Fleetwood Evolution

[bnrevergreen]

Has anyone had any experience or seen any reviews on this trailer. i went to the dealership the otherday and was looking at it versus the starcraft 10rt. The Salesguy said the fleetwood was a better product hands down. We also were looking at the jayco baja series, but I am leaning towards the fleetwood.

[tlhdoc]

What year is the trailer?

[CUL8R]

We've owned ours for 3 months now.  We have 4 trips under our belts with the Evolution to date (3-4 days each).  So far its been great.  Pulls easily with our pickup (especially considering it weighs more than most PUs due to the heavier frame and running gear) .  We camp with 2 adults and 2 teenagers and with proper packing and storage techniques, and equipment, everything works out OK.  We also take 3 Saint Bernards and 2 Irish Wolfhounds in our truck when the entire family goes camping.  They ride (and sleep) inside the truck topper, but do add quite a lot of weight that we have to drag around.  So far it has been pretty cold at night for our trips (Spring time in Colorado at 9000') and we do most our camping where there are no hookups, so we added a second battery and carry a Honda EU2000i generator for recharging the batteries and occasional general usage.  The furnace, fridge, and hotwater heater are all nice options, but take up much of the internal storage space.  The front storage deck has also been handy for some bulkier (or flamable) items.  We also use a Coleman catlytic heater in the PU every cold night to limit the amount of time the furnace needs to run.  It really helps a lot.

I think its a great PU so far.  We will test it on mild off-roads trips this summer when the high-country opens up.

[bnrevergreen]

I was looking at the 2005.

For the most part it will just be me, the wife, and our 2 dogs(Akita, and a Chow)....

We do llike mostly our Moab trips and tend to go way back into the slickrock campground. We pulled a friends PU out there one year, but it barely had enough clearance to get to our favorite spot.

[bnrevergreen]

What  are you using for a tow vehicle? I just came into a new to me 95 Dodge Ram... High miles but great shape. It has the 5.2l

We've owned ours for 3 months now.  We have 4 trips under our belts with the Evolution to date (3-4 days each).  So far its been great.  Pulls easily with our pickup (especially considering it weighs more than most PUs due to the heavier frame and running gear) .  We camp with 2 adults and 2 teenagers and with proper packing and storage techniques, and equipment, everything works out OK.  We also take 3 Saint Bernards and 2 Irish Wolfhounds in our truck when the entire family goes camping.  They ride (and sleep) inside the truck topper, but do add quite a lot of weight that we have to drag around.  So far it has been pretty cold at night for our trips (Spring time in Colorado at 9000') and we do most our camping where there are no hookups, so we added a second battery and carry a Honda EU2000i generator for recharging the batteries and occasional general usage.  The furnace, fridge, and hotwater heater are all nice options, but take up much of the internal storage space.  The front storage deck has also been handy for some bulkier (or flamable) items.  We also use a Coleman catlytic heater in the PU every cold night to limit the amount of time the furnace needs to run.  It really helps a lot.

I think its a great PU so far.  We will test it on mild off-roads trips this summer when the high-country opens up.

[CUL8R]

We have a 2002 Dodge Ram extended cab 1500 4WD.  This was the first year of the new generation of RAMS and the last year without the Hemi (we have the 5.9L).  I'm also running 35" tires with a 2" lift, so our gas milage is down some, but we get back into more places with the increased clearance.

Your Ram should be an excellent tow vehicle for the evolution.

Jim

[tlhdoc]

My 2005 Fleetwood brochure doesn't have a trailer called "Evolution" in it.  Is it not listed in the brochure?  What is the floor plan like?

[CUL8R]

Fleetwood originally named it the Off Road Mohave, but then found there was a conflict and renamed them the Evolution.  Mine has Off Road Mohave Decals.
Here is a link to Fleetwood and the Evolution:  http://www.americancampersandtrailers.com/fleetwood_folding_trailers.htm#evolution

Jim

[bnrevergreen]

So what made you decide to go with the Fleetwood over the starcraft10rt or the jayco baja.....
What kind of price did you get, and with what ioptions if you don't mind me asking?

We've owned ours for 3 months now.  We have 4 trips under our belts with the Evolution to date (3-4 days each).  So far its been great.  Pulls easily with our pickup (especially considering it weighs more than most PUs due to the heavier frame and running gear) .  We camp with 2 adults and 2 teenagers and with proper packing and storage techniques, and equipment, everything works out OK.  We also take 3 Saint Bernards and 2 Irish Wolfhounds in our truck when the entire family goes camping.  They ride (and sleep) inside the truck topper, but do add quite a lot of weight that we have to drag around.  So far it has been pretty cold at night for our trips (Spring time in Colorado at 9000') and we do most our camping where there are no hookups, so we added a second battery and carry a Honda EU2000i generator for recharging the batteries and occasional general usage.  The furnace, fridge, and hotwater heater are all nice options, but take up much of the internal storage space.  The front storage deck has also been handy for some bulkier (or flamable) items.  We also use a Coleman catlytic heater in the PU every cold night to limit the amount of time the furnace needs to run.  It really helps a lot.

I think its a great PU so far.  We will test it on mild off-roads trips this summer when the high-country opens up.

[CUL8R]

So what made you decide to go with the Fleetwood over the starcraft10rt or the jayco baja.....
What kind of price did you get, and with what ioptions if you don't mind me asking?

We didn't find a Jayco to look at except on-line.  I did look at the Starcraft and didn't think it was quite as well put together.  I did like the Evolution right off.  The two I looked at seemed well put together.  The only complaint I have is that the "dinette" area needs to be about 4" bigger (back to front of trailer).  It is tight when you have 4 good sized people squeezing in.

The Evolutions we looked at had all the options except AC.  That is what we got: Hot water heater, furnace, fridge, outside gas grill, 15" wheels with 29" tires.  Of course the large fresh water tank, electric brakes, and 2 propane tanks are standard.  AC is not needed where/when we camp.  I found prices in this region to be considerably higher then in Florida (Tampa/St Pete area), which is the only other place I priced them.  All I'll say is, we payed a fair price for this region, but I could have added AC and still have gotten it for about the same price or slighty lower in Florida.

Jim

[beacher]

Fleetwood originally named it the Off Road Mohave, but then found there was a conflict and renamed them the Evolution.  Mine has Off Road Mohave Decals.
Here is a link to Fleetwood and the Evolution:  http://www.americancampersandtrailers.com/fleetwood_folding_trailers.htm#evolution

Jim

CUL8R,

I like your link!  That is my dealer, the one in Stanton!  They are great and have just as good, if not better pricing than the famous PECO Campers, and they are about as far West of the Mississippi as you can go.

For you guys looking at offroad PUPs.  If your'e not aware of it, many people were lifting and taking their PUPs off-road in the High Sierras for decades.  Specifically Fleetwood/Coleman 8-10' trailers due to the heavy frames, and the leaf spring suspension that can easily be lifted almost as high as your imagination.

Last year I had been mulling over how to get my relatively new family into camping and an off-road mod caught my attention and sealed my fate!

I saw a 2003.5 Coleman/Fleetwood Niagara, (which is a big 12' PU), with a flipped axle, larger leaf springs, large knobby tires, shock absorbers set up in a parking area in Bodie California.  If you don't know the significance of this, well I'll explain.  Bodie is an old abandoned "ghost town" mining town in the High Sierras.  You have to take an unimproved 13 mile road to get to it.  Every year the definition of "unimproved" changes, based on the ammount of rainfall and the type of vehicles traveling up the road.  Last year the road was a rocky, muddy, rutty mess for five to six miles at a stretch.  Only open to 4x4s.  Deep-V Ruts three feet deep.  Big rocks hidden under puddles of mud.

At the parking area were nothing but 4x4s, and one cool PopUp!

If your'e VERY serious about 4x4 off-roading it might be more prudent to purchase a used 8-10' and lift it, just in case you experience ununplaned tumble during your journey.  Or, just go slow and steady with your new Evolution!

[Johnowolf]

FYI (for what it's worth...)
 
I haven't gotten a chance to look at the Evolution "in person", only seen it online and in brochures. I have however looked at both the Jayco Baja and the Starcraft RT. When I first read about the RT, I thought it would the way to go, but by far I like the quality and construction of the Baja much more ... the 10RT doesn't seem to have the ruggedness. Yes, it's lifted higher and has the larger tires, but the overall construction didn't seem as tight. And to be honest, the "new" RT models they've come out with don't seem at all practical.
 
Having been a prior Coleman/Fleetwood owner and now a Jayco owner, I do like and trust the construction of both. We still have our older '83 Coleman Jamestown (little 7' box with a single bedwing) and I'm seriously considering modifying it for offroad instead of selling it. It's light enough to pull almost anywhere, so all I should need to do is lift the suspension and put on bigger tires (see how easy I make it sound? LOL).

[bnrevergreen]

Does the wife like the fancy interior?

FYI (for what it's worth...)
 
I haven't gotten a chance to look at the Evolution "in person", only seen it online and in brochures. I have however looked at both the Jayco Baja and the Starcraft RT. When I first read about the RT, I thought it would the way to go, but by far I like the quality and construction of the Baja much more ... the 10RT doesn't seem to have the ruggedness. Yes, it's lifted higher and has the larger tires, but the overall construction didn't seem as tight. And to be honest, the "new" RT models they've come out with don't seem at all practical.
 
Having been a prior Coleman/Fleetwood owner and now a Jayco owner, I do like and trust the construction of both. We still have our older '83 Coleman Jamestown (little 7' box with a single bedwing) and I'm seriously considering modifying it for offroad instead of selling it. It's light enough to pull almost anywhere, so all I should need to do is lift the suspension and put on bigger tires (see how easy I make it sound? LOL).

[bnrevergreen]

Well, this weekend is our weekend to hopefully haggle our way into either a new evolution or a 10rt.........

Does the wife like the fancy interior?

[bnrevergreen]

After much debate.... lots of homework.....talking to you guys........the purchase has been made!!!!!

I did purchase the fleetwood evolution..yellow!!!! I pick it up Thursday!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to all for their input!!!!!!!!!


See you on the road!!!!!!