2013 Entegra Cornerstone 45K
An In-Depth Review of Entegra Coach's Flagship Motorhome
Article Date: June, 2012
Article and Photography by Mark Quasius
Entegra Coach is seen as one of the fairly new players in the Class-A market. But, in a way it has been around for
quite a while.
Jayco's owners, Wilbur and Derald Bontrager, formed Entegra Coach when they resurrected the remains of the former
Travel Supreme Motorhome Company. Entegra Coach then improved upon an already well accepted product and backed it with a commitment to
service and quality not yet seen in competitive products.
Entegra is growing substantially as potential motorhome buyers recognize its value and is now one of the major players
in the higher-end, diesel-pusher Class-A market. Entegra's flagship model is the Cornerstone, and I was invited to do a review and road test
on this outstanding motorhome.
Construction Overview
The Entegra Cornerstone is available in a number of floor plans, all of which are 45 feet in length and are built upon
Spartan's amazing K3 chassis. The Spartan K3 is the big boy of chassis used by many high-end, diesel-pusher manufacturers but Entegra takes it
a bit further and adds some additional tweaks to provide an even more stable, smoother, and quieter ride. Rough or uneven roads typically twist
the frame and motorhome superstructure causing those squeaks and rattles that accumulate over time. Entegra adds both vertical and horizontal
X bracing to the chassis frame rails to stiffen the frame so that the suspension will handle the bumps rather than allowing the frame or
superstructure to twist.
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Vertical cross bracing adds additional rigidity to the chassis frame, allowing the suspension to perform better.
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Further improvements are made by installing a steel hoop, similar to a roll bar, at the front of the coach to minimize
any flex in the windshield area and provide an additional level of safety in the cockpit area.
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Click Here for a link to the 2013 Cornerstone
chassis spec sheet.
The Cornerstone features two methods of leveling the coach. A Hadley air leveling system will adjust the air-ride
suspension bags to keep the coach level when parked. That's a plus when parked on blacktop parking lots or in soft soil conditions where jacks
could sink in or cause damage to the surface.
That big 15 liter Cummins ISX in the Cornerstone's engine compartment is easy to access. All filters
and fluid level indicators are within easy reach
For those times when the surface is way out of level and the coach requires more leveling than the air bags can deliver,
hydraulic leveling jacks are also included. These jacks are made by Equalizer Systems and are powered in both directions. Rather than use springs
to retract them, the system utilizes two-way hydraulics to power them back into place. This results in a more positive retraction and faster
return times.
All Entegra Coaches utilize a 2x4 wooden floor structure that is located over the top of the typical steel framed substructure.
This helps to deaden any road noise, because the wood acts as a buffer to absorb and deaden any road noise or vibrations. It also provides additional
room for insulation and gives every Entegra Coach an industry leading R-33 insulation value. An in-floor hydronic heating loop ensures that the
ceramic floor tiles remain toasty warm on cool days or nights. Extensive insulation is also found in the front and rear caps, which is not the normal
practice in the motorhome industry.
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