New to Chinook

[A Rooney]

Mechanically,there are a lot of rv's like Chinooks on the 350 and 450 ford cutaway...So mostly equal,I toured a Phoenix Cruiser and the layout was very similar to the side entry Concourse..except Bigger...the dinette part again afforded a slide out..and As I recall a separate Shower...rather than the all in one Wet bath of the concourse/premier chinook.I personally did not care for the boxy exterior,or interior finishes....but my companion thought the layout was wonderful,while she found the concourse nice for One person.I mentioned the Coach House because of the similarity to the chinook with one piece molded fiberglass shell.I thought when I bought my chinook years ago that"well I won't have to worry about leaks because of that shell" The truth is the right rain or snow wind and rig at a certain angle occasionally you find a minor leak to deal with here or there.I just personally like the solid integrity of the chinook..and for me price over the Cruiser....but had I the funds the layout is certainly very appealing.I see now and then a class A towing an suv navigating small streets,hands down a 21' chinook is easier to drive on small streets,and the concourse does rule Window wise...As for the glacier or summit models chinook produced,I have not personally seen one,so I can't comment,The layout sports a bigger Kitchen if that's important to you,but for me I am fond of the fixed rear bed and can live with a small kitchen,,so I guess it depends on your taste...the dometic fridge and Ac,as well as onan generator are common to a lot of models.Some of the expensive new Rv's might have more upscale appliances etc.....But for a man or woman on a tight budget(yours truly) a used Chinook is a great value IMO.....Rooney 2001 premier

[kdarling]

Joe, Rooney brings up an important point: it's a good idea to first define what is most important to you.

For example, I ended up with a Concourse because of my own four criteria:

- Had to carry lots of grandkids etc. Concourse has nine seat belts!
- Had to have views out both sides. Some RVs are blocked on one side.
- Had to have a private bathroom, not one behind a curtain or in the front.
- Had to fit in my limited driveway, and navigate windy small roads.

While some things can be changed, basic layouts are harder to modify. So make a short list of your gotta-haves first

Kev

PS. Chinooks are known for their extra construction care. One reason they cost more than others back then, was because on average it took twice as long to build a Chinook as some other competing models.

[Blue~Go]

To me the no seams is big. I come from boating as well, so a molded fiberglass shell makes sense to me and I know how to work with it. Yes, you can still have leaks around windows and other openings, but designs with seams have those PLUS whatever might be seeping in around the seams (I probably would like awake every time it rained). With windows and etc. you just re-bed them as a matter of maintenance. Taking a shell apart at the seams... not so much. If you come from boating be prepared for a bit of a shock when you find out that many RV mfgrs. and shops' idea of bedding is to caulk OVER the item, vs. under the flange, and "re-sealing" may consist of piling on more. To Chinook's credit the original bedding was done under the glange and the only pace I found the dreaded silicone was on the water heater access door (as requested by Suburban )

However, all that said, it's just my particular preference (along with other reasons I chose the Chinook). If my priorities were to lie elsewhere, I might have chosen differently. I mostly mentioned it because there are two different types of "fiberglass" RV's. One is the molded, basically-one-piece type, like our Chinooks, fiberglass "egg" trailers, Coach House. The other is fiberglass panels that have seams. I'm not as familiar with this type, but I think it would include BT Cruiser, Born Free, and Dynamax (but do double check me). When there are seams, watch for dissimilar materials (with different coefficients of expansion). That can lead to difficulty keeping the seams sealed.

But, if the Chinook size and layout don't work for you (or whomever), then all the one piece shell and etc. in the world won't make it the best choice. Like boating, there is no one best (darnitall!)

[ltg]

We down graded from a Foretravel Class A Motorhome. Our criteria was simple. Leather furniture, tile flooring, corian countertops, large shower, large battery bank, large inverter, large windows, real wood cabinets, vacuum cleaner, safe, heated driver and passenger seats, solar panel, etc. Chinook was the only choice. We also came from a boating background. Ocean going sail assisted trawler. Many months in the Florida Keys and Bahamas.

[Blue~Go]

Hey, from a fellow boater! Ocean going sail assisted trawler sounds pretty nifty. I did some ocean sailing on auxilliary sailboats. The difference being a lot less space, and fewer "windows" -- plus you have to feel guilty when you fire up the engine

Funny but when I was considering various RV's to buy after my "trial balloon" small camper van, I seriously considered a Foretravel. If I hadn't decided Class A would be a bit more rig than I needed, it would have been my choice for sure. I decided to try staying a bit nimbler and so went with the Chinook, but sometimes I still daydream about a few of the Foretravels I looked at. What fine machines they are.

[A Rooney]

I live in a Premier Universe,which means I converse fairly intelligibly with the Concourse tribe.I have toured concourses,bajas,destinys....but so far no Glaciers,(I have seen pictures),,, My cabinets have Only real wood frames,the center panel I suspect is plywood the carcasses are some pressed fiberboard with a thin simulated wood grain (something)laminate to the surface....In the construction trade,I couldn't market that solid real wood,I believe that's common with the Concourse models..Perhaps that's different in the Glacier model (cheeky but not argumentative) Those classical profile oak door frames,do give a warm touch,and the general "impression" of real wood...but as a recent IKEA remodel show,are not everyone's modern "trendy cup of tea" The real Plus of my rig is ,Its Built Solid, generally there are not a plethora of mysterious rattles going down the road (my fantastic fan behaves itself)and the occasional rattle navigating a bad road turn etc...never give me the feeling (knock on wood product)that the rig is slowly being shaken apart in its travels.One thing that can be said for the one piece Fiberglas shell and the interior design and construction as KD pointed out it is well made (various materials) and Importantly Solid.I can't comment on other rigs....but I do know for me that goes a long way (and to risk sensitivities) Trumps layout.Rooney

[M Spec]

Thanks everyone for the continued education. I must compliment everyone on their courteous and friendly responses, unlike many other forums I read. Refreshing! Also, nice to hear from so many fellow sailers (boaters). Itg...you mentioned the Bahamas. I have participated in the week long "Regatta Time in Abaco" several times (have the T-shirt) . A good time was had by all. ---- The search Continues! P.S. I love the IKEA remodel!

[ltg]

I am not a carpenter, wood worker, nor cabinet maker. In our Glacier it appears to me that the cabinet doors, bathroom door, kitchen lower cabinet drawers and doors, wardroom closet doors, wardroom drawers, Refrigerator frame and cabinet doors below the refrigerator are real solid wood. I believe it is cherry wood. The remaining parts of the cabinets and framing are some type of laminate. I have one brother who owns a Newell motorhome, one brother who owns a Monaco Signature, and my prior motorhome was a Foretravel. The cabinets and other wood work in our Glacier has the same type of quality and workmanship that is evident in the aforementioned motorhomes. While searching for our Glacier, no Class C or Class B Plus motorhome came close to the quality in the Chinooks we looked at. I can assure you that the Coach Houses motorhomes that we looked at did not have the same quality wood work. Those Coach House motorhomes were 2005 and 2006 models in the 25 and 26 foot size with slides.

[M Spec]

In my last post I forgot to ask 2 questions. In the dinette version, when made into a bed, can someone other than a child sleep there? Also, when the sofa is made into bed what size is it? Sorry... I have never been in one when the bed are down. Thanks.

[A Rooney]

Larry,
I don't know the answer,since I have not toured a 2005 model Coach house,and indeed if one is looking to spend 40k,my best guess is that one would be looking at a used rig perhaps even one like the 2005 rig you toured.So your experience with the 2005 is perhaps more germane than mine with the 2015 model which I found exquisite in every detail.Since the inquirer doesn't find this an important detail any further discussion is perhaps moot.Since we Are discussing what brought us to Chinook let me say I have always wanted a chinook since the Toyota pop top days,(something small and homey). The newer premiers and concourses were just So Much more than those early toyotas,so even tho I jest I guess you could say I was something of an affectionado of the Lukehart's evolving vision,however as a man of somewhat humble means,I had to wait for a bit before I could acquire my 2001 Premier,is it perfect? Nope,I guess from my posts there are other models/layouts I might prefer......but for the money and for what it does for my Traveling Dreams...I find it a Perfect fit for me.....I only posted originally because if I had a greater amount to spend,I would cast a net wider than the limited Chinook universe.......I realized tongue in cheek some here might find that "sacreligious"... So be it......to each their own....As to the size of the combined sofa dinette bed it creates a California King which may be a bit lumpy bumpy but I find comfortable. Rooney