[TheGadgetGuru]

Hi All, 

I hope I'm placing this thread in the correct location and if I messed up, I hope the Friendly Admin will correct my mistake!

Okay, here's the scoop...

I'm on a quest to buy my first coach. Since I've only dreamed of owning one, I've never driven one. So, I thought it was a good idea to seek locations that would provide driving lessons before I made a commitment. I figured by learning to drive, I could escalate the process and if nothing else, learn if I could feel comfortable behind the wheel. Yes, I've had lessons both at Motorhomes of Texas (wonderful pre-owned dealership) and with Glenn at Newell. I've documented my adventure and I'll save that for a future post. 

Okay, call me crazy, but one concept I was considering was buying my last coach first and going all in and designing what I would consider to be my dream coach. So, of course, I had to travel to Miami, OK to meet my new Best Friends!

So, I'm getting close to pulling the trigger and am considering a bunk floor plan. The bunk will be a hip-height, easy entry level and more of a compartment than a bunk. Below, the areas will be split vertically and I'm working with Newell to create a Doggie Relief Area where "Lucy The Dog" can have a place to...uh...relieve herself should the urge hit at 3am. Newell is working on designing this area that will feature perforated artificial turf with a drainage system below as well as a built-in spray head to keep it clean. Yeah, we'll pick up the poop and dispose of that properly, but the "pee" will be washed down the drain. 

So, I'll ask my question bluntly: 

If we thoroughly flush this area multiple times per day, is this just a stupid idea? And, what's your thoughts about going all in with a 2017 Newell as your first coach? Yeah, I've been called eccentric and worse many times before...so you won't be the first!

Hey, they thought Frank Lloyd Wright was a bit crazy too, but he designed homes that are still standing today!

Honest input greatly appreciated!

[Richard]

No issues with you going all in. If you got the jack, then do it.

I don't know about a doggie pottie directly underneath the bed. But if you must, I would think about absorbent pads and a stainless floor. I would be concerned about any carpet of any kind retaining odors and bacteria keeping in mind that rinsing the carpet will keep it wet. Moisture control inside an RV is more of a challenge in an RV than it is in a sticks and bricks home.

[HoosierDaddy]

Welcome gadget,
OOOh, boy.....
I once saw a bus conversion that featured a small opening and "steps" to the basement storage area so the kids could access that area for play. Install the "turf" onto a conveyor belt in the bay so you can just open a bay door, run the belt and off load the litter without touching...A stainless steel floor in the bottom of the bay with a drain will allow you to mount spray nozzles to rinse the belt.
You do realize that this feature will free you from the "character building" task that other dog owners enjoy?? B-)
I've never been called eccentric yet but I've been called a LOT of other names!!

[Junior Guru]

Very interesting! A pet peeing area is unique!

We have a Newell with two bunks and I wish there were three...one more on the floor level for our dog. But the dog just jumps in with one of the kids in their bed after we shut our door and go to sleep anyway!

When not traveling with our kids (basically the times I take our coach back to Newell) I think the bunk area is awesome for storing things as it's basically two huge easily accessible "shelves". The bunks in our floor plan eat into bedroom space a little. But most people that see our coach can't believe how big our galley and living space are. I think the trade off with bedroom space is worth it. Our previous Newell had a bigger bedroom and we don't notice the functional difference at all. Others may see it differently of course.

I agree with Richard. Odors in RV are an issue. I'd think a dog relieving area would only exacerbate the issue. I find odors are not an issue as much when using the coach as when it's parked or stored for a while with no activity. Airflow and air filtration is important for odor control in an rv and that's usually an issue when it's stored or parked. I use these air purifiers with carbon odor filters in my coach and they work wonders. http://www.rabbitair.com You might consider something like this close to the pet area. I keep these running at medium to high speed 100% of the time when we're not in our coach. We have no odor issues.

[Junior Guru]

Regarding getting a new Newell as your first coach, only you can make that call for you.

There will be a learning curve no matter what coach you buy. For me, I think the driving part is one of the easiest. But I had driven big box trucks, etc before. There is plenty of info out there for tips, etc. I do recommend you the watch safety video regarding front tire blow outs and what to do if this occurs at high speeds. I don't have the link but there is a great one from the 70's or 80's on you tube. Info is still relevant. I've seen the link on Newell gurus somewhere.

I've owned a 2003 Newell (our first coach) had it for a year and bought a barely used 2013 bunk Newell last year. Despite what many might think, the "experience" between the two is similar to me. I find outside of lipstick and a few creature comforts, that there are more similarities than differences once you are living in the coach. Others would disagree. The new coaches drive a "little" better and with new systems, I think are easier to use, so learning curve is less. They are also very pretty!

I think the learning curve includes the obvious usage of the coach. But in large part, it also includes whether you like the lifestyle or not. That'd be an expensive lesson on a new coach vs a used one if you decided after a year it's not for you. That might not be an issue for you. Some rv parks are hideously bad and some are unbelievably nice. We've had good times in all of them and we dry camp a lot from cabellas or casino parking lot to football games to state parks. So we enjoy it. We feel like we are in a very luxurious hotel in our Newell. But I admittedly have a good amount of redneck genes running through my blood, despite a $million motor home. Your gene pool may differ!

Oh and EVERYONE will want to see your coach everywhere you go! So be prepared!

[TheGadgetGuru]

Thanks for the responses! Greatly appreciated!

Yes, I may be biting off more than I can chew by going with my last coach first concept, but I figure if I'm going that route, let's do it with the true top of the line brand and that's what got me to Miami, OK. 

Thanks for the input on the doggie relief area. I'm wondering if a built-in fan that's placed directly over the area and vented outdoors will be the most efficient method of keeping the area odor free while in use? Since I'm only doing one bunk and it will be at a step in (no ladder required) height and the fact that Lucy the Dog is a 15 lb. Sheltie, and that the relief area is one half of the width of the bunk, that there's ample space for ventilation. Thoughts, please? 

I'm hoping that with a fan and an installed hand held shower head/sprayer, that can be used multiple times per day while using the coach along with the idea of the air freshener mentioned earlier in this thread for use while parked is the best solution. So, please keep the ideas coming as, like the title states, It's Crunch Time!

Also, while there's a lot of threads on NG, I'm hoping someone can provide the link to the thread(s) that have the best information about Newell-friendly, upscale and safe, and of course scenic campgrounds around the USA. I've visited the Bluewater Resort in the Keys and had a gorgeous waterfront lot that was gorgeous and serene. I've also stayed at the resort in Port. St. Lucie and that was nice as well. (I was a passenger on these trips). I stopped by and met the owners of the new Jupiter-Palm Beach Motorcoach Resort and that's a nice one too. It's still under construction but it promises to cater to the top tier of coaches. 

While I hope to become an active member of this site, and want to be careful not to be labeled a "troll" as I respect the hard work of the Admin and the integrity of this site,  (yeah, I owned a site that catered to motorcycle riders in the past - TheVOG.net - and don't want to ever moderate again!), I've been documenting my learning to drive and coach shopping experiences on my www.GadgetGuru.com website (it's not a forum). As of this moment I don't have my Newell stories and videos posted, but that will change next week as I have an interesting interview with Brian from Newell and a detailed walk through of a gorgeous 2017 coach currently in production. I also have a two-parter that documents my learning to drive a Newell with Glenn as my instructor. (I did the same type of thing at Motorhomes of Texas and that's on the site now). The Newell video will be similar in concept to a video I just completed on the Foretravel IH-45. If the stars align, the 2017 Newell video will be posted within a week. of course it will be on my YouTube.com/TheGadgetGuru channel and my website and of course I'll start a thread with that information right here on Newell Gurus. Again, if this is considered trolling, Admin, please erase this paragraph!

One more thing, I know you guys don't know me...yet, but I'm on a mission to wake up the Motorhome industry to establish programs that not only allows those who are interested in purchasing a coach to have a tried and tested method of learning to drive in a controlled environment, but to provide ongoing educational programs. Yeah, I have been known to be a thorn in the side of some manufacturers of various industries in the past and I'm pretty good about getting positive results. Personally, I think the entire industry (RVIA) needs to wake up and take on this responsibility. But, that's a different topic for a different day. For now, any assistance you folks have for items that I need to make sure I include on my coach is greatly appreciated! 

So, I'll close by asking one more coach building question: What's your thoughts on CB Radios (good buddy)? Personally, I think it's a good way to communicate when that occasional traffic jam occurs. For those who use them, what channels do you monitor? Back in the old days, I believe it was channel 19 for truckers...but that was a really long time ago! 10-4.

[Fulltiming]

The only times I turn my CB on are 1) when caravaning with friends in motorhomes and 2) when the traffic appears to be really messed up.

For use 1 we try to pick the least used channel we can find, for use 2 channel 19 is still the one with the most traffic information although the obnoxious level and language can get pretty bad.

[TheGadgetGuru]

The only times I turn my CB on are 1) when caravaning with friends in motorhomes and 2) when the traffic appears to be really messed up.

For use 1 we try to pick the least used channel we can find, for use 2 channel 19 is still the one with the most traffic information although the obnoxious level and language can get pretty bad.

Thank You! Yes, for those reasons alone, I'll check the CB Radio box.

[encantotom]

i have to say that when forest, clarke and i were all driving our coaches following each other, talking on the cb was amazingly fun

tom

[TheGadgetGuru]

i have to say that when forest, clarke and i were all driving our coaches following each other, talking on the cb was amazingly fun

tom

I think that a CB Radio and Adaptive Cruise are a nice combination for a caravan.