Ready to buy Fleetwood MH feedback please

We've owned a Southwind 32VS since it was born in California in 2004. The build quality was awful, with wallpaper peeling off the walls, all the dual pane windows have fogged, staples are exposed everywhere, and the sofa is just stuffed in place. Of course, the vinyl striping has faded, but the paint and gelcoat looks like new. Mechanically, everything is still working fine. Thank heavens for that!

The good news is that Fleetwood has different owners and apparently much better build quality now than back in '04. Or mebby I just got a dud. The Workhorse Chassis is wonderful, but I don't know if that is still offered. Be sure you get a full body paint moho because in a few years it'll still look good. Fleetwood told me they don't stock vinyl stripes for very long, so just when they need replacing, they ain't available.

The new units look real nice. Good luck on your purchase.

We've had a 2003 Fleetwood Bounder 36D for over two years now, and still love it. It's larger than what we may have needed, and we don't get out as often as we'd like (kids in school, both of us working full time, etc.).

Our Bounder was used, but well-loved. It had a small bucket of problems that needed fixing, but from what I can gather here, nothing unusual for an older RV like this.

Check for recalls, both in the unit itself and for the truck platform (Chevy, Ford, etc.). We found a brake recall that didn't show up for our Bounder, but definitely showed up on the Chevy Workhorse site. That was the scariest problem, really, brakes overheating due to bad cylinders locking up. Not the sort of thing you'd like to experience after coming down a 17 mile, 6 degree slope.

Wish I were out in it right now!

Carla,
I should have mentioned that I was also looking in the same size range as you. Of course, longer motorhomes would have greater space and possibly better floorplans. But I wanted to stay under 34'. I've looked at new coaches of this size online and I don't even like the floorplans better than mine. I think the coach you are looking at would be awesome. Mine is in my signature. Just search for it online and you'll find an ad with pictures. In more recent years I think they started naming is 33V. The Winnebago Adventurer is the same model (like a twin sister). Mine and the Southwind 32V are basically the same layout, except for the bathroom. I have a split bathroom. Toilet is on one side in a room by itself. Sink and shower on the other side just open to the center of the coach. There are two pocket doors that close off the whole bathroom area. My shower is the angled kind, which I find to be the largest of any kind I've seen in this size range.

We have gone all over the USA in state and federal parks and never had a problem.
after 8 years and 68000 miles zero problems with the engine and trans.
had Goodyear service the transmission at 35k and ford at 65k and all is well.
Tires lasted 60k. The only thing we needed was a front end alignment at 15k
Wife and I love the coach.
the only thing I wish I had is full body paint.

In 2011 We were looking at 30 to 32ft. Fleetwoods when we came across a Winnebago Vista 35 F, it has a bath and a half, we bought it and would never go back to a single bath again. The 35 Ft. Is easy to drive and maneuver and has plenty of space and storage.

Nick

Great information everyone.
Jansas,
What year and model is your Itsaca? Would love search on line to see the floor plan since you love it so much.
Thanks,
Carla

I had a 95 Pace arrow 32' that was a real good first RV for us. Served us well. F-53 chassis w/banks and transcommand.

We have a '98 Fleetwood Bounder, 32ft and love it. All RV's have maintenance needs. Our friends have a '94 Southwind. I think theirs is a 36'. Theirs has a tag axle. The guy's dad had it from new, and they bought it when he could no longer use it.
I like their floorplan better, but it'a a tradeoff with different things.

Ours is paid for and we're happy to have it. I'd buy Fleetwood products again if I was in the market.

We have the south wind 36D, I love the Fleetwood. We have had very minor issues with it, as I would expect with just about anything. I know Janss mentioned the Doghouse, I have no issue with it and find that both the Drivers and Passengers side to be quite roomy and easily accessible

We love our 2008 Bounder 38P. We have never had a problem finding sites at state parks. Of course there may be a few sites that we wouldn't fit on, but there has always been a site available that met our needs. Concerning the Fleetwood company, both the old and new have been very customer responsive when we have had to contact them. Here's a site that I find useful for parts

http://www.shopfleetwoodparts.com/