New Delivery 2018 Interstate - our 5th

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by FlyFishinRVr

...the Coachmen Galleria Li3. ...

AS better look out because others are catching up and passing them in their "50 best in class" features......

That Coachmen is a nice rig- best new-ish entry I've seen in quite a while. Some of the design features are reminiscent of the T1N Interstates (the style of the curved overhead cabinetry, black tank under the toilet, driver's side mid-bath config with fridge adjacent to the mid-bath). My only style thumbs-down is the white padded vinyl interior wrap which always reminds me of the interior of a coffin when coupled with natural high-gloss wood (Airstream's aluminum sheet interior surfaces are much more to my taste).

Watch the vid at the 2:40 and 22:00 minute marks. The propane tank appears to be outside the wheel base - behind the rear wheels, in fact. I had been under the impression that wasn't legal due to safety regulations. Perhaps Protag will chime in.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by FlyFishinRVr

And I was going to ask you about your '18 TB. How are the seats? The OP seems to think they're "cheap vinyl"......

Wait, what? Your seats do not look like mine?

[wachuko]

All joking aside... we love the interior of ours. We knew going in that these were not leather seats, but the feel and comfort is amazing. And we love the color of the seats in the TB edition (main reason for going with the TB)... photos do not do the color justice...

Do I wish they were like those in the Midwest Automotive Design vans? Heck yeah! But I am fine with what came from the factory...

[FlyFishinRVr]

Originally Posted by wachuko

All joking aside... we love the interior of ours. We knew going in that these were not leather seats, but the feel and comfort is amazing. And we love the color of the seats in the TB edition (main reason for going with the TB)... photos do not do the color justice...

Do I wish they were like those in the Midwest Automotive Design vans? Heck yeah! But I am fine with what came from the factory...

Mine look the same as yours, and yeah, I think everyone knows "ultraleather" isn't real leather (except maybe the OP?). Personally, I've had real leather seats in cars before and I much prefer the ultraleather. It's softer, not as hot in the summer or cold in the winter, and in theory will hold up MUCH better over time (with no need to clean/condition like you have to do with leather).

I was just out to my coach giving the genny a workout to keep it running smoothly and the texture and feel of the seats reminds me of really high quality calfskin gloves.

[FlyFishinRVr]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

That Coachmen is a nice rig- best new-ish entry I've seen in quite a while.

Agreed. I was very surprised (in a good way) at the quality of the cabinets and their selection of top notch components (Lithionics, FireFly, Truma, etc).

The one negative I caught in the video, and maybe I just missed it, was that it looked like the cabinets don't latch closed. I didn't see them press anything to unlatch them, and when they opened the cabinets I didn't see anything for a latch to catch on. If true, that would be a major "oops" IMO because stuff in those cabinets would end up all over the floor at some point.

The only "cost cutting" I noticed on the Galleria was their "solid countertop" looked pretty cheap. It definitely wasn't granite, or even Corian, at least it didn't look like it to me. Not a deal breaker, but given their other choices, it sorta stood out as a bit cheap.

Still, a solid effort overall.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by FlyFishinRVr

....

The one negative I caught in the video, and maybe I just missed it, was that it looked like the cabinets don't latch closed. I didn't see them press anything to unlatch them, and when they opened the cabinets I didn't see anything for a latch to catch on. If true, that would be a major "oops" IMO because stuff in those cabinets would end up all over the floor at some point.
...

The T1N Interstate cabinets do not have latches - they are spring-loaded with very strong hardware. In more than 3 years, we've never had anything tumble from those cabinets (the closet has different hardware and is a different story). The strong hardware negates the need for handles as well, leading to a more contemporary appearance. (Coachmen did put handles on theirs, which looks unnecessarily cluttered to me).

I like that approach, as long as the hardware works. I don't need to be punching buttons.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by FlyFishinRVr

...the texture and feel of the seats reminds me of really high quality calfskin gloves.

Spot on!!

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

The T1N Interstate cabinets do not have latches - they are spring-loaded with very strong hardware. In more than 3 years, we've never had anything tumble from those cabinets (the closet has different hardware and is a different story). The strong hardware negates the need for handles as well, leading to a more contemporary appearance. (Coachmen did put handles on theirs, which looks unnecessarily cluttered to me).



I like that approach, as long as the hardware works. I don't need to be punching buttons.

None of the Interstates have upper cabinet latches as far as I know. All use the spring-loaded hinge to keep them closed. But I've had mine fly open several times when something heavy enough caused the cabinet door to open during a sharp turn on urban streets.

I found a replacement knob/latch that actually forms a deadbolt lock against the aluminum trim at bottom of upper cabinets. They were not cheap at about $15 each, but now all my upper cabinets are locked shut. I don't have the details on those latches with me at the moment.

I also had one of the spring hinges actually rip out the screws on the door when it flew open. Problem was screws that were too short in the soft plywood doors. I replaced all the screws with longer versions and added some Gorilla glue. Have not had another issue with doors after three years and 60,000 miles.

[FlyFishinRVr]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

None of the Interstates have upper cabinet latches as far as I know. All use the spring-loaded hinge to keep them closed. But I've had mine fly open several times when something heavy enough caused the cabinet door to open during a sharp turn on urban streets.

Sadly that's been my experience as well with the latchless Interstate cabinets. My mishaps weren't caused by "sporty" driving, but by what laughably passed for "roads" during construction on the NW loop in Yellowstone NP......

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

The T1N Interstate cabinets do not have latches - they are spring-loaded with very strong hardware.

When I first bought the coach, I had spills from the latchless upper cabinets twice, both in the same place. The highway past our road was being rebuilt and I had to make a downhill 90-degree turn over a rocky patch that had not been repaved yet.

Both times, the same cabinet spilled; the one with canned goods and bottles. Thankfully, nothing broke, either time. That's the only overhead cabinet with anything heavy.

I solved that problem by drilling through the divider and inserting a pin from the adjacent cabinet into the edge of the door. The adjacent door locks the pin in place. Inserting the pin before travel is on our checklist. No spills since.

[Lotus54]

I’ve never had a cabinet, upper or closet door open when driving. They work really well and look great. I like the no handles on the uppers, it works and is clean.

I also have a T1N

[amirm]

I have had my rear cabinet open when heavily braking, causing our hot water dispenser to fall all the way to the floor. Courtesy of quality engineering, the thing still works today. . We now pack things so that they have no space to move and this doesn't happen.

Now the drawers is another matter. They open all the time unless we pack things well to disallow movement and not make them too heavy.

[HHPJ]

Luxury problems can be very frustrating... ok I’m off to play a few rounds of golf at the Annenberg Estate.

[xrvr]

Heavy itens such as cans shouldbe avoided in upper cabinets for center of gravity reasons as well as for the reasons mentioned......forces doors open on turns etc.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Lotus54

I’ve never had a cabinet, upper or closet door open when driving. They work really well and look great. I like the no handles on the uppers, it works and is clean.

I also have a T1N

I'm a microscopic victim of my own success: after 3 years of blogging, by this time, when I Google specific Interstate-related terms, most of the images I get are... my own. Not very helpful.

I tried looking to see whether or not NCV3 Interstate upper cabinets are properly lipped on the bottom edge. I didn't see any useful images (but I didn't spend a lot of time digging).

Here's the T1N configuration (except that we modified that rear wall to recapture more space). Unless I put something extremely heavy in there, I can't imagine overcoming inertia and actually having it fall out. The combination of the strong hardware and bottom edge "keeper" does the trick.

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

I tried looking to see whether or not NCV3 Interstate upper cabinets are properly lipped on the bottom edge. I didn't see any useful images (but I didn't spend a lot of time digging).

Just an aluminum ridge about 1/2" high on the NCV3 rig.

For the other poster, who fretted about center of gravity, my AI has 3, fairly small, drawers in the galley cabinet. Obviously, something needs to go overhead. I chose the few plates and the small amount of canned goods we carry. I don't think 10# of bottles,cans, and plates are going to significantly affect the stability of 5 tons of AI. The alternative is pots and pans.

I have a plastic tub that rides in the microwave to hold any overflow of canned goods.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Pahaska

Just an aluminum ridge about 1/2" high on the NCV3 rig.

....

OK, now, that WOULD be a problem. That's insufficient.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Pahaska

I have a plastic tub that rides in the microwave to hold any overflow of canned goods.

Great idea!!

[ScottP]

If the OP doesn't like the seats in the AS, maybe he should "step up" to the Coachmen Galleria Li3. That's assuming the seats meet his requirements. If not, he could recover them with seal fur or whatever and on paper, have a coach that meets or beats the AS in most categories with no need to "build his own"......



Hmmmm...

Fascinating how you’ve taken my concern for the changes in the Interstate we ordered, and dismissed it unilaterally. Since when did you become the defender and “all knowing” AS forum leader?

I’m not particularly concerned what your opinion is of my observations or concerns. Regardless of your dismissive response suggesting my concerns are unfounded, unreasonable or inaccurate - I don’t really care. And most importantly, I really don’t need your validation on this issue. Suggest you stick to something you have first hand experience with, rather than pontificating on subjects you don’t.


What I do know is this:

I have substantially more time in multiple Interstate coaches over the past 5 years, and have a pretty good sense of what to expect when a new coach is delivered.

Our van 2018 van was delivered, leaving us surprised and disappointed by an unexpected change in the seat coverings.


Today we verified:

AS has indeed substituted the fabric - on some of the 2018 units. So you can roll your eyes all you’d like.



Solution:
**********

Today, AS has explained to me what happened with our coach seating fabric and agreed to replace the seating to what we expected to receive.


Next Step:

Now if only we can get the inoperative Firefly functional - we’ll have a usable coach for a trip North to Banff later this week.

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by ScottP

Today we verified:

AS has indeed substituted the fabric - on some of the 2018 units.

Just on SOME of them? That's weird. Did they tell you why?

Regardless, I hope you get it straightened out in the end and get what you want and expected.

And remember....these are all "First World Problems!"