Why did RV Buddies name the Serrano 31V one of our “Best of Show” at the PRVCA in Hershey this year?”  Because it offers style, storage, floor plans and diesel fuel economy at an affordable price - a great combination in a nicely sized package!

At first glance, the Serrano has a very unique front cap – smooth, curved and aerodynamic with its attractive one-piece windshield. But glancing around the sides of the coach reveals that the curving theme continues. Yes, the side walls arch at the top of the roof-line as well. This is one wind-cutting coach!

RV Buddies looked at the 31V, one of two available layouts. Both coaches are 8' wide. If you're used to driving a wide-body, driving the narrower Serrano should be a breeze. The 31V has two slides while the 31Z has one large slide.

The full-body paint on the slick fiberglass continues the polished theme of the exterior. The three available color schemes are attractive and stylish. The European bus-style rear view mirrors further set the front end design apart. There's no other way to describe them than "really cool".

Beyond all the normal storage compartments, look closely at the rear quarters of either model. There are two large doors that reveal what is aptly called "Mega" storage. Accessible from both sides of the coach, there is more than enough room for every camping need – think grills, bicycles and other large items.

Underneath the coach lies a solid foundation in the Workhorse W20D chassis. Key components include disc brakes with ABS, the MaxxForce 7 V-8 diesel with 620 lb ft of torque, an Allison transmission, 50 degree wheel cut, Bilstein shocks and 19.5" tires and wheels.

Supplying power is a standard 6000 watt Cummins-Onan diesel generator with 50 amp shore service. Also of note are the heated and enclosed holding tanks.

Given the good looks and quality mechanicals, is it possible for the interior to live up to expectations? Stepping inside is not disappointing.

Both floor plans provide an upscale vinyl flooring which makes for practical camping, while the living, cab and rear bedroom are carpeted. Hopefully whatever dirt gets tracked in will have fallen away before settling onto carpeting. Although the 31V is just shy of 33', the interior feels much larger.

Entering amidships, the spacious feel is amazing. With the shorter exterior height, 80" ceilings don't seem possible. By the way, they are padded vinyl with a ducted air conditioning system.

The interior is well appointed. The cabinetry carries the European curve theme throughout in a very tasteful manner. Fabrics and colors are muted and promise not to go out of style the moment next year's models are introduced. The wood is available in maple or optional cherry finishes.

The coach radiates fore and aft from a central kitchen – the hub of most family environments.  Counters are solid surface with a large sink and glass-covered two burner gas range. A convection/microwave resides above with range hood built in. A simple tile treatment breaks up the solid surface from the wall giving an upscale feeling. It is subtle and unexpected in a coach of this price range. The right section of the counter pulls out with its drawers and additional counter top being revealed. The Serrano has more counter space than many larger coaches. Making real meals in this RV should be both easy and enjoyable. Completing the kitchen is a full height pantry and double-door refrigerator.

Forward of the galley are an opposing sofa-bed and "U" shaped dinette – both in leather.  The arrangement is both functional and social.  Six full-sized adults can be seated for conversation and refreshments in this living area.

Up front, two very comfortable captain's chairs, in leather to match the sofa and dinette, face a simple and functional dashboard. RV dashes vary from flat surfaces that look assembled in a neighbor's garage to aircraft cockpits, which require training to operate. The Serrano is neither of those. It is a combination of simple curves, easy to read gauges and readily accessible switches. The center stack is also clean with optional rear camera monitor and a fully-featured RV radio. Then in front of the passenger is a pull-out computer tray for doing email or navigating as co-pilot. There are also plenty of air conditioning ducts.

At first glance, the dash lacks flash and appears really simple. After living with it, it is clear that this flows with the rest of the coach – form following function – like a fine car would provide.

With the Captains' seats turned around, they join the sofa and dinette area to create a very spacious living space. In the 31V, the standard HDTV is a 32" model in a cabinet across from the kitchen that is easily viewed by all at eye level. It is pre-wired for an optional satellite dish.

Moving toward the back past the kitchen there is a full size wardrobe on the driver's side. Opposite is an entry to the self-contained bath which is located on the passenger side.  The bath has ample counter space, a ceramic toilet and full-size shower with skylight for an open feeling as well as extra light. One very unique feature is included in the bathroom mirror. Part of the reflective surface is etched away at the top so that a light can be placed directly behind it. This makes for very even illumination while using the mirror. It's also an upscale touch you would not expect in a coach at this price range. (Typically two-way mirrors hide TVs while protecting them from moisture in the bathrooms of expensive custom coaches.)

Finally, at the rear of the Serrano is a private bedroom with a queen-size bed. The design makes it look like it floats on a platform. What the two step-ups also do, however, is create the space for the "Mega" exterior storage area underneath outside. A wardrobe is in either corner, and the back wall above the headboard is covered with a mirror. It features the same treatment as the bathroom mirror for a low light in the bedroom late at night. There are also individual reading lamps for both sides of the bed.

As mentioned earlier, options are few. Leather, full body paint and a diesel generator are standard making this a fully equipped coach to begin with. A few of the key options include: Sirius radio, power driver's seat, HD satellite dish, home theater system, outdoor entertainment system and a bedroom television.

At just under 33' in length and 8' wide, the Serrano 31V goes where larger coaches just can't go. At the same time, it offers style, storage and diesel at an affordable price. That's why RV Buddies named it one of the "Best of Show" coaches in Hershey this year.

RV Buddies takes a close look at the new VIA from Winnebago

In so many industries, competitors buy each other's products and “reverse engineer” them to find out their best-kept secrets. The Winnebago Via is a coach that competitors should buy and take apart to learn what makes it so special. If anything is to be learned from the VIA, it is the wonderful blend of the past and the future in its design.

Back when 27' was considered big for an RV, layouts were efficient. The VIA recalls just that. From the hide-a-way loft bed that creates Class C convenience to the twins in the back, this coach makes incredible use of space.

As for the future, the F50 chassis delivers some of the best fuel economy ever seen in an RV. But that's only part of the picture when it comes to the chassis – more on that later.

As we set out to review the Via, the weather in Hershey, Pennsylvania was a wonderful mix of sun and cleansing showers. The air was clean and the sky shone bright. The green countryside was picturesque and painted a perfect backdrop for every RV lifestyle lover.

The exterior of the VIA 25T is distinctive at first glance. The coach is a svelte 7'6" wide. And at just 25'5" in length, navigating is about as easy as a large SUV. The aerodynamic automotive styled front and rear caps are clean in both line and design.

Beneath the VIAs attractive skin lie a number of features. Up front is a totally new entry door influenced by the airline industry. It features dual seals, dual latches and hidden hinges. It feels secure and tight like a fine automobile, and it truly delivers a quiet, wind noise-free ride.

The exterior is fitted with scratch-resistant dual-pane acrylic windows, which are lightweight and fit flush with the coach. Inside, the blinds rise from the window base. This allows privacy to be maintained without losing a fresh breeze.

The rear of the coach boasts a cavernous 87 cubic feet of storage space. This is as large, if not larger, than some Class A units of much greater length. It will fit lots of camping toys in there - from bikes to BBQ's.

One of the more impressive new features, standard on this coach, is an emergency LP shut-off switch. Hopefully this will set a trend for the entire industry. As an important note – all manufacturers are required to install a fire extinguisher. But more is always better. There’s no such thing as “too safe!”

The VIA also comes with full body paint standard. The finish of the paint is flawless. The colors blend smoothly with a mirror-like finish. With a little TLC, this coach will look great for years to come. The patterns and colors are also timeless. Finding a favorite could be tricky because they’re all terrific.

Side view cameras are standard, and Alcoa has finally created a beautiful stylized aluminum wheel for Sprinters. The alloy wheels provide many safety and performance benefits. They look really great and they make lost hubcaps are a thing of the past!

The driver's area is one of the nicest features of this coach. The dash is straight from the Sprinter – with the convenience of all the familiar ergonomics of a car, plus the added features of an RV. A new feature on this model is the Jensen 6.5" LCD display that doubles as a radio/CD player and acts as the monitor for the rearview and side cameras – slick!

The dash also has an available appliqué. Unlike some, this one is really nice – not too flashy – just a nice accent that fits this beautiful dash.

Our favorite driver’s area feature is the seat swivel swings completely around to integrate it into the living area. This kind of flex-space design makes a lot of sense and is becoming a trend in more efficiently designed coaches.

The VIA is sort of “Class A meets Class C” with the loft bed over the driver’s area that hides away until you need it. Just unlatch two hooks and it lowers slowly and safely. It's designed nicely into the headliner of the "cab" area. It’s barely notice until dropped into place. This is a perfect place for a few kids to play fort. And it has a perfect view of the TV as well.

The living area has some great features. The sofa in the 25T is in a slide-out. It has storage overhead. A pedestal table can be installed either in front of the sofa or the two cab seats. This makes lounging with your feet up while watching TV, or settling in for a game of canasta. Nice.

One smart piece of design work is how the TV is set into the aft wall. With so many coaches you can't watch TV unless the slide-out is open. On the VIA, the curved edge by the TV hinges out and the TV slides into the coach area so you can watch if you're dry-camping somewhere you don't want to open the slide. It's this kind of practical design that is evident throughout the coach.

Just opposite the living room is the galley space. An Apollo convection/microwave is in the overhead. Both the sink and 2 burner gas range are under glass covers which increase usable counter space. And the single door refrigerator has an usual feature. The freezer compartment can be removed as needed for extra space for cold beverages. Whoever thought of that idea knows how to throw a good tailgate party!

Amidships on the driver's side is a full dry bath. The compact space has a full shower, ample toilet area and vanity with mirror. Its size defies the fact that it's in a coach barely over 25'. Winnebago has also been using the SHUB shower door, a retractable screen that wipes itself clean each time it is opened or closed. Besides the maintenance benefit, when opened the shower adds to the spacious feel of what might otherwise feel like a small compartment. Also, unlike a shower curtain water on the floor can be all but eliminated.

The rear of the coach features two opposing single beds. Between them, a floating cabinet is mounted to the wall. The area has the feel of an upscale loft. You would never guess looking at the space that a huge storage area is underneath.

Each bed is comfortable in its own right, but optionally, can be ordered with the flex-bed kit and the twins can be joined together to make a 59" x 87" sleeping surface. That's enough room for a basketball player, the kids after a scary campfire story, or your favorite furry friend at the foot of your bed!

The VIA is also available in a 25R floorplan which has a larger slide and permanent 60" x 80" queen size bed and aft bath arrangement.

After filming the coach inside and out, we went for a spin. The VIA is built on the all-new F50 Sprinter chassis. The first thing we noticed is how easily the coach accelerates. It's fast off the line. In fact, it's faster than some cars. And we didn’t even notice the transmission. It's smooth and seamless.

If this is beginning to sound like a car review – it very well could be. Steering was predictable. There was no wander. Granted it did not have the precision of a German car on the autobahn, but who wants a twitchy response in a large vehicle like an RV. The four-wheel disc brakes with ABS all around brought this coach to impressive stops.

Keep in mind our test drive was in the rain, and there were many sweeping curves as we circled the Hershey center trying to get back in – each lap getting speedier than the last. In spite of the increased velocity, the coach felt solid and sure on the road. There was no sense of being top-heavy at all. RV Buddies looks forward to putting a few hundred miles on this coach as this short tease was nothing but pure pleasure.

The VIA is a great coach. It's a great size for dry-camping or pulling into a luxury resort. Have snacks ready as everyone is going to want a tour. Add to that, great diesel mileage and good handling, and you will be spending more time on the road – which is what RVing is all about.

Of all the coaches at “The Rally” in Albuquerque, only the 43’ Country Coach Veranda “Redcloud Peak” had folks waiting in lines resembling those for a new ride in an amusement park.  Lucky for us, the rep arranged for us to shoot the coach before the show opened!

We went to bed the night before eager with anticipation… AND concern.  Uncharacteristic of New Mexico in the spring, we were greeted with snow upon our arrival.  We wondered if snow flakes would cloud our camera lenses, but our worries were wasted.  As we awoke on the morning of our shoot, the sky was clear and the sun shown bright.  However in between the snow and the sunshine, an overnight rainstorm had dampened the area.  For some reason, RV shows seem to attract rain.  It’s as if the Rain Gods know all the coaches have been polished to perfection, and aim to spot and speckle them.

Bright and early the crew arrived at the display, and helped the factory rep dry off the coach. The rain sat on the lustrous finish in plump glistening drops reflecting the rising sun. The term "automotive finish" in this case is insulting as the paint was much more beautiful and reflective than on any production car. The length of the coach was sleek and flat - the paint liquid smooth with the distant view reflected in its depth.

Entering the coach, we were instantly aware of Country Coach’s commitment to quality. Even though the 300 is the entry series for Country Coach’s Veranda line, it still exudes that custom class feel.  It was grand.

The driver's area is a great example of form and function. The captain's chairs are covered in sumptuous leather and are six-way power adjustable. The dash is padded, contoured and ergonomic – with all the gauges you need to be in full communication with your coach. The "SmartWheel" is ready to guide you down miles of memorable roads.

Our review coach featured a rear view monitor with optional side cameras and an in dash GPS with optional XM service. The optional SmarTire system is available, and on a coach like this seems like a logical addition.

The chassis is the DynoMax, exclusive to Country Coach. The 300 offers two different drive train packages – a 425 HP Caterpillar with Caterpillar transmission, or a 425 HP Cummins with Allison transmission. Both offer independent front suspension, tag axle and air brakes as standard.

Moving into the living area, the big news is the "Veranda". Instead of a slide-out, the wall opens to form a luxurious outdoor living space. If you have any concerns about how well this works you can put them to rest right now. Country Coach engineered, or rather over-engineered this marvel. Hardware is beefy, framing is thick and the sliding glass doors look like they could stand up to a hurricane. When the Veranda is closed, the top of the wall is glass which illuminates the interior when traveling. When opened up, it provides the signature look of a glass balcony to look out on any horizon where you may have parked or camped.

No less important in the living area are the quality furnishings including a beautiful dinette set, leather sofa-bed, and complete HDTV home theater system. In addition to the 42" LCD inside, there is another cleverly placed 37” TV for outdoor viewing!

Moving amidships, the galley features an attractive tile backsplash and solid surface countertops. Cooking is fast and easy with the Advantium convection/microwave and a three burner gas cook top.  An ample pantry provides plenty of space for food stores, and a four-door Norcold will keep all your favorite beverages chilled for entertaining on that beautiful Veranda.

Just past the pantry, a half bath is tucked into the passenger side. It is efficient yet comfortable in size. Unlike many mid-coach baths, this one gives a nice feeling of privacy as the TV and pantry create a buffer from the living area. Just across from the bath is space for a combo or stacked washer-dryer – both optional, or you can just enjoy more storage space.

The bedroom suite is comfortable and quiet. The entire coach features extensive sound deadening – and it really shows when you are lying on the bed. The quality of materials is obvious. The box valences, for example, are clean, timeless in design, and made from elegant hardwoods and covered in expensive fabrics. These are designs that will age and wear well through the life of your coach without looking dated.

Finally, the rear bath is something to behold. Country Coach first featured a large shower last year in the Allure Crane Prairie. That has proven to be very popular and has made its way into many floor plans including the Redcloud Peak. Two feet shorter than the Crane Prairie, the bath is a bit less palatial, but the shower and amenities still abound. A large wardrobe, plenty of linen storage, the second of two china Tecma heads and loads of privacy are noteworthy. (Note: our video review does not show the shower. That would be one of those moments where the press record did not get pressed!)

Judging from the looks on their faces after their tour of the coach, the folks found the long line to get in well worth it.  Everyone was impressed with the quality and tastefulness of execution. Some fantasized about their travels in this magnificent coach, others were calculating out loud how they might purchase one, and a few were beginning negotiations with the factory rep.

We talked with the rep too. While the Country Coach Veranda 300 Redcloud Peak isn't normally in the range of products reviewed by RV Buddies, we would gladly take her for a test drive anytime!

RV Buddies brings to you some of the first official photos of the new Winnebago VIA coach. Click on any of the images for a large full frame view of the new aerodynamic exterior, Euro-inspired interior, long awaited Sprinter cutaway dash and more.

This coach packs a lot of RV in a small space. The loft bed shoot be a hit with the kids. The rear singles that convert into a queen-size crossover makes the space great as sofas during the day, and a wonderful flex-space at night.

Monaco entered the game later than others with their "Covina" Class C Sprinter product. The good news is they delivered a coach with Class A features with an upscale interior. You'll want to check this one out.

Monaco took a higher end approach with some beautiful materials. The side sofa with table is very practical making for a spacious interior - slide out or in. The rear bed with LCD TV is a nice touch as well.

On the outside, there is a "class A-like" basement storage compartment - a complete surprise. And on the top rear edge of the coach - a spoiler. Nice touch!

If you want your coach short and sweet – treat yourself to the Winnebago 34Y.  I had just such a treat in Southern California over a recent extended spring weekend.

The day before any trip is usually hectic.  I had to wrangle my crew, map my route, shop for provisions and bathe the dogs.  But the adrenaline kept me going.

(Note: A full video review will be coming soon on www.RVBuddiesOnline.com.)

I couldn’t wait to give the coach a four-day road test.  I took some time to familiarize myself with the technology, then set out for the one-hour trip home via scenic highway 101.  Oh yeah, air brakes!  The first time I tapped the brakes I remembered that they performed differently from normal brakes.  Fortunately, no one was around to see that I had forgotten this!  After a few jolting starts and stops, I regained my dignity and I was on my way.

Five minutes into my trip, a semi-rig ahead of me made an erratic move, revealing a disabled vehicle in my lane several seconds ahead.  I had no choice but to swerve over into the next lane like a sports car around a cone.  What should have terrified me was virtually nothing for this chassis.  While I don't recommend it – it's nice to know the coach can manage an emergency situation like this.  After my blood pressure returned to normal, I sat back and sunk into the comfortable captains chair for a non-event filled ride home.

My arrival brought the usual reaction from my neighbors. “Wow – Mark has another new RV!”  They must think I’m independently wealthy!  As I made a series of trips from the house to the coach, loading it up for the pending trip, the neighborhood children and adult-aged children lined up to oooh and aaah!  (I am fortunate to have supportive neighbors and local ordinances that allow parking on my street.)  My load-in was the easiest ever thanks to the slide-outs which really opened things up inside.

One of my crew members, an avid RVer, came to dinner and then made the coach his home for the night. With no hook-ups, he gave the 34Y its first test night of dry-camping. He has been with us on a number of shoots and is technically fascinated with mechanical systems. By the next morning, I was tutored on every switch and device the coach had to offer. Even though it was cold outside, he said he was able to create a comfortable temperature in the bedroom.  However, he did report that the temperature was uneven throughout the coach. That said, the four standard Group 31's held up well all night considering that both TVs and audio systems had been tested to their fullest.

Robert and Elise, my co-hosts, arrived in the morning and loaded up their gear. Their comments echoed those of the neighbors – clean lines, beautiful paint scheme, a super-clean roof (due to the basement air), and great front cap styling. (Personally, I think the Journey has one of the best-styled front caps in the Winnebago line-up.) The gleaming Alcoa's and bus-styled mirrors were other scene stealers.

Last, and definitely not least, we loaded up and the dogs jumped in my "toad" to lead the way with their crew/handler.  After a short leg of the trip, I exited the freeway where the crew were to join us. The off ramp swept to the right, and the coach took the curve with aplomb. Turning down a side street was less pleasing – the crew picked a dead end for our meeting spot.  To my surprise, the 34Y performed a very tidy U-turn at the end of the cul-de-sac.  This was yet another surprise afforded by the Freightliner chassis with 55-degree wheel cut. Across the street, a hotel was offering free food, so Robert and Elise disappeared with a few crew members. Those of us left behind greeted a number of guests and wandering onlookers eager to walk through the coach. I opened the passenger slides and all were impressed.

The team was fully assembled and we hit the road for a short two-hour trip beginning with a climb over “The Grapevine,” a steep route over the Tehachapi mountain range.  As we headed up the hill, the 350 HP diesel showed its breeding with enough torque to get us to the top of the hill at 55 MPH. Going down the other side was uneventful with the standard exhaust brake – a device that in my opinion, should be required by law. The Allison 3000 transmission stepped up no matter what condition, smooth and sure.

The UltraLeather™ Captain's chairs were uber-comfortable and easy to position. The steering wheel was fully adjustable, and all switches and gauges easy to see and use. The center stack was clean and functional. The passenger side had a nice built-in cup holder. The driver side however had a flip-down plastic model on the wall – a tad cheap for such a nice coach. The radio was the standard 1.8 din RV style unit. (I wish everyone would standardize to the 2.0 din size so aftermarket upgrades were easier.) Our coach had the GPS mounted on the dash along with color side and rear view cameras. The LCD color screen is a great upgrade over the older-style CRT displays. The one-piece windshield is just the right distance away from the seating position. (In our GMC you are literally sitting on top of the windshield.)  Of course, there is a step well cover. Everyone had to play with that switch! I guess we're easily amused.  Although we don't typically review diesel pushers – The 34Y was close enough to our price boundary to have tempted us into a trip!

We encountered some wind along the way, which is typical for the area, and the coach tracked steady and true. Our lead car wanted to take a break and exited on a side road in the middle of nowhere. The frontage road had no shoulder and I waved off the support vehicle while making another U-turn without incident. Thanks to my cell phone, I could call and inform them that I would pick the break location.

We found a diesel truck stop, old as the freeway itself. The ladies on the trip relished the bathroom in the Journey, as did most of the guys. Looking at the fuel gauge, I wondered what might be wrong. Was it like my car? Inaccurate and teasing until a half tank where it dropped liked gravity? Whatever the case, we hadn't dented the 90 gallon tank and continued on, generator running to operate the basement air conditioning.

We arrived at our destination – Bakersfield!  More specifically Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace, the restaurant and museum built by Buck Owens to house his memorabilia, 90 miles or so north of Los Angeles.  The restaurant has a stage and provides a family-friendly destination where Buck used to perform with a host of country-music stars and his legendary band - "The Buckaroos."  (Keep an eye out for our upcoming video review on www.RVBuddiesOnline.com.)

The Crystal Palace boasts a huge parking lot with abundant flower planters.  We scouted a great spot to settle in but I finally erred and drove over my first curb in the parking lot.  Albeit a small one, the crew gasped but quickly realized the bump was worse than the bite.

One unit of our crew set out to shoot the sights of Bakersfield. Robert took to the Crystal Palace for a video tour, and Elise stuck with me to review the 34Y front to back, inside and out.

With the coach positioned, we explored and filmed the outside, the slides, levelers, awnings and the like. Fully expanded, with the air conditioning cranked up, we arranged the lounge chair, and put out some set dressing, (which always includes photos of the dogs! If you look at most of our shoots, there are always some background elements you can count on. In the industry – we call it "buff stuff". Hitchcock always appeared somewhere in his films. And in "Back to the Future", check out what movie is listed on the theater marquee! No I'm not telling, sorry.)

The full body paint was beautiful as we walked around the coach. The fit and finish were especially nice. Compartments were fitted nicely. Opening the battery compartment revealed a gorgeous bank of batteries, including four Group 31 house batteries I mentioned earlier. One very nice feature was the fresh water tank dump, which is super-fast. Prior to leaving, I had dumped, cleaned and filled in anticipation of our four-day trip.

Other 34Y niceties included the flashy Alcoa wheels, stylish front cap and overall clean lines. My only, very minor, complaint was the amount of basement storage. With the basement air and shorter length, it's less than a typical gasser of the same size. But the pass-through capability was a welcome diesel-pusher feature.  And even fully loaded, we still didn't fill all the compartment space.

Inside, we were delighted with the unusual layout of the forward living space.  The TV was on the driver's side, centered with the eating table and buffet cabinet. It faced directly across to the sofa at the perfect viewing height. Speakers were hidden so no unsightly grilles broke the beautiful lines of the interior. From the sofa or lounge chair, we could imagine hours of TV viewing without a sore neck. Simply brilliant! At the table, the view was to the left or right depending on the chair, nice while eating or working on a laptop.

The dining table had a very nice feature. A simple pull extended it to seat four. The latch was firm, no need to worry about it flying out on a turn. The additional chairs were stowed in the bedroom closet. The slide-out was carpeted so there is a height difference, albeit a slight one, between that area and the coach floor, which was noticeable but not bothersome when using all four chairs. Our coach had the optional UltraLeather™ sofa and Euro chair. (The standard upscale fabrics are very nice as well.)

Just aft was a very efficient kitchen space, featuring a full-size convection microwave over a gas range. The counter and backsplash were made of Corian™ – a really classy alternative to the laminate counters. The sink and stove featured flush Corian covers.  We made full use of the four-door refrigerator for crew beverages. In the Bakersfield heat, everything stayed refreshingly icy-cold.  While not a huge space, the kitchen had ample counter space, nice storage, a large slide-out dual pantry, and filtered fresh water. Making a nice meal here will be a joy.

Behind the lounge chair and opposite the refrigerator was a real bathroom.  The ample sink counter, bright lighting, excellent ventilation, and mulitple towel racks really impressed us. The newly introduced shower with curved doors was very spacious. At just over 7 feet, headroom was excellent and did not require a skylight.  The porcelain toilet was a drop-through model with a sprayer. This bathroom had a very private feel with the side entry, and made exceptional use of space. (If you can only open slides on one side of the coach, open the driver's side so you can open the bathroom door all the way. When the slide is closed, entry to the bathroom can be restrictive.)

All the coach systems were controlled in the hall opposite the refrigerator at Winnebago's One Place™ - and there were many of them. This is about as featured a coach as you can get. It's not the priciest by any means that Winnebago offers – but all the amenities were there, including a 2000-watt inverter.

The bedroom in this coach featured a king-size Sleep Number™ bed (queen size optional).  Not being a gimmick person, I was hoping for the new memory foam mattress. After my first night's sleep, however, I was sold on the comfort of this mattress system. Also, it was nice to have the 26" LCD HDTV available while I decompressed reading a book. The closet was bountiful with mirrored doors dramatically increasing the feeling of space. And the corner closet was set up for an optional washer-dryer.

The only area of the coach that was carpeted was the bedroom – nice for the tootsies at night. The rest of the coach featured upscale tile-look vinyl flooring. Very practical and easy to keep clean.

How did everything work? Well, in a word, after several nights of dry-camping in the parking lot at the Crystal Palace, “perfectly.”

Driving home at night was easy and stress-free. After unloading the following morning, I wanted to keep the 34Y for another few days. Should I ignore other obligations and take off for another location? This is the first time I have been seriously tempted. Instead, I returned the coach.  We averaged just under 10 MPG with this Freightliner chassis.  And lest we forget, this was a dry-camping experience. We had plenty of power, air conditioning, heating, well, everything to enjoy our four-day adventure with room to spare.

So would RV Buddies recommend the 34Y? Yes. Absolutely.  Other floor plan favorites include the Vectra 40TD, Adventurer 32H, Sightseer 37L (review coming soon), classic View 24H, the beautiful Outlook 30D (review coming soon), and the all-new Outlook 28B.

A show-stopper floor plan had us looking twice. This is our first-look at the RV show.

We revisited the 34Y, for an on-the-road drive with the sister-ship from Winnebago, the Journey 34Y. Check out this episode to see what we saw at the show, and stay-tuned to see what we think after some dry camping and driving. That review is in post production now.

The 34Y has a very unique floorplan with the HDTV directly across from the sofa for easy viewing, a great dining table with credenza, residential bath and king size bed. Amazing in a 34' package. Big enough for luxury, yet small enough to go where you want to go. Check out the full written review.

This is a great new model for 2009. The spacious living room has a great HDTV, U-shaped dinette and sofa that convert to beds. The bath is HUGE, and their are dog-friendly stairs to the cab-over bunk.

The 30D has to be one of my favorite plans in a long time. You get the easy driving of a Class C with reasonable price and high quality.
The overcab bed is huge, and with the retractable stairs - it's easy in and out, for you and your favorite pets.

In the back, the two slides open wide for a huge living space. So you and another couple can be at opposite ends of the coach for great privacy, and incredible living. Nice touches include the HDTV, Halftime combo convection microwave with stainless range. And after a long day - the huge bath has Winnebago's new curved shower - nice!

After searching far and wide, we found the brand new 2009 Fleetwood Bounder 36B. This is a great entry level diesel coach. You've got to check it out.

Quiet is just one of the niceties of a diesel pusher. The layout of this coach is really great - The living area is very comfortable and livable.

The bathroom is spacious. And while it may seem a small detail, the toilet is mounted on a nice base that is easy to clean and maintain. Years down the road - that's a great detail someone at Fleetwood specified.

The read bedroom is cozy as a cottage, but one of the best features is the flexible space in the hall leading to it. The side slide out can be configured as over/under bunk beds, or as a great desk - the perfect office to do work on the road.

So whether you're raising a family, or enjoying life on the road - working or retired, this great new plan is one you should really look at.

After speaking with Bob Tiffin, we had a chance to tour the new 37QSB and go through this great new floorplan. Take a close look at all the features inside and out. The detail and quality prove everything that Bob had to say.

This is a great new layout, with tons of livability. If you aren't ready to take the diesel plunge (as in an Allegro Bus), you'll be hard pressed to feel that you've been short-changed.

This coach is jam-packed with high end features and quality. From the fit and finish, to the materials, it's typical Tiffin, and that includes the man himself standing behind the product. Whether considering your first coach or a new one, Tiffin is a brand that should be on your shopping list.