Leprechaun by Coachmen

[Johnsbo]

Looking for comments on the Leprechaun. Issues in the coach. Build quality, water lesks, issues, etc. I'm looking to upgrade from my 2008 Navion.

[Badlands]

Same here; no major issues, and nearly 6,000 miles and loving it. 2016 Leprechaun 319DSF. Sorry, though, for the problems others have faced. Seems to be a common reality, regardless of brand or model.

Talked to a gent two weeks ago who was in a 2014 mega Class A. Said he paid over $500,000 for it, and the coach has been in the shop a number of times, totaling somewhere over six months of lost travel/camping time. He loved everything about it, except the build quality.

[DocP]

NWnative wrote:

NWnative wrote:
I have seen mixed reviews on the Leprechaun and there is a fairly recent thread about someone having some issues with water leaks from the front cap. With that said, I have been very happy with mine after half a dozen trips and have not experiences any issues so far. The only hiccup was the bracket that holds the strut / dampener on the door side was lose almost immediately upon use. I added a couple more screws and it's been solid ever since. The amenities, floor plan, etc in my unit fits my needs and I would say it's mid to above mid average in that regard. It's not top of the line but it certainly isn't low end either.

My original comments still ring true. Trouble free with close to 30 trips under our belt since this was posted. Very happy with our Leprechaun!

Same here ... once some relatively minor bugs were worked out, it has been a pretty good mid-range motorhome.

[NWnative]

NWnative wrote:
I have seen mixed reviews on the Leprechaun and there is a fairly recent thread about someone having some issues with water leaks from the front cap. With that said, I have been very happy with mine after half a dozen trips and have not experiences any issues so far. The only hiccup was the bracket that holds the strut / dampener on the door side was lose almost immediately upon use. I added a couple more screws and it's been solid ever since. The amenities, floor plan, etc in my unit fits my needs and I would say it's mid to above mid average in that regard. It's not top of the line but it certainly isn't low end either.

My original comments still ring true. Trouble free with close to 30 trips under our belt since this was posted. Very happy with our Leprechaun!

[keithfromky]

We bought a 2015 317SA (Ford) in February 2015. Its our 3rd class C and so far its been a good experience. We had a cracked fresh water fill connection the 1st time we used it, but this was taken care of by the dealer and since then, we've had few problems. We took 10 trips last year and have used it once this year and it has been exposed to some very heavy rain without any (discovered) leaks. We do store it inside as was the case with our previous motorhomes. Storage cost is expensive, but I believe the cost is worth it as we've found that it extends the life of the motorhome. We had our last class C (99 Tioga) for 16 years and it still looked new when we sold it. Overall, we are very satisfied with our Leprechaun, we love the floorplan, and haven't found another class C in the same price range that offers comparable features and amenities. I am hoping that Coachmen was able to resolve the cab leak issues because we'd like to get 15 years or so out of this coach. Blessings to all of you and safe travels!

[vdubee]

When you look at the Leprechaun again, look closely at the countertops. They are a plastic shell not solid. I would run from the Leprechauns.

[Punch_It_Chewy]

My opinion...DON'T BUY Class C COACHMEN LEPRECHAUN!!! Leprechaun Coachmen was purchased early 2014, used once and had a shower leak. We found water flowing into the hall way and in the kitchen through to the sofa bed. The air conditioning didn't seen to cool down the RV. Also very poor design, unable to use storage space in the bedroom. Very difficult to move from the passenger seat to the rear. The engine is too noisy. Camera system doesn't face the driver. Unable to fully remove the dining table. Skylight is RIGHT over the bed...call me crazy, but I might want to sleep in late while on vacation. We woke up one morning to OMG! The list goes on and on.

[Jim_Shoe]

My Dad retired in 1972 at age 62. The folks bought a TT because my Dad had the travel bug. My Mom, not so much, especially towing a TT. So a couple of years later, they swapped for a new '74 Coachmen Leprechaun and towed a VW bug. Mom was OK with that because she wasn't being tailgated by something bigger than the car.
They'd call every so often to tell me where they were, but they eventually hit all 48, and flew to Hawaii.
They never had any repairs on the Coachmen other than regular maintenance. My Dad passed away in '86 and my Mom sold it, so that's 12 years and a bunch of miles.

[GollyCollie]

I am glad you asked this question! I spent the afternoon with my attorney filling out the paperwork to make a claim per the Florida Lemon Law over my 2013 Leprechaun 317SAF.

I purchased this unit new in March 2013 and in that period of time it has been in the shop 3 months. It is currently in the shop and has been there since August 31. It's most serious but not only issue is a water leak in the front cab area that I discovered when I was driving and had a sheet of water dump on my head. I was not amused.

The first attempt to fix it involved squirting some goop into suspect areas near the front cap. That didn't work so I brought it back. The second attempt to fix it involved running a pressure test followed by squirting more goop into suspect areas. That didn't work. In fact that time I didn't even get home with the unit. I stepped on the breaks and water poured out. The 3rd attempt to fix it was to remove all of the trim that edges the front cap and discovering that there was nothing there to make that seal water resistant. The worker then put putty tape under the trim strip all the way around and replaced the trim strip. This attempt to fix it buggered up the paint but at least I thought it would be dry.

We went on vacation and 2 weeks later I was scheduled to bring the Leprechaun back in to get the paint work done. Before driving the coach I decided to check the front cap for water. (I have learned to check before I drive now if it has been raining.) I found a gallon of water in the front cap, so I used a turkey baster to remove it before driving. (Ask the dealer for a turkey baster as an accessory.) By this time, the water had seeped into the bunk deck and much of the wood was covered with black mold and on its way to rotting. That was August 31 and today, October 14, my coach is still sitting at the dealer. I have made 2 payments since I took it to them the last time! I estimate that they will have my coach back to me in the next 2 weeks but I have no faith that the problem will be fixed.

Here is the kicker. I would think that I just got unlucky with mine, but the repair guy told me they have 3 other Leprechaun's that have the same problem. That tells me that Leprechaun has a design or production problem, or both. Also according to the repair people at my dealer, Leprechaun is not acknowledging at all that there is a problem and leaving it to the dealers to figure it out. Not the way to run a business I would say. I feel fortunate that I discovered my problem now instead of 2 years from now.

I liked the Leprechaun a lot. I think it is pretty and I love the layout for a class C, but based on my experience and what I have learned, I would never buy another one. This is not what I call the 'better stuff.'

If this problem that I have described sounds familiar to you and your Leprechaun leaks at the front cap, please contact me at larry.r.hobbs@gmail.com and we can compare notes.

[NWnative]

I have seen mixed reviews on the Leprechaun and there is a fairly recent thread about someone having some issues with water leaks from the front cap. With that said, I have been very happy with mine after half a dozen trips and have not experiences any issues so far. The only hiccup was the bracket that holds the strut / dampener on the door side was lose almost immediately upon use. I added a couple more screws and it's been solid ever since. The amenities, floor plan, etc in my unit fits my needs and I would say it's mid to above mid average in that regard. It's not top of the line but it certainly isn't low end either.

[John_M1]

We downsized from a Class A Winnebago to the Leprechaun. I knew it would be a step down, but was not prepared for how big a step it has turned out to be. We are finding the build quality to be very poor. Plumbing leaks (one caused by a screw through a pipe from the factory), over-the-cab leaks from un-caulked clearance lights, kitchen counter top delaminating due to incorrectly installed sink.
The storage area is great, and the Chevy chassis has been great, but the coach itself seems to be just thrown together with the cheapest materials they could find.
Our dealer has been great, and has really stepped-up to fix issues as they arrive, but, IMHO, stay with Winnebago.

[Mbylone]

Purchased the 22QB with full entertainment center over cab, bigfoot levelers and the cozy package to allow us to use it year round in New England. Also, got the Chevy model. This is my first MH. I have had TT in the past. I have 4000 miles at this point. So you have my background for my comments. When I drive sensibly, i average 11 mpg. There are a lot of inclines in New England, so when I decide to just drive however I want,my mpg drops to 9. But the dealer was honest with me when I purchased it so that was not a surprise. I love the cargo space. Actually that is what sold me on it. The cargo hold in the back is huge. It came with many nice extras,although almost every model has these extras at this point. I got the MH for two adults and three Newfoundland dogs to be able to travel and I am very happy. Looking back, i wish I had gone up to the 31 foot, because these are big dogs! But I wasn't sure how comfortable I would be driving that length given I am pulling a 4 door Jeep Wrangler. I am very pleased. The cab is comfortable and it handles very nicely.There have been some minor issues,but the dealer has been terrific. I could not find anything I liked for the price I paid. I am not looking for luxury nor do I think I will keep any purchase longer than about 7 years. Hopefully I have given you enough info to frame my comments in your reality.

[Kidsgone]

We looked at a Leprechaun this past January and then found our current Winnebago Aspect 30C. If there is a Winnebago dealer in your area, go take a look. Big difference in quality in my opinion. We didn't need the cab over bed, thus the Aspect (and it had way more features), BUT if the cab over bed is a necessity, look at Winnebago Access...very nice Class C! We bought new and haven't looked back. Our Aspect has over 10,000 miles since January with very minimal problems (all cosmetic).
Good luck in your search.

[cmalberto]

We bought the 2014 Leprechaun 320BH - My first motorhome. Upsize from my 27ft TT(w/BH). We do love the space as we didn't have slides before. Adjusting to the gas mileage but still haven't trained my self to drive more efficiently yet where I know that will help alot.

We bought the Leprechaun as a step from the other Coachmen(can't remember the series). Better quality build. We did/do have some small problems. Shower leaked around the base. Had a leak around the outside shower. And the rubber roof was bubbled along the edge.

Currently in for service - all warranty work. Can't wait to get her back and make a few road trips. The newness hasn't worn off yet and still excited over it.

Hope that helps some.

[Mich_F]

Upgrade or upsize ?