Questions on DS Options

[Tip&Tina]

As we creep forward to our dream of FTing, we are talking about dealers, how to order, when to order, how long it will take and what options, etc. One option is sticking. I also have a question on paint.

We’re looking at ordering sometime in the next month or two.

We are at the options on the DS and the only ones that don‘t make sense are the “Girard Awnings”.

What, exactly, do you get for $14,000, MSRP, that makes that option so special and on every rig on every dealer lot?

We like the Girard awnings, want the slide toppers, want the window awnings (manual)-how is ordering them separately differently from this package?

We pretty much have every other option checked. The awnings for $14K are a big question. We talked to the local dealer and can’t get a super clear answer. I won’t name them since they are a super popular one....

Regarding paint—we would be looking at a paint color that is available on a Ventana. We really like the blue. Any blue. We love the blue on another competing model I won’t name. Is it possible to get that on a DS? What is the cost? Ball park? Just want blue and not browns...

We are also going to do FPU. You all convinced us this is the way to go. DH who reads this and the other forum as I send him links believes that the Mother ship is the only way to get is serviced. After dealing with our Canyon Star, he is right.

Thanks for all the help on this incredible journey!!

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

We are not big awning fans, so when we ordered our 2018 Mountain Aire, we did not add the Girard awning option. We have not regretted that decision. Keeping big awnings under control when deployed requires quite a bit of attention in our experience. We have found that the wind-sensor awning retract is not that reliable, so you have to be constantly aware of wind conditions and retract the awnings at the first sign of wind bounce. And, a sudden, unexpected wind gust can damage an awning before you can react if the auto-retract is slow in reacting. At least, that's our take.

As for the custom paint, I believe substituting different paint colors in the existing model graphics ran about $1,900. Changing the graphic pattern was significantly more expensive.

We did not opt for the factory pickup because we had a coach to trade in and the logistics of doing that along with setting up a FPU was more than we wanted to tackle. In hindsight, we wish we had jumped through the additional hoops to do that. The dealer P/U walk-through was pretty cursory and it took us a year or more to figure out many of the things we would have learned about during a FPU.

Good luck on finalizing your coach order.

TJ

 

[sheridany]

Be sure to read the latest challenges with Girard installations if you haven’t already. It’s an expensive option but you can also do standard (Dometic) awnings but some don’t like the visual look of those on the side of the coach versus Girards. The same challenges apply that @TJ&LadyDi mentions about the wind Etc.

Alert - Girard Awning Mounts WRONG!!

Ok, I've let some time go by before I posted this. As you can imagine, my shock and anger would have led me to say things I shouldn't...at least not publicly here. Nonetheless, I'm pretty disappointed and angry at such a bad mistake on Newmar's behalf. I took our '19 DS 4369 down to Girard...

rvforums.com

here’s a thread on Girard vs dometic that’s might be helpful.

Girard and Dometic Awnings; what’s the difference?

I’m attempting to understand the difference in these awnings in late model MHs. I’m scouring MHs for sale nearly every day and I note that some (in particular) Newmars have Dometic awnings as standard and Girards as an option. I have been able to identify the awnings that arc as Girards. I...

rvforums.com

FPU x2. I have not done it but I will on my next coach without hesitation.

 

[Neemer]

I just went through this on my order. I chose to add two Girard Nova awnings in lieu of the standard, and forego the rest of the Girard package. Doing that, you can elect the Carefree slide toppers and manual window awnings, and save about $6K in the process. We just didn’t see the value in the $15K package. It remains to be seen if going with the Novas instead of the standard G2000s was a good decision. Novas get mixed reviews.

I changed two colors on the exterior and it came to $1700. I have read that changing one color is the same cost as changing four, but I cannot confirm that.

 

[NWIP]

In regards to paint option, when we did our build sheet for a 2020 you could change any or all colors at a price of $2000. We were told we could not change graphics at all.

 

[Tip&Tina]

We are not big awning fans, so when we ordered our 2018 Mountain Aire, we did not add the Girard awning option. We have not regretted that decision. Keeping big awnings under control when deployed requires quite a bit of attention in our experience. We have found that the wind-sensor awning retract is not that reliable, so you have to be constantly aware of wind conditions and retract the awnings at the first sign of wind bounce. And, a sudden, unexpected wind gust can damage an awning before you can react if the auto-retract is slow in reacting. At least, that's our take.

As for the custom paint, I believe substituting different paint colors in the existing model graphics ran about $1,900. Changing the graphic pattern was significantly more expensive.

We did not opt for the factory pickup because we had a coach to trade in and the logistics of doing that along with setting up a FPU was more than we wanted to tackle. In hindsight, we wish we had jumped through the additional hoops to do that. The dealer P/U walk-through was pretty cursory and it took us a year or more to figure out many of the things we would have learned about during a FPU.

Good luck on finalizing your coach order.

TJ

Thank you TJ! I appreciate the feedback. I did read the thread on the problems with the Girard awnings and on the Canyon Star (2017) we had the standard awnings with arms. They were OK. They didn’t work from the outset and needed to be removed and completely reinstalled before we even took the rig off the lot. 3 weeks later we were able to get on the road. That’s when the real problems began...

We are only looking for a color change, not graphics. Just blue, somewhere in the scheme. We know we have to pay for any change.

Everyone has raved about FPU and after our PDI with the CS and our tech not knowing what the “stick in the basement“ was for (slideout locks ) we have determined that FPU is worth the cost.

Really appreciate your insights!

 

[Neemer]

We talked to the local dealer and can’t get a super clear answer. I won’t name them since they are a super popular one....

I placed my order thru your super popular dealer.

 

[Tip&Tina]

I just went through this on my order. I chose to add two Girard Nova awnings in lieu of the standard, and forego the rest of the Girard package. Doing that, you can elect the Carefree slide toppers and manual window awnings, and save about $6K in the process. We just didn’t see the value in the $15K package. It remains to be seen if going with the Novas instead of the standard G2000s was a good decision. Novas get mixed reviews.

I changed two colors on the exterior and it came to $1700. I have read that changing one color is the same cost as changing four, but I cannot confirm that.

Thank you for this! We went to the Girard site and now have a much better understanding of the differences after your telling us what you did. This sounds exactly like what we are wanting to do.

Same on the paint. We don’t want to change the graphics, just get some blue in the color scheme.

Thank you for the follow up!

 

[Tip&Tina]

I placed my order thru your super popular dealer.

I don’t want to burn any bridges by naming anyone... Their service and everyone there was outstanding. Our MH, overall, was a dog. It really turned DH off on the experience. He is willing to give it another go after reading all the positive stuff and rethinking just sitting at home the last 7 months.

 

[Tip&Tina]

Be sure to read the latest challenges with Girard installations if you haven’t already. It’s an expensive option but you can also do standard (Dometic) awnings but some don’t like the visual look of those on the side of the coach versus Girards. The same challenges apply that @TJ&LadyDi mentions about the wind Etc.

Alert - Girard Awning Mounts WRONG!!

Ok, I've let some time go by before I posted this. As you can imagine, my shock and anger would have led me to say things I shouldn't...at least not publicly here. Nonetheless, I'm pretty disappointed and angry at such a bad mistake on Newmar's behalf. I took our '19 DS 4369 down to Girard...

rvforums.com

here’s a thread on Girard vs dometic that’s might be helpful.

Girard and Dometic Awnings; what’s the difference?

I’m attempting to understand the difference in these awnings in late model MHs. I’m scouring MHs for sale nearly every day and I note that some (in particular) Newmars have Dometic awnings as standard and Girards as an option. I have been able to identify the awnings that arc as Girards. I...

rvforums.com

FPU x2. I have not done it but I will on my next coach without hesitation.

This was super helpfu! I did read that thread and went to their website to understand the differences. Duh! Now it makes sense! Red Baron‘s explanation was also very good.

Re: FPU-we are committed to doing it. Our dealer was good, however, I believe the factory can really get it done better and while we are there we can get to know them for the future.

Thank you!

 

[Tip&Tina]

In regards to paint option, when we did our build sheet for a 2020 you could change any or all colors at a price of $2000. We were told we could not change graphics at all.

We will go and talk about the paint and see what they can show us. No graphics, just colors. Would really love to see blue somewhere in our color scheme.

 

[Neemer]

just get some blue in the color scheme

I totally understand that. What Entegra does with that blue accent on their Anthem looks really, really sharp. I’m a red guy, and opted to add a maroon color to the standard Wylie exterior.

 

[Tip&Tina]

I totally understand that. What Entegra does with that blue accent on their Anthem looks really, really sharp. I’m a red guy, and opted to add a maroon color to the standard Wylie exterior.

We really looked hard at an Anthem; we really liked the blue and the two year warranty-oh, and the fan in the master. Just can’t see spending that much more. Then take a step down to an Aspire. The line by line comparison doesn’t add up. The DS living space is so much more! Gotta go Newmar! Entegra does do a nice paint job, I’ll give them that!

 

[Desertboyz]

Regarding the Girard $14k option, the slide toppers are better designed, in my opinion. No leaves or debris get caught because of how the toppers are attached. Leaves fall off rather than being drawn into the slides when closing. We went with the package and are happy. After the discount, the real cost is much less. Another plus, I think, is all the window awnings are powered. Are the Carefree window awnings? Or do you have to use a pole to extend/retract?

 

[Jabber Jaw]

Tip & Tina, Regards the "special paint". Newmar has a palate/chart of all the colors they offer. You can choose from any color which they use. Someone from Newmar; probably Natalie Miller can send you the color chart. But be careful, as the colors are close. but not a true color, as when seen on a coach. What I did was find a coach with a particular "color code paint", in which I was interested, and look at the coach in "real life"! That made a big difference in my actual color selection! Even the "rendering" which Newmar sends, does not match the actual paint colors. Long story short, be careful in color selection, & KNOW what the color looks like on an actual Newmar coach! As stated, actual cost will run from $1700-1900.

And "FPU" is the only way to go! Worth every penny, even if one has had a previous Newmar. There is always something to learn, or relearn!

Good luck, enjoy the order experience, get Natalie to send you picutures of your coach, as the build progresses; and most of all enjoy your NEWMAR!!

 

[Tip&Tina]

As a follow up-we went with the full Girard package. After going back to the dealer and seeing a DS with the full package and seeing a slightly older one without, it was clear that there was a difference. DH decided that the full package was the way to go. We put our salesman to the test explaining it and making him understand that the brochure does not explain it well nor does Newmar's website. He finally agreed and went full throttle to show us the difference. We were sold. Thanks for all your help on this critical item!

 

[Neemer]

Good for you. Can you explain the differences as detailed by your sales guy?

 

[Tip&Tina]

He pointed out that the Girard slide toppers were tighter and closer to the slides. Also, if I remember right, they had "sweepers" on them to help clear leaves off when bringing them in. The Carefree was a little looser and hung down when on the slide.

We had those on the Canyon Star. They seemed OK-we had to get on the roof to clear leaves before bringing the slides in though. They hung slack and rain would accumulate and when bringing them in water could gush in the house. Got water dumped on my head a few times as the DH pulled in the driver's side slide and I was sitting in the driver's seat. Learned to keep a towel handy after the rain and we were leaving.