Damon Motorhomes
Chip
engine. Living area slide that lowers to floor height. Every option, was
special ordered by previous owner who wanted a bedroom slide too! Took a
real bath from what I can see. No problems so far. Would like to hear
others comments about Damon. Value, quality, resale, etc.
Brian Carrozza
You bought the motorhome and now you want to hear comments? Shouldn't you
have asked before you spent the money, now it's too late.
Brian
---------------------------------------------------------
wi...@epix.net
<carr...@chesco.com> writes:
> You bought the motorhome and now you want to hear comments?
>Shouldn't you have asked before you spent the money, now it's too
>late.
This is an entirely valid question, and I'm amazed at how many times
it needs to be asked. Damon is NOT a brand with a good reputation,
and having once owned a Damon product I can see why. Of course, if
one follows the advice of that idiot Thomason, he will scrupulously
avoid consulting the only fairly unbiased source of information BEFORE
buying: the RV Consumers Group. The fact that even the most
terminally frugal cheapskate can study the Ratings Book at the library
means you don't even need to spend the $100 membership fee (with all
the books).
The arrogance and conceit of Thomason is echoed by some penny-wise and
pound-foolish companies. They imagine they they are far too bright &
well-informed to bring in appropriate experts. Managers for a
manufacturing plant of a major national corporation recently snubbed a
recommendation (from their own headquarters) to arrange a safety
inspection & training seminar by a firm that specializes in industrial
safety. A month later they experienced a major (fatal) incident that
precipitated a full OSHA inspection. They were found to be in
violation of numerous well-known regulations but in their arrogance &
ignorance they simply didn't know.
You can buy a motorhome the same way, securely confident that YOU are
smarter than the average buyer. And you may be - but even smart people
can be ignorant when they get into a field they are not familiar with.
Will KD3XR
Chip
checking ... I was only asking the group here what if any their experiences
were with Damon. I am pleased with my purchase and feel I got a fair deal.
Since it is a 1998 model, I was really trying to inquire as to how other
owners have faired over some amount of time ... say 3 to 5 years or maybe
longer if they last.
I have heard and read horror stories for just about every popular motorhome
company, so I believe that most can produce lemons or coaches with problems.
It seems to me that they all use similar equipment, some maybe better than
others, so it boils down to workmanship. I didn't expect Damon for the
price to be like my BMW, but, I don't think it's a "tin-can" Geo either ...
Will, while I don't fully understand your comment, what kind of problems did
you have with your Damon and what do you currently own and enjoy?
<wi...@epix.net> wrote in message
news:NEWTNews.94223...@epix.net...
wi...@epix.net
In Article<6QfW3.151$ed7....@news.uswest.net>, <ch...@NOSPAMmultitech.com> writes:
> Path: news1.epix.net!news-xfer.epix.net!newsfeed.berkeley.edu!news-out.uswest.net!news.uswest.net!not-for-mail
> From: "Chip" <ch...@NOSPAMmultitech.com>
> Newsgroups: alt.rv
> References: <XPZV3.564$Fw5....@news.uswest.net> <3828F7C1...@chesco.com> <NEWTNews.94223...@epix.net>
> Subject: Re: Damon Motorhomes
> Lines: 56
> X-Priority: 3
> X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
> X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300
> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300
> Message-ID: <6QfW3.151$ed7....@news.uswest.net>
> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 09:04:37 -0600
> NNTP-Posting-Host: 204.26.122.9
> X-Trace: news.uswest.net 942246274 204.26.122.9 (Wed, 10 Nov 1999 09:04:34 CST)
> NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 09:04:34 CST
> Xref: news1.epix.net alt.rv:11177
wi...@epix.net
Sorry 'bout the blank message (no comments) - the idjit who drives my
mouse.... 8-)
<ch...@NOSPAMmultitech.com> writes:
> Will, while I don't fully understand your comment, what kind of
>problems did you have with your Damon and what do you currently own
>and enjoy?
In addition to the fact that Damon has produced a number of rigs that
were virtually overloaded before the driver climbed in, my specific
experience was with a '90 "Intruder" Class C. It had a wheelbase too
short for the coach (24') and as a result handled badly - especially
in windy conditions. The windows were poorly installed and produced
leaks, and the door was slapped together with a low grade of wood
which rotted because of more poor sealing. The workmanship was
generally poor to awful, and the appliances all came from the low
bidder.
Why buy such a rig? Well, unlike some others I freely admit I learn a
lot of stuff the hard way - I did not look close enough. At the time
I was unaware of the existence of the RVCG, and besides, the layout
was nice and we liked the nice people who were selling it for a good
price. Actually, it worked out well for us because we do virtually
all our own repairs & maintenance, and we did not have high
expectations. We drove it many miles before selling it to build our
own class B MH.
Will KD3XR
Chip
with other postings, prior to my actually writing the check. Winterization
was a key posting that you "gasped at" and then kindly pointed me to the
"Painless Winterizing" article. Installed a bypass, and got it backwards.
No documentation and I saw the arrow pointing the direction flow. Figured
out it was the opposite of what I thought. Reversed it while winterizing
and all was fine. Took a little too long to accomplish the task for the
first-time, but, I was successful ... we will see next spring! Living in
Minnesota, I may have pumped too much antifreeze through the lines and
wasted some, but, I wanted to make sure I was correct. I too, like to
tinker and do a lot of the work myself. I have put a lot of hours cleaning
and restoring little things that break, but, overall, I think the Intruder
347 model I purchased seems to be fairly sound and problem free so far. I
have talked to Damon and they seemed very responsive to me so far. Again, I
have not had any MAJOR problems like others I read in this newsgroup about
leaky roofs and windows, slides out of alignment, generator and converter
failures, etc. The door latch seems to be a little sticky when it changes
temperatures or on the jacks no matter how I adjust it. My only other
problem was the wife used the oven and I failed to fold the top open and she
inadvertently turned a burner on thinking she was turning the oven off.
Would have noticed quickly if the cover was open, but, found out when the
Corian cover got red hot. No real damage, but, I also learn the hard way.
She does too! I drive, level and set-up. She sight sees ...
It has around 12000 miles on it now, I have put on 1000, and I have taken
two short 3 to 5 day trips in it with the wife and her dog, a 100 pound
yellow lab without problems. Everthing seems to work well !!
Thaks again for your time ...
<wi...@epix.net> wrote in message
news:NEWTNews.94225...@epix.net...
George Miklas
wi...@epix.net wrote:
> We drove it many miles before selling it to build our
> own class B MH.
> Will KD3XR
I would like to hear more about building it yourself. What did you
start with? Where did you do it? Tell me in email:
harmo...@pathway.net
George
--
George/Jodi Miklas, gospel harmonica player/singer
http://www.angelfire.com/pa/harmonicat/index.html
95 Ford/d'Elegant E-150
GeoMiklas on AIM, 45582054 on ICQ
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Bernie Dobrin
> Damon is NOT a brand with a good reputation,
> and having once owned a Damon product I can see why >
Perhaps you complaineth too much. I have a Damon (98 UltraSport
Diesel pusher) and am very happy with it. Yes, we have had problems,
just like all of the other new coaches coming off the assembly lines.
However, Damon and its dealer have bent over backwards to make things
right. I have not yet seen another coach with all of the features
that I have for the price and have not seen a floor plan we like
better.
Bernie Dobrin
I'd Rather Be at the Track or on the Road
Using Virtual Access
Dxmitch
>have asked before you spent the money, now it's too late.
He asked for comments. Easy there anyone one in this NG that is kind enough to
give comments. This NG is unbeliveable. A total waste of bandwidth.
Herbert Hannam
Its too bad when you ask a perfectly reasonable question that you get a
lot of chaff and only one or two people that have direct related
experience answer. Will apparently isn't competent to do his own
evaluation and apparently is not aware that there is a huge difference
between a Damon class C 10 years ago and a class A today. Damon built
all of their Class A vehicles on Ford Superduty Chassis. I personally
had a 91 32 ft which I drove 50000 miles pulling a 3000 lb car. Never
had even one problem, I then purchased a 98 35 ft Intruder with a level
floor slide out on a Ford superduty chassis. Sounds just like yours!! We
love it and we haven't seen one that compares with it. Both vehicles
were purchased at much better prices than other Brands. If Will needs
help I'll go shopping with him and teach him the basics. Will has some
good things to say at times but he is full of it about today's Damon
products. He probably still thinks the GM P30 is the only chassis
around. I tried to send you a detailed message directly, but it was
undeliverable. Contact me directly if you want details.
Herb
> > expectations. We drove it many miles before selling it to build our
wi...@epix.net
<hha...@att.net> writes:
> . . . Will apparently isn't competent to do his own
> evaluation and apparently is not aware that there is a huge
>difference between a Damon class C 10 years ago and a class A today.
My O my have I stepped on some tender toes? Has this fellow
contracted Terminal Brand Loyalty? If so, he has chosen a brand that
does NOT enjoy a top reputation for quality goods OR service after the
sale.
My incompetence in evaluating motorhomes is well known - if ya don't
believe it ask my wife. I AM aware of some slight differences between
the two rigs you mention, but what I wrote was the simple truth in
answer to a specific question. Ten years ago I didn't know everything
I know today, and ten years from now I hope to have learned a few more
things.
But one thing I knew 50 years ago: there are a few bozos in every
crowd.
Will KD3XR
wi...@epix.net
<harmo...@pathway.net> writes:
> I would like to hear more about building it yourself. What did you
> start with? Where did you do it? Tell me in email:
George, I discourage private answers due to time constraints and the
fact that others often want the same information.
We bought an extended cargo van, had SPORTSMOBILE install their
'penthouse' pop-up top, and built in the plumbing, wiring, and
interior furnishings. We have a bathroom sans shower, kitchen, marine
(engine- heated) WH, 4 golf-car batteries and an inverter for 120v
power. We could have had SM build the whole thing but we wanted some
features they were not interested in doing.
Will KD3XR
Herbert Hannam
Its too bad when you ask a perfectly reasonable question that you get a
lot of chaff and only one or two people that have direct related
evaluation and apparently is not aware that there is a huge difference
Damon built
all of their these vehicles on Ford Superduty Chassis. I personally
had a 1991 32 ft which I drove 50000 miles pulling a 3000 lb car. Never
had even one problem, I then purchased a 1998 35 ft Intruder with a
level
floor slide out on a Ford superduty chassis. Sounds just like yours!! We
love it and we haven't seen one that compares with it. Both vehicles
were purchased at much better prices than other Brands. If Will needs
help I'll go shopping with him and teach him the basics. Will has some
good things to say at times but he is full of it about today's Damon
shifting into gear with his keyboard. He probably still thinks the GM
sbourg
Anything built on a Ford Superduty chassis is not 'bus-type' by any
definition. This is a class-A motorhome, and the construction details
of the cachwork are not dissimilar to those used for class-C models.
Within a manufacturer's lineup, class-C and class-A may or not come off
the same assembly line, may or not use the same technology. They share
primarily in the resulting mess when they roll. A 'bus' chassis and
body come from the same shop, usually, and the interior and minor
exterior features only are done over by the coachbuilder. The
structural quality of a bus is not determined appreciably by the
quality of work done by the coachbuider.
Steve
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!