Fleetwood Highlander Series

[tlhdoc]

I was at my RV dealer today and took a good look at a Fleetwood Redwood.  It is Fleetwood new style of PU that has higher sides so the galley, dinette and sofa stay set up when you pop down.  Along with liking the oven, counter space between the stove and sink, a sofa that is deep enough to sit on without feeling like I am going to fall off of it, a 2 bowl sink, the curtain track for the cassette potty, the outside storage, and lights over the sink and range.  I found that the trailer has a drain VENT  :eek: for the sink.  I first saw the vent on the outside and wondered what it was.  So I went inside and followed the pipes and it was a vent.  I bet the sink drains very nicely.

[topcat7736]

We spent time in both of the new ones but never posted about them. Here's what we thought:

1)They are very narrow. There's virtually no aisle space to move from one end to the other.
2)I can't imagine how much time would be needed to dry off all the tenting material when closing up in the rain.
3)The "popup" bathroom walls are a joke. The doors don't close properly (and thats on new, unused trailers) and there are spaces between the tenting and "walls". Don't forget to pull every possible cover down or you'll be exposed to nature like never before.
4)The dinette seats and backs feel smaller than that in our Taos and the lack of good padding makes them very uncomfortable.
5)If you think the tables in current popups wobble, you'll be surprised at how much further they can really go. I wouldn't put any uncovered liquids on top of them for fear someone would sneeze & cause it to collapse.
6) They do have a stove & microwave in them, but my back and knees wouldn't allow me to get on the floor to examine them. Besides, with the lack of aisle space, Peggy would have needed to exit the trailer first.
7) You can access the radio from the outside of the trailer by opening the door and reaching inside. That's a good feature because you can't be on your knees to tune it due to the small exit space.
Plenty of that pressed fiber board stuff. After a few wet summers, like the one we just had, there won't be anything not swelled beyond recognition.
 
They are advertised as a bridge between popups and travel trailers. Yes, when you exit your popup, just walk across the top of one of them to the door of your new travel trailer.

[bearbait]

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[Gone-Camping]

Despite any short comings of the trailer (and I haven't seen one yet), it at least sounds like they are listening (or reading these boards) and have adressed several of the more common complaints about the trailers.

Seems to me the Hybrid is enough of a stepping stone from a PU to a TT...

[SactoCampers]

Despite any short comings of the trailer (and I haven't seen one yet), it at least sounds like they are listening (or reading these boards) and have adressed several of the more common complaints about the trailers.
 
Seems to me the Hybrid is enough of a stepping stone from a PU to a TT...

I saw both the Starcraft and Fleetwood highwalled versions at the Sacramento RV show in September. I wasn't impressed with the Fleetwood version at all. The Starcraft was nice. Not sure I would want either one, though. I just don't see what niche it is trying to serve. I guess those who really want all the comforts of a travel trailer, but insist on canvas all the way around, and have a hefty tow vehicle. Seems like a small niche to me.

[Tim5055]

But until that roof is proven to withstand regular use, I just can't understand why anyone would take a chance on one.  Fleetwood has lost customer confidence and until they fix that, all the renovations of their pop ups are going to go for naught, no matter how "nice" they appear.

Actually, on the Highlander series they use the tried and true alumimum roof, not the new alumitite..  That was one of the reasons I originally didn't like it, but it is growing on me.

We spent time in both of the new ones but never posted about them. Here's what we thought:

They are very narrow. There's virtually no aisle space to move from one end to the other.

I agree with this!  I won't even think of one until they come up with a slide out to give you more room.


Of the two models, I would only think about one (can't remember the name).  It is the one that allows you to get into the refrigerator with the roof down.

The microwave does appear to be in a "unique" position, but for the few times I would use it I can live with it.

I saw both the Starcraft and Fleetwood highwalled versions at the Sacramento RV show in September. I wasn't impressed with the Fleetwood version at all. The Starcraft was nice. Not sure I would want either one, though. I just don't see what niche it is trying to serve. I guess those who really want all the comforts of a travel trailer, but insist on canvas all the way around, and have a hefty tow vehicle. Seems like a small niche to me.

I would be the niche.  I enjoy my pop up but want/need something that still fits in my garage but that has a few more amenities.  No TT or Hybrid will fit with and A/C on the roof.

The microwave and oven are a nice addition.  Plus, with the higher walls it is a lot easier to get in the refrigerator witht he roof down.

[topcat7736]

I won't even think of one until they come up with a slide out to give you more room.

Yeah, and even more canvas to dry!!! LOL :rolleyes: :eek:

[jstaddwtr]

We also thought it was too tight or narrow.  From a practicle standpoint we liked are spoiled by the room we have in our Utah.  The high walls seemed confining.  We have difficulty in getting the bikes on the roof and can't imagine what that exercise would be  like with the new height differential.

It is one of those things that was fun to look at but not intriguing enough for us to want to buy one.  At the same time I am sure they will be attractive to someone, but the price puts it in competition with some nice hybrids.

[tlhdoc]

We have difficulty in getting the bikes on the roof

They have a rear receiver to mount a bike rack on the back of the PU.  I don't know if I like that idea.


but the price puts it in competition with some nice hybrids.

A Redwood with furnace and awning for $9,933, I haven't seen a hybrid with a price like that.


Yeah, and even more canvas to dry

When I dry out PU out I just set it up and let nature do its work.


It is the one that allows you to get into the refrigerator with the roof down.

Both models allow you to reach the fridge with the top down.  The back wall of both floor plans are the same.


Actually, on the Highlander series they use the tried and true alumimum roof, not the new alumitite.

That is correct, the roof is the old style, I am thinking they went with the old roof to keep the weight down.


I guess those who really want all the comforts of a travel trailer, but insist on canvas all the way around, and have a hefty tow vehicle.

The GVWR on both trailers is 3,770, the same as a Bayside, Niagara and Montery and only 50 pounds more than the Mesa, Utah, and Westlake.  The UVWs are  2,685 (Redwood) and 2,745(Sequoia). The Redwood weighs less that the Bayside, Niagara and the Montery and only 80 pounds more than a Utah.  The Sequoia weights the same as a Montery, less than a Niagara and 30 pounds more than a Bayside.  You wouldn't need more hefty TV than you would to tow an of the other large Coleman/Fleetwood trailers.


If you think the tables in current popups wobble, you'll be surprised at how much further they can really go.

It is the same table design that Coleman/Fleetwood have used for years.  Only the top of the table is a plastic now and not the press-board the old tables are.  You should have no wobble at all if you latch the table in place (it latches for travel and you can leave it like that).  With kids in and out of the PU I like that feature.


They do have a stove & microwave in them, but my back and knees wouldn't allow me to get on the floor to examine them.

Wow you would have to get on your knees to look at the stove?  The counter top is a standard residential height and the oven is right under the stove, so the oven is no lower than and oven is in most homes (unless you have a wall oven that is mounted higher).  The location of the microwave would be OK if the door opened from the other side.  I don't have a microwave in my PU, so I don't know if I would get that option if I bought one


They are very narrow.

They are narrow compared to the slide out models, but when you look at a Fleetwood PU with out a slide out, they have about the same amount of room, with the exception of the isle between the dinette and the sofa in the Redwood.  We don't have a slideout now, so we are used to one way traffic in the PU.


I would be the niche. I enjoy my pop up but want/need something that still fits in my garage but that has a few more amenities. No TT or Hybrid will fit with and A/C on the roof.

I feel the same way.  It would be nice to be able to leave everything set up when popping down.  You don't even need to remove the faucet in the Highlanders to crank the top down.


Fleetwood has lost customer confidence and until they fix that, all the renovations of their pop ups are going to go for naught, no matter how "nice" they appear.

I think this is the biggest problem with the trailers.

[jstaddwtr]

I stand corrected on the price, I think....I was assuming fully loaded was more, but I guess I was mistaken.

The dealer placed our Yakima  rof bikeracks on the rear, guarenteeing this was a great position.  After reading all the wisdom here I had lots of reservations. We drove to Virginia beach this way and it was as if we were on ice, with the tail wanting to go anyway it wanted.  I saw that rear set-up in Harrisburg and none of the sales folk could explain why this was a good thing.

I would love to talk to someone who has one!

[tlhdoc]

I would like to see how that works out too.  The idea of taking weight off of the tongue just doesn't make since to me.  My guess is that the roof is too high to put the bikes on top, so they came up with the rear receiver idea.  If the tongue of the trailer is heavy enough it would be OK, but you would have to move weight around in the trailer, depending on if you were carrying bikes or not.

[Tim5055]

It is the one that allows you to get into the refrigerator with the roof down.

Both models allow you to reach the fridge with the top down.  The back wall of both floor plans are the same.

Tracy,

I stand corrected!

We visited the Harrisburg RV show to look at all of the high wall units.  Of the two FFT was showing, only one met our expectations.  I was not impressed with the Sequoia.  The inside shower is a joke in my opinion.

The Redwood would almost be perfect if they had a slideout.  But, with the current floor-plan the slide would be to the front.  They need to move the dinette to the back side and build a slide.  At that point I would be interested in a new unit.

I can't remember if it was Jayco or Starcraft that put the refrigerator in the back corner so you could not get ot it with the top down.

[tlhdoc]

I didn't get to see the Sequoia up close.  I love having the inside shower, but I hate the "U" shaped dinette in the Sequoia.  If I had to buy today it would be a Redwood, but neither floor plan makes me totally happy.

[MommaMia]

I can't remember if it was Jayco or Starcraft that put the refrigerator in the back corner so you could not get ot it with the top down.

I have a  Starcraft (but it's an 84 so this may not be of much interest)and the fridge is in the back corner.  I found that I can get the door open and crawl to the back corner to fill the fridge.  It's tight because of the wardrobe being in the same area but I can manage... but I'm small.  The fridge door will only open about 8 inches because it hits the wardrobe.  If I want to open the door all the way I have to pop up and set up the wardrobe.

[Jim in Michigan]

I have looked in both of these high walled units (I spent alot of time in the Starcarft Centennial 3604 and a decent walk thru of the Sequoia) and I was more impressed with the Starcraft.  I guess I am one of those niche people too because I like the higher countertops and the lack of folding sinks.  I am not in the market right now for a new pop-up but if I was I thought the Starcarft was better for these reasons.

1. The Centennial 3604 has the slide out dinette.  I don't have one in mine now but I certaintly want one in the future.
2. I felt like the Fleetwood tried to pack as much seating area in the back of the camper as possible, but you had to climb over all that to get in the rear bunk.  It also made the interior feel more "cluttered" than the Centennial.
3. Front Storage Trunk.  A must have for us, we store all of our outdoor stuff in it (chairs, tables, firewood, hoses, cords, lanterns, etc.).  Those things collect dirt with them and I would hate to try to pack all of that dirty (and potentially wet) stuff in the camper living area or TV.  It is also more convenient place for that stuff and Starcraft has a pull out storage bin.
4. Larger refrigerator with a small freezer.  As someone mentioned it is in the rear of the unit and not accessible with the top down but that is not a big deal for us.  We tend to pack our stuff in a plug in Igloo cooler and transfer stuff into the fridge when we set up or just drag the cooler into the camper for short stays so our food is with us when we are on the road.
5. No inside shower or potty.  I know that is probably a big minus for some of you and I think it is available on some of the other Centennial floorplans but I don't want to have to mess with all of that in my camper.  We always camp in places that have showers and bathrooms and we can usually survive the night without needing to go but if that should change I would probably opt for an outside toilet and teepee tent arrangement versus having it inside the camper.  As others have mentioned the shower/toilet enclosure in the Fleetwood looked very cheesy.  I do like the outside showers for rinsing of sand and stuff and both units have that.
6. White interior cabinetry really brightens up the inside and makes it feel bigger.  It is an illusion but the Centennial "looked" bigger to me even though it was a 12' box versus the Sequoia 14' box.  I am sure the slide out helped out big time as well.
7. Little things like floor lighting and more storage were more prevalent in the Centennial than the Fleetwood.
8. I have built up alot of trust in the Starcraft dealer here and since I was duped in the past by a lousy dealer (see a different post about that in this forum), that means alot to me.
9. The prices were about the same, both between $10K-$13K depending on the options you get and the Starcraft weighed a few hundred pounds less.

10.  Front storage compartment, front storage compartment, front storage compartment,
11. Slide out, slide out, slide out.

I know alot of you are die hard Fleetwood/Coleman owners and I don't blame you, they are a nice brand, but you should check this Starcraft line out, they did a great job with it in my opinion.