Community Forums

old iron · 02-09-2016, 08:45 PM

Hello all,

Longtime rver, have been looking for a new coach and have narrowed it down to the bounder 33c, southwind 34a and the holiday rambler vacationer 33ct, these rigs all seem fairly similar flooplan wise and I believe they're all basically built by the same company. We like the vacationer the best because of the window layout but was wondering how the build quality was on it and whether one of the other two might be a better choice. Would appreciate any experience's you could share with me on this new generation Vacationer.

Thanks,
Dave

kjburns · 02-10-2016, 12:47 AM

Run, don't walk, from the Vacationer. See this thread for more information. We had one and it was a nightmare that we gave up on.

I recently spoke to a sales person who worked for a different dealer and had heard of our Vacationer. She told me about an LPGA golfer who had one with similar problems. Then, the electrical system caught fire while she was refueling at a truck stop. She called HR and told them to pick it up and wire a refund to her account or her lawyers would have a field day with them. Apparently HR refunded her money.

Our Vacationer was useless after the first week. The slides stopped working, there were gaps in the bedroom slide that our cat could get out of. The headboard fell off the wall. The driver's side window shattered because it was forced into an ill fitting opening. The shower leaked water all over the floor. After a month in the shop, I decided to trade it. Four months later, I got a call to inform me that the new driver's side window was in!

Do yourself a huge favor and look elsewhere.

mrfix · 02-10-2016, 01:03 AM

Dave
Make your own decisions, I have a 2015 vacationer 36 dbt and love it. Picked it up in August 2015 and have over 12000 miles on it, we have stayed in it over 75 nights and have used all of the on board systems many times. We have had no issues with the coach and I feel the fit and finish and overall build quality is second to none. We did go to the tampa show last month and after spending the day looking at all the rigs we left the show very pleased with our coach and feel the floor plan and build quality was on par or better than any gas rig there. I would purchase the same rv again. I have read about many bad experiences with many new coaches of all makes, I have not had one issue, everything works, the chassis drives well and is comfortable on rough roads, the engine makes plenty of power to tow a car in the mountains.
Hope this helps.
Mrfix

old iron · 02-10-2016, 09:43 AM

I guess what has me perplexed is that the bounder 33c and the vacationer 33ct are identical coaches except that they have different front and rear caps yet I have read so many complaints on the vacationer and very few on the bounder, after looking them over pretty well it really doesn't look like one is built better than the other in my opinion. Thanks to all who comment on this subject.

Dave

-Gramps- · 02-13-2016, 03:11 PM

The Bounder and the HR are built by the same manufacturer...ASV which now owns Fleetwood and Monaco which includes HR. So there is a very good reason why they appear to be the same coach with different end caps: that is exactly what they are.

harleyjt · 02-13-2016, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Gramps-

The Bounder and the HR are built by the same manufacturer...ASV which now owns Fleetwood and Monaco which includes HR. So there is a very good reason why they appear to be the same coach with different end caps: that is exactly what they are.

Same company owns both. Does any know for certain whether they are built on the same assembly line now?
jt

mrfix · 02-13-2016, 07:32 PM

I took the factory tour, they are in fact built in the same line using the same materials and construction. The only thing that changes are the floor plans and amenities. I am very happy with my vacationer and I am sure I would feel the same about the bounder.
Mrfix

LMiinch · 03-03-2016, 09:23 AM

My wife and I bought a 2016 Vacationer 35DK and love it. We looked at a few Bounder 35K's and then found the Vacationer which is nearly identical to a Bounder 35K. The biggest differences we saw are in the drivers area. The Bounder has a different dash and has a separate backup camera screen on the left side of the steering wheel plus some other differences there. The rest of the coach seems identical to us? We have had no issues at all with our coach other than just minor adjustments needed which I did myself. Also the Vacationer looks really good on the outside, ours is black with gold striping. Biggest difference was it cost $15,000 less than the Bounder.

old iron · 03-04-2016, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMiinch

My wife and I bought a 2016 Vacationer 35DK and love it. We looked at a few Bounder 35K's and then found the Vacationer which is nearly identical to a Bounder 35K. The biggest differences we saw are in the drivers area. The Bounder has a different dash and has a separate backup camera screen on the left side of the steering wheel plus some other differences there. The rest of the coach seems identical to us? We have had no issues at all with our coach other than just minor adjustments needed which I did myself. Also the Vacationer looks really good on the outside, ours is black with gold striping. Biggest difference was it cost $15,000 less than the Bounder.

We liked the Bounder too until I sat in the driver seat and discovered I had to lean forward in order to have left side visibility because of the smaller side windows, I drove a Vacationer 33ct today and didn't have that problem, really liked the coach and the way it drove other than would probably add another rear sway bar to help with body roll that I thought was a little excessive.
The dealer gave me some numbers today which weren't too bad but not close to the magic 30% off msrp I'm hoping to get, I'll be getting more quotes. I was wondering if anyone else with a Vacationer has had any luck getting the price down to 30% off.
Thanks for the input from everyone.

Dave

LMiinch · 03-04-2016, 07:24 PM

We bought ours at MHS RV...we got right at 30% off list price, maybe just a tad more.

I did the CHF first thing and it made a huge difference. This thing drives great and runs great. Our last coach was a 2004 Georgie Boy Pursuit with the old V10.

We are very happy with our Vacationer and we had a great sales experience at MHS RV. We flew down and drove back.

old iron · 03-04-2016, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMiinch

We bought ours at MHS RV...we got right at 30% off list price, maybe just a tad more.

I did the CHF first thing and it made a huge difference. This thing drives great and runs great. Our last coach was a 2004 Georgie Boy Pursuit with the old V10.

We are very happy with our Vacationer and we had a great sales experience at MHS RV. We flew down and drove back.

Great, that's what I'm shooting for then.

We're looking at the 33ct, same layout as your's minus the rear bath, we really like the L sofa, have you found it to be comfortable and practical?

Great paint scheme you picked, very sharp, glad you're enjoying the coach. Thanks for the info.

Dave

**NLOVNIT** · 03-04-2016, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old iron

...I have read so many complaints on the vacationer and very few on the bounder...

Look at the dates on Vacationer complaints to determine whether they were based on Monaco being the mfr or ASV. ASV (now REV Group) purchased the Monaco assets in May 2013. I think ASV started mfr'g them for 2014 model year, give or take.

Lori-

mrfix · 03-04-2016, 09:11 PM

My 2015 with a manufacture date of Nov 2014 is an ASV unit, no issues and top shelf fit and finish, it's been a great coach.
Mrfix

old iron · 03-04-2016, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfix

My 2015 with a manufacture date of Nov 2014 is an ASV unit, no issues and top shelf fit and finish, it's been a great coach.
Mrfix

I agree, judging from the one's I've looked at seem's like they've done a pretty good job of putting them together. We talked to a salesman who showed us how the interlocking floor and roof construction worked, pretty innovative.

Thanks,
Dave