by Rich Johnson

In the design studios at Holiday Rambler, some of the industry's best creative minds are continually at work with an eye on the future. And the future is already here, as 2001 models are prepared to fulfill the travel dreams of new owners. In the new year model lineup, Holiday Rambler presents a trio of top-quality gas-powered motorhome families. In alphabetical order, they are the Admiral, Endeavor, and Vacationer. In the next few pages, we'll take a closer look at what makes these three coaches so desirable.

ADMIRAL
A total of fourteen floorplans make up the Admiral family tree, with sizes ranging from 29'10" to 36'6" in overall length. All but two of the models feature slideout rooms, and many of them are double slide units. With such a variety to choose from, there's a size and floorplan here to fit just about everyone.

Every model except one (30PBD) is available on a Ford chassis. The 30D is available on either a Ford or a Workhorse chassis, and the 30PBD is built only on the Workhorse chassis. All the coaches built on Ford chassis are powered by the 6.8-liter (415 cid) V10, while the Workhorse chassis is powered by a GM 7.4-liter (454 cid) V8. Those models on the Ford chassis come with a factory-installed 5000-pound hitch receiver, and the Workhorse chassis features a 3000-pound hitch receiver. Both come complete with a 6-point electrical connector. Every coach can be ordered with an optional four-point hydraulic leveler system, regardless of chassis selection.

Every Admiral is constructed around the legendary Alumaframe® superstructure with 2.25" aluminum I-beams in the roof and aluminum C-channel uprights and crossmembers in the walls. Weatherproofing is achieved by the skillful application of a nine-layer roof sandwich and five-layer walls, both of which employ a combination of structural components, vapor barriers and insulation layers to keep the weather out and the interior cozy in every season. The top layer of the roof is heat-reflecting aluminum that has been arched to promote water runoff. You have the option of the standard aluminum exterior skin or the available Hi-Gloss Gel Coat sidewalls, both featuring attractive paint and graphics treatment.

Admiral enjoys the clean, crisp styling of an upscale bus, with an expansive wrap-around windshield and enormous side windows to let the view come right inside. A spacious awning covers the patio along the curb side. A standard rear ladder gives access to the roof, and enormous basement storage compartments invite owners to bring all their toys along for the ride.

In those models that feature slideout rooms, Holiday Rambler's flat-floor engineering delivers not only a lot of wonderful interior spaciousness in the living room/dining room/kitchen area, as well as in the master bedroom, but the convenience of not having to step up and down to enter or exit the expanded room. You just walk right in and make yourself comfortable in the well-appointed home away from home.

Western Oak cabinetry with raised panel hardwood doors is standard, but you have the option of selecting Regal Cherry or Walnut as you choose. The standard booth dinette can be swapped for a dinette table with two free-standing chairs and another pair of folding chairs that can be stored out of the way until needed. Another option is to exchange the linoleum flooring or the nylon carpeting in the kitchen (depending upon model) for Wilsonart laminate flooring. In certain models, the queen island bed can be switched for a set of twin beds, and other floorplan options are also available.

So, you have some choices to make – not only as to size, but also as to how you would like your new Admiral to be furnished and decorated. But in every Admiral, the quality of construction, attention to detail in the finished workmanship, and thoughtfulness of original design all call loudly to motorhome buyers who are looking for a comfortable coach with the reputation of a Holiday Rambler.

ENDEAVOR GAS
You want to be surrounded by warm, comfortable luxury? Then step into the Endeavor. This is the top of the Holiday Rambler line, when it comes to gas-powered motorcoaches. With six innovative floorplans, three measuring 35'11" and three measuring 36'10" in overall length, the 2001 Endeavor Gas is ready for every type of RV adventure imaginable, whether it's a family vacation with the kids or a long-term RV lifestyle for a retired couple.

Every Endeavor features expansive flat-floor slide-out rooms, and three of the floorplans come with double slides in which the queen size bed is oriented with the head toward the slide-out curbside wall. This arrangement opens up a spacious walk-around area in the master suite.

Throughout the coach, quality is apparent on every hand. Cultured marble is used for the kitchen countertop, sinks and sink covers. The same cultured marble is employed in the bathroom for the vanity countertop and integrated sink. Eight-inch ceramic tile flooring is use in the kitchen and bathroom of every model except 36PBD, which is treated to laminate flooring in the kitchen and linoleum in the bathroom. Solid wood raised-panel cabinet doors are used throughout, and matching raised panel doors are on the refrigerator to give a luxuriously coordinated atmosphere to the interior decor.

Not only is the interior luxurious, it's also wonderfully functional. In the cockpit is a workstation for a laptop computer, so you can keep a diary of your travels, write letters home, or create the novel you've always dreamed of writing. The kitchen is a delight for anyone with dreams of becoming a traveling chef. You can option up to a giant 4-door refrigerator/freezer, and there are a couple of different cooking alternatives available, including convection microwaves and more conventional stove and oven arrangements. You can even have a water purifier if you want one.

Down the hall and right across from the bathroom in four of the coaches, you have the option of having a laundry center installed. And when you're all finished folding the clothes and you're ready to settle in for an evening's entertainment, there's a nice 20-inch stereo TV in the living room and a 13-inch version in the bedroom. Or, if music will do for the evening, the in-dash CD player/radio can pipe the tunes through the 4-speaker system. Everything you need to make you feel like you never left home is right here.

Endeavor Gas is built on a sturdy Ford chassis and is powered by the 6.8-liter V10 engine, backed up by a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission and 5.38:1 axle gears to take you easily over the mountain passes. The Ford chassis in outfitted with a 5000-pound hitch receiver and 6-way connector for towing your towable. And a 75-gallon fuel tank ensures that you can travel far and wide between stops.

Upon that chassis is the venerable Holiday Rambler Alumaframe® coachwork with its full-cage aluminum skeleton constructed of C-channel uprights and crossmembers that run the full height and length of the coach, intersecting with no breaks in either piece, and every intersection double-welded. Surrounding the cockpit is a steel cage for additional safety. Roof and walls are heavily protected against the weather, with layer after layer (9 in the roof, 5 in the walls) of components designed to provide perfect security against invasion of cold or heat or wet.

So, if top of the line is your style, Endeavor Gas will take you there.

VACATIONER
Vacationer may come last in our alphabetical listing, but it is by no means at the end of the line when it comes to quality, convenience and value for a gas-powered motorhome. And that's because this coach boasts the same Holiday Rambler heritage as the others in this review. With a total of eight floorplans (all except one with slideouts), in the 32-foot to 36-foot range, the Vacationer is exactly what many RVers are looking for.

Vacationer has for its foundation a 20,500-pound GVWR Ford chassis that is powered and geared to deliver a gross combination weight rating of 25,500 pounds. That just happens to be ideal, because the chassis comes equipped with a 5,000-pound hitch receiver and 6-way connector to make it easy to attach a towable behind. Power and gearing are provided by Ford's big 6.8-liter V10, a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission, and 5.38:1 axle ratio. It's a combination that gives the Vacationer plenty of spunk for moving around safely on a crowed highway, and enough raw power for tackling mountain passes with your dinghy in tow. And a 75-gallon fuel tank ensures that you can go the distance between fuel stops.

Thanks to the slide-out rooms, the interior feels spacious and inviting for a couple or a family or a campground get-together with friends. And thanks to the Holiday Rambler designers and craftsmen, the interior feels as warm and comfortable as a traditional residence. Lovely woodwork throughout is created from your choice of fine solid hardwoods (Western Oak is standard, while Regal Cherry and Walnut are options) that give the look of luxury and the long service life to be expected from quality materials. Raise panel cabinet doors can be matched with an optional refrigerator door insert for a thoroughly coordinated decor. Beautiful and long-wearing nylon carpeting covers the floors in the living room, hallway and bedroom, with Wilsonart laminate in the kitchen and Wilsonart linoleum in the bathroom.

Colors are coordinated throughout the coach by selecting one of three interior decor packages – the warm hues of Camelia, the earthtones of Fawn, or the cooler shades of Spruce. Residential quality mini blinds and optional day/night pleated shades dressed up in richly upholstered lambrequins add the ultimate in function as well as a rich appearance to the windows. At your option, the dinette booth can be exchanged for a free-standing table with two beautifully upholstered chairs and another pair that fold away for convenient storage. Certain of the floorplans even offer the opportunity to have an onboard laundry center.

In the cockpit, pilot and co-pilot are snug in standard recliner captain's chairs, or there's the option of 6-way power seats. Either way, the view ahead is through an enormous wrap-around windshield that is complemented by large side windows that provide a panoramic picture of the world outside. Power heated remote control sideview mirrors and an available rear vision system keep the driver well informed about what's happening to the sides and rear of the coach. A driver's side door can be ordered for those drivers who enjoy that option for easy entry and exit. And if the navigator wants to flip open a laptop and do a little creative work, 12-volt DC and 110-volt AC electrical outlets area readily available.

Not only is Vacationer exceptionally well engineered and outfitted, but it also features great looking aerodynamic exterior styling, with graphics treatments that attract an approving eye. Large sub-floor storage bays invite you to bring along whatever you need, and the one-piece polyethylene storage compartment enclosures are well lighted and easy to clean after a trip.

Truly, from every angle, the Vacationer is a motorhome that will make vacations or even more extensive RV travel an experience to cherish.

Summary
Holiday Rambler has a long-standing reputation in the motorhome industry, earned through nearly half a century of producing quality recreational vehicles and then delivering dedicated service to customers. With the Admiral, Endeavor, and Vacationer for 2001, Holiday Rambler once again offers value and quality in every size and price range – just what the discriminating buyer is looking for in a gas-powered motorhome.

Rich Johnson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He has 23 years experience as a professional editor with several aoutomotive and RV publications, including TrailerLife/MotorHome.