A new chassis is an exciting development in the motorhome industry, but an old favorite
chassis with some impressive new parts is also certain to pique RVers’ interest. Such is
the case with the Ford F-53 chassis used for Class A motorhomes. Its upgrades further
refine — and define — its operating capabilities, and the Admiral SE 30PDD from Holiday
Rambler Corporation (HRC) presented our first chance to experience the chassis for
ourselves. The Admiral SE is at the lower end of the HRC product lineup, and the 30PDD is
the new smaller addition to the Admiral series. It is small enough to be easy and fun to
drive, but large enough to offer a full-featured interior and complete-comfort
accommodations.
In addition, it is built using the same HRC assembly techniques as its higher-priced brethren. That’s a nice feature to be aware of when making a $95,549 (as tested) investment. The 30PDD floorplan includes a huge slideout streetside, housing the sofa/bed and dinette, and a deep bedroom slideout curbside. The curbside galley is up front, adjacent to the entry door just aft of the passenger seat, and the self-contained bath enclosure is also curbside between the kitchen and bedroom. A fine array of the usual interior appointments is standard in this rig. Good design and quality construction are a
pairing that’s hard to beat. Holiday Rambler’s new Admiral is an interesting alternative in
the motorhome market. Combined with the Ford chassis, it’s a winning package. For complete details and full test impressions on the Admiral SE 30′, pick up the February 2006 issue of MotorHome magazine on the newsstand — then subscribe to MotorHome so you can stay informed on the latest motorhome tests, previews, technical information, products, travel destinations and more.
