About To Take Possession Of Our New Home
It’s hard to think that it’s been a year since we took possession of our new home, our Tiffin 45LP Allegro Bus. The move from our other coach, a 42 foot 2008 Tour Master, went smoothly. The Tiffin had a bunch more space than what we were used to, so that was a nice.
The Tiffin Bus has really treated us well. There have been no major issues. We did have to replace a windshield from a large rock hit not a couple months into ownership. Not Tiffin’s fault for sure. We had to replace a couple air conditioners as well. Again, not Tiffin’s fault. Come to think about it, most of the items that we’ve had issues with have been from various manufacturers of those items. Tiffin however stands behind all there products and took care of everything quickly and easily. No hassles involved.
Moving In To Our New Home
Changing Our Awning Fabric
Our Tiffin 45LP Allegro Bus LED Lighting
We find this floor plan to be the best for us. At least for right now. It really does feel like a little apartment and not like a motor home. We find ourselves constantly saying this. We have, of course, made a few changes and additions to make it more like our home however. Everyone has to add his or her own flair to there home right? Well we changed the awning fabric to be more of a darker grey than the lighter grey it had come with (Tiffin now is using a black awning fabric which we also do not prefer). We also added some LED outdoor lighting not only on the awnings, but also under the chassis as well as under the slide. Yes, the coaches now do come with lighting on the awnings. However, it’s just a white light and we like to have multi-colored to be, well, different. It also really gives us some great ground lighting when we are outside and we can change the colors based on our mood or season.
Going Through The San Juan Mountains In Colorado
Our Bus Highlighted By The Milky Way In Colorado
Our bus has taken us to some extraordinary places. Since we have had the coach we have explored Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Texas among others. (Gosh, Moab was so much fun and we met some great new friends.) There’s just so much of this gorgeous country of ours, it’s impossible to see it all. The coach handled the mountains as to be expected. We did slow down a bit going up hill, however, we were still passing semi’s. We’re not really in the mountains that much for it to really make a big difference to us.
A Chef Cooking Us Dinner For Our Anniversary
A Chef Cooked Us Dinner For Our Anniversary
The Tiffin kitchen was plenty big enough for David to hire a chef to come in and cook us a special dinner for our 20th Anniversary. The chef was impressed with the size and ease of use of the kitchen as well. The pull out island really comes in handy for instances like these. When you need to spread out your items to cook, not hiring a chef. That was a first.
We’ve met up with some wonderful friends and made new ones. Enjoyed the cool evenings around the campfire. Watched a little football and set up our movie screen for some movies under the stars.
Bon Fire At Our New Seasonal Site In NY
Enjoying Football On The Outdoor TV
Movie Night Under The Stars
Jam Session Around The Campfire
Jam Session Around The Campfire
David’s gotten his Cajon out and joined in around the campfire with some impromptu jam sessions.
Sunset In The Desert
Lake Powell, Utah
We have been traveling since 2008 (FT in 2013) in our Tour Master and since we have moved into our Tiffin Bus it’s been much more enjoyable. We truly have a motor home we can take into colder weather and be comfortable in and let’s be honest, you can’t always chase the warmer weather. Sometimes the cold just finds you. We also have so much more space and luxurious items such as heated floors and a dishwasher that we’ve grown accustomed to this lifestyle much more now. This coach really makes it easy to be on the road and keep exploring. We’ve really enjoyed this year in our new coach and we look forward to many more. This truly is our home now and for the foreseeable future.
So would we do this again?
Sure. Perhaps a new floor plan may come out to entice us. But for now, we really like what we have. However we have sent Tiffin our ideas for a maybe a 45DB model. (Get it? DB for David & Brenda) So you never know, we may do this all again. Would you like that?
Would we buy Tiffin again? We surely would. For as mentioned, they have been great to work with from the start of our new home project; through todays blog post and we would not expect that to change.
If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we did a video on our thoughts of the new coach and a walk through video when we first came up for air after moving in. If you haven’t seen it or you want to see the final time-lapse video of the entire build process, you can see it here.
So now we felt it was only fair to do another video at our one-year mark and tell you how things have gone, what we still like and what we are disappointed in and could maybe be improved upon. These are our honest opinions as RVers that full time in their motor home. What we may be disappointed in, don’t like or do like, you may have the opposite reaction. So please keep that in mind.
Great Video you guys with some real useful tips. I really liked the idea of the pull out TV mount, and reversing the fan on the audio compartment. Not to mention the 40 ft pull out/retractable extension cord outside. The video was great entertainment and a fresh way to start my morning. Thanks for the EezTire mention as well! Hope to see you guys again as the year goes on.
Great stuff folks….thanks for doing it. Still working our couch options but now have a lot more to look into!!!
Great video guys. Miss seeing you as you stop at Red Bay. Currently in New York at Croton On Hudson. Be safe.
We missed you guys as well when we were in Red Bay in February. Glad to hear that you guys are able to travel and enjoy your grandkids. Congrats on that. Safe Travels and hopefully we’ll run into you sometime.
David: What kind of coffee maker/expresso machine do you have in your coach?
We recently purchased a new (2014) Itasca Reyo 25′ with some issues that we are continuing to deal with. We are part-timers as far as motor homing goes. I read your post regarding Winnebago products and I tend to agree with you. We were looking at a 2014 Tiffin Allegro Red 33′ that we really liked but, couldn’t really fit in our driveway . . . . and the Tiffin dealership here in Washington State would not even come close to the price from 4 dealers east of the Mississippi River. Needless to say, we bought the Itasca Reyo 25′ for the room in the kitchen, diesel engine and ease of driving and parking. This is our first motor home . . . . . and, if I were to do it again, I’d buy a Tiffin product.
Tom Compton
Hi…The coffee machine is a Jura Micro 9 Super Automatic machine. It is OUTSTANDING and was bought because of the size as it is one of the smallest super automatic machines on the market. Here is a link on Amazon… http://tinyurl.com/nethkd2
David,
Thanks for the information on the coffee machine. I’m going to check it out. I appreciate your awesome feedback.
Respectively,
Tom Compton
David and Brenda, great video and information on your Bus.I could not agree more on the carpet in Tiffin’s. Love the TV mount idea and the pull out drawer in the kitchen. Enjoy and safe travels!
I love falling you guys and that was the best video tour yet.. First RV on order 36LA from Tiffin.
Thanks and keep travlin.
I agree; great video. One question I’d appreciate an answer to: how do you handle the litter boxes? We also travel with two felines and the litter box is always a bit of a challenge.
We have one litter box that fits perfectly in the back closet in the space between the washer and dryer and the back wall. We also use all natural pine pellets for our litter. We buy a big bag of it (horse bedding) at the Tractor Supply store for a fraction of what it would cost at the pet store (feline pine). Just make sure the pellets are chemical free and safe for animals. These are not the pellets for a wood stove. I agree that the litter box is a challenge. I find that layout is key when it comes to that. When we were shopping for a new motor home we kept that in mind when we were looking at floor plans. It can be difficult though.
Another great video! Thank you for sharing your adventures and thoughts on your RV. We just bought a Phaeton and the next one will not have bed slide windows or side window treatments. I do hope to add some ground effect lighting and buy a quad copter ( though I’d say you are an expert pilot so not sure what to begin with..)
Safe travels
Hope to see y’all on the road
Great video and information…
I really enjoyed your blog and the video. Definitely plan to follow your journey. I would really like you to look at my facebook page BIG RIG RV and consider joining. We have 2000+ members that all have big rigs. I am sure they would enjoy your journey.
I did not know about this FB page. Thanks for that. I’ll have to look into it.
Wow….has it really be a year already??? I am very pleased and a bit relieved that you guys are happy with your decision to go Tiffin. I know it’s been a bott challenging at times, but what brand of coach wouldn’t be? As I said to you many, many years ago, Tiffin is an great company with a charismatic founder who understands the power of word of mouth, and the importance of listening to his customers.
See you guys on the road…sooner than later we hope
Joanne and Jay
Yup…we can’t believe it’s been a year already too. We’ve been busy. We do hope to meet up with you both sooner rather than later as well. Sounds like a good plan!
Enjoy your vids so much! I like traveling small and just purchased a ParkLiner 15′ trailer which is cute as a button. It suits our lifestyle just fine right now but I love seeing the big rigs and how folks live in them full time. Keep the vids coming! Rhonda, in Tennessee..:-)
Congrats on your first year! We appreciate your insights and hope to meet sometime down the road!
Denise
Looks like you guys had a awesome year B&D Look forward to the next one.
Kees
Nice video and congratulations on your first year! I removed my TV over the fireplace of our Phaeton last weekend in order to add a full motion mount, but can’t figure which one to use. There’s too darn many to choose from. Which mount did you use? Do you have any problems with the TV moving away from the wall while traveling? I ordered straps from strapworks.com just in case there is an issue with movement.
Just a fun question: how many miles did you put on the 45LP in your first full year in it? And, in how many states have you been in in the first year?
Dm
David,
Another great presentation! We are coming up on our one year anniversary too for our 45LP — can I ask you how you added the LED lighting to the awnings? I would love to do the same thing.
Congrats on your one year — you have an amazing coach and so lucky to full time in it.
Thanks for the video update of your home. Love following you guys and the places you go to in your beautiful country.
Cool video. Love your blog too.
I first found you through Youtube and the video of testing the drone before you sold your house.or in the process of selling. Then somehow found this blog and have followed since. the 1 yr video was excellent. We look forward to the upcoming year and our 1st year of exploring this country in our RV later this year. Oh the tire pressure gage worked like a charm for both RV and toad on a recent 2 week trip. Everyone with an RV should use this.
Looks like TIffen now offers a 600HP chassis as an option. You mentioned slowing down on hills. How slow? Would the higher-power model have tempted you had it been available?
Thanks!
We can get down to 40-45 on large climbs. I would not really have an interest in $70,000 for a larger engine as only 5% of our driving is affected in that way with only 2.5% of that being up hill. :) I would rather just save the fuel that is needed to run a larger engine and the $70,000 can go a long way in fuel that may be needed for that 2.5% of the time.
Thanks as always for sharing your opinions and insights. One modification you had made at the factory was not having those standard, tiny, worthless windows on the bed pullout. In this one year later video your bed area appears larger without the window trim and blinds hogging space. The pictures you hung where the windows would have been looked much better. Keep sharing please!
Best,
-Mark
Thank you Mark. Yes, not having the windows on the left or right actually gave us that little extra wall space we could use. :)
9:12 into the video is the best moment in RV Video Blogging History. =)
As RV Lady would say, “That was very brave…” =)
Ha! Thanks! We try. :)
Partially through you blog and videos, we really like the 45′ Allegro Bus. In shopping around we often hear that dealers do not discount the Tiffin coaches as much as other brands because (i) demand is high and production is low and (ii) Tiffin does not “play the game” of boosting MRSPs so dealers can claim larger percentage discounts.
I know that all that matters is that we like what we’re buying and getting good value for money, but, in your experience is there a rule of thumb for what people actually pay for a Tiffin Allegro Bus as % of MSRP? I wish there were an “edmunds.com True Price” service available for coaches.
Can you tell me, is it worth the $7,000 price tag to put the second awning on a 2016 45 Op
I can not honestly think of being without it. Definitely worth it. We would do it again in a heartbeat.
Agree 100% with Brenda. We have a 45LP too and the second awning is very handy. You can park your car, bicycles and other stuff and leave the larger front awning for your living space.
Wm and Catherine, thanks for the input, I think we will leaning in that direction also. I know the main awning is quite large, and for only half that size again for $7,000 more dollars seemed a bit much, but I suppose if we were to decide a year down the road to have it added on it would probably cost a lot more than that, if it could even be done at all. Thanks again !
Thank you so much for getting back to us. We are ordering up the 45OP and thought maybe the one large forward awning would be enough, and we could cut back on the $7,000 small rear awning, but now hearing from you, maybe we should rethink this option.
Thanks again Brenda, really appreciate your opinion . All our best to you, Dan and Dawn
Looks like my wife Dawn also posted, at least we are on the same page, that’s a good thing ! :)
Especially when you live in about 400sqft. :)
Also looking at buying a 2016 45OP – great floor design. I am interested in the monitor you have sitting to the left of the steering wheel – what do you use it for, and how did you mount it?
I think you might mean the TPMS system. (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). That is the the EEZTire system. See here…
https://www.outsideourbubble.com/tire-pressure-monitoring-system-tpms-and-why-you-want-one
No, in your 1 year video, you show the TPMS which was mounted down by the parking brake. (We currently have a Monaco Diplomat, and I agree on the TPMS – I wouldn’t run my home without one) I am referring to the black monitor on the dash to the left of the driver.
Hi, we are first time RVERS, purchased 2017 Thor Tuscany XTE 36MQ. Bought it special order. Can’t believe that it is falling apart. Outside trim pieces are detaching from screws breaking. Trim collum, trim crown came off. Slide outs that need help. And the list goes on. 5 weeks to fix. Now the coach leaks inside from 2 of the slides after some rain, back to shop. The service shop has had the rig more than we have. The Question to you guys have you had any problems of any kind. We have talked to others and they say there are problems, but like this, I think these are unacceptable. We will be contacting Thor. If you can please Email me directly for your thoughts
Hi…We personally have not had issues like this with our coach…but surely had issues with the first one we ordered where we did not even accept delivery. Here is the story… https://outsideourbubble.com/winnebago-no-sale-of-special-ordered-coach-lack-of-build-quality/ But things do happen and it comes down to hope the manufacturer responds to the issues for sure. Tiffin has treated us very well with issues we have had and I would hope that Thor would respond to the issues.