A few years ago, friends John and Kathy Huggins, whose Living the RV Dream podcast was a real inspiration for me, retold the story of visiting several RV factories. The couple were owners of a Class A diesel pusher and talked about how impressed they were after visiting the Newmar factory.
John, a veteran of quality control, was a recognized expert in his field, so what he said resonated with me. I bring this up because I had a reader write in asking my opinion of the Newmar New Aire 3543 so I went looking to see what I saw.
Page Contents
Class A diesel pushers
First, I have to get this off my chest. Knowing some people in various levels of government, I know that diesel engines are becoming increasingly regulated to the point where the old, reliable and durable diesel engine is becoming a technical challenge for some technicians.
I know quite a few people who have spent thousands on vehicles with diesel engines only to have them experience huge repair costs shortly after the warranty expires. While RV sales are skyrocketing, Diesel Class A motorhomes are just “up some.” So I am very, very hesitant to buy anything diesel in today’s market.
Writing this in the past has gotten a lot of angry responses. However, I believe it’s important to weigh this into the equation when spending half a million bucks. Have diesel engine companies overcome the reliability challenges of the emissions components? That would literally be my first point of research.
Class A’s need better fire escapes
I also know that fires tend to start in instrument panels and electrical systems. Yet Class A diesel pushers put the bed all the way at the back over the engine, essentially. I will not stop encouraging the industry to employ the kind of fire escape I’ve seen Tiffin put in their coaches until this becomes universal. I honestly believe it should be required by law. The kind of people who can afford this type of rig aren’t likely the same ones jumping out of a second story window in the middle of the night.
All those fancy cabinets don’t mean squat when you’re hoping to escape a burning coach in the middle of the night and the best way to get out is through the fire and out the front door. And, yes, I know of someone who died in a fire in a Class A, so this reality is forefront in my mind.
Newmar New Aire
The New Aire line is Newmar’s 35-foot Class A diesel pusher featuring a Cummins L diesel engine shifting through an Allison transmission. Interestingly, Newmar gives you a choice of either the Freightliner chassis as standard, or a Spartan chassis for an extra $7,630.
Like most modern vehicles, these large coaches come with all sorts of electronic nannies to help you stay safe on the road, which is a good thing. Furthermore they come with a mapping system that knows the size of the coach so you don’t end-up on the 11 foot 8 + 8 YouTube channel.
For this kind of scratch you do get an exterior of full paint rather than stickers, as we travel trailer owners have to endure. I’m not a fan of swishy swirls, but this is subjective. I can at least recognize the effort it takes to apply this paint – which extends onto the walls of the slide rooms.
The interior in the Newmar New Aire is exquisite
The interiors, too, are exquisite – as you might expect in a premium coach with a number of wood and upholstery choices available to suit one’s taste.
What I do love about Class A diesel pushers is that all the cabinetry and fittings really do have a high-quality feel. Also, the way these ride and drive and are put together carries a sense of longevity. That’s what happens when you can focus on materials and components and aren’t so concerned about weight.
You’ll never worry about the warranty on a rubber roof on this vehicle. That’s because the painted roof is a single piece of fiberglass with metal trusses underneath and insulation. The frameless windows are also dual-pane, and the insulation is terrific.
While I don’t know how many of these rigs are used for boondocking, they are the champions when it comes to that sort of thing. Huge water tanks, diesel generators and outstanding climate control systems make them a joy to spend time in way the heck off the beaten path.
Solar systems in the New Aire
There are solar systems available consisting of four 100-watt solar panels on the roof for $5,552. However, I wouldn’t get this as I’m no fan of flexible solar panels. They tend not to last as long as their rigid counterparts. I suspect that the reason is air circulation under the panels. You could do far better in the aftermarket with rigid panels if solar is a concern.
We plebeians get to upgrade our lousy AC systems with Air Conditioner Silencers. In this rig you just feel the air conditioner – you don’t really hear it. Oh, and if you want, you can have electric radiant heating installed beneath the tile floors for a mere $8,004.
I like that this is an all-electric coach, effectively. That means the cooking surface is a portable induction cook top, and you bake in a large convection microwave. Of course, the only fridge choice is a residential model at this time. There is a lot less vibration and shaking in a vehicle of this weight. Therefore, I don’t think the residential refrigerators are as troublesome as they would be in a towable.
Not having propane aboard means you don’t have to go hunting that down, ever. Nice.
In summary
I don’t mean to be harsh about diesel engines, and my family is in the U.S. because of them. My dad came from Germany (and dragged me with him) to work on developing the Garrett T3 turbo. But the regulation of diesel engines is just making some systems so complicated to the point that I hear a lot of complaints about failures and expensive repairs.
There is also potential relief in sight for owners of these rigs relating to the diesel engine failures leaving them stranded, as Russ and Tiña De Maris reported in this article.
Pushing again for a better fire escape
These big beautiful rigs have a lot to offer but, again, I’d like to see a better fire escape. One way to do that is to buy the Tiffin that has this feature, which would be the Phaeton. I honestly wouldn’t buy a Class A that didn’t address this critical issue. Demanding this will force the industry to address it, as Tiffin has.
I’ve written before that I tend to look past the nice cabinets and pretty upholstery of any RV and check out how they’re made and what will matter to an owner years down the line. I think any big Class A diesel pusher is going to be something that returns years of enjoyment to the owner if, and this is a big if, they don’t experience emissions system failures.
Related:
John and Kathy Huggins’ books on Amazon.
Tony comes to RVTravel having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. You can find his writing here and at StressLessCamping where he also has a podcast about the RV life with his wife.
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Got an RV we need to look at? Contact us today and let us know in the form below – thank you!
Thanks for doing this review, Tony. Chose the New Aire over Tiffin Allegro Bus 35 and American Tradition 37S because the escape door in the bathroom is multi-use vs. one-time use in the other two, in addition to other factors. Thought we’d opt for the 3543 floorplan, but ended with 3545 because has much wider aisle when slides retracted. Also chose Newmar over AC because have to crawl over bed in shorter Tradition to reach bathroom when slides retracted.
What is the tow capacity ?
All 2022 Newmar Class A’s, including the New Aire you reviewed, have fire escapes in the bathroom. The escape door opens, and a ladder drops down. I’m surprised you didn’t mention it. The Newmar emergency egress system is a multiple use system. In fact some of the video reviews of the New Aire on YouTube demonstrate you can use the egress door to facilitate loading items into the rear of the coach.
Great review! I had the pleasure of touring one recently and was blown away at the attention to detail and gorgeous appointments in the coach.
It has the best of everything including the shorter length ( 35 feet is as long as I would want)
But you completely missed the emergency egress door located behind the toilet in this rig. It’s close to the bedroom and easy access to get out.
Newmar has the best emergency escape door in the industry. The door opens easily and an escape ladder extends to ground. It’s not a one and done system. This door is available on every Newmar from the Bay Star to the King Aire.
Beautiful. If only all could afford such luxuries.
I’d like to see fuel mileage figures in the reviews.
Unfortunately that would require long-term testing with the coach which they don’t give me. However, like in a Rolls Royce, if you are concerned about fuel economy you probably are not the customer for this kind of thing.
Thanks for the review, Tony! (I requested it.) My understanding of the New Aire, especially the 36 footers (i.e., the 35xx models) is that an emergency/egress door in the bathroom is standard. The New Aire 2022 brochure lists “Egress Door with Ladder System” under “Construction Features” in the “Mechanical and Electrical” section of “Features and Options.” I really appreciate your comments regarding the flexible solar panels; helpful and useful information that will save us a few bucks, or more. We don’t care for the television placement or the theater seating. The first seems awkward (or worse) for anyone not directly across the television to watch it. The latter almost precludes having overnight guests unless they sleep on the floor. I was hoping you might find enough information to comment on the usability of the coach in transit mode. We look forward to discovering how well, if at all, we, including our dog, can move through the RV without the slides deployed. Thanks again!
How is the Tiffin fire escape different from the Newmar fire escape door with the drop down ladder?
I don’t have any famiarity with Tiffin’s. I have read reviews that say that some of the door systems are reusable while others are one-and-done, at least in some sense. Perhaps that is a difference between them. I don’t know in which category Newmar’s falls.
You didn’t mention the HP rating of the Cummins engine. I’m going to guess it’s around 360?
The 35xx series has a 450-hp Cummins ISL. The 33xx series has the 360-hp.
I notice it looks like four people can sit and eat together, unlike some other lavish coaches that only seat two. This is just me of course, but the lack of ability to open windows and let fresh air circulate is a huge downside. There IS no fresh air circulation in these coaches other than the ac. We always open all the windows in our trailer to let fresh air in (when we’re not being smoked out like we are currently). So, I guess I just saved us $500k . . .
Yes, the front seats in this rig can rotate around to face the interior which is a nice feature that I should have mentioned in the story.
The windows not opening is a deal breaker for us!
I know this is responding to a year old post, but all the windows open, albeit not like sliders. The “real” ceiling vent fans can pull a lot of air through these coaches. Bonus…you can leave the windows open when it rains! 🙂
I was expecting a good RV review. This author made it all about him, which I am not interested in. RV Daily you can do better than this
Really Jim? It was a great review! I’m betting you are a Class A owner. We have seen a toasted Class A and still attached jeep burning on the highway. It wasn’t pretty. We pray everyone made it out safely. Sad day!
Missed that Newmar has one of the best, if not the best, fire escape systems in the industry! Your response shows the danger of a not only incomplete, but in this case inaccurate review.
The idea is to take my experience in the RV field and explain some features or components in these rigs. I try to explain why I feel a certain way based on experience.
I agree that this review of the RV was very superficial. I like to see reviews of various RV’s, however Tony’s reviews consistently fall short of bringing out the real features in an unbiased way. As Friday used to say, “Just the facts Mam, just the facts.”
I am aware of the need for better fire escapes in Class A RV’s; and agree with Tony on this. But this was supposed to be a review of a specific RV. Please do a separate article(s) on fire escapes or DEF issues. No need to use the RV review platform for this information.
Love the daily newsletter. Please keep it going good with high quality in depth RV reviews including specific pros and cons, and less harping on personal opinions. JMHO. Thanks.
Thank you for mentioning fire escapes. I am sure the manufacturers will ignore you as usual. I would move the entrance door behind the front wheel so the navigators station is not intruded upon. A side door on the left side near the bedroom would be handy.
While I won’t buy a class A RV because they’re not aerodynamically designed. This one has a nice floor plan, but how do you get the fridge out when it needs replacing. Since this has the Cummings engine their could be issues with the DEF sensor. All RV manufactures need to do a better job with putting fire escapes in RV’s. If your a plus size you may have issues trying to get out RV fire escape windows. Our government needs to get more involved with RV safety issues.
We have a Tiffin Allegro Bus and had to have the frig replaced (due to “operator error”). They took it out through the window over the couch.
I’ll keep my 5th wheel. It has more room and is 1/8th the cost!!
Even with a tow vehicle it’s still 1/4.
Plus you don’t have to take that tow vehicle to a bus mechanic to get an oil change.