great and hopefully better fuel mileage. As far as a better design, I see your making a shorter RV with a solid bed, how about dropping the height by 3 inches to save weight and the front nose over cab could be offered in a no sleep area but storage making the front more sleek. There's some built like that on the Sprinter chassis. All Phoenix Cruisers coaches are that way and they sell ok. Lighter weight= more CCC Lower profile and sleeker nose/cap = better looking better fuel economy. Just my opinion.
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I'm not sure we would drop the height by 3"...That reduces the bunk space height and slide room height which is pretty important in the overall feel and function of things.
We have talked about offering the "non cab-over" version. That is on the table right now for those that don't need the bunk. having said that....I can tell you, in ALL other cases, when we offer the bunk. 90% of what we build gets the bunk. (we offer the Sprinter both ways...so I would like to offer the 5 both ways...just takes time)
When we first came out with the sprinter, we did not have a cab over. Once we started offering the cab-over, 90% are ordered with bunks. The DX3 is BEAUTIFUL with the standard front cap. 90% of what we build today (once we started offering) has the cab over bed. Fact is...the bunk is versatile. If you need the sleeping, you have it. If you don't need the sleeping, it becomes extra storage. I do understand that "aerodynamics" and "sleeker look", I agree. But the people without kids or grand kids...are a minority.
So, when we have to pay for tooling costs...upwards of $30k for a cap and transitions. it is much easier to stomach at higher volumes. When you amortize that over 10% (instead of 90%) of our builds....that gets expensive. And when a chassis OEM changes their body style, we have to do it all over again.
As for Phoenix Cruiser...they have sold a total of 56 coaches in the last 12 months according to Stat Survey's.
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05-26-2019, 01:21 PM
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#44
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bclemens
The fixed bed version should debut in Sept at our dealer open house. But I will do a video walkthrough at that time.
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How a about a preview of the floorplan?
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05-31-2019, 06:29 PM
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#45
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Citrus County, Fl.
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hernando, Fl
Posts: 2,368
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Dropping Floor Plans
Was just on the Dynamax web site and see the 30FW and 35DB are dealer stock only. This just leave the 36DS in the Isata 5 lineup. Bryan, since you were considering bringing a 30FW to the Hershey show, what are these two units being replaced with?
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2016 Forester 3011DS
2017 Toyota Corolla SE toad
PREVIOUS: 2015 Flagstaff 832IKBS
99 Terry 31G
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05-31-2019, 09:11 PM
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#46
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,899
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That's not accurate...but I see how you can get that.
The First section is Class C Motorhomes.
The 2nd section is Dealer Stock Only and then they list the 35DB and it has "dealer stock only" by the floor plan name. That is the only one we are stopping for now.
its a good floor plan that serves a purpose...but it is still tight on CCC in my mind. While we have cut a lot of weight and got it in the 1500 range...the issue is Dealers don't seem to do a good job of explaining CCC. So they say "Oh, yeah, it can tow 10,000 lbs. Oh, yeah, look what it sleeps". So to prevent customers from buying it uneducated and then trying to carry 8 and tow 10k....I decided to hold it, redesign from ground up with weight in mind. Or not...I am finding more people use the cab over bunk instead and like the larger living area of the 36DS. We'll see, in the meantime, we will have the 28SS coming in the fall.
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06-01-2019, 11:39 PM
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#47
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: 8000' in CO
Posts: 849
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bclemens
That's not accurate...but I see how you can get that.
The First section is Class C Motorhomes.
The 2nd section is Dealer Stock Only and then they list the 35DB and it has "dealer stock only" by the floor plan name. That is the only one we are stopping for now.
its a good floor plan that serves a purpose...but it is still tight on CCC in my mind. While we have cut a lot of weight and got it in the 1500 range...the issue is Dealers don't seem to do a good job of explaining CCC. So they say "Oh, yeah, it can tow 10,000 lbs. Oh, yeah, look what it sleeps". So to prevent customers from buying it uneducated and then trying to carry 8 and tow 10k....I decided to hold it, redesign from ground up with weight in mind. Or not...I am finding more people use the cab over bunk instead and like the larger living area of the 36DS. We'll see, in the meantime, we will have the 28SS coming in the fall.
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Whoa! So, the I5 Bunkhouse is going away altogether for now?! Man, that's cooking my noodle.
That seems like a mistake. I can say, with 100% confidence, that I would not have bought an I5 if there wasn't a bunkhouse layout. I have 3 youngin's, so the bunkhouse was necessary, but even if I had 2 kids, I wouldn't have gone the 36DS route. We really, REALLY didn't want to have to convert something into a bed every night for any of the kids (dinette, pull-out couch etc). So, even with "just" 2 kids, the 36DS would have required some sort of bed making every night. I know the 35DB was only a tiny portion of the I5 sales, but dropping it? .....oopppph, that hurts.
__________________
2019 Dynamax Isata 5 35DB
Audi "Nardo Grey"
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06-02-2019, 01:21 AM
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#48
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Rural
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BLT4SPD
Whoa! So, the I5 Bunkhouse is going away altogether for now?! Man, that's cooking my noodle.
That seems like a mistake. I can say, with 100% confidence, that I would not have bought an I5 if there wasn't a bunkhouse layout. I have 3 youngin's, so the bunkhouse was necessary, but even if I had 2 kids, I wouldn't have gone the 36DS route. We really, REALLY didn't want to have to convert something into a bed every night for any of the kids (dinette, pull-out couch etc). So, even with "just" 2 kids, the 36DS would have required some sort of bed making every night. I know the 35DB was only a tiny portion of the I5 sales, but dropping it? .....oopppph, that hurts.
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I'm in the same boat. The bunkhouse Super C is what I'm after. Hopefully they'll bring it back lighter and with 4WD.
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06-02-2019, 08:31 AM
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#49
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,899
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That is the hope. It really needs about 2,000 lbs of CCC. Then I feel much better about offering the 4x4.
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06-02-2019, 08:46 AM
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#50
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: 8000' in CO
Posts: 849
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatdog
I'm in the same boat. The bunkhouse Super C is what I'm after. Hopefully they'll bring it back lighter and with 4WD.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bclemens
That is the hope. It really needs about 2,000 lbs of CCC. Then I feel much better about offering the 4x4.
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Trust me when I say that I really get the appeal of 4WD. I live at 8000' in the Colorado Rockies and we don't own a vehicle unless it's 4WD or AWD....or it gets stored for the winter. However, I just can't really get my head wrapped around the 4WD 36' RV. Unless it's an emergency and you've got yourself STUCK in sand or mud, I'm having a hard time painting a scenario where I would want to go back into the woods with something like this. On top of that, even when we've looked at some "interesting" camping spots, it wasn't the traction of 2WD vs. 4WD that would stop us, it would be the ground clearance and/or the height of the coach and tree branches stopping me. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough.
Brian, I am looking forward to seeing what flows from Dynamax's imagination in terms of a renewed bunkhouse, but for the love of all that is holy, don't just drop it all together.
Actually, this thread prompted me to revisit Dynamax's website last night and I was intrigued by the Force 34KD. The thought of a 36' Force WITH BUNKS is very appealing. The nearly 40' length of 37BH is what kept us away from the Force, but get that closer to 35 or 36 and I start crunching numbers VERY quickly.
__________________
2019 Dynamax Isata 5 35DB
Audi "Nardo Grey"
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06-02-2019, 01:25 PM
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#51
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Rural
Posts: 88
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I don't really think anyone is thinking seriously about off-roading in a 36' RV, but for that extra traction on winter roads (not everybody is snowbird) , those moments you sink a little too much after the grass gets wet and one off your drive wheels starts spinning, or that really nice spot on the BLM that caused you to pause previously.
I do agree that most will never need 4WD in their RV.
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06-02-2019, 02:17 PM
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#52
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 1,135
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatdog
I do agree that most will never need 4WD in their RV.
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Right. But you only need it once to make it worth it. I was hesitant with our DX3 but the locking rear differential was an acceptable compromise.
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2018 DX3 37TS Sunset
2019 Rubicon JLU
2022 RZR Pro 4 Ultimate
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