Considering Purchase of 2025 Precept 36C

[suzhou]

My wife and I are ready to move from our current 2017 Grand Design 5th wheel to a class A RV. We've looked and looked and have settled on the Precept 36C. Looking for any feedback on it that might be helpful before we pull the trigger. We owned a small bumper pull Jayco many years ago so not sure of their current user feedback or issues. We're new to the class A RV world as well. Lots of miles pulling a 5th wheel but a very different driving experience for sure.

thanks,

Randy

[Kevin Cooper]

Make sure you allot for $5000 for a tow vehicle hitch if flat towing. Also verify you have a vehicle that can be flat towed. That is unless you use a dolly.

[suzhou]

Thanks. Not currently planning to tow a vehicle but that may change once we get going.

[Kevin Cooper]

It’s all about your camping style. Straight to campsites and back home is not the same as on the road for weeks or months is different.

[TxLoser]

Make sure to test drive a couple to see how you like driving them. I didn’t test drive a Jayco Class A, but did so in a new Tiffin gas A, as well as a new Winnebago. They’re all about the same except both of these already some mods that most people add after purchase to make them drive better.

Hopefully you’ll have a different experience than I did. I really wanted to like it. Conceptually I really like the idea of a Class A gasser. The new V8’s have the power, which is nice, but the handling, braking, and rattling around of stuff is what I couldn’t get past after the quiet and controlled diesel/FW combo experience. That’s just me. They look like really nice RV’s.

[KHabie]

It is very difficult to drive a Class A without a towed vehicle. Sitting in an RV Park in the motorhome gets boring.

[suzhou]

Eventually I'm sure we'll end up with one but our first trip will be to Ogden, Utah for a family reunion over Thanksgiving. 1 night stops along the way to get there and once there plenty of family cars to borrow. My wife has very limited mobility so seldom leaves the RV. We tend to relax, sit outside, etc. Don't do any real local out and about for 1-2 night stops. I plan to get some sort of electric bike to be able to go for things we might need.

Going back tomorrow to test drive and practice being able to park it in our driveway. I've got all the driveway and road measurements and small kiddie traffic cones to set up a test track in their lot. Hoping I can get it into the drive. If not then will have to regroup. I was able to get my F350 with a 35ft FW into the drive, barely, so should be possible.

[TxLoser]

While I’d didn’t like how the gas A’s handled, maneuvering was very easy compared to a truck and FW. I bet you won’t have an issue there. Enjoy the test drive. New RV hunting is fun stuff.

[Jayhawk 29]

In the same manner as you learned to tow your 5th wheel setup, you will learn the characteristics of how a Class A handles and your restrictions or limitations. For me the main difference is if you have a tow vehicle with any motor home. Everyone of us use our rvs in a different manner. So its hard to tell how the complete change will work for you.

Upon looking and seeking out a Class A as an upgrade from towing a TT, is strickly the amount of interior room. For me its the amount of built in slides many of the newer Class A have incorporated in their units. Thats not really our cup of tea from the standpoint of maintainance and or leaks that may be built in in many of the off the production line builds.

The creates some restrictions on how and where we camp. We use campgrounds east of the Miss river to minimize carrying a lot of water and worry less about how much we fill the related tanks, which require more frequent dumping. Out west no really big deal.

Consider the site map layouts for overhead obstacles and power poles and if possible talk to the campground staff before you commit to paying if at all possible. You may have already have this built into your previous camping locations though.

[suzhou]

Had my test drive today. Easier to handle and better turning radius than expected. Just like my truck and FW today, you gotta drive it all the time and pay attention - no one hand on the wheel kick back and cruise. I'm used to that so no problem there. Overall easier to maneuver around a 39' one piece rig than a 53' truck and trailer combo. Correct on the internal noise not being as quiet as my truck cab. Oh well, comes with the package.

My wife has limited mobility so on our current FW I installed an electric lift that lowers to the ground and lifts her up level to the entrance. I've looked online and see there are mfg that make them for Class A rigs. I'll do a search here to see if anyone has any inputs.

[TxLoser]

Glad it went well. I’ve seen a number of class A’s used for sale that had a setup like what you mention. Sure there’s someone out there that could mod it for you. Sounds like it’ll be a nice setup for you once you get it squared away with the lift.

[grmucci]

I've read that many Cass A and C owners attack one noise source at a time. If a kitchen cabinet they'll install rubber cabinet liner or thin carpet. If a rattling door, they'll use insulation strips or the little round self stick felt pads. If an engine compartment noise they make noise absorbing pads for that - you get the picture.

[Captnjimk]

Our 2017 Alante 26x is certainly louder than our previous 40 diesel pusher. One thing that was annoying was the glass plate and its rollers in the microwave. I take it out driving and wrap in towels. Place padded shelf foam padding between all pots and pans…and everywhere. You might want to add a second grab bar at the doorway for your wife( it’s 6 steps up). ( mine fell out once…did a loop-de-loop holding on to one handle. Happy Camping

[Finally Able]

Suzhou, FWIW, we own a '22 31UL and love it, upgrading from a bumper pull which we owned for less than 2 years. You of course have learned about all the suspension and handling improvements you'll have to make. The advice given to me was to do them incrementally -- get an alignment done and do the steering stabilizer, then live with it for a short bit to see if it needs more. We ended up installing 4 Koni shocks and a rear trac bar -- it handles so much better, and I don't anticipate doing any more. It's the right size for us with a floorplan we think best fits us. The 36C looks quite nice as well -& good luck and hope it works out for you.

[Ljmk1]

I wish I would have test driven mine more, and had the dealer install the necessary suspension item for a travel free trip. Like turning and the bumps. With those upgrades I can drive one handed on the interstates, even with semis . Enjoy

[TJW]

So many great comments & suggestions, they are all spot-on accurate and Suzhou, you are so smart to join this group and reach out and get a hand before making the big plunge into a Class A. We have in-depth knowlege of & miles driven before and after ALL the gasser mods from steering stabilzer, konis, sumo springs, trac bar, additional leaf springs to radius rods and I recommed the one-at-a-time approach, install, evaluate for effectiveness, rinse & repeat with next mod until fully satisified. As to why we did so many mods, we were motivated to improve safety; better handling, better braking, improved driver comfort... all equal safety. It's a box on wheels with the aerodynamics of a brick with no airbags so make sure you are comfortable with driving this vehicle. Drive it first, at least 2,000 miles as factory stock, depending on your travel radius and road conditions & budget, maybe you stop at an alignment & steering stabilizer. We are set up to run coast-to-coast, thus the fully modified set up.
Advice if your are looking for it: Simply slow way down in everything you do with this rig! From set up & breakdowns, to your first rinsing of the black tank (make sure to install one of those little in-line digital flow meters so you don't over fill the black tank and hear your wife alert you with a scream never heard before in 45 years of your relationship - at least thats the story I've been told) to one arm steering on windy drives... Slow down & enjoy the IMAX windshield, one button leveling in the pouring rain (so nice), larger tanks, big residential refer, king bed, 2 baths and so on. Welcomce to Class A glamping.

[JFlightRisk]

snip...

Originally Posted by Captnjimk

One thing that was annoying was the glass plate and its rollers in the microwave. I take it out driving and wrap in towels.

We have the same glass plate in our microwave, but in a trailer where we can't hear it.

After seeing it all out of place in there, I cut a length of foam pipe insulation to wedge vertically between the glass and the top of the micro inside. It keeps it in place nicely.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Foam-King...T&athbdg=L1600

A piece of pool noodle would work the same way.

[suzhou]

Thanks for all the comments. Didn't know others had responded. Other forums send me an email when folks do so I was unaware.

Picked it up on Monday. Good drive home for about 1 1/2 hrs on the interstate. Will take some getting used to but so did the FW and F350 at first. Quieter inside than I expected but also not loaded up with pots and pans and stuff. Keeping it here for a week or so to exercise all the parts and get familiar with all the operations. More complicated re electronics, engine, cab, etc than the FW but in some ways simpler - no hitch and hooking up. So far everything checks out fine. From previous trailers I know there are little things that need to be tightened, adjusted, repaired a bit that weren't quite done exact or the way I would want at the factory. So far no issues.

Question - I always leveled the FW before I put the slides out. The instructions on the Class A seem to indicate to level it, put the slides out and then level again??? Or level with the slides out to start. Probably doesn't matter but curious.

Was always jealous of seeing the Class A folks with all that storage underneath... I put all my stuff in today from the FW and I still have empty bins.

Will check into some of the upgrades mentioned above in the post after our first big trip to Utah in a few months.

Might want to know more about the steering stabilizer and suspension mods. Didn't know they had them for these.

thx

Randy

[ScottJLa]

Originally Posted by suzhou

Thanks for all the comments. Didn't know others had responded. Other forums send me an email when folks do so I was unaware.

Picked it up on Monday. Good drive home for about 1 1/2 hrs on the interstate. Will take some getting used to but so did the FW and F350 at first. Quieter inside than I expected but also not loaded up with pots and pans and stuff. Keeping it here for a week or so to exercise all the parts and get familiar with all the operations. More complicated re electronics, engine, cab, etc than the FW but in some ways simpler - no hitch and hooking up. So far everything checks out fine. From previous trailers I know there are little things that need to be tightened, adjusted, repaired a bit that weren't quite done exact or the way I would want at the factory. So far no issues.

Question - I always leveled the FW before I put the slides out. The instructions on the Class A seem to indicate to level it, put the slides out and then level again??? Or level with the slides out to start. Probably doesn't matter but curious.

Was always jealous of seeing the Class A folks with all that storage underneath... I put all my stuff in today from the FW and I still have empty bins.

Will check into some of the upgrades mentioned above in the post after our first big trip to Utah in a few months.

Might want to know more about the steering stabilizer and suspension mods. Didn't know they had them for these.

thx

Randy

Congrats on the new MoHo.

We went from a 32' Tiffin to a 36' 5er and now in a 34G Precept.

I level our 34G then pop out the slides and rarely have to adjust the jacks.

As you suggested, these rigs have to be "driven" a lot more than a car. When I first started driving ours, I investigated thousands of dollars worth of suspension upgrades. The more I travelled, the more I got used to the ride. Now, after a couple years and 12,000 miles, I am comfortable with no mods to the suspension.

Be safe on your travels and enjoy.

[suzhou]

I guess some things don't change no matter what class of RV you get. I expect misc things to not be right, loose, break soon, etc. Been my experience on past trailers. So far only two things to fix.

The front heat had one vent that was not connected to the furnace. Flexible duct was too short so the installer simply left it dangling in the open space by the furnace. Furnace was dumping heat into the enclosed space where the furnace sits. Removed the panel, got a longer piece of flexible metal duct and attached correctly.

The trim work under the kitchen area was loose and falling off after the slide moved. Took it off, the pieces were cut too long and it was just jammed in place. Trimmed the pieces to the right length, put the rubber floor seal at the right height and screwed back in place. Hopefully that's all I'll have to deal with but likely not.