Fleetwoods 25 year Floor?

[CampNfan]

Fleetwood has a 25 year warranty on their one piece flooring that they are so proud of at least they use that as a bonus in their adds for selling them. I own a 1999 bayside which (I am told down the post) had a limited lifetime warrenty on it when I bought it. Those of you that know me know I have not been able to do much camping in the last year due to medical problems and recuperating. So my

[tlhdoc]

I hate to be picky, but Fleetwood is who made your "Coleman" PU and it is Fleetwood that is not taking care of the problem.  Second the Structurwood floor did not have a 25 year warranty in 1999.  The floor has a "Limited Lifetime" warranty for the original owner.  

Did the dealer say why Fleetwood will not fix the floor?  I would find out and push the matter.  If they agree to replace the floor they will charge you freight.  For a 2 hour drive a 10 foot roof was $300.  I wonder how much a floor shipped to you will cost?

[mike4947]

Problem is if it's a floor replacement there ain't no shipping the floor, Like I had to do; the trailer goes back to the factory, because the floor is put on the frame and EVERYTHING else goes on top of it.They had to strip mine down to the frame and rebuild it from the frame up.
With the "limited" lifetime warranty IIRC you'd end up paying shipping both ways to and from the factory.
That or they might scab in a patch. Of course first you've got to get them to admit it's a warranty claim. Not an easy thing with any of the Fleetwood divisions.

[topcat7736]

CampNfan,
Sorry to hear about the problem. You might also try emailing the question to ASK PETE and see if he can help.

The floors on Caravans are sandwiched and develop "soft" spots in them. I believe they too have a limited warranty (to the time it takes you to remove it from the dealers lot) and replacement by a non-Fleetwood place in the southwest (only place you can get it done) runs $6-7k.

Maybe Fleetwood should put Mad Magazine's heading "What, me worry?" at the top of their "war rant y" page!  :mad:

[CampNfan]

Just thought I would pass along an update......
I did just that...I ASKED PETE! And plenty of other folks too. Fleetwood just said, "NOT COVERED". So I have begun cutting and replacing the rotted area. I am going to piece part sections in and then use one solid piece to cover it all up to look nice. I think I am going to add a little bit of sheet metal here and there too. I talked to a Tech guy at the dealer. He said other than replacing the whole box this would be the way to fix it. It really is not that big of an area. I figure the piece I cut to cover the whole mess under the front corner will be about 24" X 14" I will make it so it is replaceable with ease in case this happens again in a few years. I hope to be in a new camper by then but maybe it will be easier for the next guy. I am going to have to hate to point this out to them when I am selling it though.
Let me add a note to tell what I "think happened" to cause this. My Camper has been sitting for close to a year we only used it one time last year. Seems I stored some stuff (carpet and tarp, although they where dry when I put them in there) in the front box compartment that breaths and sweats. This stuff would freeze, then the box acted like a green house during the day and things would thaw and create a condensation. This is really the only explanation I can come up with when talking to other folks.
I just started all of this so I will let you know how it all turns out. I have it all ripped out and the linoleum is drying. In the mean time I am cutting my floorboards and sealing them.

[tlhdoc]

Rick good luck on the project.  I wish we would end up in the same area at the same time.  It looks like we keep missing each other this summer.  Did you ever find out why Fleetwood says it will not cover the damage?

[The Overmans]

I have a coleman Utah.  The front storage box floor was causing the abs side (by the side access hatch) to bulge out due to water causing the wood to expand.  I talked and we got fleetwood to build a new box and all I have to do is pay for freight ( about 180 bucks).  When I get it I'm going to have  a look at all possible water entry paths as well as going under the belly of the beast and maybe applying some kind of moisture barier.  That particle glue board isn't worth anything and it is cheap building materials.

[topcat7736]

Hey Rick,

STOP THE PRESSES!

I just found out about a marine product that fixes wood rot without needing to cut it out and replace the wood. It's like a two tube epoxy and seeps into the rotted fibers of the wood. Once it's dry, it's stronger than the original wood and can be sanded, painted & have nails or screws driven into it. You can see the description on their site by clicking HERE for Git Rot.

Discounted prices can be found using Google.

[CampNfan]

Sounds good TOPCAT, I will bookmark that for future fix? I have finished the repair though. About $25.00 in materials and 2 days up and down crawling under the camper. Thanks for the input all! I will probably sell this camper at the end of the season or beginning of next season anyway. We had already planned to upgrade. In the mean time I will try to keep it in good shape. Good thing is, If this happens again all you have to do is remove 6 screws and cut a new piece and replace it. I just hope I can explain the plus in that for a potentional buyer? Good luck with that huh?

[Jeffrey]

If this happens again all you have to do is remove 6 screws and cut a new piece and replace it. I just hope I can explain the plus in that for a potentional buyer? Good luck with that huh?

Rick, When it's time to sell ... put hinges and a handle on it. And tell them it's another access door. Or an emergency exit. []

[Old Goat]

I have a coleman Utah.  The front storage box floor was causing the abs side (by the side access hatch) to bulge out due to water causing the wood to expand.  I talked and we got fleetwood to build a new box and all I have to do is pay for freight ( about 180 bucks).  When I get it I'm going to have  a look at all possible water entry paths as well as going under the belly of the beast and maybe applying some kind of moisture barier.  That particle glue board isn't worth anything and it is cheap building materials.

I have an 01 Niagara that also had the same problem with the storage trunk floor swelling up on the outside edges and causing the side abs panels to bulge out at the bottoms... This caused the side access door to warp and let water in,especially when towing. We went through a very heavy rain storm last summer in Indiana and every thing on the right side of the trunk got soaked.  Water also ran back on the floor in the camper.After talking with my dealer,Fleetwood sent me complete new storage trunk for the freight only, $150.00. I was doing a complete interior remodeling job in the trailer at the time,so decided to install it my self....The shower and cabinet across from it ,which houses the converter and electric line storage was already taken out,so the front end of the trailer was bare... This made the trunk side fastenings easy to get to. The floor fastening bolts are easy to get to from under the trailer .....Working by my self I installed the new trunk in about three hours..Before installing I turned the trunk upside down and gave the floor bottom and edges a coat of sealer and then two coats of urethane varnish....If I can be of help to you with your trunk replacement project,please let me know......

The Old Goat

Popup and Pickup

[topcat7736]

Old Goat,

Good to see you back on The Board!  :W  

[Old Goat]

Old Goat,

Good to see you back on The Board!  :W  

Much oblighed for the welcome Topcat..It's good to be back........

OLd Goat