Putting the 2005 Coachmen Santara to the Test

By Diesel Knudson

I believe it takes awhile to observe the real mannerisms of any RV. A trip around the block isn’t enough time to get a true feeling of a rig in normal use.

So it’s over the mountains and through the passes for me, and that’s just what we did with a 37-foot Coachmen Santara supplied by CanAm Recreational Vehicles of Lynnwood, Washington. Toni and I spent three days and covered 500 miles in a test drive.

The Workhorse chassis is quite impressive. It carries the load quite nicely. While crossing the Columbia River at Vantage, Washington, we encountered 35 - to 40-knot crosswinds directly to our side. I would surely add the IPD after-market sway bars to the front and rear of the Santara. I know from past installations on my personal motorhomes that it takes the crosswind sway away.

Chevy’s Vortec and Allison 5-speed automatic is a winner. It was my first opportunity to put the pair to a climbing match in the mountain passes.

I was able to pass many diesel semi trucks and other RVs up the mountain. This is something we have never been able to do in any other gas-powered motorhome. There were two that passed me also, but no other motorhomes came close to catching me on the climbs or on the flats. This Workhorse chassis is just that—a workhorse.

Residential is the key word in my book for a high-line motorhome, whether if be gas or diesel powered.

What I mean by residential is that when you enter the coach, it feels like a condo, not a trailer, and the furnishings would fit well into any nice home. The Coachmen 37-foot Santara has successfully achieved this feel: The leather is soft and supple. The upholstered dinette chairs are plush and comfortable.

This twin slideout, side-aisle floor plan feels like a fine condo even though it has a set of Michelin tires underneath it.

This coach also has an option that we have seen before, but never experienced. It is an option I will now have to add to my fifth wheel. I’ve got to have the stainless steel electric holographic fireplace. You will see these wonderful units more and more, especially in coaches that truly speak residential styling. Sit in a room with one for more than one evening, and you’ll see why I’m sold.

The solid wood maple interior on a gas-powered motorhome is the right choice in my opinion. It again makes a residential statement. The richness of a solid hardwood interior is unmistakable, and I believe it will help sell the coach when it’s time to trade up.

The floor plan on this unit is a winner. The living area is spacious and opens up to the kitchen and dinette. The freestanding table and chairs also make it easy to enter and exit. The side aisle leading to the spacious bathroom and master bedroom slide adds a real sense of privacy to the coach. The full-size china fixtures make it feel like we’re at home.

The closet is almost as large as a walk-in, yet underneath are so many drawers that it’s easy to lose track of your clothes. Another large cabinet under the flat screen TV tops it off.

This coach is so spacious that it feels more like a 40- or 42-footer. A few times I couldn’t even find Toni although I knew she was on board somewhere. Once in awhile, I like that.

On the outside, this coach is beautiful. It looks like a diesel, except for the front grille, which is its giveaway.

The full-body paint job is also another must on my list of high-line gas coaches. Its extra cost initially will keep the coach fresh looking for years to come, and I believe will return most of its investment, if kept up.

Storage in this 37-foot motorhome is enormous. There are two full pass-through bays and a number of large side-only bays, and all are nicely furnished with roto-molded plastic inserts. No cleanup problems here.

Entertainment may be this coach’s strong point. With two large flat screen TVs, a DVD/VCR, surround sound speakers and an electric fireplace, we had visitors who just wanted to look, sit right down, and stay awhile. But isn’t that what the RV life is all about?

For more information on the Coachmen Santara, see www.coachmen.com or canamrv.com or call Jeff Richford, CanAm general manager, at (425) 741-3860.