Options qustions...

Is a propane oven an option, or has anyone installed one post-factory? We like to camp in no-generator National Forest campgrounds ( we enjoy the quiet of nature, not the noise of crowded campgrounds where in the absence of electrical hook-ups, folks run generators most of the day and night).

Coleman makes a folding stove top oven that works well. We carry a small Coleman propane camp stove for cooking outside (fish and bacon especially) and the oven works on it also.   https://www.google.com/search?q=coleman+folding+oven&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS749US749&oq=coleman+folding+&aqs=chrome.5.0j69i57j0l4.9632j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


I also wish we had a second water pump switch in the bathroom and I will put one in someday.

Hi Folks: Finally getting close to pulling the trigger on a new 2552!
We have plans to travel to Elkhart the end of this month to work out the details with Mike Peterson.
Kind of nervous, VERY excited.
Few quick questions come to mind as I stew over which options I will settle on:
-   Those with the Lagun tables, are you still as happy with them now that you have spent time with them?
Do they remove easily and have you found any place in the unit to store them when not in use?
-   What experience with compressor refrigerators? Hoping to learn brands and models used? Are you Satisfied?
-   Anybody gotten an Advanced RV A/C installed by Phoenix yet?

Regards, Jim G.

-   What experience with compressor refrigerators? Hoping to learn brands and models used? Are you Satisfied?

Jim I have had two Nova Kool compressor fridges. Both were both AC/DC. The last one ran for 12 years almost 24/7 with not a hitch.  I believe J Trax on this site from Oregon had one installed.

Hutch

Go Bruins....we are expats from the hub area.

Hi Folks: Finally getting close to pulling the trigger on a new 2552!
We have plans to travel to Elkhart the end of this month to work out the details with Mike Peterson.
Kind of nervous, VERY excited

Congratulations Jim!  I know it's been a long road, but you're closing in on the destination!

The only item I can comment on is the Lagun tables--but you already know my opinion on them, and it hasn't changed.  Obviously, virtually everything in the interior of the coach is subject to individual needs and usage.  You can find folks that like, don't like, or have changed almost every component in a Phoenix Cruiser, so I'm sure those tables are ideal for some folks and would be virtually useless to others.  From my perspective though, they really add a lot of versatility to the 2552.  The tables do remove about as easily as would be possible for any table fixed in the coach.  A twist of a lever allows the table and horizontal arm to be removed from the post.  A twist of another lever allows the vertical post to be removed from the mount.  Since I have had my coach, my tables have remained in place, so I have not had occasion to think about a place to store them.  They could probably go in the rear closet, similar to where the standard table stores,but they would occupy some room.

I am confident that when you visit Elkhart at the end of month, you will have the opportunity to examine both the tables and the layout, and make some judgements for yourself.  That will do more than anything to answer those questions for you.  Looking forward to the report on your visit!

All the best,       Mike 

You can find folks that like, don't like, or have changed almost every component in a Phoenix Cruiser.....

Mike, you are so right about that.  What is ideal for one can be just the opposite for another.  When it comes to "customizing ideas" as well as selecting options, some need to be thought through carefully when requesting the factory to make such changes.  Some shared ideas can be a straight forward no-brainer improvement....just get it so.  But other ideas can be debatable, often addressing a unique need that would not apply to every owner.

The most popular debate I can think of is the one concerning the optional living room slide out.   Do you get a slide out with an extremely comfortable reclining sofa that converts into a bed for two people?  Or do you save the $6000 MSRP and get the no-slide large but less comfortable dinette that converts into a bed for one person which provides significant additional interior storage?

Mike: Glad to hear the tables break down easily as we do like them but can picture a scenario when they might seem in the way.
Did you have the pantry door cut to allow the top section to open when tables are in use? If so do you think the tables would fit in that bottom section?
Agreed to each their own regarding options but this forum has been invaluable helping me sort through them all, many I would never have heard about.
Ron: Luckily the slide question is an easy one for us. We both need that extra space to feel comfortable and the recliner sofa will be needed when the Grandkids come along.
Mike: regarding the slide option credit we discussed earlier, current answer after a bit of confusion with Mike and Barry, seems to be the change stands. I'll try again when I see them in a couple of weeks.

All: I got a quote from Mike that is close to what I want to order. It had like 4 pages of available options, some I had not heard about before.
Here are a few I am wondering about the practicality and quality of:
Single lever faucet. What is standard?
Double electric step. I assume the 2552 comes standard with the Kwikee single step. Based on your experience and the height of the unit would a double step be helpful?
Roof vent in Front. This is a separate thing from the add 2nd fan in living room. Any ideas what it is?
Removable rod in shower with backer. Useful?
Inverter upgrade to 200W pure sine. Is the standard 1800 pure sine? Anyone know the cost of this option?
Trimetric Battery monitor. Wondering cost and if needed since not adding solar at this time.

Also, FYI Barry says any units ordered now will be built on 2020 Ford chassis.
The chassis have been ordered with some new options:
Limited slip differential SFX-Ford option
Info Center in dash
225A alternator

Ok, last question for now. How many of you have and use the Magna shades. Like-em?

Thanks for all your help!
Jim G.

Magneshades - have had for six years. Love them. Don't use for one nighters but they are up most every other time. If it is brighter outside than in, people cannot see in but you can see out fine. We have also left truck windows open a few times when shades are on and we are home to get more air circulation - persistent bugs can still get in and we lock up before leaving the rig. They also block a lot of heat from the sun.

Pure syne wave inverter - We were told no when I wanted to upgrade ours last service visit. They were having trouble with them draining the batteries. We posted long ago that we almost killed our phones charging on the inverter outlets with the standard inverter. Devices with large "wall wart" converters attached (like our laptop) were fine but our phones were not. So we had 12v USB outlets installed over each bed and on each wing wall instead. We love having them and use them constantly for our devices. I hate the little ALWAYS ON LED light they each have and attacked them with black electrical tape. They were bright enough I could walk the rig and find things without turning on other lights - Not conducive to sleeping. If they have found a pure syne wave inverter that doesn't cause other problems, I'd get it.

Jim,

I've got several comments on your last message, so I'll try to just get them in under it instead of listing quotes.

1. Yes, I have the double pantry doors--I think Phoenix is doing that as standard with the Lagun option.  My top door clears the table and accesses the two top pantry drawers.  I left the drawer in my bottom section, but you can eliminate that and just have a storage cabinet behind that bottom door.  My tables would not fit in my bottom section, but I think they could be made to fit because Phoenix can adjust the tabletop dimensions to your specifications.  My tops are 18 inches wide and my bottom pantry section is only 16 inches high, but it would accommodate tabletops that were two inches narrower.  The interior of the pantry cabinet is 8 inches wide, and the tabletop attached to the mounting arm is approximately 4 inches high overall--I think there may very well be a way to stack the two tabletops so that the pantry would accept them.  Right now the length of my top and arm is about two inches longer than the pantry depth--so again the top length would have to be shortened and/or the top relocated on the arm to reduce overall length by two inches.  Bottom line, there would need to be some careful calculation, but the dimensions are close enough that I think it could be made to work.

2.  I would press Phoenix pretty hard on that slide option issue.  The price increase doesn't seem to make complete sense on it's face.  For years the sofa slide was some $1400 less expensive than the dinette, and suddenly overnight it balloons $4000 to a $2400+ premium.  That's not an incremental increase due to inflating costs.  Phoenix determines their prices, of course, and there may be some logical explanation, but if there is they should be able to explain it.  I don't think it's an unreasonable question in any case.

3.  Some of the options you are referencing were not on the option sheet I was working with last fall.  Both my kitchen and bathroom faucets are single-handle, and to my knowledge that was standard since it wasn't an option on my list.  Neither was the double entry step.  I have the Kwikee single unit which works fine for my needs.  I had a question about the roof vent in front as well.  I was told that it was a separate line item that was required if one was going to get the second vent fan in living room.  I presume it covers the labor of cutting/framing a second vent hole--as opposed to the separate cost of the fan and it's installation.  Removable shower rod wasn't on my option list--so can't comment on that.  When I spec'd my unit, the standard 1800 watt inverter was not pure sine--it's a modified sine wave inverter.  The 2000 pure sine inverter was a $915 dollar option.  Based on my research, folks with the 1800 modified sine unit seemed to find it quite satisfactory for their electronics, etc, so I didn't opt for the extra $1K.  No concerns or issues so far.  The Trimetric Battery Monitor was a steal at the $45 option cost.  The amount of information it provides regarding your coach battery bank is impressive--voltage, amps going in, amps going out, percent of charge.  Even without solar you'll know a lot more about the status of your battery system than with the indicator lights.

4.  I am envious of the standard upgrades you list for the 2020 Ford chassis.  The limited slip and big alternator were listed as options on my build sheet, but the only way to get them was to special order a chassis from Ford for my build rather than using one of the standard chassis that Phoenix keeps on hand.  That would have added about four months to my build time, so I reluctantly decided to forgo both of those features which I would very much have liked to have.  I would also liked to have the "info center"--depending on exactly what that is.  I'm not sure whether they are referring to the Ford Sync unit--which the Ford website listed as an option for the E-350 and 450 units, but which was not even a special order option that Phoenix had on my option list.  Any technology updates that can be secured for the E-series chassis would be very welcome--they are very safe and capable units that perform well in RV service, but they're pretty much stone-age as far as technology goes.

5.  I do have the Magna-shades but haven't had occasion to use them yet, so can't comment from personal experience.  I sprung for them based on a lot of favorable comments from users on several forums, and the fact that I am in a very hot area of the country.  You probably know that they are a pretty easy add-on at any point in time, and you can save a little money putting them on yourself.  Installation can be a little tricky, however, and that is the reason that I decided to just have Phoenix install them.

Keep us updated on how things proceed, and all the best--            Mike 

What experience with compressor refrigerators? Hoping to learn brands and models used? Are you Satisfied?

Jim I have had two Nova Kool compressor fridges. Both were both AC/DC. The last one ran for 12 years almost 24/7 with not a hitch.  I believe J Trax on this site from Oregon had one installed.

I requested the Nova Kool but at that time Phoenix said they did not have a relationship with them and suggested the Norcold 0061 which is similar (12v/120v compressor).  I am completely happy with mine.  Keep in mind that if you go with a compressor type you do not have the option of running the refer on propane.  I get around that with 2 solar panels for boondocking which has worked fine, and of course you have the generator if needed. 

Absorption / compressor debates abound so its a personal choice but for me the compressor unit was the clear choice.  Fast cool down (about an hour), more actual room inside, no worries about it working in hot weather.

I wonder what type of default roof antenna Phoenix is installing these days.  It seems the old style crank-up & directional Winegard continues to linger.  Am I right about that?  I also wonder where Phoenix is installing the antenna as of late.  The old style Winegard we have is a lot of ugly and clanky apparatus.   I wished Phoenix installed ours into the actual roof, not the B+ cap.  I occasionally get the itch to research a cleaner design, but never come to a decision.  Various specs claim great reception, but I don't buy into it.  I'd really like a 360 degree fixed-position, low profile, long range antenna.  I'd also need a kit to deal with the mess of my existing antenna mount.

Ok, last question for now. How many of you have and use the Magna shades. Like-em?

Thanks for all your help!
Jim G.

Jim, I ordered my PC with the Magna Shades.  I love them.  So much nicer and "cleaner" than those with snaps.  Easily installed in minutes.

Barry T

We also have them for our 2910D.  Easy to use but one must be carefully that the magnet doesn't scratch the metal.  Highly recommend them.  When we had to replace our windshield (cracked) it was easy to remove the magnets.  The company sent us new sticky backings to replace our original magnets.

Okay, Magna-Shades added to the list. Keeps getting longer

Thanks for the help folks!

OK, FINALLY DID IT!
Visited PC this week and after a tour of the factory we sat down and wrote up an order, and  paid the deposit.
Now the waiting begins.
We probably got carried away on options including Liquid springs and a 6" stretch.
The only thing we skimped on was electronics but now I am having second thoughts and will probably add the surround sound back in.
FYI, Mike Peterson is no longer working at Phoenix and has been replaced by Jeff Pressinell.
I guess Mike and his wife still work for Camping World but have (somewhat suddenly) moved to Florida.
Gotta admit this created some tense moments when I had planned my travel to Elkhart and all communications from Mike went dark.
I was left wondering if they would be expecting me. It was a couple of days and several calls to the factory before Jeff reached out to me.
Once I  talked to Jeff my concerns were put to rest.
The factory tour went well, there were about 8 units under construction and I got to chat with a few of the employees.
Gained a sense of confidence that they are still quality coach builders.
One huge bonus for us is that by chance, while we were there some folks were picking up a beautiful 3100 with a great looking custom paint job.
My wife and I had been discussing some color changes but neither of us had the confidence to make changes because once it is painted you have got to live with it.
We loved their 3100 color combination so much we included it in our order. A big Thank You to those folks!
I'd like to also thank MikeH, Ron and all the others that replied in this thread and helped me decide what my new PC will look like when built.
Here's the list of what was ordered so far:

2552 Phoenix Cruiser
Premium Convenience Package
Liquid Springs
Automatic Leveling Jacks
Limited SlipDiff SFX-Ford option
Info Center in Dash 68B Ford option
225A Alternator
Awning 18'
Awning Auto Remote w/ Wind sensor
Full Body Paint, Nightscape w/ burgundy to replace light grey
Slide out Sofa w/ Pantry
Spare tire option
Taller skylight
Dual pane windows
Cherry Cabinets
Adjustable Shelves x3
Cabinet behind passenger seat
Corian ILO wood counter ext.
Waterproof flooring Cherry
Bedspreads x2
Power bed PS only
6 way Power drivers seat
Sofa Leather
Back Up Monitor camera without GPS option
Dual air conditioners w/ 50amp
Auto Gen start
Porch Light
Surge Protection, progressive power protection
AGM batteries
Docking Light in rear
Hand Sprayer @ Toilet
Removable rod in shower
single lever faucet in bath
taller toilet
heat and insulate sanicon
sliding shower head
Seelevel tank guages.
Magna Shade
Gas grill hookup on passenger side
Safe-T-Plus stabilizer
burgundy paint upgrade
Upgrade to Maxx air 00-07000K, 3 locations
Lagun side tables on couch.
Cabinet doors to under bed on DS
Norcold Compressor fridge
hitch upgrade to 7000lb
Extend coach 6" to make DS bed 74" and kitchen counter and cabinets wider
Advanced AC upgrade x2
2" lip around shelf over toilet
On the Advanced AC upgrade I will be purchasing the AC's from Advanced RV and PC will install. A modest credit was given for the standard A/C's.
Mike, I wasn't able to get anywhere with them on the slide w/sofa pricing issue. They say that's just the way it is. Wouldn't acknowledge it was ever different. Just said prices change.

All in all a very positive experience except a 3 hour delay on our flight home. 

Ron, the Diesel will have a propane gen? I can’t think of one good reason for it to be propane over Diesel.