After reading a lot of the ppl posts here and the remarks I find myself thinking that for my first TC maybe used is the best way to go. Been looking at a 1998 fleetwood 11' TC caribou on line which has just been marked down to about $3800.00. From my own research the dry weight should be around 3400 lbs which should be fine with my 07 ram 3500 drw. So any thoughts on fleetwood TC's.

I don't have a TC. I do have a 1996 Fleetwood Southwind. I'm satisfied with the quality. It's well built.Buying used for your first RV is a wise move. Condition is the import factor. Check it, or have it checked, before any money is given to the seller.

I've owned a 98 Fleetwood Caribou 11M for a year now and love it.. I have it on a 97 Ford F350 SRW. I would check the fit first because the newer trucks have higher cabs. You don't want to have a clearance problem of the sleeping bed overhang hitting your cab...

go used...there way overpriced new

I have a 2003 Fleetwood Elkhorn 11x. I've owned it for over 6 years and it's been a fine camper. There were a few places around the bottom that rotted a bit and I fixed them. The interior isn't high end but it's not low end either. Since we have young children I really don't need or want something really nice. We've got vinyl flooring, blinds with no curtains, no TV, etc.I did a lot of research on Fleetwood TCs before buying this one. It seemed a lot had major problems right away and a lot of them were great campers for years. It seemed if there was going to be a problem it would show up soon. Since mine was 6 years old when I bought it I thought it would be fine and it has.

We've had many Fleetwood camping products over the years and had minimal problems, at least not any more and many less than some new models and others brands. We bought a 1990 Shadow Cruiser hard side 9.5 TC and put it on our 04 Chevy Duramax 3500 DRW 4x4 and have only had the expected age related things to fix or modify. $2,500 purchase price and that much in AC ons and simple fixes. Resealed roof seams and such. It's not super clean and purrty but does is job and at a low wet weight of 3000#, entire rig 2,000 under max rating and all stock suspension. The new ones scare me in the cost and then seems like there's always something anyway and too often after warranty express. Good luck with your search, much succeess and happy camping.

Thinking about a used TC vs New | Good Sam Community

Richandtd
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
normally i drive 55 cause that is where the best mileage is. i'm retired and in no hurry to get any where. when i drove 1.5 million miles in my 18 wheeler i drove 55 and would get passed by the same cars and trucks all the time. and driving cross country you will not get there any faster due to back ups ect... so be happy and drive what ever speed you want we will get there at 55.
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Dec 16, 2015
Richandtd wrote:
Buzzcut1 i see you have Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreem air bags how do you like them. Since my caribou caused my ram to lower by 4".

i got them so I could run at zero psi unloaded. so far I like them
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2015
Richandtd wrote:
drove 270 miles to get home and avg 15.24 mpg using pencil and paper

What speed? My dually can do it when empty at 70mph.
With my Caribou I am happy to make 10.
Enjoy the new camper.
My F350 sags about 2" under 4200lb camper load, but was sold as cab&chassis with beefed suspension.
Do you have holding tanks under camper bumper. I am religious about dumping them before drive as I think they can do real trick to weight distribution.
Richandtd
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
Buzzcut1 i see you have Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreem air bags how do you like them. Since my caribou caused my ram to lower by 4".
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Dec 16, 2015
really check out the seal around that front window and Dicor around all the marker lamps where they meet the body and where the lens snaps onto the lamp those are places that are really prone to leaking. Next I would redo every seam with dicor especially every last one on the roof. A couple hours of preventative work now will save you boat loads of later headaches
bigfootgrey
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
Congrats on the Caribou! Looks to be in great shape! Enjoy!

Bob
Richandtd
Explorer
Dec 15, 2015
drove 270 miles to get home and avg 15.24 mpg using pencil and paper
jimh406
Explorer III
Dec 14, 2015
Congratulations, Richandtd, have fun!
Richandtd
Explorer
Dec 14, 2015
Well here she is just slide her in
Richandtd
Explorer
Dec 05, 2015
ordered the torklift tiedowns aluminum and will be installed next friday. then will be picking up the 98 caribou a few days later. just put a 3/8" rubber mat from tractor supply in the bed. will post the picture when i pick it up.

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