In a world filled with luxurious motorhomes enhanced by four or five slideouts, what’s the big deal about introducing a 40-foot Class A diesel-pusher that only has three? Simply put, it’s not how many slideouts the coach offers, it’s how big they are — and there’s serious
square footage in the full-wall slider that dominates the curbside of National’s Pacifica FE40E. In addition, the Pacifica offers a long list of standard features, moving this coach into the higher end of the company’s lineup.
National RV bases the Pacifica on Freightliner’s XC raised-rail chassis that, working in conjunction with the Pacifica’s DuraFrame system and all-steel tubular coach body, is not welded directly to the chassis frame rails but rides on a series of elastomeric body mounts. This effectively isolates the coach body from much of the vibrations generated while on the road, and that means a quieter ride. The DuraFrame system’s structure also allows for easy-access pass-through storage with basement doors that are hinged on the leading edge and open forward and down at a 5-percent angle to provide ample room even while
the sliders are extended.
Our test Pacifica was the touring prototype for the new full-wall-slideout floorplan — and that slider had already run more than 4,000 cycles and continued to function perfectly throughout our excursion to California’s Monterey Peninsula. This massive slider starts
back in the master bedroom and reaches forward to just behind the passenger seat. It carries a sofa sleeper at the leading edge, followed by an expandable dinette, storage/pantry and the dual-sink lavatory across from the water closet and shower. The bedroom portion of the curbside slide — yes, there’s more — continues into the master bedroom that consists of a convertible makeup/computer station and 26-inch flat-screen TV.
Opposite the 28-foot-long curbside slide, the forward streetside slideout houses an ultraleather love seat, plus the major portion of the galley. The full-wall slide combined with the two streetside sliders makes it hard to imagine a motorhome with a more spacious feeling than the Pacifica FE40E.
Overall, the full-wall slide proved to be a marvelous addition and the Pacifica behaved with style and grace despite being battered by incessant winds. This is one 40-footer that provides a perfect introduction to larger Class A pushers.
For complete details and full test impressions of National RV’s Pacifica FE40E, pick up the September 2007 issue of MotorHome magazine on the newsstand — then subscribe to MotorHome so you can stay informed on the latest motorhome tests, previews,
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