2024 Newmar New Aire

[Neal]

Starting at $613,785​

 

[Jim]

Very nice motorhome.

 

[turbopilot]

Starting at $613,785​

One error in the video. Electric in floor heat is now standard, not an option as it was in the past. Angie's walkthrough of the 2023 New Aire covers everything. The only changes I can find for 2024 are colors, trim, a floor plan add and a floor plan delete.

 

[turbopilot]

For those considering a New Aire I think I have pieced together the near term production schedule for this Newmar model. By finding various New Aire Production Order Reports it appears the first 2018 New Aires began around production number 710204 built during the Summer of 2017. I think the reason they began with production numbers around 200 is there was a run of coaches made 8 to 10 years earlier called New Aire. In any event I had one of the first modern New Aire's made in the Summer of 2017 and it was Production Number 710215 an NADP 3343. The "71" designates the New Aire model line.

I was just assigned a production number for my NADP 3543 order scheduled right now for a December delivery. The production number on that coach is 711590. So it appears since M/Y 2018 around 1,390 New Aires have been produced.

There was just a sighting of a 2024 New Aire coming out of paint with a production number of 71562. I also discovered Independence RV in Florida ordered at least three 2024 New Aire's in May of 2023 with production numbers of 711556, 711557 and 711558. Those coaches are advertised on the Independence RV website as "Ordered" but not sold. Since 71562 just came out of paint the Independence RV orders should be getting to the dealer soon. Right now there is only one 2024 New Aire sitting on a dealer lot ready for sale in the country at TransWest in Belton, MO.

Putting the numbers together between the NA just out of paint and my December delivery it would appear they are going to build 28 New Aires from now until the end of December. NIRVC tells me if my NA delivers in December it will be one of the last just before a three week holiday shutdown at the Newmar plant.

Given a production rate of 7 coaches a day and around 40 production days until the middle of December, Newmar should be making around 280 coaches of all models, with New Aires accounting for around 14% of the model mix.

Maybe more than many need to know, but if you are going to order it is helpful to know the state of play. FYI, when I order my NA, NIRVC said if I wanted a Freightliner I could have it in December but if I wanted a Spartan, Spring would be the earliest to get delivery. Almost all of the 2023 New Aires currently sitting on dealer lots are on a Spartan chassis. The only 2024 New Aire available today at TransWest is on a Spartan chassis. So it would appear, right now, the Spartan chassis is still in demand for the New Aire.

Update: Two 2024 New Aires just arrived at Independence RV, production number 711533, a Spartan based NADP 3539 and production number 711540, a Freightliner based NADP 3547. So Independence RV in Winter Garden, FL appears to be the place to go if you want a New Aire ready to go.

 

[Rich W.]

For those considering a New Aire I think I have pieced together the near term production schedule for this Newmar model. By finding various New Aire Production Order Reports it appears the first 2018 New Aires began around production number 710204 built during the Summer of 2017. I think the reason they began with production numbers around 200 is there was a run of coaches made 8 to 10 years earlier called New Aire. In any event I had one of the first modern New Aire's made in the Summer of 2017 and it was Production Number 710215 an NADP 3343. The "71" designates the New Aire model line.

I was just assigned a production number for my NADP 3543 order scheduled right now for a December delivery. The production number on that coach is 711590. So it appears since M/Y 2018 around 1,390 New Aires have been produced.

There was just a sighting of a 2024 New Aire coming out of paint with a production number of 71562. I also discovered Independence RV in Florida ordered at least three 2024 New Aire's in May of 2023 with production numbers of 711556, 711557 and 711558. Those coaches are advertised on the Independence RV website as "Ordered" but not sold. Since 71562 just came out of paint the Independence RV orders should be getting to the dealer soon. Right now there is only one 2024 New Aire sitting on a dealer lot ready for sale in the country at TransWest in Belton, MO.

Putting the numbers together between the NA just out of paint and my December delivery it would appear they are going to build 28 New Aires from now until the end of December. NIRVC tells me if my NA delivers in December it will be one of the last just before a three week holiday shutdown at the Newmar plant.

Given a production rate of 7 coaches a day and around 40 production days until the middle of December, Newmar should be making around 280 coaches of all models, with New Aires accounting for around 14% of the model mix.

Maybe more than many need to know, but if you are going to order it is helpful to know the state of play. FYI, when I order my NA, NIRVC said if I wanted a Freightliner I could have it in December but if I wanted a Spartan, Spring would be the earliest to get delivery. Almost all of the 2023 New Aires currently sitting on dealer lots are on a Spartan chassis. The only 2024 New Aire available today at TransWest is on a Spartan chassis. So it would appear, right now, the Spartan chassis is still in demand for the New Aire.

Update: Two 2024 New Aires just arrived at Independence RV, production number 711533, a Spartan based NADP 3539 and production number 711540, a Freightliner based NADP 3547. So Independence RV in Winter Garden, FL appears to be the place to go if you want a New Aire ready to go.

Nicely done.

 

[turbopilot]

Production Order Report for my build.

 

[turbopilot]

Working my way through the 2024 New Aire systems and comparing those systems to the original New Aire in the 2018 MY. So far the biggest difference I have found is in the 12 volt electrical system. The 2018 NA had eight AGM, 6 volt batteries with 800 amp hours available, nominally 50% of those amp hours are only usable. The 2024 NA comes with two, 320 amp hour lithium iron batteries, giving 640 amp hours, most of which is functionally useable. The eight, 6 volt batteries in 2018 NA weighed 500 lbs while the two 320 ah Lithionics batteries in the 2024 NA weight 136 lbs.

The 2018 New Aire amazingly did not come with a battery management system. So without optional equipment there was no way to know the state of charge of those eight AGM batteries. The 2024 NA comes with a Lithionics BMS with a modular "plug and play" socket system to add more batteries.

The Lithionics BMS is also plugged into the RV-C Sliverleaf network that allows it to supply battery information including state of charge to Silverleaf displays. The 2018 Silverleaf displays only displayed battery voltage.

And finally, the 2024 New Aire comes with twin Xantrex inverter/chargers. Both chargers are available to quickly charge the Lithionics batteries but more importantly there is now battery charging redundancy should one of the inverter/chargers fail. Also note the active ventilation of the battery/inverter bays in the cargo doors on the 2024 New Aire. The inverter storage area in the 2018 New Aire was not ventilated and the AGM batteries were actually mounted in a bay behind the left front tire allowing water and other debris to enter the battery storage area.

Bottom line the 12 volt electrical system beginning in the 2023 New Air model year is a very significant upgrade that I have not seen widely talked about here or on "other" forums.

 

[MarkMaxPayne]

Has anybody successfully gotten a quote for adding the 3rd lithionics "plug-in-play" expansion battery to their system? I bought my 2023 in May and am still trying to get a quote from the dealer. My assumption is any quote would include the 3rd battery, the 3 battery combiner from lithioncs (adding yet another Y cable to combine them would cause battery cable runs that are not the same length, which isn't good), updating the Silverleaf to know the new total amp hours, and then labor.

Eager to hear of anybody who has either gotten the quote or the work done (by dealer, Newmar, or yourself). With my old rig, in which I installed Battle Borns, I'd just do the work myself...

Thanks,
-Mark

 

[turbopilot]

Has anybody successfully gotten a quote for adding the 3rd lithionics "plug-in-play" expansion battery to their system? I bought my 2023 in May and am still trying to get a quote from the dealer. My assumption is any quote would include the 3rd battery, the 3 battery combiner from lithioncs (adding yet another Y cable to combine them would cause battery cable runs that are not the same length, which isn't good), updating the Silverleaf to know the new total amp hours, and then labor.

Eager to hear of anybody who has either gotten the quote or the work done (by dealer, Newmar, or yourself). With my old rig, in which I installed Battle Borns, I'd just do the work myself...

Thanks,
-Mark

I am working on this right now. So let's stay in touch. NIRVC says they will not touch anything lithium even the "plug and play" third battery on the New Aire. Newmar wants $10k for the third battery. I have seen the battery advertised at Lithionics dealers for $4.6k. Looking at Lithionics documentation (still can't find the install manual) we may need a 4 port combiner box to do a 3rd battery. Most likely Newmar used the 2 port modular expansion module.

Can you get a picture of your combiner box with the two battery setup and post it? Looks like it may be behind the two batteries from the on line images I have seen.

 

[MarkMaxPayne]

I am working on this right now. So let's stay in touch. NIRVC says they will not touch anything lithium even the "plug and play" third battery on the New Aire. Newmar wants $10k for the third battery. I have seen the battery advertised at Lithionics dealers for $4.6k. Looking at Lithionics documentation (still can't find the install manual) we may need a 4 port combiner box to do a 3rd battery. Most likely Newmar used the 2 port modular expansion module.

Can you get a picture of your combiner box with the two battery setup and post it? Looks like it may be behind the two batteries from the on line images I have seen.

View attachment 20721

Turbopilot,

10k for 320AH?!? Lol. Talk about a mark up!

My rig doesn't have a combiner box. The factory simply used a Lithionics Y cable designed to combine only 2 batteries, hence why I question their plug-in-play marketing claims. Yes, plug-in-play if I unplug the Y combiner cable and plug in a newly added 3 or 4 port combiner, but that's a little beyond simply pluging in that 3rd battery to existing open ports/connectors.

Now in Newmar's defense I do see they did already add an additional Y connector for the battery telemetry port so you can simply plug that into the 3rd battery. However, without the battery power cable combiner already installed, adding another battery Y cable is NOT the right answer...

Yes, let's keep in touch. I am about to give up on the dealer. With Battle Borns I'd be up and running by now as I'd do it myself. With Lithionics being bought by Winnebago my frustration level is beginning to build... I have already had to fix the Newmar factory mistake of them installing the wrong solar controller for Lithionics (they finally put out a recent service bulletin about the mistake and recall/warranty repair for that, but that was after I gave up after being ghosted and fixed it myself).

Have you had any luck with Lithionics directly or are you getting the "go talk to your Newmar dealer" response?

Best,
-Mark

 

[turbopilot]

Have you had any luck with Lithionics directly or are you getting the "go talk to your Newmar dealer" response?

Best,
-Mark

Yes, I am from the Victron world too. Just do it yourself. Just starting on this project but so far stalled because the installation manual is not on line.

It appears we need the 4 port combiner versus the 2 port combiner, associated battery cables, the battery and the setup instructions to tell Lithionics BMS about the additional amp hour capacity to calculate SOC correctly. NIRVC is pointing me to Master Tech to get it done. So I may have to wait until I pass through Indiana if don't find a resource out West.

 

[MarkMaxPayne]

Yes, I am from the Victron world too. Just do it yourself. Just starting on this project but so far stalled because the installation manual is not on line.

It appears we need the 4 port combiner versus the 2 port combiner, associated battery cables, the battery and the setup instructions to tell Lithionics BMS about the additional amp hour capacity to calculate SOC correctly. NIRVC is pointing me to Master Tech to get it done. So I may have to wait until I pass through Indiana if don't find a resource out West.

And I am out West as well. To me plug-in-play means it is supposed to be relatively easy to do. Even DIY easy... I believe it is easy, from what I've seen and done myself before, but if you cannot get your own dealer to do it or you have to spend 4+ days on the road each way to drive half across the country for a factory (or Master Tech) appointment, then it isn't plug-in-play.

Lithions had a 3 way combiner, do they not carry that any more? If not, the 4 way combiner will also require a jumper DIN connector for the unused port. IMHO: Newmar not installing the 3 way combiner and calling this plug-n-play is pushing the truth somewhat.

I also assume there is some procedure where the new battery has to be plugged in by itself, charged to the same level as the other 2 batteries, then the other 2 added back in so they start off somewhat near balanced.

I love the Master Tech videos they have out on their YouTube channel. They look very experienced on all things lithium (Lithionics and Battle Born), inverter chargers, alternators, and solar (with or without lithium), etc. For this supposed "plug-in-play" upgrade installation it would be curious if they would be willing to help address this gap in the market Newmar has created within their own dealer network. I'd order from them and install following their instructions in a heartbeat.

Best,
-Mark

 

[turbopilot]

I love the Master Tech videos they have out on their YouTube channel. They look very experienced on all things lithium (Lithionics and Battle Born), inverter chargers, alternators, and solar (with or without lithium), etc. For this supposed "plug-in-play" upgrade installation it would be curious if they would be willing to help address this gap in the market Newmar has created within their own dealer network. I'd order from them and install following their instructions in a heartbeat.

Best,
-Mark

There is a video on YouTube interviewing a Lithionics spokesman who have said they do not want to play to the DIY sector for "safety" reasons (obviously taking a shot at Victron). So I think we are stuck.

 

[turbopilot]

And I am out West as well.

New subject. Have you done a 4 corner weight on you 2023 3543? I am finding some interesting numbers as I compare the 2018 NA3343 to 2024 NA3543.

The 2018 NA3343 was very nose heavy. Without any cargo, just full diesel, my NA3343 only had about 1,800 lbs available before hitting the front axle GAWR. This was a big deal since most of the weight associated belly storage plus passengers in the front seats went to the front axle. I wonder if this was an issue in the blow out of the right front tire of the NA3343 in the video just posted on the Rettroband thread. They were full timers and likely carrying a lot of weight.

While the 2024 NA3543 is 2,195 lbs heavier before adding diesel than my 2018 NA3343 there was a significant amount of weight shifting that should have driven more weight to the rear wheels in the 2023/2024 models. For instance, the 3543 engine is 500 lbs heavier than the 3343 behind the rear wheels and the batteries are now 364 lbs lighter located far forward near the left front tire. All other things being equal the C/G of the 3543 coach had to shift aft with these weight shifts reducing the weight on the front axle.

The other factoids of interest. The Frieghtliner chassis weighs 100 lbs more than the Spartan chassis for 2024. Also the heaviest floor plan is the 3543 weighing 500 lbs more than the lightest floor plan the 3549. I have no idea why.

Here is the 4 corner weight for my 2018 3343. Note the company that did the weighing flagged my front axle weights with yellow as borderline.

 

[MarkMaxPayne]

New subject. Have you done a 4 corner weight on you 2023 3543?

Coming from a prior Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Class C I was very paranoid about weight. No 4 corner weight yet, but I was quite happy to see at a CAT Scales weigh in just after topping off fuel with full fuel and full fresh water, weight on the tow hitch, both driver and passenger in place, and a fully loaded rig (inside and in the basement) I had plenty of room to spare on both front and rear axles. Yay!

I am on the Spartan Chasis. Will get 4 corner weight at next RV show to see what I should move around underneath if I need better balance.

Best,
-Mark

 

[turbopilot]

Coming from a prior Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Class C I was very paranoid about weight. No 4 corner weight yet, but I was quite happy to see at a CAT Scales weigh in just after topping off fuel with full fuel and full fresh water, weight on the tow hitch, both driver and passenger in place, and a fully loaded rig (inside and in the basement) I had plenty of room to spare on both front and rear axles. Yay!

I am on the Spartan Chasis. Will get 4 corner weight at next RV show to see what I should move around underneath if I need better balance.

Best,
-Mark

That is good news. So that heavy engine is worth more than just more torque.

 

[Neal]

Factor in Lithium batteries vs. AGM's in forward weight as well.

 

[turbopilot]

Factor in Lithium batteries vs. AGM's in forward weight as wel

Yes, 364 lbs removed from the area behind the left front tire. What surprise me more was the fact the Freightliner chassis weighs more the Spartan. With all hype about a heavier chassis with the Spartan I thought it would have been the other way around.

 

[Rd1]

the Freightliner chassis weighs more the Spartan. With all hype about a heavier chassis with the Spartan I thought it would have been the other way around.

The 'reason' likely is due to newmar modifying the chassis rails. The original beams are removed and newmar installs their own, so they can lower the body within the frame rails. Newmar is likely adding alot more support to stabalize the freightliner version, hence the extra weight. But, the best proof is, when at newmar, one should go and visit the chassis lot. It used to be close to the old newmar camp ground (x the street). Or sometimes sun or early monday you can see the flat bed truck that brings chassis from freightliner and spartan to newmar is parked near the old campground.

IF you were to compare spartan chassis with like freightliner chassis, there is no comparison! The freightliner is the very cheaper version. NOw, if someone likes the way their freightliner handles, fair enough. But you have to see the 2 side by side to appreciate the differences.

If you go to any RV show, freightliner will likely not bring the same comparable chassis as spartan has on display. They will have other models, but not a comparable one. You do not need to be an ME, to appreciate the differences. Newmar factory may be about the only place you'll have a chance to compare the 2 like chassis from spartan and freightiner. btw, this is not a plug for spartan. just simple observation.

 

[turbopilot]

IF you were to compare spartan chassis with like freightliner chassis, there is no comparison! The freightliner is the very cheaper version. NOw, if someone likes the way their freightliner handles, fair enough. But you have to see the 2 side by side to appreciate the differences.

This is an area I know nothing about. I had a 2018 NA 3343 on a FreightLiner chassis and while I had a lot of problems with that coach, ride quality or frame issues were never an issue for me. It rode and handled great, mostly because it was so relatively small and nimble compared to a typical Class A. So I have no frame of reference about how a "cheaper version" of a chassis might impact the ownership experience. It just surprised me to see the FrieghtLiner version weigh in 100 lbs more than Spartan when so much of the hype around Spartan is the larger gauge steel used in the rails.

One other thought. I think it is possible these differences between Freightliner and Spartan chassis my be more appreciated in the long wheelbase Class A's. The New Aire is a "short bus" chassis without a very long run of chassis rails. The older 3343 NA was only a 206" wheelbase while the 3543 is only 20" longer at 226" for the wheelbase. So logically chassis strength is going to be much more important with 10' longer rails and the weight of the tag axle system going into the mix.