These are first impressions of the Isata 3 on a trip from Columbus, OH to northern Arkansas. The temps ranged from 30-50 degrees, weather from heavy snow to clear & sunny, and calm to gusty conditions. I hope this is helpful to those considering an Isata 3
For those who have operated any Ford motorhome chassis you’re in for a treat. This unit has the Helwig sway bar and Bilstein rear shocks
that are standard from Dynamax. Driving in crosswinds of 15-20 MPH it was surprising how well it handled. There was little to no correction needed. It was similar for the push of a passing 18 wheeler, often no steering wheel input was required. All this was experienced in cross winds at various angles and velocities.
The driving experience was more like that of a large SUV than a MH. The ride was excellent even over bridge & highway expansion joints, highway noise was minimal. While there was some slight wind noise at highway speeds, the cab was comfortable and quiet. Using the dead bolt lock on the side entrance door reduced the wind noise. Acceleration was adequate towing a 2500 lbs Fiat 500. Actually, I hardly knew it was back there. Power seemed adequate, but we probably didn't encounter any uphill grade of more than 4%. There was virtually no engine noise and transmission shifts were hardly noticeable. The turning radius was good making maneuvering around gas stations relatively easy.
The side to side roll experienced when exiting a gas station was hardly noticeable at walking speeds, but was more pronounced at 10-15 mph. Right now, I don’t think Sumos would be a necessary addition.
The cockpit itself was very comfortable & roomy. The seats have 4 way manual adjustments with excellent leg room (I’m 6’ 2”) and a nice adjustable lumbar support. If you drive with the seat all the back, be sure to move it forward before extending the slide. A warning printed on a clear plastic flip-cover over the slide controls would be a welcome addition. The Mercedes heating and A/C controls are not as intuitive as most vehicles & required a quick look in the manual to understand the knobology. We didn’t use the A/C, but the heater kept the entire MH comfortable going down the road at temperatures in the low 30s. The cruise control system is excellent & intuitive. The several storage cubbies around the cockpit were a nice surprise.
We ordered 3 options for the cockpit, the Mobileye Drive assist, Remis Shades, and the 9” Xite Infotainment/GPS. The Mobileye is excellent and I
unintentionally tested most of the modes during our trip back to Arkansas. I really like it. Here is a video that shows its features.
The Remis integrated shades are really nice & they look neat. Storage in the Isata 3 FW is limited, so having the cockpit shades remain on the windows is a big plus. They worked flawlessly covering all the front & side cockpit windows. There is a picture of the side window shade below.
The Xite 9” Infotainment/GPS has a wonderful hi-def display. Everything is visible at a glance. The MH cameras show a large clear picture. The system itself is mostly intuitive, but we have a couple of issues. There is no AM band reception, just static. FM, Blue Tooth, and the GPS work well. We haven’t tried the Sirius Radio yet. We experienced a software issue regarding the proper switching of the MH cameras that is discussed in another thread. There are advantages to a stand-alone GPS one should consider before opting for this Xite system. However, when we get the bugs worked out we will be very happy with it, especially the 9” screen.
In our opinion, the overall comfort, ride and handling were excellent for an 11,000 lbs motor home. Having just down-sized from a 37’ class A, there is one word to describe the handling of the Isata 3 – smooth. Dynamax has stolen a march on the competition in this area. Most other manufacturers don’t seem to know that the Sprinter chassis needs some help.
Happy camping
Dave