2013 Tiffin Phaeton Class A Motorhome 42 QBH Review
Living on the road can sometimes wear you out. If you spend days on the highway, driving from city to city, you need to invest in something that is comfortable but most importantly, safe for you and your passengers. The 2013 Tiffin Phaeton has a reputation for safety and comfort, which is why we’re exploring it here.
Seven different Phaeton floor plans are available, but we chose to look at the 42 QBH for its roomy and effectively designed interior. It has an overall length of 42’6”, overall height of 12’7”, interior height of 84”, overall width of 101”, and interior width of 96”. It has a fresh-water capacity of 90 gallons, black-water capacity of 50 gallons, and gray-water capacity of 66 gallons. The LPG tank can only be filled to 80 percent of its capacity, which is 35.7 gallons.
Let’s start from top to bottom. The 2013 Tiffin Phaeton’s roof is built from a durable, tubular aluminum roof skeleton. It has a laminated one-piece molded fiberglass roof cap that is moisture-resistant. This prevents water from creeping in and also provides good insulation. The soft touch vinyl-ceiling panel is easy to clean and maintain, while the sidewalls are approximately two inches thick and have high-performance thermal insulation. There’s a gel-coat fiberglass outside wall panel and a trendy indoor wall panel. Floors are porcelain tile and have high-performance thermal insulation installed. Finally, creating a great base for the powerful coach is a raised rail chassis frame.
The Tiffin Phaeton is equipped with an Allison 3000 MH 6-speed automatic transmission. Its air brakes come with automatic slack adjusters and ABS. For those long, mind-numbing highway rides, the driver has the option of switching to cruise control. Other features include Air Ride (four air bags), fog lights, daytime running lights, and an emergency start switch.
As for the cockpit, it just may be the best room in the house. Driver and passenger seats are wrapped in leather and the side windows have privacy shades. Your passenger will no doubt appreciate the built-in footrest, which is a great spot to stretch out and catch some shut-eye. Also of note, a contemporary wraparound dash is equipped with dual fans and two drawers. For entertainment, turn on the single CD player or AM/FM stereo. To make the driver’s life easier, the Tiffin Phaeton has a color rear vision monitoring system with side-view cameras activated by turn signals. For some extra cash you can also get a front overhead TV and an in-dash navigational system.
Spend some time in the spacious living area and you’ll probably find it’s no different from the living room you have at home. When it comes to relaxation, you can choose to hang out on the freestanding dinette with built-in cabinets or the ultra leather U-shaped booth dinette. If you want to be closer to the driver, you can sit in the passenger leather sofa. For those cold, winter nights you can read a book by the fireplace. Don’t worry; there are fire extinguishers on board. For those who don’t want to save up coins for the Laundromat, you can add a washer and dryer. If you want to have a dance party, make use of the entertainment center. It has a leather lift recliner and a flip table on the driver’s side. A home theatre system with concealed speakers completes the entertainment package.
Travelling is exhausting so a comfy bedroom is key to recharging. The bedroom is covered in wall-to-wall carpet and has a ceiling fan. Plenty of storage space is available under the bed and in the chest of drawers. Stretch out on the 60” by 80” pillowtop mattress, which comes with a comforter and three throw pillows. For late night movies, the room comes equipped with a TV that plays DVDs and connects to a satellite.
Getting ready in the morning can be annoying in some coaches. With limited space and small bathrooms, a shower can be uncomfortable and sometimes a complete mess. Fortunately, the 42 QBH has a spacious bathroom and a comfortable shower. The custom flat panel bath door opens up to a molded fiberglass shower and solid surface vanity bowl. Natural light enters the bathroom through a skylight, while the sliding shower door is a classy touch. The medicine cabinet has vanity lights, so shaving or makeup application can be more precise.
It’s easy to forget you’re in an RV when you put a meal together in the well-appointed kitchen. A stainless steel sink and single-lever faucet with sprayer are located in the solid-surface countertop, while a storage rack is located under the sink. Keep food cold in the residential stainless steel refrigerator that comes with an ice and water dispenser. Reheat food in the stainless steel microwave or the three-burner cooktop. Plenty of room is available on the expand-an-island counter to chop food and pour drinks. If you want, you can add a gas oven and a dishwasher.
The 2013 Tiffin Phaeton Class A Motorhome 42 QBH sells for around $325,000. For more information visit http://www.tiffinmotorhomes.com/.
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