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Old 04-02-2014, 07:58 AM   #1
KJP
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Questions about Class A

We have been looking at motorhomes and have decided on a class A. We really like the Jayco Precept. We are first time buyers. Looking for any insight on this model.
New vs. used
Gas vs. diesel
Any advice would be appreciated.
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Old 04-02-2014, 04:36 PM   #2
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Search the threads. A few people have posted about it.
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Old 08-10-2016, 11:14 PM   #3
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I have a new 2016 31UL precept and love it. There are always a few issues with new units but over all it is great. I prefer gas over diesel because it is much easier to find a gas station that you can fit in to fill up. Try getting fuel at a truck stop. Not easy. I traded in my diesel.
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Old 08-11-2016, 09:12 AM   #4
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We spent a lot of time walking down the path you're going. At the very end we bypassed Winnebago, Jayco Precept and Thor products and settled on a Coachmen Mirada. We also believe we saved between $20 and $35K. and have a better built coach with nicer features. But it's all about the dealer too.
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Old 08-11-2016, 01:28 PM   #5
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We looked for the better part of 2 years before deciding on a Precept. We love all the standard features you get in the precept, Our preference was the 35UN, They stopped making it for 2017, It has a great kitchen, lots of room, Great storage, One awesome windshield, Drives beautifully. I could go on and on. We looked extensively and really felt we got the most bang for the buck with the Precept. And Jayco's Customer Service has been nothing but spectacular.
Good luck in your quest!
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Old 08-21-2016, 09:30 PM   #6
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We went with an Alante 31V. The Precepts also looked very nice, but were a bit out of our budget. We are very happy with our decision so far.
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Old 08-26-2016, 07:41 AM   #7
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"steering is horrible - lots of play in the steering wheel so you constantly have to move it left and right to keep it tracking,"

There's no problem with the steering, you have a chassis handling problem.
Try these simple remedies in this order and if one doesn't work or seem to make any difference or enough difference try the next;

Fill the fresh water tank before your next journey may help with handling depending upon where the tank is located above the chassis.
Ask the dealer for a front end alignment. They are not normally done after the chassis is built and the coach is added on top which changes things considerably.
Inflate the tires to just about the maximum as found on the sidewall of the tires.
Consider adding front and rear trac bars, sway bars, and aftermarket shocks.

Any one of the above may help enough or to the point that you are satisfied, or you may need all in the end to eliminate the white knuckle driving.
That's what I've done however I presently have a heavy duty class C. I did have two Holiday Rambler class As before that.
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Old 08-26-2016, 09:21 AM   #8
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Should be built drivable

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Originally Posted by abarkl View Post
"steering is horrible - lots of play in the steering wheel so you constantly have to move it left and right to keep it tracking,"

There's no problem with the steering, you have a chassis handling problem.
Try these simple remedies in this order and if one doesn't work or seem to make any difference or enough difference try the next;

Fill the fresh water tank before your next journey may help with handling depending upon where the tank is located above the chassis.
Ask the dealer for a front end alignment. They are not normally done after the chassis is built and the coach is added on top which changes things considerably.
Inflate the tires to just about the maximum as found on the sidewall of the tires.
Consider adding front and rear trac bars, sway bars, and aftermarket shocks.

Any one of the above may help enough or to the point that you are satisfied, or you may need all in the end to eliminate the white knuckle driving.
That's what I've done however I presently have a heavy duty class C. I did have two Holiday Rambler class As before that.
"Fill the fresh water tank before your next journey may help with handling depending upon where the tank is located above the chassis.
Ask the dealer for a front end alignment. They are not normally done after the chassis is built and the coach is added on top which changes things considerably.
Inflate the tires to just about the maximum as found on the sidewall of the tires.
Consider adding front and rear trac bars, sway bars, and aftermarket shocks."

Just watched a video of Newmar Motorhomes and THEY do a front-end alignment after the build before it is shipped out. Why would anyone want to pay over $100,000 + and THEN have to spend thousands to make it drivable??? Makes NO sense IMHO!
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Old 08-26-2016, 09:56 AM   #9
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Jayco pays for the front end alignment under warrantee. Just get an authorization number from them. Our dealer fixes everything and quickly. I email then photo's of issues, they order parts, we drop it off two days later it's done. Taking action is better than complaining. You can call Jayco and talk to people and things will get done, email is rather passive in my book.
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Old 08-26-2016, 10:04 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lars36 View Post
Just watched a video of Newmar Motorhomes and THEY do a front-end alignment after the build before it is shipped out. Why would anyone want to pay over $100,000 + and THEN have to spend thousands to make it drivable??? Makes NO sense IMHO!
Most manufacturers don't except for the few as mentioned and it's accepted practice in the industry, as are many other shortcuts and other cost-cutting measures.
If manufacturer A does not and B does not but C does, then A and B either appeal to buyers with less to spend or do something else to set themselves apart and don't try and compete with C.

The real question may be why do consumers pay $100,000 + and not do their homework, test drive, ask experts, rent first, etc.
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Old 08-26-2016, 10:10 AM   #11
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Newmar may do a chassis alignment after the coach is built and you pay for it Newmar's cost 30% more than a Precept. All motorhomes are rolling earthquakes.
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Old 08-26-2016, 10:42 AM   #12
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Old saying!

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Newmar may do a chassis alignment after the coach is built and you pay for it Newmar's cost 30% more than a Precept. All motorhomes are rolling earthquakes.
And you get what you pay for!

No way in hell someone should have to spend thousands of dollars to make something SAFE and drivable!!!
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Old 08-26-2016, 10:47 AM   #13
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And you get what you pay for!

No way in hell someone should have to spend thousands of dollars to make something SAFE and drivable!!!
Driveability is debatable and a matter of opinion.
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Old 08-26-2016, 11:21 AM   #14
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You must be reading

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Driveability is debatable and a matter of opinion.
a different forum then me. Seems to be the number one complaint no matter who is the MH builder.
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Old 08-26-2016, 12:32 PM   #15
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After my alignment and filling my tires up to 108 PSI my 35S drives just fine. I live in western Washington and drive freeways, curvy roads and mountain roads. Yes, we get what we pay for and I paid for a +$100K motorhome and accept what it has. I wanted to tow a $120K Corvette but only could/wanted to afford a CRV. My wife and I spent two years researching the motorhome market and bought what we evaluated was the most bang for the buck. If I want better handling I'll spend the money on a Trac bar and steering stabilizer, but for now it's fine.
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Old 08-27-2016, 08:23 AM   #16
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Thank God

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After my alignment and filling my tires up to 108 PSI my 35S drives just fine. I live in western Washington and drive freeways, curvy roads and mountain roads. Yes, we get what we pay for and I paid for a +$100K motorhome and accept what it has. I wanted to tow a $120K Corvette but only could/wanted to afford a CRV. My wife and I spent two years researching the motorhome market and bought what we evaluated was the most bang for the buck. If I want better handling I'll spend the money on a Trac bar and steering stabilizer, but for now it's fine.
Sir, I am glad your MH has been trouble free, only wish we could say that for everyone.
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Old 08-27-2016, 08:39 AM   #17
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Never have done this before, we kicked this way of travel around for about 5 years. Asked tons of questions did lots of reading and several one hour test drives on the coaches we liked. We had to have under 35 foot.

In the end we bought a 2016 31UL (new) well under 100k, put about another $800. in the steering stabilizer, played with tire pressures, loaded the front end as much as possible and it drives as well as any other <35 foot model we drove (better than some).

I catch myself sometimes just keeping up with traffic and not watching the speedo and I find myself at 70+. Now that I'm pulling a toad I'm very conscious to keep it in the 62 to 65 range, I have no problems.

I bet the 2017 is even better with the 22.5" tires. Take a long test drive, interstate, secondary, and urban roads.... decide for yourself.

Problems, they all have problems, we were lucky and only had one very minor problem. The big problem was getting camping world to fix it!

We in fact have some RV friends we made that have been doing this for over 30 years, the just bought a brand new Newmar London Aire, I'm sure they paid over 500k. He has a whole list of problems, including slide, hot water, awning, etc. He has scheduled a factory appointment to take care of his issues, they asked that he be prepared to stay 3 to 7 days.

Look a lot, drive a lot and make your own best decision. We love ours!

Steve

BTW: we "love" the RV way of travel
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Old 08-27-2016, 02:15 PM   #18
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Quote:
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Jayco pays for the front end alignment under warrantee. Just get an authorization number from them. Our dealer fixes everything and quickly. I email then photo's of issues, they order parts, we drop it off two days later it's done. Taking action is better than complaining. You can call Jayco and talk to people and things will get done, email is rather passive in my book.
Thank you. I did send a registered, return receipt requested letter directly to the head of Customer Service at Jayco in Indiana and cc'd the Manteca Trailer and RV Dealership where we bought it new. I have not been contacted directly by Jayco, however, the Manteca Service Rep has spoken with the powers that be there at Jayco. I will try calling Jayco directly. We have only driven approximately 500 miles, for a total of five days, in this new 2016 Precept 31UL. It has been at Manteca for warranty issues all summer. Jayco has taken their sweet time in authorizing any warranty issues, including long delays in shipping of a replacement driver side window, and kitchen cabinet replacement damaged because of improper mounting. In reading about the problem with steering issues, I will definitely call directly. Thank you for this recommendation.
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Old 08-29-2016, 08:59 AM   #19
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Florida Lift Laws | Vehicle Modification Rules


I was reading Florida statutes about lengths of vehicles and found that Florida and many other states limit length of a single vehicle to 40 feet. All most every manufacturer of diesel class A's have a 43 or 45 foot unit in production. Has anyone ever been subjected to a citation for an extra long RV?
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:43 AM   #20
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Not sure but "I think" it just requires those owners to get a CDL.

I'm sure someone will chime in.


Steve
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