Coachman vs Gerogie Boy... any difference?

[ScottyP]

Friends of ours recently looked at the Coachman Sportscoach class A DP and asked me my thoughts about that line. But since I have no experience with Coachman products I'm asking for any information any of you may have. I am under the impression that the Coachman Sportscoach is "an entry level" product. Is that correct? Does Coachman build the Georgie Boy line also and if so what are the differences between Georgie Boy Cruise Master and the Sportscoach?

[ScottyP]

Friends of ours recently looked at the Coachman Sportscoach class A DP and asked me my thoughts about that line. But since I have no experience with Coachman products I'm asking for any information any of you may have. I am under the impression that the Coachman Sportscoach is "an entry level" product. Is that correct? Does Coachman build the Georgie Boy line also and if so what are the differences between Georgie Boy Cruise Master and the Sportscoach?

[chasfm11]

Coachman bought Georgie Boy several years ago. Since then, the Georgie Boy product line has been changed significantly. It would depend on which model years the specific RV that you are discussing was built as to whether it was done by GBM or under Coachman.

"Entry Level" DPs are typically just like ours. They are built on a similar chassis to the higher priced units but lack the finer details (cherry cabinets, etc) inside as well as the added features like in-motion satellite and automatic awnings. Our coach was "slapped together" wiring wise while the higher end coaches all have the wiring carefully laid out, labeled and are much easier to work on. The overall fit and finish normally improves as the price increases. Probably more important, the weight of the RV and the horsepower needed to drive it also change. Our entry level has a GVW of 22K, with a traveling weight of 19.5K. Our Cummins is rated at 275hp. My friend's 40' quad slide Dutch Star by Newmar probably weighs nearly double that. I'm pretty sure that he has a 425hp ISL versus our ISB. His RV costs about 3 times what ours did.

[ScottyP]

Chasfm11,

Thank you for the reply. How has Georgei Boy changed since Coachman bought them? Has there been a change in the customer care service level? Does Coachman standby their products and are they well built RV's? I know those questions are as important (if not more so) as the features and finer details are.

[Ranger Michael]

ScottyP

I can only speak for my self and what our experience has been.
We purchase a 2005 Landau 35 Triple Slide new in January of 2006. Since we got this beautiful looking beast, we had nothing but problems with it. It spent all together more than 80 days out of service or been worked on by Coachmen Service Department and other repairs facilities.
We had problems with the coach portion from one end to the other. Just to mention one of the problems, the retaining pin that holds the Main Slide Out Room breaks causing it to become unattached and sliding open with the vehicle movements. This happened to us in four different occasions, two of them while we are driving down major California highways.
I don't have to mention that my wife doesn't even want to get near this Motor Home anymore. Seventeen months has passed since we last use our Motor Home. It is sitting on the side of our house as a Back Yard Ornament of course the Main Slide Out Room it's broken again.
COACHMEN it's playing with us taking their suite time to resolve our claim. We are taking them to court under the Federal Lemon Law Program. Our attorney got us a trail date for the month of August (four-month away). I can't wait to see what they have to say.
It's unforgivable that a company of this magnitude has that type of attitude against customers that spend a fortune on their Motor Homes.

[Olive]

I have friends who have a Coachman DP (not sure of the model) that has been nothing but a headache for them. It looks really nice but it has been in the shop many, many times.

I'm not sure of all of the problems they've had but I do know that the only strap holding the gray water tank in place was not correctly attached and the tank moved. They found this out when water started coming out of a storage bay instead of going into the tank. They have also had problems with cabinets coming apart and the inverter has failed twice. This is a start. They sure wish they still had their last coach.

[historyljc]

ScottyP,

I had an older model Coachman with no slides. It was a at least one repair per trip vehicle. From the previous posts, it does not look like they have improved their quality in recent years. Your friends may need to keep looking.

[becks]

Scotty....If it were me,I would encourage them to look at Tiffin, Newmar, or Winnebago.