Shopping for an RV can be fun…or terrifying since you’re likely making a large purchase. We were in over our heads with our first RV purchase and almost chose another model. Then, we walked into a Tiffin Allegro Open Road 32SA RV — the clouds parted and the sun beamed rays of happiness on us. It was a tad more expensive than our first choice, but after traveling in it for nearly two years, we still feel like we made a really good decision.
By the way, if you’re in the market for an RV, be sure to tour as many as you can to determine what you like and need. Click here to read the 7 Things To Ask A Dealer Before You Buy An RV.
Our Tiffin Allegro Open Road 32SA
Our Tiffin Allegro Class A gas RV is 34 feet, has two slides, and is the perfect size for most of the places we want to visit.
While it was a bit more money than we budgeted for, we feel like it was worth the investment. Tiffin is a great company and the features that came with our coach really are perfect for our travel style. It helps that we negotiated the price down too.
The Things We Like About Our Tiffin RV
Tiffin makes high-quality RVs. In a future post, I’ll share details from our Tiffin Factory Tour. We’ve put over 20,000 miles on ours and it’s still holding up well.
The kitchen provides ample room and storage. Photo cred: Camille Attell
The difference in quality between a Tiffin and its competitors is stark. In the coach we almost purchased, the cupboards and doors seemed somewhat flimsy. In the Tiffin, doors and cupboards close with a solid “thud”. If you want to save money on an RV purchase, sorry but don’t go into a Tiffin, it will be hard to go back.
We love the layout. The kitchen faces the door, which makes me feel safe because I can see if someone comes to the door while I’m cooking. We can also move around comfortably and even be in separate rooms if we want. This is important because when you travel full time with your spouse, alone time is key.
You can see more of our RV in this Behind The Scenes RV Nomads Movie Clip.
There are two features that I didn’t really care about in the beginning that I now love: the fireplace and bedroom fan. That’s right, we even have a fireplace, which is stellar on cold days. Imagine sipping hot coffee by the fire on a chilly morning while gazing at a misty meadow. It’s a dream come true!
The ceiling fan in the bedroom isn’t just a “decorative fan” like I thought—it actually cools things off resulting in a better night’s sleep.
Lastly, Tiffin gas RVs drive really well. Typically, diesel coaches are more powerful than gas coaches, which can make for a better driving experience. But our Allegro was built on a longer chassis with a foil cushion, making for a pretty smooth drive.
The Things We Don’t Like About Our Tiffin RV
Overall we think our Tiffin Allegro Open Road 32SA RV is the right choice for us, but there are a few quirks. We have a big residential refrigerator that everyone coos over when they tour our coach. It is very convenient, but in a boondocking situation (camping without electrical, water and sewer hookups) it sucks up a lot of battery power. We’ve been battling a mysterious battery-generator-inverter issue since we’ve owned it.
Residential Refrigerator, fireplace and TV. Photo red: Camille Attell
Also, even though our coach is roomy, there’s a lot of wasted space and lack of storage in the bathroom. Tiffin could have installed a small shelf unit to add more storage space, but these are minor details that are easily forgiven. Plus we’ve designed our own special storage “hacks”. Click here to see our Pinterest board of RV storage ideas.
The biggest challenge for us is the dinette booth. It’s too narrow and when my husband and I both work there, it’s a bit crowded. Sure, one of us could sit in the passenger seat and use the pull-out shelf, but it’s not as comfortable. But given all the other features, the dinette wasn’t a deal-breaker for us.
Even though 34 feet is a great size, I’ve been longing for a smaller, more nimble rig so we can stop and take photos or explore on a whim. That’s hard to do with a 34-foot rig — plus the 10-foot car we tow behind it. Going smaller is a trend among RVers right now, and even Tiffin caught on with their new Wayfarer — a small Class C coach. Click here to read more about the tiny RV trend.
You (Almost) Can’t Go Wrong With A Tiffin
Overall, we really like our Tiffin Allegro Open Road 32SA RV. While I might lust for a smaller rig, realistically this size and layout suit us well. Plus, the quality and features make for a comfortable and enjoyable RV experience. If you’re in the market for a new RV and a Tiffin coach is in your budget, you almost can’t go wrong. Tiffin is a premier US-based RV manufacturer that strives to make their customers happy. And if you call them, Bob Tiffin himself might just pick up the phone.
If you’re looking to transition to full-time or extended RV travel, click here get the Wanderlust Transition Plan the 10-category tool to help you plan your travel lifestyle.
I actually assumed our fireplace was connected to our propane and had real flames until the first time I turned it on after several months of ownership! I was pretty disappointed to find it was just lights and a space heater, LOL!
Haha I thought the same thing, but only because I could swear the sales guy told us that. But nope, just some fancy looking fake fire. At least it’s hot right?!
We love our fireplace in our Tiffin. My husband got a call from Bob Tiffin to discuss an issue with our roof that they replaced at no cost to us. You can call the parts department and get anything that needs to be replaced. We are current owners of our third Tiffin. We’re taking it to Alaska this summer.
Thanks for sharing, Deborrah. We had a great experience as well with Tiffin’s factory service. Enjoy your trip to Alaska this summer in your Tiffin!
What kind of mileage with gas vs. diesel with your Tiffin?
We get 8-10 MPG. That’s about average for a coach of this size.
Thank you so much for your review and your great information on your Tiffin 32SA. How often do you use your oven? We are looking at a Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36LA. The one we like only has the microwave convection oven. We are trying to decide if we should have the drawers replaced with an oven.
Thank you for reading and commenting, B. We use our conventional oven probably a couple times a week. We do use our microwave oven much more frequently, but we’re still glad to have the conventional oven. While it’s not big enough to roast a Thanksgiving turkey, it fits just about everything else. Best wishes on your decision!
For what it’s worth, we had a convection and propane oven in our last motorhome (Tioga SL 31w). The convection (110 volt) oven took nearly 1/2 hour to reach 350 degrees and as soon as you opened/shut the door to insert your food enough heat was lost that it took another 5-7 minutes to get back to temperature. It worked, but we preferred the propane oven. We looked at a 2020 Tiffin Allegro 33AA with the “televator” and two-seat dining option with stove but could not locate any drawer/cabinet large enough for our skillets and such. With the “traditional” dinette we will store cookware under the dinette drawers, which are pretty large.
Good information about the convection oven, Keith. Thanks. It’s surprising how inefficient the convection oven is. We really value the under-seat storage space in our full dinette. That’s where most of our cookware goes, too.
Thanks again.
My wife and I are thinking about considering selling our home in a few years and becoming full time RVers. The Tiffin Open Road 32sa is the one I’m leaning towards. From what I’ve gathered, to include your article, they are a good RV manufacturer that stands behind their products. Not all do from what I understand. Thanks for your article. It has helped with the process.
Hi Rick yes Tiffin is a very reputable company. They are responsive and helpful, and even the repair and warranty people speak highly of them. I would say the one drawback is that if you have to take it to the factory in Alabama, that is not a fast process. You can’t make an appointment. You have to park on their lot and wait for an appointment which could take two weeks! It just wasn’t something we could manage. Other than that, they provide great products and services.
We got our 32SA 2/9/18 and have been living in it for the last 6 months. Selling our business and house and heading out fulltime in November ’18. We are so happy with ours. We had the Dometic fridge but it had cooling issues and we went to Red Bay and they swapped it for a residential fridge. Love your article!
Hi John – thanks for reading! We went to Red Bay too. But the wait was so long we couldn’t stay and wait for the repairs. We did the tour though which was cool. Did you do that too? Overall we like our rig, but have this pesky generator issue that still hasn’t been solved. Glad to know another Tiffin owner :). Camille
Thanks for the review. Could you please tell us more about your issue with the generator? We are at looking at the Tiffin 32SA and would like to know more about problems other owners are having.
Hey BJ – It’s really hard to say. It may not be the generator at all. We discovered that the converter isn’t charging fully and it’s inconsistent. It’s weird because no one has been able to figure it out, but Bryce finally observed it this past week. Overall we really like our Allegro and our issue is unique–meaning we haven’t heard anyone else have it to this degree.
We had the same issue for the first 1 1/2 years we had the coach. Actually got us stuck when we had the slides out and we lost all power. The park owners tried helping, their maintenance man and my husband, who knows his way around mechanics. About 1 1/2 hours later, it all came back on. We took it in to the dealership we bought it from. They just pretended to replace the inverter, but they didn’t as my husband noticed it was the exact same one. We had the issue several times even when parked at home. Cross our fingers, it has not happened again in the last 6 or 7 months.
Power is one of the most misunderstood systems on an RV. We’ve certainly struggled with it. We are sorry to hear you’ve had issues as well, but hope that it is behind you now.
Thanks for the review. Looking at the 32SA but wonder if it has sufficient power to travel out West.
You’re welcome, Troy. We’ve spent a lot of time out West in our 32SA and have been mostly satisfied with its power up mountain passes. And we tow a 3,500 lb vehicle behind us. There have been a few steep grades where we were down to 30 mph coaxing the rig over the top of the pass, but have learned to be patient at those times.
I have just bought a 32sa and was excited to hear that you guys are wifi connected as I hope to learn more about it. We will mostly be dry camping in western Canada and my unit comes with a Winegard Connect. Will this suffice for wifi on the go or should I be looking for a satellite system? Thanks in advance.
Hi Mandy, congratulations on buying a Tiffin 32SA. We carry both AT&T and Verizon plans to handle our voice and data needs. Occasionally, we’ll find park wifi that is strong enough for us to use when data security is not an issue. We also have a WeBoost system for when a stronger signal is needed. We do not use Winegard Connect, so are not familiar with its specifics, and are not familiar with data carriers in Canada. I can recommend you check out our friend’s Chris and Cherie’s Mobile Internet Resource Center for all of your RV tech needs: https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/
We just upgraded from a MBS Sprinter to the 32SA. We are taking delivery next week and trading in the 2 year old Sprinter. Space and carrying capacity are the two biggest issues for us along with having to tear the split bed up every time we move. I really liked the agility of the Sprinter and how it towed our 2 door Wrangler, but there was just no place to relax in it for me. I was always bumping my head on something and the short queen on the 2400R was a bear getting in and out of. The layout of the 32SA really fits us as we travel with 2 cats and a small dog. The Sprinter is no speed demon going over passes in Colorado, but I am in no hurry. The Sprinter fits a certain group and I am going to miss not being able to get into some of the campsites we like since the Tiffin is 10 feet longer. But, this will cause us to explore new areas!
Congratulations on your new Tiffin, Mike! We recently toured the new 32SAs’s and love some of the new features—including the wide kitchen window. Thanks for sharing your comparison of the MBS Sprinter to the Tiffin 32SA. Our readers will find that very helpful. Enjoy your travels in your Tiffin!
Hi Camille – thanks so much for all the information. We recently purchased a 32A and currently are on the road. We are also having Inverter problems – it won’t stay on. Can you tell me if they ever resolved your issue and what the issue was? It may give some insight on how to correct our problem.
Hi Lynn, sorry to hear you’re having inverter problems. Ours has not been completely resolved. We’ve had several dealers look at it, as well as some very helpful fellow full-time RVers that are very knowledgeable about electrical systems. The latest help we received was from a highly-qualified full-time RVer friend who has a college degree in Electrical Engineering. He worked on it for a couple hours and improved our situation. I think similar to you, we struggle to keep our charger charging when the generator is on. Our friend worked to fine-tune the frequency of the generator engine where the charger would stay on. But sometimes it still will switch back off. Very frustrating. It may be that the charger-inverter unit is bad and needs to be replaced. The fix is still a work in progress. I hope that helps you. Thanks.
We own a 32sa and since Nov. 2018 having an issue with the entry step up into the coach. The first two steps for ground are even, but the last step into the coach is higher. Any ideas or recalls?
Hi Ronald, thanks for reading and commenting. I’m sorry to hear about your entry step issue. I would start with your warranty, if you have one, to see if it is covered. You can also look on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website for information on recalls. Be sure to search on the year, make and model of your coach. Here’s the link to the website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/TIFFIN/ALLEGRO%252520OPEN%252520ROAD#recalls. Best wishes on your fix.
My hubby and I are going to become full time RVers as soon as our house sells..We own a 2004 Allegro and I love it..Hubby is wanting to replace it with an Open Road as he likes the layout and features..We get high 7 to low 8 miles per gallon. I think that’s pretty good for an older model..Loved your input on the newer model..I feel secure that we’ve made the right decision by choosing Tiffin.
Thanks, Colleen. It’s a testament to the quality of Tiffin that you love your 2004 Allegro and it’s getting the mileage of newer models. I hope you’re enjoying a new Tiffin in your full-time travels.
Please provide feedback on ride and handling (pot holes and expansion joints) and gas mileage of your V10 engine.
Hi Bill, our Tiffin handles very well, especially for a gas coach. The coach features vibration-reducing technologies. I try to stay very aware of potholes and expansion joints, and slow down on rough roads to reduce wear and tear. Our average mpg is between 6 and 8.
Enjoyed your review!! We are looking at purchasing a 2022 Tiffin 32sa. My husband doesn’t think the jackknife sofa is worth the extra cost. He wants the flip and fold sofa and use an ottoman with it. Is the couch comfortable? I was really hoping they would offer recliners in 2022, but they aren’t.
Not having a lot of luck or insight necessary to 4 wheel tow with my 32 SA? Any suggestions?