06-22-2021, 10:09 AM
TravelAmerica,
The short answer is yes. Now for the long answer:
Three years ago I was in your shoes. People telling me point blank that you shouldn't own a Newell, a Prevost or a Foretravel because of the maintenance costs. Yet, despite everyone's opinion I still went with the Newell. Why? Because the Newell spoke to me, just like it spoke to you despite of what your used RV salesman said. You're doing your due diligence and verifying for yourself because deep down, you really want the Newell. I've got good news and bad news. The bad news is that you're always going to want the Newell over the Winnebago, the Newmar, the Country Coach, the Tiffin and the Monaco. The good news is Newells can be just as expensive or inexpensive as the aforementioned coaches, depending on your desire to learn and educate yourself to do the work yourself. In order to answer your question intelligently we need to clarify two things: what is your definition of "expensive" and how much do you like getting your hands dirty?
If you can't budget $5000-10,000 per year for maintenance or choose not to do the work yourself to own the "Bentley of coaches" then your search for a Newell should stop right here. Thanks for stopping by, good luck in your search and it was a pleasure knowing you.
Oh, you're still here? See, I knew you wanted the Newell. Ok, a couple things you're going to need. You're going to need a BIG toolbox (I have yet to see any coach on the road without a toolbox.) Second, you're going to want to cancel Netflix and spend all your free time reading this forum. Every question, every problem, every ankle biter has been asked three different ways and answered ten different ways. The answers you're looking for is buried in these threads. We are here to help you just like they've helped me.
I've written that maintenance check in the past for $30,000 to make someone else wealthy. Ouch! After that financial holocaust I chose to keep the Newell and would never make such a stupid mistake again. With the knowledge that I gained from reading this forum I could've done that same job myself for less than $7500. Yes, you have to crawl under the coach, yes you will have bleeding knuckles and grease up to your elbows, and yes you will drop the f bomb a few times. BUT, when you're done and pop a beverage of your choice and can sit back and admire your work; knowing that you just saved thousands of dollars AND you get to keep the Newell AND you get to keep the knowledge that you gained forever. People ask me all the time how I can afford a Newell. The answer is this forum. Everything on a Newell is fixable. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Unless you're on the side of the road nothing has to be fixed right then. Schedule your maintenance out strategically so you don't get hit one year and nothing the next two or three years. The Newell will last. There are several coaches in the 1990's era that are still on the road and looking sharp! How many 90's Winnebagos or Tiffins do you see on the road?
Lastly, let's not forget two more HUGE advantages of a Newell over the ex-brands. 1.) Newell has 24 hour emergency assistance. If you're stuck on the side of the road at 3am on Christmas Day, you make one phone call and within 20 minutes they will help you through it for free. That same scenario in anything else and you're on your own. That perk alone is a reason to go with Newell. 2.) Have you ever seen a motorhome accident? I have and it isn't pretty. At least I thought it was a motorhome. I couldn't tell since it was completely destroyed and ripped into a million pieces with the "glue together screw together" production line brands. On the contrary, a Prevost, Newell and Foretravel are basically steel shells and will remain intact even after a rollover. You asked if a Newell was expensive to maintain. There are several other factors that you need to take into account that doesn't have a price tag attached to it. What is the price of a life?
I hope that helps. Don't take a used RV salesman's advice. He just wants to get that Bounder off his lot. But seriously - Newells can and will eat you alive if you don't know what you're doing. Knowledge is power. You're doing the right thing by doing your research and making an educated decision.
The short answer is yes. Now for the long answer:
Three years ago I was in your shoes. People telling me point blank that you shouldn't own a Newell, a Prevost or a Foretravel because of the maintenance costs. Yet, despite everyone's opinion I still went with the Newell. Why? Because the Newell spoke to me, just like it spoke to you despite of what your used RV salesman said. You're doing your due diligence and verifying for yourself because deep down, you really want the Newell. I've got good news and bad news. The bad news is that you're always going to want the Newell over the Winnebago, the Newmar, the Country Coach, the Tiffin and the Monaco. The good news is Newells can be just as expensive or inexpensive as the aforementioned coaches, depending on your desire to learn and educate yourself to do the work yourself. In order to answer your question intelligently we need to clarify two things: what is your definition of "expensive" and how much do you like getting your hands dirty?
If you can't budget $5000-10,000 per year for maintenance or choose not to do the work yourself to own the "Bentley of coaches" then your search for a Newell should stop right here. Thanks for stopping by, good luck in your search and it was a pleasure knowing you.
Oh, you're still here? See, I knew you wanted the Newell. Ok, a couple things you're going to need. You're going to need a BIG toolbox (I have yet to see any coach on the road without a toolbox.) Second, you're going to want to cancel Netflix and spend all your free time reading this forum. Every question, every problem, every ankle biter has been asked three different ways and answered ten different ways. The answers you're looking for is buried in these threads. We are here to help you just like they've helped me.
I've written that maintenance check in the past for $30,000 to make someone else wealthy. Ouch! After that financial holocaust I chose to keep the Newell and would never make such a stupid mistake again. With the knowledge that I gained from reading this forum I could've done that same job myself for less than $7500. Yes, you have to crawl under the coach, yes you will have bleeding knuckles and grease up to your elbows, and yes you will drop the f bomb a few times. BUT, when you're done and pop a beverage of your choice and can sit back and admire your work; knowing that you just saved thousands of dollars AND you get to keep the Newell AND you get to keep the knowledge that you gained forever. People ask me all the time how I can afford a Newell. The answer is this forum. Everything on a Newell is fixable. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Unless you're on the side of the road nothing has to be fixed right then. Schedule your maintenance out strategically so you don't get hit one year and nothing the next two or three years. The Newell will last. There are several coaches in the 1990's era that are still on the road and looking sharp! How many 90's Winnebagos or Tiffins do you see on the road?
Lastly, let's not forget two more HUGE advantages of a Newell over the ex-brands. 1.) Newell has 24 hour emergency assistance. If you're stuck on the side of the road at 3am on Christmas Day, you make one phone call and within 20 minutes they will help you through it for free. That same scenario in anything else and you're on your own. That perk alone is a reason to go with Newell. 2.) Have you ever seen a motorhome accident? I have and it isn't pretty. At least I thought it was a motorhome. I couldn't tell since it was completely destroyed and ripped into a million pieces with the "glue together screw together" production line brands. On the contrary, a Prevost, Newell and Foretravel are basically steel shells and will remain intact even after a rollover. You asked if a Newell was expensive to maintain. There are several other factors that you need to take into account that doesn't have a price tag attached to it. What is the price of a life?
I hope that helps. Don't take a used RV salesman's advice. He just wants to get that Bounder off his lot. But seriously - Newells can and will eat you alive if you don't know what you're doing. Knowledge is power. You're doing the right thing by doing your research and making an educated decision.
Vinnie
2003 Newell Coach #667, Triple slide