bill h
coastal reconquista
Senior Member
Joined: 08/02/2001
View Profile
|
randco wrote:
The Fleetwood Southwind was the most popular with 19 folks owning them. Next was a tie for second place with Fleetwood Bounder with 17, Fleetwood Pace Arrow with 17,
We have had several Fleetwood RVs. All were bought for value, not quality. All delivered value, none showed any quality, at all.
84 Barth 30 tag powered by ht502/Thorley, Gear Vendors OD
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes
4WD Toyota toad
|
tropical36
Southwest Florida_USA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/11/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
bill h wrote:randco wrote:
The Fleetwood Southwind was the most popular with 19 folks owning them. Next was a tie for second place with Fleetwood Bounder with 17, Fleetwood Pace Arrow with 17,
We have had several Fleetwood RVs. All were bought for value, not quality. All delivered value, none showed any quality, at all.
I agree and you gotta remember how big and widespread with brands and marketing that Fleetwood is or was, but that doesn't necessarily make them the best at engineering and quality.
It wouldn't be worth it to us for an expensive chassis and drive train, as we only travel between 100 and 200 miles a day at 50mph when on the road and have gone as little as 50 or less. Even broke a record in Yellowstone NP with 4 miles from one campground to the next. Took us 3 months to go across country and back, but then we did stop and smell the roses a lot.
So much for 1,000,000 mile air ride DP's, which I'm sure are great and loved by their owners.
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal Model 6350, with a tag axle and one slide, on a 1997 P32 Chevy chassis....7.4 Vortec Engine
|
bill h
coastal reconquista
Senior Member
Joined: 08/02/2001
View Profile
|
topflite51 wrote:How is a diesel chassis better when it is PARKED? He said "Once it's parked, it's just as nice as most diesels." While you rant on about drivability. I understand DP's being significantly better to drive, but parking. That's news to me. ROFLMAO!
Quite often, a manufacturer will build more quality into a diesel coach than a gasser. Not because of the fuel, but in response to the market and the expectations of the customer. A diesel coach is more expensive, and attracts a customer willing to spend a little more money, so more quality is often built in to the coach part.
Also, many DPs last longer than many gassers, so the coach part has to be better-built to last as long as the chassis. Or should be. 
And, DPs are more likely to be for long trippers or full timers, so there is more wear and tear. Gassers are often weekenders, without as much wear and tear. This is a general statement, I know, but true for the most part.
I love our gas Barth, but their top line coaches were the Diesel Regencies, and are higher quality coaches, as well as being nicer.
|
topflite51
In The Desert of Nevada
Senior Member
Joined: 05/13/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
bill h wrote:topflite51 wrote:How is a diesel chassis better when it is PARKED? He said "Once it's parked, it's just as nice as most diesels." While you rant on about drivability. I understand DP's being significantly better to drive, but parking. That's news to me. ROFLMAO!
Quite often, a manufacturer will build more quality into a diesel coach than a gasser. Not because of the fuel, but in response to the market and the expectations of the customer. A diesel coach is more expensive, and attracts a customer willing to spend a little more money, so more quality is often built in to the coach part.
Also, many DPs last longer than many gassers, so the coach part has to be better-built to last as long as the chassis. Or should be.
And, DPs are more likely to be for long trippers or full timers, so there is more wear and tear. Gassers are often weekenders, without as much wear and tear. This is a general statement, I know, but true for the most part.
I love our gas Barth, but their top line coaches were the Diesel Regencies, and are higher quality coaches, as well as being nicer. So, if one is to accept your logic, the manufacturer who builds both gas and diesel, builds high quality diesel units, but low quality gas units. I suggest that the same quality of build exists up and down the line. If the manufacturer produces quality at the top, it generally produces quality at the bottom. The reason is simple, most customers do not start buying at the top, most start at or near the bottom. They move up, and if you have a reputation for building garbage in the entry level, that reputation will follow you and people will go the other way on the luxury level. It would be a tough sell to people that MH X in the entry level is garbage, but in the luxury level, it's the best thing going.
 David
Just rolling along enjoying life
w/F53 Southwind towing 87 Samurai looking to golf or fish
Simply Despicable 
|
wny_pat
Western NYS
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
topflite51 wrote:J-Rooster wrote:topflite51 wrote:Didn't realize that there is so many individuals around here that can't read. This thread is titled "Rank the Class A build quality"
Tiffin, Winnebago, Rexhall, Monaco, FW's Pace Arrow and Bounder, and the best for last Newmar's MountainAire. How can a person rank Winnie,Tiffin,Mountain Aire,Bounder, Newmar,Coachman,Rexhall,Manaco,etc. if you have not owned them all for a period of time. My point exactly! John You mean you have never been in a Monaco, Tiffin, Rexhall, Pace Arrow, Bounder or a MountainAire? How did you determine you wanted a Winnebago? Surely you must have inspected other brands, then determined you wanted a Winne. Didn't you? You don't have to own one to have an opinion about them? Heck, with all the brake problems my friends are having with a certain brand of chassis, I can assure you I have an opinion about that chassis, and I have never owned one. I own a FW, but not a Pace Arrow or Bounder. No, I brought a Tiffin Allegro because I did a lot of reading here and other places before I did. Did not buy new, but a used '94. That is why I did so much reading before buying. Think I brought well for what I paid.
|
|
|
Capt Rick
Key Largo, Florida
New Member
Joined: 09/29/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
We have really enjoyed our inexpensive 2006 Fleetwood Southwind. We now have 20,000. miles on it without any problems. Of course I would have preferred a nicer, more expensive diesel pusher but I could not justify the additional cost up front, and the additional cost every time that I fill up. If fuel economy was substantially better with a diesel I would consider it, but it isn't.
|
topflite51
In The Desert of Nevada
Senior Member
Joined: 05/13/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
RayChez wrote:topflite51 wrote:RayChez wrote:melvonnar wrote:The only difference between a gasser and a diesel when they are parked is the smell.
NO NO! I have never seen a gasoline model that even comes close to some high end coaches. Yep! Have to admit, I haven't smelled any gassers that stink as much as some diesels. LOL
OH C'MON Topflite be nice. Hey, if you like a gasoline coach that is just fine with me. We used to like ours also, until we got caught in strong cross winds coming out of Utah. But as far as to living in one or the other to me it really does not matter. I like pretty things just like anybody else, but it is not necessary.
I still see more gasoline motorhomes on the road then I do diesels. But the important thing is that we all love doing the same thing and that is camping and traveling seeing places that I never could because I was always working.
Have a nice day! Ray, I am being nice. What I find ridiculous is someone posting on a thread about Class A Gas build quality about how great diesels are. Why? What's the point? That's not what the OP'er wanted nor was any of it on topic. I can only guess you want to "Lord it over" us poor gasser owners. For someone to think that they are so much better when parked, well, that is just a little bit over the top and goes right along with "lording it up". You have a good day, m'lord. ROFLMAO!
|
JawPaint
Baltimore,Maryland
Full Member
Joined: 12/07/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Ihave a 04 Mt.Aire gasser and I think it will stack up to you diesel quality wise.I don't think they made a finer quality gas MH than the Mt.Aire in any brand.That I think was the OPs question.Have a nice day Ray and happy camping.
|
SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
Senior Member
Joined: 07/28/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Um... kids.. The OP had his question answered and thanked everyone on the last page.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
|
JawPaint
Baltimore,Maryland
Full Member
Joined: 12/07/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
If the post was answered I see that you are still intrested reading more posts. Just KIDDING.
|
|
|
|
