Community Forums

gcope63 · 03-27-2025, 07:44 AM

Hi all!
I have been looking for an older Class A Gas Coach for a little while and have it narrowed down to two local ones I like.

I have found a 2005 Winnebago Adventurer 35A with the 8.1L/Allison chassis with 28000 miles
The second one is a 2008 Fleetwood Bounder 38J, also with dame 8.1L/Allison chassis with 11000 miles

I am not going to say prices but the Winnebago is about 10% less than the newer Fleetwood.
My question is, what is everyone's opinion on these two for quality, features, issues, etc. good or bad? We like some things on both so still deciding which way to go.
I have also posted questions on each of these in there respective Owners forums but wanted a overall group opinion as well.
I will say I have been impressed with the support on the Winnebago website, I was able to download Electrical and Plumbing schematics along with a parts list. I have not been able to find anything like this for the Fleetwood Coach.

Thanks!

Gary

jacwjames · 03-27-2025, 08:00 AM

I am not familiar with either

But I own a 2002 Monaco Windsor. Monaco went bankrupt in 2009 and the intellectual property changed hands several time, currently owned by REV. There are still some parts available provided you can get the right part number. Only minimal support on anything technical. Fortunately there is some RV forums that are filling the gap. If it wasn't for that I'd be lost.

So if I were to have to choose between the two coaches I'd pick the one that has better support, which it sounds like is Winnebago

PappaBull · 03-27-2025, 09:20 AM

1st maintenance records are very important
2ond which chassis do they have, the newer fleetwood should be on the W-24
3rd keep in mind the 8.1/Workhorse was discontinued in 2010 so parts are getting somewhat harder to find and even harder to find a shop to work on them.

I own 2009 Fleetwood PaceArrow 8.1 W24 and have no thoughts of trading.

d23haynes57 · 03-27-2025, 09:34 AM

Both of these rigs were value-based rigs for their day. Most gassers are but Fleetwood had other gassers tied above the Bounder. I do not remember if the Pace Arrow was still the high-end gasser or lower-level Diesel pusher for that year.

That, Fleetwood typically much better, functional floor plans. Quality typical for the industry during that time. Winnebago quality tends to be more consistent. A better built box. More reliance on process, not people. Documentation very good.

Still, you are looking at older rigs and low mileage is not always a good thing. As you put it to work things will need attention. Whatever you are paying, plan on that being the down payment and fund accordingly. Everything has aged. Tires, belts hoses, brake parts calipers and cylinders, suspension all rubber parts, will all need some attention. Anything not serviced in the last 2 to 5 years.
Pick the one that you will be happier to live in and out of!

Flyer15015 · 03-27-2025, 09:39 AM

Gary,
You don't say what your budget is, but for right around 40K you could slip into an '04 - '06 Pace Arrow, which is a sistership to the Bounder. When new, these sold somewhere north of 135K. and were a top end gasser.
Several are listed in RV Trader and it may take some travelling to go see them.
I start with '04 because that is the year they raised the ceiling, and it makes for a lot more open feeling. Mine has 3 slides and they do not need to be open to use all of the facilities. Great for stealth camping not having to put the slides out. When they are out, you could hold a square dance in there.
With the GM 8.1 and Allison 5 speed, I regularly get 8+ MPG here in Colorado where nothing is flat. My signature shows my mod's which were all DIY and now drive mine like a hot rod.
Just an idea..........

Mike in Colorado

SandiaMan · 03-27-2025, 10:23 AM

Both sound like nice coaches and I have heard Winnebago has good customer service for parts along with pertinent documentation for their motorhomes. Hopefully, both motorhomes have the documentation packet that originally came with the units when new, including owners manual.

Similar to our Monaco, Fleetwood is now part of REV group which may provide some documentation for that year of Fleetwood. Being both coaches you are looking have the GM 8.1L on a Workhorse chassis there is plenty of documentation available online for purchase and for free.

It would be prudent to have either choice inspected, particularly the roof on the Winnebago as there are plenty of youtube videos by AZexpert on them having serious issues if they have not been properly maintained. Upkeep and maintenance are paramount on these older coaches, good luck.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 03-27-2025, 01:49 PM

Gary-

I was ready to offer advice, but wanted to compare the floorplans as part of that. I found the Winnebago brochure easily enough, but could not find a brochure for a 2008 Fleetwood Bounder 38J.

Now, I've been known to make mistakes, but so have RV sellers; dealers, especially, can mis-identify the model and submodel of the coaches they list. Are you sure the Fleetwood is a 38J? I don't see that model in the 2007, 2008 or 2009 Bounder brochures.

2007 brochure has no "J" submodel

2008 brochure has no "J" submodel
(Note: Fleetwood Web site does not have this brochure)

2009 brochure lists a 35J

Sometimes an error like this is a small thing, and sometimes it points to a possible larger concern with a seller.

If you could clarify this I'd appreciate it.

Dutch Star Don · 03-27-2025, 04:42 PM

They're both great quality coaches for the price level they were originally sold at. The 8.1 GM motor is a beast and will beat pretty much any coach, including DP's up a grade.

I would go with the newer one with less miles. However, condition and floorplan are important. Parts for either coach are still readily available.

spierce617 · 03-27-2025, 05:11 PM

You have a lot of good advice in the posts above mine.

When we were looking for a motorhome we looked at a lot of them and then we saw this 2005 Winnebago advertised and went to look at it. We were impressed the most with the quality of the unit for the age. We did find some minor issues with the unit but never had it professionally inspected.

Make sure you look at the roof of both of them. They are expensive if they need to be replaced. The roof to me is one of the most important items on the inspection.

We only had minor repairs with the unit we bought. Most of them were ones that we felt needed to be done but now that I look back they were more of upgrades than repairs. We love our 2005 Winnebago Adventurer 38R. The floor plan is great and the Winnebago forum is real good for answers.

I am a maintenance nut and am working on it all the time because I do not want to be broken down on the side of the road. The workhorse will need to be checked as most people do not keep up on the maintenance that the engine needs.

Kevin Caudill has a lot of videos on the Workhorse and Winnebago motor homes. He is a very good reference to the maintenance that needs to be done on a Workhorse 8.1 engine.

If we were looking for another motorhome it more than likely would be a Winnebago for us. Hope you get what you are looking for and will be able to enjoy it as much as we enjoy ours.

gcope63 · 03-27-2025, 06:01 PM

Sorry, it’s a 38P

l1v3fr33ord1 · 03-27-2025, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

They're both great quality coaches for the price level they were originally sold at. The 8.1 GM motor is a beast and will beat pretty much any coach, including DP's up a grade.

I would go with the newer one with less miles. However, condition and floorplan are important. Parts for either coach are still readily available.

In general I agree with Don's observations, above.

A few points of my own:

1) I'm partial to floorplans with the bed on the patio (passenger) side. That would favor the Winnebago Adventurer 35A.

2) Most of reports I read on iRV2 say the 8.1L V-8 and Allison 1000 transmission, on the Workhorse chassis offers a better ride and stronger performance than the Ford V-10-based F-53 chassis-equipped coaches. I've owned two V-10 coaches (one each on the E-series van and F-53 Class A chassis), and I can confirm they both drive more like delivery trucks than cars. I imagine the Workhorse drives like a refined delivery truck.

3) That said, the last 8.1L engine and Workhorse chassis came off the assembly lines in 2010 (or 2011, or so), and parts for same are becoming harder to find. Ditto for some Ford parts, but the V-10-equipped F-53 was made until model year 2020, not as long ago.

4) As you have found, Winnebago maintains a pile of helpful information on its 2000-2010 coaches, is still making coaches similar to the Adventurer, and has stayed in business.

5) REV Group, the company that bought Monaco and Navistar brands, has (since 2017) been unwilling to offer technical support for pre-2013 products. Parts, and some information such as build sheets or windows stickers, they offer. I note that the Fleetwood "line" and particularly the Bounder, survived the bankruptcies, etc. fairly well intact. And, there are a lot of Bounders.

6) The bed on the Bounder is a 60x80, a standard queen, while on the Winnebago is 60x75. May make a difference for a tall person.

7) Both have space for a washer-dryer combo. I liked the one on my coach.

8) The Bounder is longer than the Adventurer, and has a longer wheelbase. Consider if this is a problem for your driveway or storage location.

I might think twice about getting a Workhorse at this date, but other than that, you can't go wrong with either choice.

gcope63 · 03-28-2025, 09:18 AM

I think we are leaning towards the Fleetwood for a couple of reasons. We like the wide open layout, looks so much bigger than the Winnebago! We also like the leather furniture where the Winnebago has a cloth dinette and sofa.
The Fleetwood also comes with the washer/dryer combo, not sure if/when we will use it but its nice to have it there.

Going out tomorrow to take them for a drive and decide.

We are planning on an inspection on whichever one we get before signing anything!

Thanks Everyone for the input!!

Gary

PappaBull · 03-28-2025, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcope63

I think we are leaning towards the Fleetwood for a couple of reasons. We like the wide open layout, looks so much bigger than the Winnebago! We also like the leather furniture where the Winnebago has a cloth dinette and sofa.
The Fleetwood also comes with the washer/dryer combo, not sure if/when we will use it but its nice to have it there.

Going out tomorrow to take them for a drive and decide.

We are planning on an inspection on whichever one we get before signing anything!

Thanks Everyone for the input!!

Gary

Gary, just in case you have some free time look the history of the Bounder. very interesting like the Bounder was the first Motor Home to have "basement storage".
IMHO the washer/dryer is a deal breaker, will not own a RV without them.

blueridge-fl · 03-28-2025, 12:12 PM

I have owned 2 winnebagos in the past and you have already detected where they really shine. If you are a DIY type, winnebago will provide you with everything you need to know to maintain the RV yourself. Kind of like Sears and appliances back in the day. If you bought a Kenmore, you knew that you would never have to call a repairman because they made it easy to do everything yourself.