Freightliner Chassis

seabee13 · 05-12-2010, 09:12 PM

Anyone have a 2011 Newmar with a Freightliner Chassis comments please, also if you owned a Spartan Chassis how do they compare to each other. Thanks

**Gary RVRoamer** · 05-13-2010, 11:10 AM

Spartan always considered themselves to be a higher end chassis than Freightliner, but I think that is largely dependent on which Freightliner you choose to compare to. FL builds a wide variety of chassis, including some relatively inexpensive ones, whereas Spartan does not address the entry level diesel market. I have an American Tradition on a FL chassis, while most of its brethren are on a Spartan (American Coach offered both types for about 3 years). Based on all my conversations with other American Coach owners, there doesn't seem to be any real difference. The Spartan owners have had some mostly minor chassis problems and the Freightliner owners have had a different set of mostly minor problems. Six of one; half dozen of the other, as far as I can see.

There may be a few more Freightliner service locations than Spartan, and in a pinch you can usually get a FL repaired at most any truck repair shop because most of the major parts and systems are the same. Again, not a big deal.

DriVer · 05-13-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Roamer [Gary]

...

Good Post Gary!

smlranger · 05-13-2010, 07:06 PM

I would certainly agree that in the real world, there is probably too little difference to affect my decision if the coach I like was otherwise fine. I see from your profile that you live in TN. Freightliner builds their RV chassis in Gaffney, SC and they have a fantastic factory service center there that caters to RV owners. They also offer periodic 'Camp Freightliner' classes to teach owners everything you'd want or need to know about the chassis. While you can get routine service done on either chassis at many places, the FL service center in Gaffney offers great service at reasonable prices.