The point of buying a motorhome is to go places you've never been. Explore. Open new territory. Open yourself to new experiences, new friends and acquaintances.

That bodes good karma for Holiday Rambler's new Scepter motorhome, because Scepter takes Holiday Rambler to some exciting new places.

First, it fills a previously unvisited price point or at least one in which Holiday Rambler hasn't had an offering for a long time. "We had a gap of about $65,000 or $70,000 (in suggested retail price) between the Endeavor diesel and the Imperial," said Mike Spencer, national sales manager of Holiday Rambler's motorized division. "Scepter will help people who want a more modest step up from the Endeavor diesel."

The 40-foot model I saw on my latest trip to Wakarusa had a suggested base retail price of $187,880 and with options, $213,545.

“If you've never been in a 40-foot motorhome with the Holiday Rambler kitchen Suite Slide, you need to see the new Scepter.”

Scepter bridges the gap between the Endeavor diesel and Imperial lines in more ways than merely price. Holiday Rambler has forged a new combination of chassis type and construction techniques to offer a pretty special value.

New construction
The enormously successful Endeavor diesel is built on a raised rail chassis using Holiday Rambler Alumaframe® body construction. It's a combination that has allowed this model line to bring pusher diesel status to a new market segment, making it one of the top-selling diesel motorhomes ever. The Imperial, on the other hand, uses semi-monocoque construction with a vacuum-bonded steel-cage-and-fiberglass body, the hallmark of a Monaco Coach Corporation high-end coach.

The new Scepter uses the custom designed Roadmaster raised rail chassis and aluminum body framing, but the body construction is similar in design to the Imperial, substituting 1.5" by 1.5" .090 gauge and 1 by 3" .125 gauge aluminum for steel. And like the Imperial, the Scepter has a seamless transition from the sidewall to the fiberglass roof, which Mike Spencer says is unique in Scepter's price range. Mike added that using aluminum in the body framing saves 2,000 to 2,500 pounds in weight while maintaining strength.

High-end ride
When I visited the Wakarusa plant in late December, Holiday Rambler was scrambling to meet the dealer demand for Scepter motorhomes generated at the recent national RV trade show in Louisville. As a result, there weren't any units available for me to test drive. (I was able to spend a few hours in a coach that was almost ready to ship at the end of the final finish line – mercifully indoors on that wintry day.) However, having recently test driven a Monaco Coach Corporation product of similar size, power and suspension design, I can advise you to expect a smooth, solid ride, straight tracking in crosswinds and while passing trucks, precise steering, incredibly flat cornering, and smooth acceleration that doesn't peter out when you're passing someone at 70 mph on an upgrade.

Like the Imperial, the new Scepter rides on eight air bags and eight shocks, all mounted well outboard, which contributes to the aforementioned excellent roll stability. The power plant is a 330-horse Cummins ISC turbo diesel. This engine has the Cummins Interact System, which constantly monitors (by computer) changing temperatures, manifold pressure and RPM data to achieve optimum performance and fuel economy.

Both the engine and the Allison 3000 MH transmission are controlled electronically, which provides instant, reliable response.

Options for living
At this writing, only a 40-foot model is available, although by the time you read this, the first 38-footers should be rolling out of the plant. Each length will be available in just one basic floorplan (38PBD and 40PBD are the designations), both double slideout designs. However, the forward area of the 40PBD has several seating options that give you a variety of plans to suit your needs.

For instance, the standard curbside seating is a pair of swivel lounge chairs with a small table between them. You may, however, substitute a single swivel recliner (in leather) with either a side table or a nifty computer station that keeps your tower computer, keyboard and printer neatly out of view. A leather J-lounge is a popular fourth option for this area.

The 38-footer will have room for only one swivel chair and will have a little less kitchen counter and storage space. The two floorplans are nearly identical aft of the galley.

A dinette table with two free-standing chairs is standard, although the unit I saw had a booth dinette.

Traditional décor
Holiday Rambler does considerable consumer research to find out what their customers want. And the new Scepter delivers exactly what customers are looking for in décor and styling.

Scepter offers three fabric patterns and color schemes: Royal Oak, Treasure Isle and Midnight Rose. The Royal Oak unit I saw features deep, rich earth tones with floral print that is elegant rather than frilly.

Standard all-hardwood cabinetry is Stained Oak, with options for Natural Oak, Stained Cherry, Natural Cherry (mine), Walnut and White Ash. All the cabinets are carpeted to keep things quiet while you're motoring along.

Driver's edification
One of the best ways to see new territory as it rushes up to meet you is from the driver's seat of a great motorhome. Especially when the driver's station is as well done as Scepter's.

The dash features nine analog gauges: a large tach and speedometer and seven satellite gauges. They're positioned so that with the tilt wheel in a comfortable driving position, you can see all nine gauges clearly, or at least I can.

A console at your left has the electronic shift controls and switches for exhaust braking, parking/emergency brake and pedal adjustment. (Yes, there's a power adjustment to bring the brake and accelerator pedals into perfect position for each driver.)

Leveling jack controls are on the lower dash. Lights, wipers and cruise control are all on the steering wheel. The rear-view video monitor is easy to find in the upper right of the dash panel.

In the center console are the Sony AM/FM/CD, and the heater controls, easily reached by either driver or copilot. Below is a roll-out drawer that will hold CDs, maps, and all the other junk you'd keep in the console of a passenger car. There's a 12-volt receptacle for your laptop computer or cell phone charger.

Holiday Rambler thinks of all the little things, and it shows here. The flat area on top of the center section of the dash is dished out, to help keep items like your pen, map, CD case or cell phone from sliding off. Power sun visors roll up and down at the flick of a switch. The long upper cabinets on the sidewalls have two doors, so you can open the cabinets without everything falling out.

Heated power mirrors are standard, as is a six-way power driver's seat. (My unit had the power passenger seat as well; both were in optional leather.) With this feature, the tilt-and-telescope wheel and the adjustable pedals, youÕll find a driving position that will keep you in comfort all day.

New ways to stay entertained
If the passing vista isn't enough, Scepter has plenty of electronic media to keep you blissfully occupied. In addition to the Sony stereo system, there's a 20-inch color TV mounted above the windshield—plus a 13-inch model in the bedroom—and a stereo VCR is standard equipment. The unit I saw also had the optional Sony home theater system, which includes surround sound and a DVD player. All Scepter coaches are prepped for digital satellite systems and for CB radios.

There are telephone jacks in at least three places – behind the copilot seat, in the galley and in the bedroom, so you can talk or surf the 'Net at your convenience.

A great place to hang out
If you've never been in a 40-foot motorhome with the Holiday Rambler kitchen Suite Slide, you need to see the new Scepter. Holiday Rambler's patented flush-floor slideout system with flexible plumbing lets designers place the kitchen on the driver's side, where it belongs, and still have a full length, galley-and-sofa slideout.

The 40-footer is a great coach for entertaining. My J-lounge unit had enough comfortable seating for entertaining four or five couples. The galley has everything you'd need to keep them happy. Tons of counter space – all stone-like "solid surface" material with matching sink covers and flush, folding range cover. There is a large microwave and a gas oven (so many motorhome designers omit the latter nowadays.) The optional four-door fridge has a ton of room for munchies and libations.

There is enough kitchen storage to support the most elaborate of moveable feasts – huge areas for pots, pans and appliances, five drawers for utensils, another large, flat drawer under the sink. (One cavernous lower cabinet could have used a shelf, but it might be best for you to install wire-frame shelving as best fits whatever you want to keep there.)

The kitchen might be a tad short of pantry space, but there's plenty of additional storage nearby on the overhead cabinets above the dinette.

Owner's suite
The aft 40 percent of the coach is devoted to the area where you may well spend 40 percent of your time. The designers did a great job of opening up this "private living area." Instead of installing a wall with a narrow door between the bath and bedroom, they put in a pair of pocket doors that meet in the middle, so you have the option of privacy or a wide-open area.

There's a great deal of counter space around the angled lavatory (with a molded-in sink), so getting ready for a night on the town can also be a time to relax and pamper yourself, rather than a juggling act. The roomy, angled shower has a nice seat. You can opt for a tub at no extra cost.

The private water closet has an electric flush china commode a storage cabinet and two towel bars. Another raised-panel pocket door provides privacy from the galley area and has a full-length mirror on the bathroom side. Behind the water closet is a closet housing the optional washer-dryer with plenty of storage room above.

The slideout bedroom features a transverse bed and a large, deep rear closet with sliding mirrored doors. A cabinet unit in one corner house the TV and two lower cabinets that are a tad too short to be hanging shirt lockers. (Holiday Rambler could consider adding shelves to these.) Opposite the foot of the bed is a chest of six drawers with cabinets overhead. Left of the big closet is a deep cabinet with a large sock drawer below it. In short, you can take all the clothes you could possible want and have room for a change of clothes or two for your husband. (I only say things like this in magazine articles, because I don'Õt have to duck.)

Flanking the bed is a couple of narrow nightstands with shelves, and several small overhead cabinets just right for books and magazines. There's a huge, carpeted space under the bed that's ideal for bed linens. I liked the reading lamps over the bed: they're those double-jointed swing-arm lamps that let you find a good position so the bare bulb isn't shining in your eyes when you read in bed.

Speaking of storage...
It's amazing how much this 40-footer has outside. The basement pass-through area and the smaller trunks are lined with an easily washable composite. All told, there's enough room for your in-laws and their four kids to camp out in your Scepter's "basement," although motor vehicle codes expressly forbid making them ride down there.

The trunk doors open easily and lift themselves up on gas struts, so it's easy to gain access when you have an armload of something you don't want to set down. My unit had an optional power-operated Carefree awning and two standard window awnings over the slideouts.

It also had the dramatic full-body paint option, with a hand-sprayed polyurethane base coat, three color coats, and four coats of UV-resistant clear coat baked on at 180¼F.

The new Scepter is fit for many purposes, depending on the interior choices you make. It's a great couples coach. It's a terrific party coach. It's certainly well fitted for full-timing. You can tow up to 10,000 pounds, so it will be popular among horse people, race car people or people who want to tow a good-sized dinghy with capacity left over.

Whatever your style, I know you'd enjoy Scepter as the perfect coach for going places you've never been and seeing things you've never seen. Including awestruck and even envious stares of your fellow campers.

Dave Bessmer is a freelance writer living in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has spent 25 years in or around the RV business. He has authored several features for Holidays magazine.