Champagne Edition 38 LKTG

[CampingCaptain]

Is there anyone on the forum who owns one of these?  We really love the floorplan and are pretty sure this is the model that we want to buy to full-time in after we retire next year.  I know NuWa must sell some of this model or they wouldn't keep producing it, but it is hard to find one to walk through.  No matter how good it looks on paper, you still need to experience it up close to know for sure how it feels.

Bryan

[SkeetShooter]

I have a 33LKTG and like the floor plan very much. We were out 93 nights last summer and never said we wished we had X. This units fits us very well. We have the king bed and had lots of storage.

I had golf clubs, several shotguns and a number of cases of ammo.
I'm sure the 38 will meet your expectations. Good luck with the hunt.
If you find yourself in the Houston area your welcome to see mine.
Ted, aka skeetshooter

[mmitc100]

In what state do you live, so I can put my sales staff on notice that you are wanting to see this trailer.  We do have a run of them coming off in January at the factory.  Actually we build quite a few of them.    Plaza in Des Moines has one.   Marshal's in Buda Texas always stocked them before, but I believe he now has the 37' in stock.   But the worst we do is tell you when a retail sold unit is going to a dealer, then maybe you can get somewhere to see it.   MIKE

[CampingCaptain]

Mike,
We live in Southern New Jersey.  The closest dealer to us is Stolzfus in PA, near Philly.  We are planning a cross-country trip next Summer after we have retired so if there are any at dealers close to our route, we could divert and see them then.  We also plan on visiting the factory on our trip.

Bryan

[mmitc100]

Mike,
We live in Southern New Jersey.  The closest dealer to us is Stolzfus in PA, near Philly.  We are planning a cross-country trip next Summer after we have retired so if there are any at dealers close to our route, we could divert and see them then.  We also plan on visiting the factory on our trip.

Bryan

Talk to or email my sales staff before you leave, tell them your situation, see if they have a 38' on line or in the warehouse when you will be at the factory, and/or ask them to help you find a dealer with one in stock.   I'll build one for you to see if we have to.    MIKE

[Ancient Mariner]

see if they have a 38' . . . in the warehouse

Seeing a warehouse full of 38 footers would be worth the trip!

[CampingCaptain]

I'll build one for you to see if we have to.    MIKE

Mike,
Since I first found the NuWa forum on Yahoo I have continually heard nothing but words of praise for you and your staff.  Your offer to build a trailer for us to look at is proof that these words of praise have been well earned.  I have been fairly certain for awhile that we will be buying a NuWa product for our retirement home, but this most generous gesture has caused me to make my mind up that we will definitely be buying a NuWa product.  Your attention to the needs of your customers is a breath of fresh air in todays buyer beware market.  I have no doubt that NuWa will continue to be an industry leader and not a follower.

Bryan

[Pattynmike]

Bryan...
My wife and I have a 38.  We had it built and received it in early August, 2006.  It is loaded with options as we are full timers.  There has been a few problems, but nothing major and the Factory has been just great to worth with.  In addition, our local dealer has been pretty good too.

We did order it out of the catalog, but had looked at other Champagne models so we had an idea as to the quality.  Feel free to ask any questions you might have on the unit or any of the options we selected.

[CampingCaptain]

Pattynmike,
I see you're pulling your 38 with an F450.  How does it handle that big dog?  I think we're going to get the new F450 with the 6.4L diesel.

Any chance you ordered yours with  the BigFoot leveling system?

Bryan

[Nolan]

Like Skeetshooter we have the 33LKTG.  One thing on the 38LKTG that is different from ours is the toilet, closet or washer/dryer area and shower sink area is reversed.  Which is better.  We have a washer/dryer in our 33LKTG so it's 500 pounds more weight on that side of the trailer over the other.   Maybe having the washer/dryer on the curb side would be less weight. 

[Pattynmike]

The F450 pulls it OK.  If I had it to do over again, I would look at getting a FL60 with the 300 HP /1000 Ft Lb engine.  I did have Gale Banks put their stuff on it and that helped a lot.  My 450 has the 30,000 GVW package on it with the 4.88 gears.  If you get that gear set, plan on looking at a Gear Vendor's 2 speed rear end so you can haul down the slab at a reasonable speed when not pulling.  My engine is running  over 2600 RPM at 70 MPH.  Thats pretty high for a diesel.

I pull thru some pretty high mountain passes (7 to 9,000 ft) and need the extra HP on occasion.

Yes I do have the Big Foot Levelers.  Only way to level!!  Also have the gen set, solar panels, inverter, (4) 6 volt batteries, sat dish, disk brakes, center air suspension, dish washer, washer/dryer, "H" rated tires and the stuff that my wife wanted.

Mike

[CampingCaptain]

Mike,
You sound like you pretty much have everything on yours that we want on ours, including the dishwasher.  How well does the dishwasher work? 

The 2 speed rear sounds very interesting.  Sounds like it should save some fuel when you're not towing.  Were you able to have it put on at the dealer or did you have to go elsewhere?  Thanks for your patience in answering my questions.

Bryan

[autoshift]

PattynMike

Do the 4 batteries fit in battery compartment or did you make some mods to fit them?

[Pattynmike]

When you get the inverter option, it comes with an additional battery compartment.  I understand you can order a unit with the extra battery compartment without the inverter.  I had the dealer put 6 volt batteries in to get the additional amp hours.

The dishwasher works great.  The only two things my wife complains about are:
1.) you have to use a little smaller dinner plate than what she would like to use
2.) you do lose the oven...but the convection oven works almost as well.

Mike

[volphotographer]

Mike and Patty, I noticed that you said you had the "H" Rated tires.....on  your triple axle Champagne 38LKTG.....what size wheels did you go to? wouldn't the "G" Rated tires on a triple axle give you 23,500lbs capacity? Obviously the axles would be the limiting factor with 3 X 6,000lbs axles =18,000lbs.....What axles do you have on your 38LKTG? My wife and I were thinking if we upgraded from our 32LKTG DA that we would want the triple axle Champagne and I saw you have the "H" rated tires and I don't think I've seen a triple axle with "H" Rated tires.......Just curious?
Denny

[Ancient Mariner]

Volphotographer.  Uprated tires won't increase the 6,000 lb capacity of the axles, it just gives them an extra margin in the tires.  FWIW, I've got the 37CKRD with three 6,000 lb axles and E rated tires.  Loaded for full-timing, I'm only around 15,000 lbs on the axles with 3,700 on the pin.
Given the GVWR of 18,700 for the 37 and 38 series models, with both having three 6,000 lb axles, there's plenty of room to play with as the axles are almost capable of carrying the entire GVWR, leaving all of the pin weight as spare capacity.  This is unlike most other manufacturers, who would be putting 5,000 lb axles and D rated tires on trailers this size and depending on the customer to balance the load properly and within close tolerances to stay within the weight ratings.

[mmitc100]

I think the tri axle models use 700o lb axles and "E" range tires and 12"x2 3/4 inch brakes.   This is truly sufficient for the needs of the weight of this unit.   I could see a person upgrading to "G" range tires and heavy duty brakes for added assurance, but I really can't see any reason to spend the money for "H" rated tires.  Not sure what is gained.   MIKE

[CampingCaptain]

Wow.  Three 7000 lb axles axles on a unit that has a GVWR of 18,700 lbs.  That really is a strongly built trailer.  One more reason to like it.

Bryan

[gj@plazarv]

Hi Bryan,

My name is Gary Jamison, I'm with Plaza RV Inc in Bondurant Iowa (just a couple miles NE of Des Moines). I'm new to this form, so hopefully this response gets to  you OK.!!  We do have a Champagne Edition 38 LKTG in stock.  I would like to invite you to stop by if you ever get in this area to take a look at this unit. We do have this unit on our website also, www.plazarv.com, so take a look and let me know if you have any questions. It's a beautiful unit.
Gary J

[CampingCaptain]

Gary,
Thanks for the heads up.  We won't be heading your way until May or June at the earliest.  I hope you have sold it by then.  If not, or if you have another one in stock by then, we will gladly stop by to take a look.  I have added your name and dealer name into my little black RV book that I carry.  Again, thanks for the contact.

Bryan

[Jeff Collingwood]

Gary,
Thanks for the heads up.  We won't be heading your way until May or June at the earliest.  I hope you have sold it by then.  If not, or if you have another one in stock by then, we will gladly stop by to take a look.  I have added your name and dealer name into my little black RV book that I carry.  Again, thanks for the contact.

Bryan

Bryan,
From my experience, I think you will be happiest if you order one.  You have read enough now to know that they can make one for you just the way you like.  That is a lot better than getting one off the lot.  When I ordered mine, I wanted a backup camera.  I sent them the camera and the wiring harness and they installed it for me.  There wasn't even a charge.
...Jeff...