American Eagle for 2016

The dedication to interior and exterior detail notwithstanding, the American Eagle 45N surpassed all of my expectations, especially on the road. While traversing simple two-lane back-country roads, city streets, and powering down the interstate, its 600 horses and superb handling allowed me to confidently tackle lane changes, turns, and parking duties without difficulty. At one point on a narrow two-lane road, I found it necessary to drop the right-side tires off the pavement to provide ample room for an approaching “wide load” convoy. The Eagle didn’t miss a beat.

American Coach designers chose the Freightliner Liberty chassis on which to build the Eagle. With passive steering engineered into the Ultra-Steer independent tag axle suspension package, the V-Ride drive axle, and the wishbone independent front suspension equipped with premium Sach shocks, this coach handled like a dream on all road surfaces.

Passive turning of the tag axle, manifested by an opposing directional turn in relationship to the steer axle, results in a much tighter overall turning radius (as much as 17 percent) curb to curb. The coach glided through tight parking lot figure eights with ease.

At speeds above 20 mph and when the transmission is in reverse gear, the tag axle automatically locks into a straight-ahead orientation. Overall handling is greatly improved, and tire scrubbing is all but eliminated. Add air-ride suspension and Bendix all-wheel air disc brakes into the formula, and prospective owners should enjoy sitting behind the wheel as the coach floats down the highway.

The Cummins ISX15 engine, equipped with a three-stage engine brake, is coupled to an Allison 4000 MH six-speed transmission, delivering a torque of 1,950 foot-pounds at 1,200 rpm. I was impressed by the response provided under my foot.

The Eagle is available in four floor plans, with multiple options. Here’s a look at the 2016 American Eagle 45N, from the outside in.

Situated just behind the front axle are two full-width storage bays equipped with convenient 12-volt-DC and 120-volt-AC receptacles. Our subject coach was equipped with the optional 90-inch powered slide trays. Another option offers two shorter slide trays in either or both bays, which can be accessed from each side independently.

The third bay rearward houses the built-in vacuum system and leveler/slideout controls, with yet more room for camping gear. A swing-out Sony 48-inch HDTV/entertainment system also is ensconced on the passenger side, behind a solid compartment door.

The next bay contains the house battery bank, its disconnect switch, and a master slideout power switch. Eight 6-volt absorbed glass mat (AGM) Group GC2 batteries are wired into a series/parallel configuration. This offers more than 800 amp-hours of storage, enough juice to adequately power all the low-voltage amenities onboard.

Just behind the battery bay, forward of the rear drive axle, is the inverter bay, which is also home to the Surge Guard/automatic transfer switch and various control boards, fuse blocks, and relays. The inverter has been raised off the compartment floor, which permits more storage space for other electrical equipment, tools, or supplies below — a nice touch.

The next compartment, situated just behind the tag axle, contains a second battery bay, which holds two maintenance-free 12-volt batteries rated at 1,900 cca each, taxed with starting the massive Cummins ISX15 engine.

At the beautifully stylized rear cap, the preferred side-mounted radiator draws in cooling air through its vents. Just forward of the radiator grille is the handy roadside diesel emission fluid (DEF) tank, outfitted with its own level gauge.

The heated plumbing bay is just forward of the rear drive axle and contains such accoutrements as a fresh-water filter, hot and cold low-level drains, a faucet with retractable showerhead, tank monitors, and a San-T-Flush system for the solid waste tank. A 25-foot extendable fresh-water hose retracts electrically onto a reel hidden behind a panel, making that kinked, knotted hose a thing of the past.

I was, however, a little disappointed that American Coach designers used standard manually operated termination valves, including a 1 1/2-inch outlet valve on the gray water holding tank, and a bayonet-style connection fitting for the sewer hose. I would have preferred electric gate valves, a full 3-inch valve on the gray tank outlet, and a dual-cam hose attachment. A competent service technician could easily add those upgraded components should a buyer share my sentiments.

An Aqua-Hot 450D tankless hydronic heater is housed in another driver’s-side compartment, fully satisfying the domestic hot water requirements of this bath-and-a-half coach. The 45,000-Btu system concurrently provides multiple-zone comfort heating and engine preheating. A heat pump on the rear air conditioner can provide additional warmth as necessary.

Farther forward is the 50-amp shore power cord with its Cablemaster electrically powered reel — a nice touch, as it avoids the need to wrestle an anaconda-like heavy electrical cable.

A Cummins Onan 10-kw Quiet Diesel generator sits in a powered cradle in another electrical bay at the front of the coach. The air compressor system in this bay includes a quick-disconnect air line for inflating the tires.

Other exterior features include a full-width rock guard across the rear, replete with a stainless-steel logo plate. An upper fiberglass wind deflector is integrated into the clean lines of this design. The engine access door is outfitted with lift assist struts (as are the side-hinged bay doors) and single-keyed locks. Another available option is a two-piece aluminum ladder.

A 95-watt solar panel is mounted on the roof. Molded into the roofline are a pair of Girard two-stage power awnings equipped with wind sensors and LED lighting. The coach also has a separate entry-door awning; window awnings over each of the frameless, flush-mounted panes; and a topper-style awning on each slideout.

Speaking of slideouts, the 45N features a 30-foot slideout on the road side and two smaller slides on the passenger side. The bedroom slideout provides ample room for the king-size bed, while the sofa/galley slideout extends from the entry door to just a little past midcoach.

Perhaps the most intriguing feature on the exterior of the Eagle 45N is the industry’s first integrated emergency escape door — an option on all Eagle floor plans. While in the closed position, the escape door melds into the coach exterior. Inside, the tread-covered stair steps form a decorative set of shelves just above the toilet in the master bathroom. The door is hinged at the bottom and extends full-length to the ground to effectuate an easy emergency escape. The downside of the door I inspected, aside from the initial cost, is that it could be activated only once; like an automotive air bag, once deployed, it must be replaced. (Company designers subsequently redesigned this escape door, so it is now a reusable, retractable system.) For evacuating the coach in an emergency, a family would fare better going down a set of steps rather than crawling through an escape window that may be 6 or 7 feet from the ground.

Since the emergency escape door is mounted over the toilet (which acts as a logical first step up and into the escape opening upon deployment), I would like to see the engineering department figure out a way to always mount this door on the driver’s side. Two of the four Eagle floor plans place the escape door on the same side as the main entry door; both would be unusable in the unlikely event of a rollover to that side. There is, however, an escape window on the opposite wall.

The fit and finish of the American Eagle’s exterior design components are impeccable. The American Coach logo is fitted into the one-piece windshield. The front fascia detail includes a stylish chrome grille and lamp bezels, plus LED daytime running lamps. The quad-zone, cluster-style headlamps feature LED technology, as do the tail lamps. A clear front mask further protects the front cap from road debris damage.

A keyless entry door features a lighted, engraved grab handle and touch pad. A key fob is included for remote operation. Certain storage bays also come equipped with powered and remotely activated door locks. The entry door is further outfitted with a deadbolt and pneumatic latches.

The high-gloss, full-body Exalta paint is, likewise, impeccable. My review coach featured the Contemporary Graphics pattern in Baltic Graphite. Five other exterior color schemes with two different types of graphics packages are also available.

I’m a fan of the interlocking mechanics used on REV Recreation Group/Fleetwood motorhomes. Matching extruded aluminum pieces at the roofline and the top of the walls mate into a rigid, interlocking superstructure, providing a solid framework that holds up to the rigors of the road. Similar mechanics are found between the floor and the bottom of the sidewalls. This Powerlock System creates a rigid, solid continuum between roof, walls, and floor.

The automotive-type windshield is bonded to a steel-and-fiberglass framework, and the front and rear caps are fully fiberglass. You won’t find any wood substrate in the walls, either. All subframe members consist of welded aluminum tubing held to precision standards.

The ceiling contains 5 inches of insulation at its peak, while the floor and walls are constructed of Vacu-Bond layers over dense 3-inch bead-foam insulation. Sound-deadening insulation protects the front, the rear, and the engine compartment. The result: a quiet, beefy, strong box in which to create a comfortable interior. And what a living space!

As one enters the American Eagle 45N, the comfort level is immediately noticeable. A 95-inch queen-size sofa bed with adjustable headrests sits along the curbside wall and shares space with the galley in the slideout. But it’s the handcrafted, solid-hardwood cabinetry with radiused corners and edges, along with subtle lighting techniques, that grab the eye.

With solid-surface countertops, soft-close drawer guides and door hinges, and exquisite trim features, the comfort level is over the top. The windows are garnished with hardwood and fabric treatments, including linen shades and powered privacy blinds, and are flanked by tasteful lights.

A flush-fitting, two-burner induction cooktop graces the galley, along with a dishwasher and a convection-microwave oven. Aligning with the increasingly popular trend of all-electric RVs, the Eagle has no propane system.

A nice, functional feature is the flush-top galley cabinet extension. It retracts for travel, but when the slideout is extended, the additional counter space makes the galley quite expansive. The fit and finish is exceptional, as one would expect in this level of motorhome. All drawers feature solid maple hardwood and dovetail joints.

The galley’s deep, double stainless-steel sink is fronted with a stylish and practical apron-style panel, and the faucet treatment is a chrome, high-rise unit with a convenient spray hose. Yet to my eye, the standout feature is the simply gorgeous glass tile backsplash. Hidden task lighting further enhances the décor. A residential-style, French-door refrigerator with icemaker stands directly across the aisle alongside two independent double-stacked, slide-out pantries.

Directly rearward is the midcoach half bath with similar decorative appointments, such as the glass tile backsplash, but also with a wood-trimmed Fan-Tastic Vent three-speed powered roof vent equipped with a rain sensor (one of three on board). Both of the 45N’s toilets are porcelain Tecma Silence Plus vacuum models.

In the bedroom, attention immediately is drawn to the king-size Serenity Max bed. It features two independently adjustable sections; each side incorporates a nifty head and foot massage element. Outfitted with a lavish, handcrafted decorative headboard, the bed is nestled in its own slideout and is flanked by windows.

Beautiful premium hardwood cabinets line the ceiling above the bed; stylish radiused nightstands are on either side. With numerous receptacles, lighting controls, and USB outlets in the bedroom and elsewhere, electronic devices can be kept charged easily.

Directly across from the bed, a 32-inch Sony LED HD television is pitched at the perfect viewing angle above the escape window, amid a plethora of storage space. The television is hinged and moves out to reveal storage space behind it. Also nestled back there: all the audiovisual electronics (DVD, Blu-ray, satellite) and a hidden First Alert safe.

Separating the master suite from the rest of the coach is a nice set of double sliding doors, each holding five frosted-glass panes. A solid, flush-bolt latch secures them. A stacked washer-dryer is mounted just forward of these doors, next to the galley pantry on the street side. An optional combination washer and dryer is available, as is an empty cabinet with shelves equipped to be washer-dryer-ready.

Full-timers will appreciate the lavishly designed master bath in the rear of the 45N, just a couple steps up above the main floor. Teak flooring is underfoot. The huge, curved residential walk-in shower enclosure with skylight stands to the left. The shower is appointed with the same type of glass tile pattern found in the galley and midcoach lavatory. Angular chrome fixtures and a rain-style showerhead complete this welcoming respite for clean living.

Just under the side-mounted emergency exit door assembly described earlier, the Eagle’s second toilet is mounted next to the shower enclosure, while across from both is a magnificent, residential-style double sink and vanity.

Twin glass bowl sinks are mounted underneath a solid, one-piece countertop and are equipped with unique accent lighting. LED floor lights further promote a luxurious feel. Angular chrome faucets top off each sink.

Across the very back of this Eagle stretches a full-width, cedar-lined wardrobe closet, concealed behind sliding mirrored doors trimmed with the same hardwood motif used elsewhere. A set of lined shoe storage cubbyholes is built into one side. A nice touch!

As with most diesel pushers, alternate access to the engine is through a portal in the master bathroom’s tiled floor.

The main living space forward of the galley is where coach owners will spend most of their daylight hours. The centerpiece is the fireplace and HDTV combo nestled into the forward corner of the 30-foot slideout, right behind the driver’s seat. With the 48-inch Sony sitting above and a freestanding Ekornes Consul Plus recliner situated nearby, toasty evenings can be enjoyed in the dead of winter. And with the cockpit chairs swiveled rearward to join the plush Ultraleather sofa across the aisle, at least six or seven people can be accommodated.

The dining area features a solid-surface extendable table with two freestanding chairs. A slideout extension provides room for four when the folding guest chairs are used.

Upper and lower cabinets make this portion of the coach perfect as an office setup. Direct and indirect lighting enhances the feel, and all the backlit controls for lighting and shades are situated on the wall for easy access.

Yet another front-mounted HD television is located just above the cockpit. With three HDTVs mounted inside, plus one on the exterior — all connected to an in-motion Winegard satellite system, Blu-ray disc/DVD player, and park cable — there should be no reason to miss a favorite show or sporting event. A handheld tablet further controls all audiovisual devices. The iPad also coordinates the movements of window shades and lighting features. You can even download an app (iPad or Android) for a smartphone to manipulate the entire coach via the onboard SilverLeaf Total Coach Control System.

Multiple 120-volt AC receptacles can be found, including pop-up receptacles in the living/dinette areas and galley. These pop-up types include USB sockets. The receptacles recede into the countertop when not needed.

A Sony home theater system, including well-positioned Bose Acoustimass speakers, are on the list of “general” amenities, with an optional upgrade package available. A sophisticated power management system monitors virtually everything measurable: AC and DC voltage, battery capacities, tank levels, etc. The entire rig is further equipped with its own Wi-Fi router that includes a booster for both 3G and 4G reception. Bluetooth connectivity also is available.

Additional interior features include three decorative hardwood ceiling plenums, which facilitate the heating and air-conditioning systems; multiple accent lights for the floor and toe-kick areas; polished porcelain tile with beautiful glass and stone insets on the heated floor (classy, darker tiles emphasize room borders).

And that finally gets us to the exquisite cockpit area at the business end of this coach. I’ve shared my impressions of how the Eagle handles on the road; now permit me to expound on the ergonomic pleasures of sitting at the controls.

The Ultraleather-covered Villa power pilot’s chair is relaxing, with its eight different adjustments, including a massage feature and lumbar support. Optional heating and cooling in the seat are available for both the pilot and copilot chairs. A memory feature automatically recalls your personal settings after a change of drivers — if you’re persuaded to even share driving duties, that is.

The first thing I noticed in the cockpit was the beautiful French-stitched leather and teak veneer inlays on the dash. But beyond beauty is functionality. All switches and controls are backlit for easy viewing, day or night. And all are within easy and convenient reach.

The digital LCD instrument cluster is fully customizable. Want the tach here instead of there? Maybe swap the air pressure gauge and the speedometer positions? Done!

Two 10-inch touch-screen monitors flank the center cluster. On these monitors, the operator can control the GPS navigation system; Sirius XM Satellite Radio package; left, right, and rear cameras; and Bluetooth, CD, DVD, and radio operation. The aforementioned iPad docks in its own powered station in the center console, which also houses a drawer full of switches for controlling all blinds, shades and lamps in the cockpit area.

The side mirrors are heated, can be adjusted remotely, and contain turn signals and side-vision cameras. The linen privacy screens are custom-trimmed to fit the exact dimensions of the dash.

Other standout features in the well-appointed cockpit include a top-mounted wiper system; Pressure Pro tire monitoring system; map lights; and pilot and copilot LED map lights, among others.

Driver comfort is paramount for fully enjoying the motorhome experience, and I must say that of all the production coaches I have driven, the American Eagle is close to, if not at, the top of the list in that department. With an automated four-point air/hydraulic leveling system, and just-about-everything remotely operated, this coach seems to answer every creature comfort a motorhomer could want when on the road and in the campground.

Remember, RVing is more than a hobby; it’s a lifestyle!

MANUFACTURER

American Coach, 1031 U.S. 224 E., Decatur, IN 46733; (800) 854-1344; www.americancoach.com

MODEL

2016 American Eagle

FLOOR PLAN

45N

CHASSIS

Freightliner Liberty SLM Series

ENGINE

Cummins ISX15 15-liter; 600 horsepower @ 1,800 rpm; 1,950 pound-feet torque at 1,200 rpm

TRANSMISSION

Allison 4000 MH 6-speed with electronic shifter

TIRES

315/80R 22.5 Michelin

WHEELBASE

302 inches

BRAKES

Bendix air disc with ABS

SUSPENSION

front — ZF Independent;

rear — Hendrickson V-Ride 20,000-pound air;

tag — ZF i-Tag Independent with passive steering

ALTERNATOR

Leece-Neville, 270 amps

BATTERIES

chassis — (2) 12-volt maintenance-free, 1,900 cca each

house — (8) 6-volt AGM, Group GC2

INVERTER

2,800-watt pure sine wave inverter-charger

ELECTRICAL SERVICE

50 amps

AUXILIARY GENERATOR

Cummins Onan 10-kw Quiet Diesel on power slide-out; automatic start

EXTERIOR LENGTH

44 feet 11.5 inches

EXTERIOR WIDTH

102 inches

EXTERIOR HEIGHT

12 feet 11 inches with roof A/C

INTERIOR HEIGHT

7 feet

GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)

66,000 pounds

GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)

51,000 pounds

GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR)

front — 17,000 pounds;

rear — 20,000 pounds;

tag — 14,000 pounds

OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (OCCC)

7,162 pounds

FRESH WATER CAPACITY

100 gallons

HOLDING TANK CAPACITIES

black water — 40 gallons;

gray water — 60 gallons

FUEL CAPACITY

150 gallons

FUEL REQUIREMENTS

diesel

WATER HEATER

Aqua-Hot 450D continuous tankless system; 56,000 Btu/hour

HEATING SYSTEM

Aqua-Hot 450D multi-zone hydronic

AIR-CONDITIONING

(3) 15,000-Btu low-profile roof units

REFRIGERATOR

French door residential; in-door ice maker

TOILET

(2) Tecma Silence Plus vacuum

WARRANTY

coach —1 year/15,000 miles limited;

structural — 3-years/45,000 miles;

chassis — 3 years/100,000 miles basic

BASE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE

$651,750