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Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Paul/Marilyn on May 02, 2012, 07:54:43 am

Title: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 02, 2012, 07:54:43 am
We're leaving this morning for Elkhart to visit Phoenix Cruiser and see Stuart. Will get to order our 2100. YoooHoooooo!
Marilyn & Paul  !:)!
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: gradygal on May 02, 2012, 08:00:37 am
Paul and Marilyn'
Hope all works our for you and you will order the 2100. The people who work for PC are great! I know you will be impressed with the whole operation.

Safe travels-- :)(:

Judi and George
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 02, 2012, 10:11:52 am
Doing that is a whole lot of fun.  It be interesting to read about their experience.
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Barry-Sue on May 02, 2012, 05:39:29 pm
Marilyn and Paul,

   Enjoy your visit with the folks at PC.  They are all wonderful to work with.  Hope to see you on the road with your new 2100 in the very near future.

Sue
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 03, 2012, 08:18:00 pm
 :) I'm sure we'll be updating during our trip from time to time. We're already planning our next trip up here and the route back. We're returning home this trip down the Natchez Trace.
Marilyn
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: bigbadjc on May 03, 2012, 09:36:35 pm
Too bad you're not already in your new PC.  There are a couple of no hookup but really nice campgrounds right on the Trace. If you haven't been on it before, it's a really beautiful drive.

Jerry
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 04, 2012, 09:32:30 am
We've driven part of the Trace before but not all the way. We remember French Camp as being a neat place. Got some great apple pie there. (cheer)
Marilyn
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: bigbadjc on May 04, 2012, 10:13:18 am
We've done the entire Trace from Nashville to Natchez and, if you can tolerate the speed limit, it's a very beautiful and relaxing drive.  Be sure and stop at the various visitor's centers and historic markers and overlooks.  Toward the southern terminus is a turnoff to Emerald Mound, one of the tallest indian mounds in the US.  Also, within a short drive of the Trace in several areas along it are really nice full hookup state and forest service campgrounds.  It's not as popular as the Blue Ridge Parkway, but a heck of a lot more relaxing with a lot less traffic.

Jerry
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: JackD on May 05, 2012, 04:02:00 pm
We did the trace 2 years ago with friends - took almost 3 weeks to go the 430 miles or so, and enjoyed every bit! Hope you guys do as well!

Jack
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 07, 2012, 07:43:53 am
We got to Elkhart last night and are staying in the Elkhart CG. Couldn't get completely on the Forum last night so couldn't check the Posts. We're going to see Stuart this very rainy morning. The weather so far has been great. We followed the front for a while but finally caught up with it. We discovered that "The Weather Channel app" is a great way to watch to see where the storms are. The "Gas Buddy app" is also a very useful app. You can check ahead to find out where the best gas prices are.
   Here's hoping we'll have ordered our dream Cruiser by the end of the day!
Paul/Marilyn (yahoo)
   
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Barry-Sue on May 07, 2012, 08:28:56 am
Thanks for the tips on the APPs.  Very helpful!!   Enjoy your visit.
 

Sue
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 07, 2012, 04:36:40 pm
Well, it's on order!! :-D
Amanda gave us a tour of the Cruisers they have there now and we talked to Stuart about all the details. As everyone has said, they go out of their way to be helpful. We think we'll be very happy with it and should be able to pick it up in 8 to 10 weeks. We're already planning our return trip. We'll want to get up here as fast as possible but will probably return going further west and then go south. It's fun to plan!
Paul/Marilyn
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Barry-Sue on May 07, 2012, 04:55:34 pm
Paul and Marilyn

    Congrats  y--

    Now for the wait!!!!

Barry and Sue
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: gradygal on May 07, 2012, 05:11:32 pm
Paul and Marilyn:
Congrats!!! As I have said hundreds of times:::"the folks at PC are top notch"

Speaking, as one who knows, waiting is the hard part!!! y-- y-- y--
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 07, 2012, 05:19:03 pm
Okay.......... Paul/Marilyn, you are such a tease.  You didn't share any detail.

Were you able to walk through the same model/floorplan you ordered?
Did you decide on a 2100 as originally planned?
Did you decide to get a slide-out or not?
What options are you considering?
What options did you completely rule out?
Full body paint job, half, or none?

You can't just say "We ordered one" and leave us hanging here.

           (cheer)    (cheer)    (cheer)    (cheer)
 (cheer) PS:  Congratulations from me too.  (cheer)

           (cheer)    (cheer)    (cheer)    (cheer)
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: TomHanlon on May 07, 2012, 07:03:01 pm
  A BIG Congratulations from me

What are the changes for 2013?
What mods did you ask for?
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 08, 2012, 09:25:18 am
Thanks everybody. We're about to take off for the day. Will let you know more about the details later. Still excited this morning.
Paul/Marilyn tymote
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: echo11 on May 08, 2012, 09:30:40 am
Good luck with your purchase!
Roni
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: aimee on May 08, 2012, 02:28:57 pm
 y-- Congrats!  and yes  :-[  we do want more details. This is like walking into a room full of new mothers and spouting out, "Well, I had the baby!" and walking out.  We want the details.  :lol
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 09, 2012, 07:20:09 pm
Thanks again for the congratulations. We also want to thank all of you for all the info we have gotten by reading your posts these last few months. You've helped us so much in making our decision and learning what we have about the Cruisers.

Unfortunately, you asked for details! Couldn't send these last night because no internet at our CG. We had a very good, enjoyable experience working with Amanda and Stuart.

We weren't able to walk through a 2100 except for the old one they have that let us get a feel for the size. Then we went through a 2400 so got an idea of all the features on that, just imagining it shrunk up to a 2100! We knew that would be how we checked them out, and since we'd been looking at every picture we could for the last few months we felt we knew what we were looking for.

Here are some of the details. We stuck with the 2100 with slide-out which will fill our needs very well.
* Standard Paint with the Sterling swoosh and Slate Grey upholstery, all fabric, no leather.
• Maple cabinets. Since it's small we thought lighter wood would open it up. Also, less expensive.
• 12 ft. awning
• Premium Convenience Package
• Leveling jacks
• Surround Sound w/DVD player
• Insulated glass
• Mirror w/Compass & Outside Temp
• Back-up Monitor
and… special requests we had…
• Shower instead of tub
• Very narrow shelf behind the stool at the level of the sink in Corian (if possible)
• Delete coffee pot (we use a small four cup and like that, also can use that storage space)
• No mirror in kitchen (Stuart said he thought they had stopped that but would make sure)
• Add USB cord to TV for computer
• Add outside lights on left, right and rear with separate switch
• Wood valance on kitchen and bath window
• Hinge back of dinette seat nearest passenger seat so passenger can recline more
• Additional hand hold on door going out of kitchen
* We also plan to order the outside windshield screens

We took Stuart's advise on not ordering a swivel passenger seat. He said there wasn't room. And, we had thought we wanted venetian blinds all around but he convinced us we'd be happier with the Duo Blinds. It will be considered a 2013 but not sure what specific differences there are from the 2012.

Stuart said we could expect it to be ready to pick up in 8 to 10 weeks. Those will really be long weeks but we have a few things to do to fill the time.
Paul/Marilyn  !:)! !:)!
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: ragoodsp on May 09, 2012, 08:45:28 pm
Congrats on your purchase.  You will have a blast with the coach I am sure.
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Barry-Sue on May 09, 2012, 09:52:17 pm
Paul and Marilyn

  Great options

  I think you will like the DUO blinds better.  We had the day/night shades in the 2008 and liked them but in the 2012 we got the DUO blinds and they are the best.

Sue
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 10, 2012, 12:12:29 am
It sounds great.

I hesitate to suggest anything from our experience of 5 years ago because PC made changes over the years.

But.....Since you have the dinette.....  You might want to consider this.

More dense foam for the bench dinette.  Our foam was never dense enough, even when brand new.  Our butts get too close to bottoming out on the wooden bench.  When I shift my weight on the seat, I feel the board.  I am 180 pounds.

Leather dinette surfaces instead of cloth.  Won't wrinkle or bunch up when slouching or when sliding in and out.  The cloth does, especially with the softer foam.

I wished we had an outside access door to our front dinette bench seat storage.  I store heavy outside use items in my front bench seat to help balance the load better and wish I could get to those items without disturbing the interior.  The side bench cabinet doors are good for the stuff close to the door, but deep inside I have to remove the cushions to get to them.  Your front dinette bench likely will be outfitted with a huge drawer which will provide easy access to everything inside but limits storage volume significantly.  Given your dinette is on the right side of the motor home with the awning, having outside access to that huge storage compartment (without drawer) would be extremely convenient.

I would inquire if a lockable outdoor storage door could be added there, and leave out that front bench drawer.

Just some ideas.

A separate porch light (one on each of the 3 sides) on their own shared switch is a big wish of mine for years now.  If I had only thought of that 5 years ago when we ordered ours.  I was going to add them myself but it would have required too much interior damage to retro-fit them.  I bought the lights and switch and all, then decided against it.

For some reason the 2100 always suffered from a sagging rear end.  The 2350 does too but not as much.  I would ask if the factory could install adjustable rear air bags to lift the back end up to level on demand, especially important when loaded up for a trip.
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: TomHanlon on May 10, 2012, 07:52:35 am
Hi Paul and Marilyn,

    It looks like you made some great choices. The outside shades that Armada sells are great. We never use our old white covers since we got her shades. The Duo shades are also a great improvement over the day/night shade and the v-blinds.

    Looking at the pictures of the current 2100, they show small door where Ron is talking about having one put, I guess it is what he is talking about.

    One thing I have seen in the pass on other companies 21 ft motorhomes that you might want to consider is a folding floor over the entrance step. The floor folds up against the refer wall when not being used and down in the step well when cooking. A short rope tied to the side by the stove and draped over a hook on the cabinet allows you to pull the step up after use. A latch on the refer wall would hold the floor in place when traveling. Just something I have seen in the pass and thought it would help when cooking and not falling out the door.  :-D

    We are on our second PC and know how hard it is to wait for that phone call from Stuart telling you it is ready, but that day will come. On both of our PCs I went back to the factory during construction to see it, and ended up making some minor changes. Besides it is fun to see it being built and taking pictures to show our family and friends. It won't be long before you are changing your profile to "Own PC: YES". 2o2
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: George Nauman on May 10, 2012, 08:37:43 am
Congratulations!  We like your mod ideas - if we ever get a new PC, we would incorporate most, if not all of them.

George & Judy
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 10, 2012, 09:07:28 am
Looking at the pictures of the current 2100, they show small door where Ron is talking about having one put, I guess it is what he is talking about.
Tom, I had to look for myself, and you are right.  PC is already doing that.  I see it's a very tiny door because of the outside transition wall.
Never mind me.

(http://phoenixusarv.com/albums/2100_models/slides/DSC00078_190612_large.jpg)
(http://phoenixusarv.com/albums/2100_models/slides/DSC04737.jpg)
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 10, 2012, 06:58:26 pm
We like the idea of the fold up cover for the step well. I have envisioned myself falling in the well with a pot of boiling soup!  :'( Would probably be easy to install. Thanks for the idea.
Marilyn
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: TomHanlon on May 10, 2012, 09:07:11 pm
Why not have the factory do it? They can use the same flooring as the rest of the PC. Just need to call them and ask.
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 10, 2012, 09:25:10 pm
Why not have the factory do it? They can use the same flooring as the rest of the PC. Just need to call them and ask.
100% in agreement!
Title: Re: Trip to Elkhart
Post by: Paul/Marilyn on May 11, 2012, 09:20:15 am
Just might do that!
Marilyn/Paul