Meet Sandy and Phil Spence, who have been full-timing in their Majestic for nearly five years. Their answers and insights will give you an authentic look into the lifestyle and reliability that New Horizons offers…
How would you say the framework of your unit — the chassis, walls and roofing — have held up to the wear and tear of full-time RV travel?
Our unit is turning 12 years old and is as solid as the day we bought it four and a half years ago. We purchased from the original owners, who I believe used it mostly to travel from Arkansas to Florida for the winter. We have lived full-time in it since we have owned it. It is a very solid and well-built true luxury home on wheels.
How much time has your unit spent in the service center?
As experienced RVers prior to going full-time, a big reason we went with a fifth wheel vs. Class A is that most issues can be fixed at your RV site. In a Class A, it has to go to the service center, which means you lose your home. We have traveled to all 48 contiguous states twice (all but seven New England/northeast states) and have found our rig holds up just fine. So far, we have been able to find adequate repair places throughout the country as needed. Most issues, such as replacing an air conditioner, hot water heater, etc., can be done by an RV tech on site.
What components of the coach still give you the same luxury, quality and function that they have since Day 1 of owning the unit?
The luxury of owning a New Horizons fifth wheel is a daily occurrence. From the climate control features that provide comfortable temperature — whether in 110 degrees in Nevada or the cold and snow — to the spacious, comfortable luxury interior, every day is a joy. Every time we go in a non-New Horizons RV, we come home and are thankful for the luxurious quality in our New Horizons, which you don’t see even in brand new “high-quality” advertised units.
What do you feel is the main difference between a brand-new New Horizons RV and your coach?
When you buy used, you do not have the opportunity to design it exactly like you want. We started RVing in 1985, with a brand new 31-foot travel trailer. It was a bunkhouse model, perfect for our three teenagers. Of course, it had no slides back then. Many years later, we bought two different 40-foot diesel pusher Class A’s and traveled extensively. During our research in preparing to sell our house, boat, furniture and cars and find the right full-time RV, once we found New Horizons there was no other choice. We looked at Grand Design and Mobile Suites and some others, but the quality and detail that go into building a New Horizons — starting with the heavy-duty frames, MORryde independent suspension, axles and brakes — outshined all other brands. For us and our budget, finding a well-maintained used New Horizons, with close to everything we wanted, was our only option and fortunately was not too difficult a task. We found exactly what we wanted and saved ourselves a lot of money, and we didn’t have to wait for ours to be built.
What do you feel is the #1 difference in why your New Horizons RV has lasted all these years?
The #1 difference is the quality of how they are built. They are built to last, starting with the heavy-duty frames, the quality of residential materials used throughout the construction. There are no laminates, no particle board and no staples. Instead, you have solid wood everywhere. Solid wood cabinets with tongue-and-groove drawers, thick residential granite countertops, beautiful hardwood floors, trim and wainscoting. Residential faucets and sinks. A huge master bedroom with king-size Sleep Number bed with plenty of space to walk around. Everything is solid and made to last. No thin and flimsy materials are used in building a New Horizons. Most people who see our coach think it is new. The exterior has not faded, and it shines just like a brand-new coach. Once they walk in, they are shocked at the beauty and quality of everything. Everyone says the same thing: “This is a true luxury home on wheels.”
What is your favorite function, amenity or component of your coach?
We don’t have a favorite amenity in our coach. What we love about our home is the quality. The comfort in knowing that our beautiful, luxurious, best-built fifth wheel on the market will outlast us and will be passed down to our children or possibly one of our grandchildren. Once you walk into a New Horizons and see how they are built, any other manufacturer is second class. You see other high-cost fifth wheels that are five years old and falling apart, decals peeling, paint faded, and then you see inside and it’s the same worn-out look. Would we love to be able to afford a newer model? Sure, but we are happy and comfortable in the one we have. Nothing compares to the build of a New Horizons, and that’s why we own one, the only true luxury home on wheels.
With preventive maintenance, it’s still good as new!