BY RICH JOHNSON

Just when you think Holiday Rambler motorhomes can’t get any better, the calendar flips over to a new year and suddenly there’s a lot of new stuff to talk about. The gas-powered segment of Holiday Rambler’s product line has undergone some significant improvements for 2002. There are oodles of brand new standard features, a long list of new optional equipment items, totally new floorplans and even an entirely new Class-C motorhome line. Wow, what a great year! Let’s take a look at the lineup in alphabetical order – but leaving the newest member of the Holiday Rambler family for the end.

Admiral / Admiral SE

Admiral owners can have it eighteen different ways in 2002, because there are nine distinctive floorplans to choose from, and each floorplan is available on either a Ford chassis or on a Workhorse chassis. Two of the new plans, 30PBD and 34PBD, are completely new, rounding out the Admiral family of Class-A coaches with a range of sizes from 29 feet to 36 feet in length.

One of the significant differences between the chassis is the choice of powertrain. Ford chassis are powered by the 6.8-liter V-10, backed up by a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and a 5.38:1 axle ratio. The Workhorse chassis features a 7.4-liter V8 on model 29W, linked to a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission and 4.63:1 axle ratio. All the rest of the Workhorse models are driven by an 8.1-liter V8 married to a 5-speed automatic overdrive transmission and a 5.38:1 axle ratio.

As you look at the specs for the various models of both the Ford- and Workhorse-based Admiral coaches, there are minor differences in tire sizes, gross axle weight ratings, combined weight ratings and receiver hitch ratings. But no matter which way you decide to go, all the work that has gone into the design and engineering of these coaches will bring a smile to your face.

The extensive list of new standard equipment items begins outside, with new exterior graphics, cargo nets that help keep things organized and in place in pass-thru storage compartments, and a handy winterization valving system that will make year-end chores easier. On the inside, the list continues with such niceties as a padded vinyl ceiling, a sliding computer workstation on the co-pilot’s side of the dash, new pilot and copilot recliner seats, and an enormous 25-inch stereo TV centered in the cabinets above the cockpit.

There’s more – an additional heat vent enhances comfort in the private bath area, larger overhead cabinets in the kitchen and bedroom slide-out rooms provide greater storage space, and a computer hook-up with a phone jack at the dinette makes it easier to keep your digital journal up to date. Cargo space above the LP tank has been increased, providing a perfect place for stowing lawn chairs. The battery disconnect switch is now positioned at the front door, a new rubber entry step delivers sure footing, and there is a one-place systems center inside the coach that makes it a snap to monitor and control all the house systems.

On the cosmetic side, the interior rear wall has been redesigned to be straight instead of angled, a decorative mirror has replaced rear wall pictures, the mirror behind the dinette has new wood trim, and brass halogen lights beneath the cabinets bring decorator-style illumination to the interior.

Those are just the new standard equipment features on the 2002 Admiral. But there are many new options, as well. For example, owners can now choose to have the TV/VCR wired through the ceiling speakers, so the sound will carry throughout the coach. Another option is a new exterior entertainment center with AM/FM radio and CD player and speakers that will provide the music as you relax beneath the awning on a warm summer evening. There are four new optional décor packages. Day/night shades with black-out shades can be ordered for the bedroom. And you can now opt for a desk at the foot of the bed in slide-out models (all models have slide-out bedrooms except 29W).

Every Admiral is built to Holiday Rambler’s exceptional standards, with a steel cage surrounding the cockpit and Alumaframe superstructure throughout the rest of the coach. A nine-layer roof structure and five-layer wall sandwich ensures excellent protection as well as thermal and sound insulation for quiet comfort year-round.

Exterior styling is clean and fresh, with a sleek wrap-around windshield delivering a front-row seat to the world. Quality hardwood cabinetry, beautiful furnishings and tasteful decor bring the comfort and convenience of home along for the ride, and leave you longing for the next vacation. Admiral has always been a fine motorcoach, but for 2002 it has just gotten even better.

Endeavor Gas

The crown jewel of Holiday Rambler’s gas-powered product line is the Endeavor, with four floorplans to choose from in 35- and 36-foot lengths. Two of the plans (35PBD and 36PED) are brand new, giving owners even greater selection when it comes to overall layout.

Every Endeavor is a motorcoach in which Martha Stewart would feel right at home. As a matter of fact, owners can choose from five beautifully coordinated interior decor packages that are all new options, and one (Champagne) features fabrics from the Martha Stewart Home Collection. No matter which décor package you select, you’ll be surrounded by exquisite furnishings in either fine fabric or optional leather. This is the luxury side of life.

The richness of the décor extends throughout the coach, with solid hardwood cabinets in your choice of the standard Western Oak, or the optional Walnut or Regal Cherry. Luxurious solid surface countertops and Wilsonart laminated plank flooring (a new standard feature) in the kitchen and bathroom lend an atmosphere of opulence and durability. Beautiful wall-mounted decorator light fixtures, day/night pleated shades (with blackout shades in the bedroom), and brass halogen lights beneath the cabinets all add to the higher standard of luxury that comes at no extra cost in an Endeavor.

All the floorplans feature slideout living rooms and bedrooms, which greatly increase interior spaciousness and make you feel like you’re living in a comfortable custom home. The kitchens are well laid out, featuring all the appliances that a busy chef could ask for. Each kitchen includes a pantry area for convenient food storage. In the bedrooms, dresser and wardrobe space have been nicely executed, making life on the road as convenient as possible. The 36-foot model even includes a washer/drier option, so you never have to visit a laundromat.

For 2002, the Endeavor is built on a Ford 22,000-lb. GVW chassis, with a gross combined weight rating of 26,000 lb. Even if the coach were loaded right up to its maximum allowance, you could still tow a 4000-lb. dinghy. Knowing this, the factory installs a 4000-lb. receiver hitch and 6-point wiring harness, so you’re ready to hit the road with a personal vehicle following obediently behind on a tow bar. The Ford chassis is powered by a powerful fuel injected 6.8-liter V-10 engine, and gear selection to get you over the hills is handled by a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission.

The list of new standard features for the 2002 Endeavor includes visually exciting new exterior graphics, improved cockpit curtain tie-backs, and a one-place system center inside the coach that makes it easy to monitor and control house systems. There’s also a new computer hook-up and phone jack at the dinette, a battery disconnect switch right at the entry door, and a convenient winterization valve system that helps make end of season vehicle prep easier.

On the "new options" side of the list, there is a handsome free-standing dinette table with 2 free-standing chairs and a pair of folding chairs that can be stowed away until needed. The TV and VCR can now be wired through the ceiling speakers, at the owner’s option. And to pump up the coach electrical capabilities, you can now order a new optional 1500-watt inverter with a pair of additional batteries.

As with all the Holiday Rambler gas-powered motorhomes, the Endeavor is built to last. A steel cage surrounds the cockpit, and the exclusive double-welded Alumaframe superstructure encloses the rest of the coach. Nine layers of protection and insulation cover the roof, and five layers enclose the walls, keeping the interior safe and comfortable in any weather. The floor may be hidden from view, but it is as impressive as any other part of the coach construction. A tubular steel framework is welded together, and all the voids are filled with foam insulation blocks. Then a heavy Structurewood sub-floor and a luaun layer are joined with a foam insulated underbelly and the whole thing is laminated together to make a single, solid floor structure.

There is no doubt about it – years of rigorous engineering and testing, along with design changes and component refinement have brought the new 2002 Endeavor to its highest standard ever.

Vacationer

Holiday Rambler’s most popular gas motorhome is the Vacationer, and that’s probably because this coach represents such solid value and an exceptional variety of floorplans ranging in length from 30 to 36 feet. Each of the eight distinctive floorplans is available on either a Ford or a Workhorse chassis (giving you a total of sixteen coaches to pick from), and allowing you a choice of powertrain equipment. The Fords feature a 6.8-liter V-10 engine, while the Workhorse comes with GM’s 8.1-liter V8 under the hood.

Just to illustrate how hard the design and engineering people at Holiday Rambler have been working, five of the eight floorplans in the Vacationer line are brand new for 2002. Not only has the design team been busy with the new interior styling, but the exterior has had a major makeover as well. Newly designed front and rear caps, headlights, and a 2-piece windshield (with a new windshield wiper system) have given the coach an exciting fresh appearance. The sideview mirrors have been relocated on the front cap, to provide a better view down both sides of the coach. And the driver now has the option of a front-exit door, which can make life a little easier at fuel stops.

Solid construction is one of the impressive features of the Vacationer. A tubular steel cage encloses the cockpit, and Holiday Rambler’s famous Alumaframe interlocking and double-welded C-channel superstructure provides a sturdy skeleton for the rest of the coach. Underfoot, the floor is four layers thick, built on a framework of 1-1/2" steel tubing, filled with Dow Structure Foam, overlaid with a 5/8" thick layer of structure wood and another layer of 1/4" luaun, all bonded to a puncture-resistant Darco outer skin.

Exterior walls are five layers thick, and the roof is comprised of nine layers of insulation and protection from the elements. Whether you’re traveling through a raging storm or at rest in the calm of a campground, you can feel safe and secure, warm and cozy in your Vacationer no matter what the weather is doing outside.

The list of new standard features for 2002 is extensive, so only a few items will be mentioned here. Outside, there are now cargo nets in the pass-thru storage bays, to help secure loose items that may otherwise shuffle around while you’re driving. Winterization is now easier because of a new standard valving system. And the coach battery switch is just inside the entry door.

On the inside, the dashboard has been totally redesigned, giving the co-pilot access to a computer workstation in the cockpit. A second computer workstation and phone jack is wired in at the dinette. The entertainment center now features a 25" RCA stereo TV in the overhead. All the coach systems can be monitored and controlled at a single panel. Full cabinet storage extends above the sofa and dinette, and in the booth dinette there are full-length drawers. The private bathroom is now cozier, because there is a new heat vent. The galley has been treated to a new light cluster. And the list of new standard equipment goes on and on.

Newly available optional equipment includes the choice of three décor packages, so no matter what your color preferences, you’ll find what you like. Cabinetry is faced with solid hardwood doors and drawers, with Western Oak standard, but owners can opt for Walnut or Regal Cherry, to give the interior they look they prefer. The cockpit can be dressed up with a set of Carefree power sun visors. As an option, the TV can be wired to the ceiling speakers, so you can still listen to what Oprah is saying even if you’re moving around the coach. If you like to dance in the moonlight, by all means, order the optional exterior entertainment system with speakers, an AM/FM radio and CD player. Pilot and co-pilot have the option of leather seats. In the dinette, you can choose the table with four chairs (two free-standing and two that fold up). Window dressing can be upgraded to Day/Night shades with blackout shades in the bedroom, for added privacy. Two optional inverters are available – one rated at 130 watts and the other at 1500 watts.

And when it comes to sheer size, one of the biggest options is the exterior siding. Vacationer coaches come standard with a smooth aluminum exterior skin, but owners have the choice of ordering their coach with a smooth gel coat fiberglass skin.

There is no doubt about it, the ever-popular Vacationer just took a giant step forward for the new year.

Atlantis

Last year, Atlantis was still just a gleam in the hearts of the engineering and design teams. But now she’s here, the newest member of the prestigious Holiday Rambler gas motorhome family. And she brings a whole new format to the fleet, because Atlantis is a lovely Class-C coach.

As a Class-C motorhome, Atlantis is built on a Ford E450 cutaway chassis. That means the front of the coach has a van-style cockpit with driver and passenger-side doors and the standard windshield, hood and dashboard that are found in Ford’s E450 van. Under the hood is a powerful 6.8-liter V-10 gas engine, and behind that is a 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission that makes sure the right gear is selected all the time. Pilot and co-pilot enjoy comfortable vinyl-covered recliner chairs, and owners can opt for the upgrade to 6-way power seats. Also optional with this chassis is an air bag system for the cockpit.

Moving between the cockpit and the plushly carpeted living room, there is a small step. Transitioning between those areas is made easy by a cutout in the cabover sleeping area that essentially opens the ceiling directly above the cockpit. The queen sized overhead sleeping area can be ordered with a front window, or the window can be deleted and an optional entertainment center installed that is based around a 25" TV, VCR and cabinets. If you choose not to have the front entertainment center, never fear, you would find a 20" stereo TV in the living room, located in a ceiling-level cabinet on the curbside.

Depending upon the floorplan you choose (there are four plans, ranging in size from 24 to 31 feet), the living room will feature either a sleeper sofa and barrel chair, a sofa and booth dinette, or the dinette and barrel chair combination. As an option, owners can replace the booth dinette with a free-standing table and four chairs (two permanent and two folding). One of the conveniences of the booth-style dinette is that it converts to a sleeping space, whereas the free-standing table does not. To some families, every additional bed is important.

All four floorplans feature slideout living rooms that also enlarge either the dinette or a portion of the kitchen (except model 24RBS, which expands a wardrobe area along with the living room). The 27-footer is designed with double slideouts, one in the living room and the other in the bedroom. The expanding rooms dramatically open the interior, creating a roomy, at-home feeling that invites relaxation.

Adding to the at-home feeling are the tastefully designed interior furnishings and décor packages. Owners can choose from three color schemes (Sunset Rose, Sand Dune or Sea Side) for all the upholstery, fabric trim and window dressing. And there are three cabinet treatments available as well – Western Oak being the standard, and Regal Cherry and Walnut being optional. Speaking of the cabinets, they are located in every conceivable place, providing plenty of interior storage room for a family on the go.

Storage space for items that aren’t needed on a daily basis is amply provided in big exterior cargo bays. At mid-coach, there is a large pass-thru bay that is accessible from either side of the coach. This compartment will easily accommodate skis or fishing rods or other items that are too large to fit anywhere else. One-piece polyethylene compartment enclosures make clean-up easy and keep everything protected from the elements. Cargo bay doors are equipped with single-handle latches, for ease of operation.

Every model except the 24-footer features a queen-size bed in the rear of the coach. The smallest model is designed with a rear bath in one corner and the galley in the other, leaving the convertible sofa, dinette and cabover sleeping area to handle nighttime accommodations. For all the rest, a bedroom option is available from the factory, replacing the queen bed with a pair of twin beds.

Atlantis is built to Holiday Rambler’s legendary standards, with Alumaframe superstructure, insulated steel-framed floor on steel trusses, 5-layer exterior walls and 9-layer roof construction. The aluminum-skinned roof is crowned to promote water runoff. Exterior wall skin is aluminum, riveted to the Alumaframe structure. Everything—floor, roof and walls—are heavily insulated and sealed for optimum comfort and protection against the elements.

As the newest member of the gas motorhome family, Atlantis is an impressive coach – impressively constructed, impressively equipped. And it’s priced to be comfortably available to a large segment of the RV public. For those who prefer the Class-C format, Atlantis has a model that will fill the bill without emptying the budget.

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