New to the group. I purchased coach #485 last weekend in Dallas Texas and drove her to her new home in Columbus Indiana. 900+ comfortable and uneventful miles.
We stopped for the night at Newell on along the route home and got a look at some of the newer coaches.
My dad owned a 1983 Newell 37’ many years ago but this is my first coach. The Newell Gurus site has already been invaluable.
The previous owner was meticulous and the coach needs nothing.
Planning to polish the aluminum wheels this weekend.
Here are some pictures of us parked at Newell on our first night of ownership and another tucked away inside her new home in Indiana.
(This post was last modified: 06-04-2026, 09:53 AM by chadsuv.)
Welcome Chad? Your pictures did not post, would love to see them! Strike that, I am seeing them now! Nice coach! Who was the previous owner if they do not mind you telling us?
Your coach must have been built very near mine.
When you get a chance fill in your signature with your info, general location and your coach info is helpful and of course your name so we know what to call you. This is done if you click the user CP button, you will find the link therefor your signature.
It was last owned by Alan Johnson who was active on this guru site. He owned it for about 8 years. I have the all of the original build sheets and can see that it was built by Bill and Wanda Kroft out of the Canton Ohio area.
At some point I believe she went back to the factory for a repaint and "smiley face" front end update. I would like to learn more about the prior ownership, especially if it has any motorsports background.
(06-04-2026, 10:15 AM)chadsuv Wrote: It was last owned by Alan Johnson who was active on this guru site. He owned it for about 8 years. I have the all of the original build sheets and can see that it was built by Bill and Wanda Kroft out of the Canton Ohio area.
At some point I believe she went back to the factory for a repaint and "smiley face" front end update. I would like to learn more about the prior ownership, especially if it has any motorsports background.
The guru’s on here might be able to tell you that. I pretty much can trace the lineage of all the owners of ours by the paperwork that came with it. Many receipts from repairs and we also have the original sales sheet and blueprint with the folks who had it built. They traded in coach 416 for 490.
If you will take a minute to tell us about your intended use, your mechanical and electrical comfort level, and why Newell, then we will be able to tailor answers to suit your situation
Looking forward to working with you!
Richard and Rhonda Entrekin
95 Newell, 390 Ex caretaker
99 Newell, 512 Ex caretaker
07 Prevost Marathon, 1025
Maverick Hybrid Toad
Inverness, FL (when we're home )
If you will take a minute to tell us about your intended use, your mechanical and electrical comfort level, and why Newell, then we will be able to tailor answers to suit your situation
Looking forward to working with you!
I am planning some shorter trips with the coach this year. I hope to visit Oshkosh Wisconsin for the big airshow at the end of July and also visit some road course race tracks around the mid west this season. Once I get a little more familiar with it we will plan an extended family trip out west for summer 2027.
I did not want a cookie cutter coach so I quickly narrowed my search to Newell, Wanderlodge, and Prevost. I wanted plenty of horsepower and a pre-emissions engine. The Wanderlodges seem to be very well engineered and high quality but they are not aging as well as a similar model year Newell. The lack of factory support was also a concern. The Prevost coaches in the $100-150k range seem to lack space and features that a similar age and price point Newell would have. I am also interested in motorsports and growing up I would see the coaches at the Indy car races and always thought the Newell's stood out as top choice.
I am in the logistics industry so I am around heavy duty trucks all the time. I am not afraid to do lots of maintenance myself and I have good contacts locally for some heavy lifting items that I couldn't tackle on my own.
Chad
1998 Newell #485
Mid entry. Dual slide.
Columbus, Indiana
(This post was last modified: 06-05-2026, 08:04 PM by chadsuv.)
Really enjoying this coach so far.
Attached are some photos of recent projects. I polished and ceramic coated the wheels, washed and waxed the roof and changed the exterior yard lights to LED. I used this bulb from superbrightleds.com: 1142 LED BA15D Retrofit Bulb 3000k warm
The next project on my list is to replace the engine muffler.
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