We purchased our "Bertha" as second owners two years ago, and it is our first Class A experience. The original owner took pretty good care of this ol' girl, and installed a lot of extra goodies which I'll cover in a bit. We've spent 28 nights in it, and have driven it more than 6,500 miles. We're...read more
We purchased our "Bertha" as second owners two years ago, and it is our first Class A experience. The original owner took pretty good care of this ol' girl, and installed a lot of extra goodies which I'll cover in a bit. We've spent 28 nights in it, and have driven it more than 6,500 miles. We're pretty easy-going, so we don't usually notice some things that others may want to nit-pick. Having said that, we've learned a few things along the way that (if we could) would fix. To begin with, our 8.1 Duramax gasoline engine is more than up to any task we put to it, but the noise! I guess this is to be expected with a forward control coach, but even cruising at around 2,000 RPM in top gear (a bit over 60 mph) listening to the radio impossible. My co-pilot (my wife, not the cat) and I find ourselves shouting to each other to be heard, so convivial conversation along the way is out of the question. The windshield "visor" (which functions more like a privacy screen when in camp, doesn't roll down all the way to the instrument panel. Leaves about a 6 inch gap which, when standing outside, is about eye-height. One other thing is, nit-picking aside, merely bothersome: The bedside lamps are in a goofy position that precludes sitting propped up in bed to read the paper and jointly enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning (again, not with the cat). Finally, and I suppose this is just the fact that "Bertha" is getting a little long in the tooth, is the rattles. I've crawled under, over, and inside as far as I can go into the coach, but I'm unable to find what the heck causes all those rattles somewhere in the front of us! Nothing appears loose, and everything functions as it should, but a pavement seam or slightly sunken maintenance cover in the street sends a shiver through the ol' gal and makes us want to look for NBW or parts on the floor.
In all, we love our Bounder. The split bathroom is a great idea -- we wish our previous tow-behinds had this, instead of giving no knee room when on the throne! Despite the engine noise, she rides quietly and smoothly. Nothing beyond the instrument panel rattles, and everything works as advertised. The amount of storage space in the living area is great, and the basement storage is far more than we've ever needed. Our Bounder rides nicely, steers nicely and has pretty decent 360 degree vision from the flight deck, thanks to mirrors and the rear vision monitor. We tow a 2010 Subaru Forester with a 5-speed manual tranny, with no effort.
We got "Bertha" a full spa treatment recently, and now she gleams like new and seems as anxious as we are to start our 3 week September ramble ... including the cat.
Livability
Overall quality
Floorplan
Driving/towing
Factory warranty/support
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