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09-28-2015, 01:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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Fleetwood Flair 26D and 26E
I currently have a Winnebago 29TR Class C motor home. This is a 2008 unit and it has worked well for us. We bought this used unit last November and purposely bought used and lower cost to make sure we would actually use the motor home.
Since purchasing we have been out 38 days and plan a couple more trips this fall. Bear in mind that I am still working full time and only get 20 days vacation. Needless to say, we are enjoying ourselves a lot. We have put just over 8000 miles on this motor home so far.
We are looking for something newer and with more features. Spent the last weekend touring the Nexus plant and the Coachman plant. Went to the Indy Boat and RV show which is where I saw the Flair 26D. I realize this is an entry level Class A but it is very well appointed and looks far more expensive than the price tag indicates.
I had also been looking at the Winnebago 26HE which is similar to the Flair 26D, but just doesn't look as nice.
With this in mind I did not know much about Fleetwood and especially the new parent company ARG, Oh the life of a Pirate!!!! I digress. I did some internet searching both here and on google. The only information I found was largely negative. Almost too negative to be believed. So here am asking you wonderful people for the real story.
- I calculated the wheelbase ratio at .48. What can you tell me about the handling characteristics of this coach on the highway with wind and passing big rigs?
- What has your experience been with things that quit working and how has FW treated you when you have a problem?
- I will be pulling a CRV; How well does this rig handle the hills and handling with a toad?
- I have heard stories about the capacity of the black water tank, what have your experiences been?
- In short tell me how much you like this rig and what your experience has been.
- I have no idea how well the Power Gear slide out system will hold up. Looks like a plastic rack, so has this been problematic?
- How about the leveling system?
I wanted to love the Flair but the negative stuff has put me off a bit. Let me know your experiences.
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09-29-2015, 04:57 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: northern IL
Posts: 2,557
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I can't comment on the rig your looking at specifically but I can tell you that Fleetwood was great to work with and handled any issues we had when new. I am very impressed with how fleetwood handles their customer service. We have power gear slid out systems on our bounder and they work great. Unless they are completely different systems, ours looks to be all steel. The flair is an entree level rv with less expensive components and less bells and whistles but the bones are basically built the same. I would not hesitate to buy any fleetwood product.
__________________
2014 Fleetwood Bounder 35k
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09-29-2015, 05:31 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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That is helpful regarding service after the sale.
__________________
2007 Winnebago Journey 36SG and 13 Honda CRV Toad,
e-Trailer XHD Towbar (Demco), Blue Ox baseplate, SMI Stay N Play brakes
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09-29-2015, 09:54 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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How much did FW do and how much did your dealer do?
__________________
2007 Winnebago Journey 36SG and 13 Honda CRV Toad,
e-Trailer XHD Towbar (Demco), Blue Ox baseplate, SMI Stay N Play brakes
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09-30-2015, 08:42 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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Well, no scathing comments. Does this mean that all the happy Flair owners are out using their motorhomes and not chatting on iRV2?
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09-30-2015, 09:02 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Front Royal, Va.
Posts: 391
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Have owned Fleetwoods for the last ten years. No issues. I usually go to the factory for any service having to do with the house because their rate is reasonable and who better to fix it than a technician who used to build them.
__________________
Shawn M.
2011 Fleetwood Expedition
2014 Chevy Traverse
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09-30-2015, 09:12 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pensacola FL
Posts: 1,451
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I have no experience with a Flair but I did go from an entry level coach an FR3 30DS to a Bounder. I just looked at the Flair and noticed that it has the short Queen bed. I'm 6'1" and need the 80" beds myself. A huge difference between driving a coach with the 19.5 wheel and the 22.5 wheels. The Bounder drives light years better than the FR3 did. The FR3 was pretty much trouble free. I got what I originally paid for the FR3 in trade so they seems to hold value very well. I've been to the Fleetwood factory and the FR3 factory the Fleetwood wins that one hands down. One other thing all motorhomes built at the Fleetwood factory go on the alignment rack before they leave that was not the case at FR3. Now that being said and this is personal preference The Flair floorplans do nothing for me at all. at that price point I would pick the FR3 30DS. I have used the Fleetwood factory service center and it is a great asset but you have to live close enough to the factory to use it. FWIW I have a Chevy Sonic and tow it on a tow dolly and I can't tell it's there with either coach any F53 Ford chassis should handle your TOAD without issue.
__________________
Brenda & AL
2017 Thor Venetian, T42 "Groot"
2020 Chevy Sonic, 2019 KTM 790 Duke
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09-30-2015, 09:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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Great Input from all. Keep it coming.
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09-30-2015, 11:08 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pensacola FL
Posts: 1,451
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Tim
I notice your profile says you are in Ohio. The Fleetwood factory may be close enough to you to warrant a trip as part of your purchase plan. Not to mention Thor and Forrest River factories are just down the road in Elkhart. I found a visit to the factory prior to purchase very worthwhile. I would consider the Flair a crossover class A and The FR3 and ACE are a obvious competitors.
__________________
Brenda & AL
2017 Thor Venetian, T42 "Groot"
2020 Chevy Sonic, 2019 KTM 790 Duke
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09-30-2015, 11:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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We actually did factory tours at Nexus and Coachman last Friday. Fleetwood was not even on my radar till I saw a Flair at the Indy boat and rv show last Saturday. I checked their website and saw tours only at the American coach line, but I am not sure what that means. I need to contact them.
__________________
2007 Winnebago Journey 36SG and 13 Honda CRV Toad,
e-Trailer XHD Towbar (Demco), Blue Ox baseplate, SMI Stay N Play brakes
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09-30-2015, 05:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 134
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U can also look at fleet wood storm. We have one and just love it. Just a few minor problem. But we were taken care of very well by the dealer
__________________
2014 Fleetwood Storm28F, 2023 Jeep Wrangler TOAD
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09-30-2015, 06:37 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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Funny you should mention that. I found a nice Storm 28 that is on the list
__________________
2007 Winnebago Journey 36SG and 13 Honda CRV Toad,
e-Trailer XHD Towbar (Demco), Blue Ox baseplate, SMI Stay N Play brakes
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10-02-2015, 08:27 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 134
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Don't forget to let us know what you finally decide on.
__________________
2014 Fleetwood Storm28F, 2023 Jeep Wrangler TOAD
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10-03-2015, 08:16 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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Will do
__________________
2007 Winnebago Journey 36SG and 13 Honda CRV Toad,
e-Trailer XHD Towbar (Demco), Blue Ox baseplate, SMI Stay N Play brakes
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