Fleetwood ditching their Folding Trailer Division

butterflyfish · May 28, 2008, 05:22 PM

Look what I got in an email today:

Fleetwood Fun in the Sun Sales Event

Some nice incentives for anyone looking for a new PUP...

wayner · May 29, 2008, 05:22 AM

I ask my local fleetwood dealer here in canada and he said, I know nothing about Fleetwood selling anything... either he was lying, or maybe the news hasn't filtered down through all the dealers yet...

lazzara55 · Jun 01, 2008, 05:41 PM

"I would not think that the sell off would effect warranties. do you? I am/was considering buying a new fleetwood saratoga or williamsburg in the immediate futre. I am certain the purchaser would assume all warranties and liabilities in the purchase agreement."

Irrespective of the sell-off by Fleetwood, we just bought an '08 Avalon. Rather than influence our buy based on a short-term warranty, we decided to buy based on long-term camper satisfaction.

From experience we also believe that buying from a reputable dealership will see us through repairs with the best chances for satisfaction, both in-and-out of warranty and regardless of the manufacturer.

Happy Camping!

sewserious · Jun 02, 2008, 05:20 AM

Quote from: lazzara55"I would not think that the sell off would effect warranties. do you? I am/was considering buying a new fleetwood saratoga or williamsburg in the immediate futre. I am certain the purchaser would assume all warranties and liabilities in the purchase agreement."

Irrespective of the sell-off by Fleetwood, we just bought an '08 Avalon. Rather than influence our buy based on a short-term warranty, we decided to buy based on long-term camper satisfaction.

From experience we also believe that buying from a reputable dealership will see us through repairs with the best chances for satisfaction, both in-and-out of warranty and regardless of the manufacturer.

Happy Camping!

That reputable dealer won't be able to help you if parts become unavailable in a few years when they sell the company off to someone else and they close up shop.

We had considered a new Westlake in a couple of years, but won't be buying one now. The future for parts is too uncertain and our local dealer is NOT reputable. lies about parts being unavaialable now (they just had our 1993 Roanoke for 4 weeks!) when a quick call to the factory says just the opposite! That aside, we have looked at Starcraft and Palomino as our second and third choices. They have very similar floor plans to the Westlake, the prices are better, and they shouldn't be going out of business anytime soon.

SpeakEasy · Jun 02, 2008, 05:34 AM

Quote from: sewseriousThat reputable dealer won't be able to help you if parts become unavailable in a few years when they sell the company off to someone else and they close up shop.

We had considered a new Westlake in a couple of years, but won't be buying one now. The future for parts is too uncertain and our local dealer is NOT reputable. lies about parts being unavaialable now (they just had our 1993 Roanoke for 4 weeks!) when a quick call to the factory says just the opposite! That aside, we have looked at Starcraft and Palomino as our second and third choices. They have very similar floor plans to the Westlake, the prices are better, and they shouldn't be going out of business anytime soon.

IMHO - with the vast number of Fleetwood/Coleman campers out there, there will be an abundant supply of parts for a very, very long time to come. Remember, this is capitalist America in which enterprising people are always looking for a way to make a buck.

-Speak

wayner · Jun 02, 2008, 07:26 AM

I know that if I was going to trade in my Coleman Bayside, I wouldn't hesitate to go with another Fleetwood. There will still be service, there will still be parts...

Used 2B PopUPTimes · Jun 02, 2008, 09:56 AM

The way I see it, FFT has to be much better off without Fleetwood as their parent company. Fleetwood is having big financial problems and is selling off more than the folding camper division. I'd be more hesitant buying a Fleetwood motorhome or travel trailer and not an FFT pop up. The new owners told me that they intend to make their new company profitable again and keeping it strong.

Hackker · Jun 02, 2008, 10:20 AM

Quote from: sewseriousThat reputable dealer won't be able to help you if parts become unavailable in a few years when they sell the company off to someone else and they close up shop.

Haven't Fleetwood/Coleman popups been the best selling for years? I highly doubt that they would close up shop, and with the big installed base I'm sure any Fleetwood specific parts will be around for a long time. Plus, the vast majority of the parts on the units that would probably break seem to pretty much be generic.

tlhdoc · Jun 02, 2008, 09:07 PM

Quote from: butterflyfishLook what I got in an email today:

Fleetwood Fun in the Sun Sales Event

Some nice incentives for anyone looking for a new PUP...

That is like their late winter special. I wonder if they are trying to get rid of the 2008 inventory.

coach · Jun 03, 2008, 07:46 AM

Quote from: HackkerHaven't Fleetwood/Coleman popups been the best selling for years?

At the turn of the century they had a 40+% market share.
Been dropping last couple of years.
02 = 43%
06 = 39%
07 = 36%

beacher · Jun 03, 2008, 11:38 AM

Quote from: sewserious....We had considered a new Westlake in a couple of years, but won't be buying one now. The future for parts is too uncertain and our local dealer is NOT reputable....

Sorry to hear that the local dealer is not reputable. It seems to be an RV industry trend!

How many parts do you envision needing? Unless you are one of the folks who end up with a lemon, there really isn't much proprietary stuff that will break.

You might stock up on awning pole tips, or bunk end slide stops, or other plastic parts that only Fleetwood would carry. But, virtually everything else is repairable or generic.

.

sewserious · Jun 03, 2008, 01:01 PM

Quote from: beacherSorry to hear that the local dealer is not reputable. It seems to be an RV industry trend!

How many parts do you envision needing? Unless you are one of the folks who end up with a lemon, there really isn't much proprietary stuff that will break.

You might stock up on awning pole tips, or bunk end slide stops, or other plastic parts that only Fleetwood would carry. But, virtually everything else is repairable or generic.

.

The main parts of the lift system aren't generic!

Popupper · Jun 04, 2008, 05:17 AM

Quote from: sewseriousThe main parts of the lift system aren't generic!

I have only seen a post or 2 in these forums about Coleman/FFT lift system failures. If the new owners decide to close the company and throw their investment away I'm sure there are lots of parts available. :eyecrazy:

sewserious · Jun 04, 2008, 07:12 AM

Oh the new owners won't close it, but whoever they sell it to might! The new owners are an investment firm, they won't hold on to the investment once it starts making good money (if it ever does). Then, who knows? The future is just too uncertain for the fate of FFT for me to invest in a new one right now.

Shepherd · Jun 04, 2008, 08:27 AM

It's possible parts will never be available for FFTs again. Possible but not likely. I have a 1965 Ford Mustang. If a part I need isn't made by Ford, then there is a third party that makes it because they know there is a need for it and can cash in on that need. If no third party makes it, then there is always the junk yard where you can find the part on a car just sitting there for salvage.

Cars and Pups are two different animals, but if the chance to make a lot of cash is there, another company will make the parts. Who knows, one of the people on the forum here may become rich just by filling the need of the folding trailer folks. :p

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Fleetwood ditching their Folding Trailer Division