2012 Itasca Ellipse 42JD Review

Ready to turn heads wherever you go, the 2012 Itasca Ellipse Class A Motorhome gives you more liveability on the road. The company’s flagship diesel pusher comes standard with luxury, value and comfort… which is pretty much everything you’re looking for in an RV.

Available in three 42-foot floorplans with full-wall or quad slideouts, we’ll be taking a closer look at 42JD. This plan measures in with an exterior length of 42’10”, an exterior height of 12’11”, an exterior width of 8’5.5″, an interior height of 7′ and an interior width of 8′ .5”. In terms of weight, it has a GCWR of 59,600 lbs, a GVWR of 44,600 lbs, a front GAWR of 14,600 lbs and a rear GAWR of 30,000 lbs. In the way of water, the 42JD has a freshwater capacity of 92 gallons, a holding tank capacity of 51 gallons and a black/gray water capacity of 129 gallons.

Built on a Freightliner Maxum chassis, the 42JD Ellipse is powered by a 450-hp Cummins ISL 8.9L turbo-charged diesel engine and comes with an Allison 3000 MH 6-speed electronic transmission and engine compression brake. Boasting Itasca’s SuperStructure construction, the Ellipse is built strong and durable, thanks to solid framework as well as steel and aluminum substructures.

When you’re camping, you want to spend the bulk of your time enjoying the outdoors. And the Ellipse comes with just what you need to do just that. You can bring along chairs, grills and other equipment in the large exterior storage compartment. And the party will go into high gear thanks to the exterior entertainment center with 32″ LCD TV and DVD player. If you like your cold refreshment close at hand, you’ll want to add on the Norcold portable refrigerator/freezer with electronic temperature control panel that comes mounted on a slide-out tray.

It’s all about being comfortable, no matter what the temperature is. And the 42JD Ellipse is equipped to handle all four seasons. Offering next-generation technology to provide climate control and comfort, this Class A motorhome comes with TrueAir Maximum Comfort air conditioning with three 13,500 BTU low-profile roof air conditioners, as well as heat and condensate pumps. When things start to cool down outside, it will really heat up inside with the Aqua-Hot 450 hydronic dual-zone heating system with continuous hot water.

Keeping your life and your appliances powered up, the 2012 Ellipse has various power features that come standard. This includes a 2,000-watt inverter/converter/charger with a remote panel and a 10,000-watt Cummins Onan Quiet Diesel generator. And all your power options are easily maintained and controlled thanks to the PowerLine energy management system and lighted service center (that comes with 120V AC power, cable input, power cord and QuickPort). Other power features include four maintenance-free absorbed glass mat sealed batteries, a battery disconnect system, automatic dual-battery charge control, shoreline/generator automatic changeover switch, a solar panel battery charger, a chassis battery charger/maintainer, and an automatic generator start system.

Other exterior features include a powered acrylic patio awning with wind sensor, a powered acrylic entrance awning, acrylic window awnings, lighted storage compartments, four storage containers with lids, a 7′ folding stepladder, a porch and stepwell light, automatic entrance steps, a rear ladder and double clear-coat exterior.

Let’s head on inside the 42JD Ellipse. There are three decor options – Affinity, Cimarron and Chain Link – all available in ultraleather fabric, which offers a luxurious, leather alternative that is soft, durable and easy to clean. To go along with the decor are three coffee-glazed cabinet wood choices – Coffee Glazed Vienna Maple, Coffee Glazed Forest Cherry and Coffee Glazed Honey Cherry – that come with brushed nickel hardware and hidden hinges. Other interior decor features include a soft vinyl ceiling, accent lights, MCD American Duo solar/blackout duo roller shades and an area rug.

The cab of the Ellipse is made to pamper while you drive. The ultraleather cab seats are six-way powered, heated, plus they slide, swivel, and recline. The passenger seat can be upgraded to include a footrest and personal workstation, if your co-pilot wants to work in complete comfort. To give you the perfect height and angle, the telescopic steering wheel tilts to the driver’s specifications. To keep you entertained on your drive, the cab comes with RV Radio built into the dash, which gives you a CD player, AM/FM stereo and weather band, all controlled from a 6.5″ LCD touch screen. And you’ll never get lost, thanks to the Infotainment Center/GPS that offers navigation assistance no matter where you go. To give you a clear sight of what’s going on around you, the rearview and sideview monitors can be viewed on the touch screen, and will activate automatically when you need them.

Making our way out of the cab, we are greeted by the lush lounge area. This open floor plan is generous, featuring two dual sofas. If you need more places to sit, it comes with the option of a wall-away recliner or Euro recliner. You can watch your favorite shows on the 40″ LCD HDTV or the mid-coach 32″ LED HDTV. To complete your entertainment experience, the Ellipse has an AM/FM receiver with a CD/DVD player, amplifier, five speakers and two subwoofers.

Next up is the kitchen, equipped with four-door refrigerator/freezer, microwave/convection oven and three-burner range top with a glass cover and storage below. Storage is made easy with its SmartSpace design that comes with two levels of storage. Its Corian countertops extend through the backsplash and sink covers, completing the elegant look. And for clean-up, you have the option of adding on a drawer-style dishwasher and central vacuum system with VacPan.

Since the 42JD is a slideout, its bedroom is spacious – in fact, it’s large enough to house a generous wardrobe and chest of drawers. The powered king bed comes with the Ideal Rest Digital Comfort Control Mattress with two remotes so you have control of the firmness of each side of the bed.

Next to the bedroom is the bathroom. In here, you’ll find a Corian countertop, a flexible showerhead, a shower surround with a molded shower seat, a textured glass shower door, a skylight and a porcelain toilet.

The 2012 Itasca Ellipse 42JD has a base MSRP $352,967. For more information, visit http://www.goitasca.com/.

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