Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
America's Most Popular Diesel Pusher Gets a Rear Bath 40' Floorplan
Article Date: December, 2011
Article and Photography by Mark Quasius
Exterior
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The Phaeton comes in a variety of exterior color schemes. Our test coach was finished in the beautiful Rustic
Canyon full body paint. The 2012 model year introduced side view cameras integral to the chrome plated, heated power mirrors rather
than in small housings attached to the side of the motorhome. Basement storage compartments featured side hinged doors for maximum
height when accessing the cavernous 177 cubic feet of heated pass-through storage space. Power door and patio awnings are standard
as are dual pane windows. An HWH automatic hydraulic leveling jack system provides stability when parked.
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Side view cameras are incorporated into the mirrors for 2012.
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Entertainment for the patio area is provided by a Panasonic 32-inch LCD TV mounted in the slide out. A gas strut-assisted
lid provides access, as well as shade from the sun if the power awning is not being used.
Utilities
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The 40QBH is powered by a 50-amp electrical service. A standard 8,000-watt Onan Quiet Power diesel generator
provides plenty of power for when shore power is not available and is mounted on a front cap slide out mechanism for ease in service
access. Standard dual 15,000-Btu air conditioners with heat pumps provide cooling and heating for the living area. If you choose to
upgrade to three air conditioner/heat pumps units, a 10,000-watt Onan generator is used instead. The 2,000-watt inverter is powered
by six 6-volt batteries, which are also located on a convenient slide out tray.
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The plumbing service bay provides a central location for everything you need to maintain the RV's plumbing systems.
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The plumbing service bay houses the 3-inch drain valves for both the black and gray tanks as well as the water
connection for filling the fresh water tank or supplying the motorhome with campground water. A second connection operates the black water
tank flushing system. A hand soap dispenser, paper towel holder, and external shower attachment make cleanup tasks easy. The water pump
and incoming water filter are also located in this bay. A water pump switch is provided in this bay as well as in numerous locations
throughout the motorhome.
Cockpit Area
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The front entry steps are all solid surface with rubber, non-slip step covers. A handy drawer is supplied
to keep Fido's leash, tools, mud shoes, or anything else you want to keep handy. Interior stairwell lighting is also standard.
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The Phaeton's windshield has been re-contoured for 2012 to improve windshield wiper performance. A new anti-glare panel has been
added to reduce internal reflections on the windshield during night driving.
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Once seated in the copilot's seat, a handy desk drawer with solid surface lid to support a laptop or writing materials
can easily be pulled out from the dash. The large one-piece windshield offered up an impressive view from the driver's seat. For 2012 the
Phaeton's windshield has been re-contoured to allow better cleaning action from the windshield wipers, and the driver's side mirror has been
relocated to the side for better visibility. A black trim panel was added to the dash area to reduce interior glare when driving at night.
All of the Phaeton's instrumentation and controls were readily at hand and a JVC radio/media player with built in GPS handled entertainment
and navigation tasks. A color monitor automatically switched between the rear view camera and the side view cameras located in each mirror
whenever the turn signals were operated.
A number of controls for the electrical systems a located in an overhead cabinet immediately to the driver's left.
Another cabinet located over the copilot's seat housed the DVD surround-sound system and provided a location for a satellite receiver. This
unit also featured the optional 37-inch LCD TV in the front overhead cabinetry. A Mini-State rotary housed antenna provided access to digital
off-air TV stations without the need to raise or lower a batwing antenna.
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A handy slide-out cargo storage tray complements the expansive pass-through basement cargo area.
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An Onan 8KW Quiet Power diesel generator is mounted on slide out rails in the front cap for ease in access.
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An overhead cabinet provides a central location for the various control panels that manage the RV's systems.
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