Oh my gosh, what a heck of a pup up!
I went by a local Fleetwood dealer and saw the new Avalon. I couldn't believe it. This thing is huge, but has some very nice features. Some of the things I was not completely satisified with on my '05 Niagara have been fixed in the Avalon.
The kitchen is nice, I like the fact that the microwave is now right there, not on the other side of the door. The larger u-dinette would be great for a family, much larger than our dinette. The sofa is very large and makes into a nice extra bed.
I'm sure the grey/blk water tanks are nice, we get a bit tired of the grey water totes.
I didn't care for the smaller front storage area, but since the whole camper is bigger, I'm sure its not a big deal. The double axles may help with towing/stability(?)
DW loves this thing, but being a 16' box, might as well go to a Hybrid. There was no price on it as the dealer just got it and was still getting it ready. But if we were on the market for a bigger pop-up, this one would difinetely get some interest.
Kim where is this dealer would love to see this trailer...Carol
I would like to know the price too
My dealer doesn't have any yet so they couldn't tell me the price either.
Sherry
Is there a floorplan online? Just curious, not in the market. Like you, when we decide to trade in our Highlander, we will go hybrid. But, we really like our Highlander (Hemlock, now Niagara). So, I am thinking we won't go hybrid for at least 4-5 years.
And, the only reason I would switch to hybrid is so we can go on longer roadtrips, and stop for breaks--eat in the trailer, etc. That is my only bugaboo about our pop-up. Right now, the girls aren't ready for the loooong roadtrips we want to do (well, the youngest isn't---or, should I say, I am not ready to listen to all the whining). :eyecrazy:
Lisa
Quote from: cjpoppinKim where is this dealer would love to see this trailer...Carol
There is a small Fleetwood dealer on Beach Bl. in the city of Stanton. This Avalon was the only '07 on the lot so far. There is another Fleetwood dealer in Ontario, not sure if they have the '07's in yet.
Quote from: BootheBunchIs there a floorplan online? Just curious, not in the market. Like you, when we decide to trade in our Highlander, we will go hybrid. But, we really like our Highlander (Hemlock, now Niagara). So, I am thinking we won't go hybrid for at least 4-5 years.
Lisa
I couldn't find anything on line, thats why we stopped by the dealer. The dealer said his trailer arrived before any brochures did. The sales guy was making photo copies of the spec sheet just to have something on hand.
The trailer is beautiful, Kim loves the u-shaped dinette, and the fold down couch.
Quote from: kimrb266There is a small Fleetwood dealer on Beach Bl. in the city of Stanton. This Avalon was the only '07 on the lot so far. There is another Fleetwood dealer in Ontario, not sure if they have the '07's in yet.
"Small" is the word. We stopped by one day on our way back from somewhere else and were shocked by how much they've downsized! Funniest part was, we went in several trailers, and not one salesperson or anyone else even approached us. And this was on a weekend! Hopefully their service department will still be as friendly as they used to be at the other location.
That Stanton dealership is where we got our Hemlock! They got bought out afterwards...so, don't know how they are anymore. The guy who helped us was wonderful to us--he and Bran hit it off real well (I think he just thought I was crazy)...but, he is gone from there.
Oh, well. I will just wait to see the looks of it online.
Lisa
There is a link to the 2007 brochure posted on popupexplorer
Sherry
Here is a link to the 2007 brochure.
http://www.fleetwoodcampingtrailers...rochure2007.pdf (//%22http://www.fleetwoodcampingtrailers.com/FleetwoodFoldingBrochure2007.pdf%22)
Pretty brochure. :) So, we have the Hemlock/Niagara. I do like the Avalon's couch! More space to sleep. And I do like where the microwave is! However, I I feel the Hemlock still meets our needs better...the counter space away from the kitchenette holds our TV (and all our food)! The kids can sit on the couch, at the table, or in their bed, and watch TV (so important). Or, they sit on the couch and play videogames. That folding table would not hold the TV well....and I wouldn't want to place it near the sink. But, we're a family of 4....so we don't need the horseshoe dinette or more sleeping space.
You can't go wrong with a pop-up anyway!!! :D
Lisa
Lisa,
I had some concern about the counter space as well, but WOW!
I think I could figure out how to deal with that, with the grey water holding tank the automatic light hot water heater, the two extra feet, the huge dinnette, etc!
Of course we just bought the Niagara and really can't afford a new camper right now,but it is fun to dream.
Sherry
I can't see in the brochure where it tells, but I assume the Avalon is a dual axle trailer. It only has 13" wheels so it must have two axles. I wish they would have put a picture of the outside of the Avalon in the brochure. Maybe someone who has a dealer with one close could post a picture.
Also, I wonder why they don't make the interiors of the Evolutions a little more visually appealing. I don't think my wife would go for that drab interior. Personally, I wouldn't mind having an E3 for the kind of camping we do.
Finally, I am still partial to the cassette toilet in our Sequoia versus the new toilets with holding tanks. We usually camp in areas where the holding tank would be hard to emty when it needed it.
Mike
Quote from: SherryandFamilyLisa,
I had some concern about the counter space as well, but WOW!
I think I could figure out how to deal with that, with the grey water holding tank the automatic light hot water heater, the two extra feet, the huge dinnette, etc!
Of course we just bought the Niagara and really can't afford a new camper right now,but it is fun to dream.
Sherry
Well, I was halfway kidding...bringing up the TV. But, seriously, I really like that counterspace in the Niagara. I also, just personally, don't like to sit at horseshoe tables, even at restaurants. And, that table looked narrow. If I was shopping for one again, I would buy the same thing we have! But, that is why there are multiples choices! I do like the flushing toilet!!!! We bought our pop-up before that upgrade!
Happy camping!
Lisa
Quote from: BootheBunchThat Stanton dealership is where we got our Hemlock! They got bought out afterwards...so, don't know how they are anymore. The guy who helped us was wonderful to us--he and Bran hit it off real well (I think he just thought I was crazy)...but, he is gone from there.
Oh, well. I will just wait to see the looks of it online.
Lisa
That
Stanton Dealership is where I bought my 2004 Niagara GTE. Rob and Danny run most of the day to day stuff.
They are "deceptively" small. They specialize in selling PopUps in volume. That's why they can consistently beat or at the very least meet anyone elses price, even Pecos. Have you seen how many PopUps they bring in on delivery days? They are delivered as soon as they are "prepped".
They were not bought out, they just moved across the street from their former location. The owner also always owned the camper shell business.
Quote from: beacherThat Stanton Dealership is where I bought my 2004 Niagara GTE. Rob and Danny run most of the day to day stuff.
They are "deceptively" small. They specialize in selling PopUps in volume. That's why they can consistently beat or at the very least meet anyone elses price, even Pecos. Have you seen how many PopUps they bring in on delivery days? They are delivered as soon as they are "prepped".
They were not bought out, they just moved across the street from their former location. The owner also always owned the camper shell business.
Bob is the one we dealt with. I was going towards a trailer...and he is the one who looked at my two year old and four year old and mentioned the almost 360 degree view with a pop-up would be better....I could be anywhere in the pop-up and see the kids if they were outside (uh, he could probably tell how neurotic I was). That comment is what sold me on the pop-up. The trailer was more money--so, less commission for him for that comment. But, I appreciate it. I do like being able to be cooking and see the kids outside.
When my hubby had to go back for something a year ago...service said they were under new management. They had said Bob moved back east. Bran assumed they were bought out from the new management comment.
I liked that dealership---lots of pop-ups! It was great to walk into each one and "shop".
Lisa
I looked at the brochure. At first, I thought the Avalon just had a different arrangement of the couch on the end. But I inspected further, and saw there is a little more counter space. When I looked at the specs, I saw that it is a full 2 feet longer than the other Highlanders! Like Wapiti, I tried to find it in the brochure, but I'm betting it is a dual axle trailer also. The GVWR went up a little over 600 pounds, but the standard tires are smaller.
Would like to see one of these myself.
Larry
Someone told me it does have dual axels, but I can't remember if it was the dealer or someone who has actually seen one.
Sherry
The Avalon does have dual axels and is a beautiful trailer. The slide-out dinette is larger than the one in the Niagara and didn't seem narrow to me. I just thought how wonderful it would be to have the whole family sitting comfortably around the table eatting all at once. Usually, dh or I is standing next to one of the kids during a meal. The Hybrid I want has a U shapped dinette. As for the color scheme, I was presently suprised. I felt very comfortable and at ease looking at the colors. The blue was like a lite turquoise and liked it better than the plulm in our Niagara.
To me, if you're going to go this big and pay the price that will go with it, you might as well go to the darkside or hybrid.
We were looking seriously at the Fleetwood Niagara for this fall. Now I want to definitely look at the Avalon. They didn't have one at the Fleetwood in NC that we went to when we were looking at the Niagara. I am sure they will by September though....
Wow, I really like the Avalon. We have been looking for an upgrade. We just took a look at the Flagstaff Highwall series and even thought that might be the one until I looked at the Avalon. Anyone have any opions onthe Flagstaff? Too many decisions......perhaps we'll stay with what we have.
R
Does anybody know how much the Avalon costs?
Sherry
This place shows it for 15,899 But they are higher on the niagara than our local dealer. So maybe less at other dealers.
http://www.saboscamping.com/inventory.asp?mind=11&type=folding+trailer&man=fleetwood