[2BirdDogs]

Hello,

I am a new member and have been super impressed with the knowledge and willingness of the Newell Gurus to share with newbies like me. I hope to learn from your real-world experiences.

My wife and I are seriously studying and evaluating Class A's to move to from our existing GMC Dually and Vanleigh 42ft fifth wheel trailer. We bought both the truck and fifth wheel new in 2021 and used it quite a bit in the last year on some great adventures to New Hampshire, Maine, Mackinaw and the UP of Michigan, Savannah GA, Hershey PA, Ashville NC and Seaside FL. We travel with our two German Shorthaired Pointers (Addie and Scout). We are NOT full timers but would like to spend a month or so on the road 4-5 times a year and then come back to our home base near Nashville TN. I do not work from the road all the time... but I can work from the road part of the time so that is helpful.

What we have discovered is that while the dually and 5er are very capable, comfortable and provide a lot of living space once we are set up... driving and parking a long-bed dually once we get to a destination is not optimal. We would prefer to be able to flat our Jeep Gladiator which is easier to maneuver, park in small towns and get off-road some too once we get set up at a campground. We enjoy getting out on the National Forest roads as well as going to dinner or shopping in downtown areas and the dually is not optimal for those purposes. As we spent several months looking at the "nicer" DP production coaches... the quality and longevity for the $ just isn't there so that is what has led us to where we are now: shopping for a used 2005-2008 Newell Coach. We have also looked at 2003-2007 Prevost XLII's but the living space in the Newell's seem to better fit our likes and needs.  

Here are a couple of my mechanical questions as I am learning about the Newell production years from studying several of the insights here on the forum: 

1. CAT C-15 engine: any watch outs for those (are they as reliable as the Detroit Series 60's in the Prevost conversions)?
   
2. ZF vs. Allison transmission should I look for one over the other... I know they are different designs and preference may "depend" but looking for general reliability and robustness of each since I am familiar with Allison but not ZF
   
3. Slide seals and cost to replace: I know these are normal wear items so interested in the cost to have them replaced when it comes time to do so. It is around $4,500 - $5,000 per seal on the Prevost from my research there...
   
4. Any other key pointers that you would advise
   

A usability question that we would appreciate insights from the forum is: How is it to maneuver and actually use a 45' Newell coach at campgrounds, and backroads vs. only interstate highways and large pull-through site motor coach resorts? We do look forward to enjoying the upscale resorts in a beautiful Newell coach but we also enjoy "getting off the beaten path and into nature" that campgrounds, KOAs, BLM / National Forests, state and national parks, etc have to offer. What has been your experience with these types of scenarios? Are these doable in a large coach? Driving and towing our 42' 5er was an adjustment in the beginning but it is no big deal now that I am used to the rig... should I expect the same with a 45' coach? I have heard the adage that "they can go anywhere a firetruck can go... so don't worry about it".

We would really appreciate any insights that you all are willing to share.

Thank you!
2BD's