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Old 05-13-2013, 07:17 PM   #1
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upgrades between 2013 and 2014?

Does anybody know if there are any improvements/upgrades between a 2013 and a 2014? Wondering if I should order a new Berkshire or find something on the lot?

Thanks

Bill
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Old 05-14-2013, 08:13 AM   #2
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The one change that keeps catching my eye is the use of HDMI cabling for the TVs.
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Old 05-14-2013, 08:57 AM   #3
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They now offer a residential refrigerator. Don't think they had that option before. Also, you can get a wood graining around the instrument panel. Those are the 2 that I remember seeing. You can go to forestriverinc.com and look at the brochure for the Berkshire on line.
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Old 05-14-2013, 11:59 AM   #4
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Think I would go with the best deal you could get unless there is a 2014 option you could not live without.
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Old 05-14-2013, 01:21 PM   #5
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I just purchasd the 2014 and there are a few differences. Here is what I noticed:

The 2014 has bigger tires. 275's vs. 255's

Bigger, residential, stainless steel fridge in the 2014

Auto Generator start on the 2014

Kitchen table in the 2014 is Corean (sp) that matches the countertop 2013 has a wood tabletop

If you get the booth, the 2014 booth seats have under seat storage by lifting the seat. The 2013 and earlier models have drawers that slide out. Seems to have more storage without the drawers.

There are some other minor changes, but I can't think of them right now. Will post them later when I remember.
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Old 05-14-2013, 02:06 PM   #6
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Mike,

I would be curious as to what the yellow sticker inside your rig says that you have for a carrying capacity. My guess is that the increase to the 275 tires would give a pretty healthy increase in carrying capacity.

Ed
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Old 05-14-2013, 02:11 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NO3putt View Post
Think I would go with the best deal you could get unless there is a 2014 option you could not live without.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wbonnell View Post
Does anybody know if there are any improvements/upgrades between a 2013 and a 2014? Wondering if I should order a new Berkshire or find something on the lot?

Thanks

Bill
With ALL due respect to everyone that has bought or will buy from a dealer, I totally agree with No3putt. The only thing that interests me is the larger tires, since my 2011 is pretty overweight even when loaded normally. I wonder if they beefed up the airbags as well?

For me (or anyone that is the slightest bit cost conscious), buying a new unit or for that matter ANY unit from a dealer is a mistake. I know about no warranties, and that IS an issue when buying used.

But I bought from a private individual and got a coach with only 3000 miles on it at a savings of $25-30K from the absolute best price I could get from any dealer for the exact same coach. The 3000 miles were mostly getting it from Elkhart to Alvarado, TX (dealer) and then onto the buyer in Salt Lake City. The chassis warranty did transfer to me and that is probably the biggest item.

I'm a "low dollar" kind of guy, and this is what worked best for me. I guess it's a crap shoot without full warranty, but if had to pay dealer prices, I wouldn't even have been able to afford this coach.

Finally, there's the hassle of actually going through the transaction with a dealer. I find it to be almost degrading to deal with them. However, I'm on the other side of the coin when it comes to selling. I just let my old 13 year old Dutch Star gasser go for less than half of wholesale to a dealer. It was worth it to me to not mess around selling it myself.

It is not my attention to insult anyone. If you can afford to buy a new one, knowing you're going to lose a huge amount of money as it's driven off the lot, I truly envy you.

Just m $.02 worth, YMMV.

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Old 05-14-2013, 10:31 PM   #8
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Ed-

I checked the sticker in the overhead cabinet. Says my payload is 3800 lbs. Not sure what it is on the 255's, but that is mine with the 275's

Mike
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Old 05-15-2013, 09:38 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by Mbh818 View Post
I just purchasd the 2014 and there are a few differences. Here is what I noticed:

The 2014 has bigger tires. 275's vs. 255's

Bigger, residential, stainless steel fridge in the 2014

Auto Generator start on the 2014

Kitchen table in the 2014 is Corean (sp) that matches the countertop 2013 has a wood tabletop

If you get the booth, the 2014 booth seats have under seat storage by lifting the seat. The 2013 and earlier models have drawers that slide out. Seems to have more storage without the drawers.

There are some other minor changes, but I can't think of them right now. Will post them later when I remember.
How do the residential frigs operate when driving down the road since they are not propane? Do they run off of the inverter? Does the coach charge the batteries or do you need to run generator to operate frig when motoring??

Thanks

Bill
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Old 05-15-2013, 11:11 AM   #10
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Ed-

I checked the sticker in the overhead cabinet. Says my payload is 3800 lbs. Not sure what it is on the 255's, but that is mine with the 275's

Mike

My 2011 has the 255's and still shows a 3800 payload. Unfortunately, the payload is overstated by almost 3000 lbs.

FR has offered to upgrade my tires to 275 and also upgrade the front airbags. That will up my front axle capacity by 1500 lbs, but do nothing for the rear.

Hopefully the stated capacity of 3800 lbs on your 2014 is a true and accurate figure.

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Old 05-15-2013, 11:44 AM   #11
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Mike,

I would be curious as to what the yellow sticker inside your rig says that you have for a carrying capacity. My guess is that the increase to the 275 tires would give a pretty healthy increase in carrying capacity.

Ed
wnytaxman, the bigger tires PLUS more hefty airbags (assume they probably upgraded those as well on the 2014) add 1500 lbs to the front axle (at least on my 2011). Does nothing for the rear axle since the limit on the rear is on the chassis itself, not the tires.

Four 255's will carry 19000 lbs and change, the rear axle itself is 17500 limit. On a 2011, apparently the rear airbags cannot be changed out or they already are the heaviest duty ones available.

I wonder if they increased the size of the wheel wells? On a 2011, replacing the 255's with 275's makes it pretty "crowded" in there.

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Old 05-15-2013, 01:08 PM   #12
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Ed-

I checked the sticker in the overhead cabinet. Says my payload is 3800 lbs. Not sure what it is on the 255's, but that is mine with the 275's

Mike
Mike,

My Capacity is less than 2000 pounds. That means that by the time I fill up the water and put myself, my wife, and my twin girls into the rig I can only put another 700 pounds or so into the unit. Not a good situation. That doesn't leave much for food, bedding, tools, toys, and other stuff that we all seem to need to survive in the "wild" of a campground.

Ed
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Old 05-15-2013, 01:29 PM   #13
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Bill-

I've only had the rig for 3 weeks and haven't had a chance to use it yet, which is killing me! The fridge will run off the inverter while driving. I believe the house batteries will be charged while i'm driving to keep the fridge cold. If i dry camp for a weekend, i would have to run the genny occasionally to charge the bat's. Too get the fridge down to temp, i'll use my shore power at the house. I wouldn't use the inverter for that. Too much juice. I'll use the inverter to maintain the temp while driving.

Hope that helps-

In regards to the 3800 payload, i hope that is accurate as well. the way i see it, if my allegro gasser could handle my family and toys, than this diesel should as well.

Mike
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Old 05-15-2013, 02:01 PM   #14
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I have a 2013, mine came with the 275's, residential fridge was an option when I ordered.
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Old 05-15-2013, 08:32 PM   #15
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I have a 2013, mine came with the 275's, residential fridge was an option when I ordered.

i bought my 2013 off the lot and the sales/finance crew told me that the a residential fridge was not an option except for the 2014. i have the four door dometic fridge which is residential size, but not a true residential fridge.

if and when this breaks, i will replace it with a true residential fridge.

i too have the 275 tires...
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Old 05-19-2013, 06:01 AM   #16
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I just placed an order a few weeks ago for a 2014 390BH and below us what my dealer sent me that was upgraded on the 14'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
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Old 05-19-2013, 09:11 AM   #17
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The tires and air bags upgrade works great and is a big improvement. Be aware that this does nothing to increase the GCVW. On a 340 it is still limited to 33000 by the transmission. GCVW includes the tow.



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Old 04-02-2014, 11:20 AM   #18
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i bought my 2013 off the lot and the sales/finance crew told me that the a residential fridge was not an option except for the 2014. i have the four door dometic fridge which is residential size, but not a true residential fridge.

if and when this breaks, i will replace it with a true residential fridge.

i too have the 275 tires...
Just curious but if or when you try that residential frig i want to see if you can get it thru the door or have to pull the slide out because mine seems pretty tight and large to fit thru the door but you never know perhaps someone on here has replaced theirs and can chime in on that..oh we love ours by the way just secure those doors before you start moving or

Have a good one
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Old 04-02-2014, 07:01 PM   #19
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I've read on another forum of them passing it through a window.
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