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Topic: Floor Plan Quandry (Read 12 times) previous topic - next topic
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Floor Plan Quandry
Yahoo Message Number: 1633
Continue to be amazed at the education one gets at this site.

We KNEW we were ordering a 26.5 RB when returning to LD in March. Now we read LD has jiggered the MB so that there's 4" more room behind the driver's seat? [This was a key issue in our initial priority of FP's on our first visit].

And now issue number two keeps knawing at me. The RB gives absolutely NO privacy should we want to take other folks along. My wife and I are the only true travelers, but can anyone give us a feel for the probability of taking relatives (or others) along? We have no RVing experience so can't make this crucial decision without help from help from you. If so any comments on privacy issues with the RB? We fell in love with the roominess of the RB vs RK on our first visit, but can have our minds changed up to the contract date in late March.

Thanks.
Floor Plan Quandry
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1634
I don't own a Lazy Daze(I have a 38' Newmar diesel pusher) but continue to follow this group because I find it interesting and informative. I have now taken 3 trips in my DutchStar with family members and find the mid-bath floorplan essential. Otherwise we would be disturbing each other when visiting the bath at night or when one person needs privacy when dressing, etc. I wouldn't have it any other way!!
Floor Plan Quandry
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1635
If you will be bringing others along frequently, the rear bath is simply the wrong choice. On occasion we are joined by one other, and they sleep on the partially pulled out couch. I assume the current models are like ours in that there is an upper curtain that pulls across the cabover bunk access to increase privacy a bit.

Even in the other models, though, privacy is a matter of discretion. You can easily hear or participate in a normal conversation from one end of the coach to the other. Our thought is that for the rare occasions we have guests, our front lounge will do. The rest of the time - the vast majority - we really appreciate the roomy bath. It attractively extends the useful space without the view being perturbed by the commode, as is the case with most other rear-bath designs.
Most first-time visitors sitting in our lounge don't even realize they are looking into the bathroom back there.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Floor Plan Quandry
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1636
IMO: I make this opinion from my two, three years of experience living on a sailboat cruising constantly in the northern BC waters. There were three of us. My husband and our small daughter. At several times during the summer we had visitors; often two or three adults and older children. We had a forward V-berth (which was ours) and there was a head with a bathtub shower. The dinette would seat 10 adults comfortably and the lounge/couch across from it would make into a bead. Then we had to bunks aft. With almost a 12 foot beam, we found that our daytime "living space" was the most vital to the enjoyment and comfort of us and our guests, rather than emphasizing the bunk/bed space. We could have chosen an enclosed cabin or two in our sailboat, but felt that the open and light living space was far more important to day to day enjoyment of all. No one ever turned down an invite to sail with us because of a privacy issue...when someone used the head, we had that enclosed with a privacy door and played a radio in the background (smile). That door could be used as a hallway door as well to separate our bunk from the main cabin. Mari Susan
Floor Plan Quandry
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1638
Privacy is a matter of perspective. As a supporter of the 26.5 Rear Bath design, I would argue that being able to close-off the entire bathroom area (shower, sink, and toilet) with plenty of room to dress is an advantage for your guests regarding the "important" privacy issues. All sleeping in one big room has not been a problem for us with multiple families in our rig. Further, during the day the large up front room works well with a number of people on board.
That's why the RB design is called the "Party Plan" by the manufacturer.

Also, one should be aware that while the new 26.5 Mid Bath design has four more inches of leg room for the driver (and the right front seat), it's at the expense of having to relocate the spare tire from behind the external cover on the rear of the rig to placing said tire in one of the "basement" conmpartments. Thus, the advantage of a wider seat adjustment range for the driver is offset somewhat by losing some storage space. This is no big deal, but every prospective buyer should be aware of the total fact situation when comparing the design compromises between 26.5 Rear Bath and Mid Bath models.
Floor Plan Quandry
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1646
When the driver's seat was moved back four inches, several design changes were made in the exterior stowage, including moving the propane tank up front and enlarging it to 17 gallons. One of the changes was to provide another exterior stowage locker and expand others. As far as the spare tire and outside stowage goes, I think the new design provides even more stowage than when the tire was on the rear. My dislike of the new design was that they permanently installed the TV partially in the driver's side rear locker and did away with the TV table that used to be in the center of the rear. It is so great for the bride and I to lounge on the couches and see TV at eye level.

Gus Weber
 
Floor Plan Quandry
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1666
I've been reading this board for months and Jan 2nd we visited the LD factory and spent almost 5 hours with 4 friends pouring over the demo models. When we went down, we had decided that we wanted either the 26MB or the 26 IB. By the time we left, we were ready to order the 26RB. I sent the deposit this week, still the rear bath/party plan model.

Some of the reasons we changed our minds are the feeling of openness in the RB. No matter how you cut it, 26.5 ft is not a lot of space. In the MB, that space is cut in half by the bath giving you 2 smaller areas to 'hang out' in. Putting the bath in the back doesn't cut that space in half, you can see the full length of the MH and it feels much more open and larger.

Also, the size of the bath when the door is closed is much larger than other models. It is really a fair sized dressing room. It occured to me that you would have to change in a very small space or close curtains throughout the MH to change clothes in the other models. I agree that privacy where it really counts - using the bath or changing clothes - is actually easier in the RB. I can't imagine traveling with anyone that I would be uncomfortable sleeping near so that didn't seem to be a problem. Most of the time it will be two of us and this model gives us what feels like much more living space, space for the times you are awake and inside.