Quality of American Coach?

[rdalcanto]

I'm thinking of moving up from my Phaeton to a 2010 Revolution 42W. How is the quality of the contruction? Any known problems with roof cracks, sidewall cracks, window leaks, etc?

Thanks!
Rick

[Gary RVRoamer]

American Coach builds solidly, but they are not immune to occasional screw-ups on the assembly line. No cracks, though.

[JMonroe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer American Coach builds solidly, but they are not immune to occasional screw-ups on the assembly line. No cracks, though.

Gary is exactly right. We took delivery of our 42W late last fall. I chose the Revolution as I was impressed with the overall construction, as compared to others at a similar price point. Having been through the plant tour before we ordered only reinforced what my research had suggested. It's on a very solid foundation.

That said, we did go through a very painful break in period. Any number of issues popped up almost immediately. Some were no ones fault in particular, a part or sub assembly failure not detecable until its used. Other items could not be explained by anything other than poor workmanship and the willingness to let the dealer or, more likely, the customer have to deal with it later.

Our coach spent a couple weeks earlier this spring in Decatur having our laundry list of issues addressed, and we've had one visit from the American Coach techs here at our house to address something that had not been noticed until shortly after our return from Indianna. I now have a very small but slowly growing list of mostly 'annoying' issues I'll have addressed in Decatur as I make my way south in late October.

I do still have one issue I consider 'major'. After even a light rain you can get a shower inside the coach when retracting the front slides, especially the full wall slide. Another owner has identified the mechanics of the problem and that's been communicated to Decatur. I've not heard that a long term solution has been found yet.

Now, all that said, we are loving any time we're able to spend in the coach. After all that 'massaging', it has come very close to what we had expected. This is my first DP, and I'm pleased with both the performance and the fuel economy (as compared to my gasser experiences), and the later seems to be improving almost with every trip.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

Good luck in your RV search.

[denochs]

Had to chime in on this one with a different viewpoint. Ditto on the quality of AC products. However, I would not buy new, of any brand. From what I've read, all coaches go thru a painful break-in period. Plus you loose so much on the initial depreciation.

We've had only one major problem with our coach in the three years we've owned it. It was because the dealer tried to get away with selling it to us with bad batteries. Low voltage burned out a circuit board near the batteries and created headaches for us on that long trip.

Dave

[Coached]

I'm just gonna go ahead and say it ... if I had it to do over again I wouldn't! We traded a perfectly good 42' Phaeton tag (2008) that we had owned for 3 1/2 years on our new Revolution. I now have 12 typed pages of complaints / defects and my coach is sitting in Decatur, Indiana for the second time in 30 days. I agree with Jay that the "foundation" of the coach is second to none, but the workmanship and QC just isn't there in too many other areas for me. I knew there'd be "teething" problems, and I had great confidence in my Dealer, and I assumed that a newly resurrected Fleetwood, now travelling under the American Coach banner, would just naturally want to bend over backwards to satisfy the Customer. Wrong. I had to fight every step along the way to get some seriousl attention paid to these issues as opposed to lip service. I think one area of great concern for me is the obvious lack of morale at their facility? They're great guys but their morale is just about rock bottom and it shows in their work. You'll have problems with Tiffin or anyone else's product too, but perhaps the support will be better? We're talking allot of $$$ to make this "upgrade" - I coulda spent a fraction of the difference to polish up the old Tiffin and kept goin'. Ask me again in while and I might say something different but right now, there are better options for my money.

[Cat320]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiff Inn I'm just gonna go ahead and say it ... if I had it to do over again I wouldn't! We traded a perfectly good 42' Phaeton tag (2008) that we had owned for 3 1/2 years on our new Revolution. I now have 12 typed pages of complaints / defects and my coach is sitting in Decatur, Indiana for the second time in 30 days. I agree with Jay that the "foundation" of the coach is second to none, but the workmanship and QC just isn't there in too many other areas for me. I knew there'd be "teething" problems, and I had great confidence in my Dealer, and I assumed that a newly resurrected Fleetwood, now travelling under the American Coach banner, would just naturally want to bend over backwards to satisfy the Customer. Wrong. I had to fight every step along the way to get some seriousl attention paid to these issues as opposed to lip service. I think one area of great concern for me is the obvious lack of morale at their facility? They're great guys but their morale is just about rock bottom and it shows in their work. You'll have problems with Tiffin or anyone else's product too, but perhaps the support will be better? We're talking allot of $$$ to make this "upgrade" - I coulda spent a fraction of the difference to polish up the old Tiffin and kept goin'. Ask me again in while and I might say something different but right now, there are better options for my money.

Sounds as if you got a lemon. There are lemons everywhere...cars, boats, trucks, RVs, etc. Unfortunately, your lemon is on a high dollar item.

My Allegiance as been virtually trouble free, and most problems have been a result of a supplier's product, not ACs. For example, I had to have my slide toppers (Carefree of Colorado) replaced because all the seam thread disintegrated.

I would like to make one correction, you stated that "a newly resurrected Fleetwood, now travelling under the American Coach banner." Actually it's the other way around, AC is considered the luxury branch of Fleetwood. When you log on to Fleetwood's web site, www.fleetwoodrv.com the options from which to select are:

American Coach
Class A Diesel
Class A Gas
Class C Gas
Class C Diesel

Good luck get your coach squared away.

[Coached]

I know I'm not supposed to do this but I was kinda harsh on Fleetwood here and they have definatley redeemed themselves in my eyes so I want to be sure to share it. This is the email I just sent them ... it sez it all I think?

"Now THIS is the Coach we bought! Gentlemen, thank you so much for the way you have dealt with us over this past 10 days or so and the very Professional manner in which you tended to this Coach, and to us. Josh could not have done a better job if he tried; he is a very polite, interested, and patient young man who represents your Company well. I appreciate you accommodating us with the pick-up and delivery of our unit and your understanding of our timetable and requirements. Updating me on virtually a daily basis, with the various team members present, was such a great extra value; I have already began singing your praises to other Coach Owners. After all is said and done, anyone who buys one of these “rolling homes” and doesn’t expect problems is just fooling themselves? It is the manner in which we are treated, as Customers and Investors, that truly makes the difference. You made me feel so much more confident and trusting this time around and I had little doubt that our unit would be returned in any condition other than the way it actually was. It was spotlessly clean inside and out, except for some road dirt, (Josh offered to wash the coach!) and every item of concern had been addressed, and then some; then I drove it “home” and what a difference!? I can’t speak for our Dealer, but I will be surprised if he is not quite relieved, and impressed, by your conduct and your treatment of Yolanda and myself; I will be sure to inform him of our opinion(s). I’m sure you endure many Customers like me, and I doubt that it is always a pleasant experience for you, but I want to be just as quick to compliment as I am to criticize …. Outstanding job Guys, outstanding. I hope to get back to Decatur and when I do I will make it a point to find each of you and shake your hands personally …. Thanks again and regards,"

Anthony (Tony) Bostock
Investment Funds Specialist
HUB Capital Inc.