Community Forums

Floridastorm · 10-11-2021, 07:01 AM

Is Born Free a pretty well built motorhome? I see a couple of used for sale in my area. They look well taken care of. The only thing is that they seem to be priced quite a bit over the NADA price. Are they worth the enhanced price?

By the way are BF considered Class C or Class B?

Thanks Again for any info provided.

Old Guy Dave

rffowler55 · 10-11-2021, 10:01 AM

We owned a Born Free and they are priced high because they were a top tier quality coach that Winnebago shut down production upon acquiring for unknown reasons. The Born Free is considered a class C. We sold our’s to get a larger coach than was available under the Born Free brand.

iowaone · 10-11-2021, 01:14 PM

They were an excellent coach manufactured by the Dodgen company in Humbolt Iowa. A family business that took great pride in their coaches. The owner always bragged how safe they were too.

TJFogelberg · 10-11-2021, 04:14 PM

Don't overpay for an old motorhome...any brand. After 10 years, things begin to require repair or replacement. Very expensive unless you are a DIY. (Don't ask me how I know.)

Ron Dittmer · 10-12-2021, 06:48 AM

Concluding our RV trip 2.5 weeks ago, we stopped at the Chamberlin SD rest area. In the parking lot and throughout the day, Born Free motorhomes were a common sight. They must have had a rally west of there.

One thing I observed about the Born Free are all the sections that make up the body. They have a lot of protrusions, the entry door being the most prominent one. BF's don't have clean lines, but I hear over and over that the quality is where it counts.

Ron Dittmer · 10-12-2021, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJFogelberg

Don't overpay for an old motorhome...any brand. After 10 years, things begin to require repair or replacement. Very expensive unless you are a DIY. (Don't ask me how I know.)

I am sure you are right concerning most older rigs, but I beg to differ when the rig is known for excellent quality, and it has been garaged all it's life.

Our rig SEEN HERE is over 14 years old and is still like new. We just wrapped up another month long cross country trip out west. We did have the fuel pump driver module go bad on the E350 chassis but that was our first and only issue in 14 years. The house and chassis remain solid.

Mich F · 10-12-2021, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rffowler55

We owned a Born Free and they are priced high because they were a top tier quality coach that Winnebago shut down production upon acquiring for unknown reasons. The Born Free is considered a class C. We sold our’s to get a larger coach than was available under the Born Free brand.

I've read articles that said Born Free was bought by an investment group and they were closing for a week, but never reopened - No mention of Winnebago or any other RV builder buying them out. Here's one article.
https://rv.org/blogs/news/rv-confide...ree-disappears

TJFogelberg · 10-14-2021, 08:53 AM

[QUOTE=Ron Dittmer;5947184]I am sure you are right concerning most older rigs, but I beg to differ when the rig is known for excellent quality, and it has been garaged all it's life.

Bought a 1 owner '99 Lazy Daze (Rear Bath) in Oct 2012. (Brand known for "quality"). First stop was the local Ford Commercial dealer who had a lots of experience servicing Ford E450. Rig needed thousands of work on the 13 year old chassis to bring it up to snuff. (Was money well spent as it provided us with 4 years of trouble free service).

Over the 4 years we owned (and enjoyed) the rig, we replaced the fridge, awning, and water heater circuit board. Window latches, drawer catches, hinges on closet door all broke, small items, but a nuisance to fix. The wheel covers on hinges over the rear tires had latches that broke. (Very difficult to fix). There were hairline cracks at the joints around the exterior of the motorhome, didn't leak but was trouble brewing.

All of the above were stress inducing and costly. Buying a used motorhome is not a process to be undertaken lightly.

Floridastorm · 10-14-2021, 10:49 PM

[QUOTE=TJFogelberg;5949615]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Dittmer

I am sure you are right concerning most older rigs, but I beg to differ when the rig is known for excellent quality, and it has been garaged all it's life.

Bought a 1 owner '99 Lazy Daze (Rear Bath) in Oct 2012. (Brand known for "quality"). First stop was the local Ford Commercial dealer who had a lots of experience servicing Ford E450. Rig needed thousands of work on the 13 year old chassis to bring it up to snuff. (Was money well spent as it provided us with 4 years of trouble free service).

Over the 4 years we owned (and enjoyed) the rig, we replaced the fridge, awning, and water heater circuit board. Window latches, drawer catches, hinges on closet door all broke, small items, but a nuisance to fix. The wheel covers on hinges over the rear tires had latches that broke. (Very difficult to fix). There were hairline cracks at the joints around the exterior of the motorhome, didn't leak but was trouble brewing.

All of the above were stress inducing and costly. Buying a used motorhome is not a process to be undertaken lightly.

Thanks to folks like yourself I'm beginning to get it that used motorhomes, even a quality one like Lazy Daze, cost a lot to repair and maintain. I also hear that it can be the case even with a brand new unit.

TJFogelberg · 10-15-2021, 05:02 AM

I don't regret the purchase of the used Lazy Daze, just sharing my story in the hope you and others will go into this with your eyes wide open.

Sold the '99 Lazy Daze to a private party in '16 and purchased a new Winnebago Minnie Winnie. There was a definite "break in" period but almost everything was covered by warranty. (A few things went wrong after the 1st year but Winnebago still backed the unit and fixed them at no charge). I can say the last couple of years there have been no issues.

You've got to have the know how or money to deal with what hand you are dealt. The RV lifestyle is very enjoyable - it's all a "cost of doing business".

Capt Steve · 10-15-2021, 09:11 AM

Next time someone tries to tell you that a motorhome without slides won't hold its value ask them if they have heard of Born Free. LMAO, to the best of my knowledge they never built a coach with a slide and yet they remain one of the most desirable Class C's out there.

Just sayin...

Phil G. · 10-15-2021, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Steve

Next time someone tries to tell you that a motorhome without slides won't hold its value ask them if they have heard of Born Free. LMAO, to the best of my knowledge they never built a coach with a slide and yet they remain one of the most desirable Class C's out there.

Just sayin...

Also ... the same as above for Lazy Daze Class C motorhomes!