just had a look at the Fleetwood website and there is an announcement that administrators have taken over.
Times are looking bad.
Steve
Times are looking bad.
Steve
Fleetwood Caravans
- Thread starter stevebrookman
- Start date
I was told this afternoon by a dealer about Fleetwood.
Hopefully Coachman, Lunar, Bailey, Swift and Explorer can lst the current market.
Hopefully Coachman, Lunar, Bailey, Swift and Explorer can lst the current market.
From what I understand it was Adria that have put Fleetwood into administration and are still trading.
Its true the administators are in Fleetwood but Adria will continue to run from the Long Melford address. There are still some vans being built but only 10 twin Axle's and thats it for british built Fleetwood caravans.
The intresting bit is that Adria intend to build the same style van in the Slovinia factory so if all goes well you will see some 2010 Fleetwoods. It's all about labour costs and the UK workers lose out again. The tooling is not being offered for sale and plans are in place already to move it to the Adria factory and if they were not going to make them again they would not go to the expense of that.
Its true the administators are in Fleetwood but Adria will continue to run from the Long Melford address. There are still some vans being built but only 10 twin Axle's and thats it for british built Fleetwood caravans.
The intresting bit is that Adria intend to build the same style van in the Slovinia factory so if all goes well you will see some 2010 Fleetwoods. It's all about labour costs and the UK workers lose out again. The tooling is not being offered for sale and plans are in place already to move it to the Adria factory and if they were not going to make them again they would not go to the expense of that.
The intresting bit is that Adria intend to build the same style van in the Slovinia factory so if all goes well you will see some 2010 Fleetwoods. It's all about labour costs and the UK workers lose out again. The tooling is not being offered for sale and plans are in place already to move it to the Adria factory and if they were not going to make them again they would not go to the expense of that.
A sad day another british caravan manufacturer in trouble does any one think Fleetwood can be saved from total colapse and closure
Hi David, I would be very surprised if there will be much salvaged. I have owned a Fleetwood Heritage 560/4 for two years and it is without doubt the best van I have ever owned - ingenious lay-out, modern styling, twin single permanent beds, brilliant Alde heating - great finish in every respect.
However, I reckon we have only ever seen half a dozen lateish-model Heritages in two years of travelling around! We have often commented that if nobody's buying them, they're prime candidates for bankruptcy - and so it has come to pass...no point in building the vans (either here or in Slovenia) if nobody buys them...
I know there have been issues over quality and after-sales service from some corners, and the vans are pricey, but it's a great pity the firm failed to corner the market they sought. Great shame for the employees and dealers...
However, I reckon we have only ever seen half a dozen lateish-model Heritages in two years of travelling around! We have often commented that if nobody's buying them, they're prime candidates for bankruptcy - and so it has come to pass...no point in building the vans (either here or in Slovenia) if nobody buys them...
I know there have been issues over quality and after-sales service from some corners, and the vans are pricey, but it's a great pity the firm failed to corner the market they sought. Great shame for the employees and dealers...
Hi Colinn
An interesting observation. The Fleetwood was on our short list but two things scuppered it compared to the Swift Conqueror and Bailey Senator Wyoming.
1. It still used a narrow body, not the 7'6".
2. The price was significantly out of sink with the other two.
In regard to reliability I heard very different stories depending who I spoke to. I had no doubt Fleetwood were any better or worse than Swift or Bailey but I had reservations on the aftersales care; only from what I had read.
I liked their interior designs and just think it is a great shame they have failed.
If I was a gambling man I'll lay a
An interesting observation. The Fleetwood was on our short list but two things scuppered it compared to the Swift Conqueror and Bailey Senator Wyoming.
1. It still used a narrow body, not the 7'6".
2. The price was significantly out of sink with the other two.
In regard to reliability I heard very different stories depending who I spoke to. I had no doubt Fleetwood were any better or worse than Swift or Bailey but I had reservations on the aftersales care; only from what I had read.
I liked their interior designs and just think it is a great shame they have failed.
If I was a gambling man I'll lay a
My brother works (still does for 3 weeks) at Fleetwood and I have owned a Fleetwood since 2001. My vans have always been bought from a retailer near the factory. I have been told that there were vans sold which took the production through to end of April and the NEC show would have set them up for June/July which is when 09 production was due to end and then 2010 would start. I really believe Fleetwood was the best tourer made in this country, yes there were quality issues back in 2003 and 2004 but in the last few years the build quality has been up there with the best of them and Fleetwood seemed to use the best quality parts unlike some..
The people at Fleetwood are quite convinced that 2010 production will happen. And the vans will retain the Fleetwood styling but the company will benefit from a vastly reduced labour cost to they should hit the market at a decent price like a Adria's are. When you think about this, assuming production will continue abroad then there was no better time to uplift the line because otherwise they would never get it going in time to show 2010 vans at the end of this year.
Remember that Adria are still operation out of the same address and they are staying in the UK so I don't think this situation is quite as terminal as some may think.
Paul
The people at Fleetwood are quite convinced that 2010 production will happen. And the vans will retain the Fleetwood styling but the company will benefit from a vastly reduced labour cost to they should hit the market at a decent price like a Adria's are. When you think about this, assuming production will continue abroad then there was no better time to uplift the line because otherwise they would never get it going in time to show 2010 vans at the end of this year.
Remember that Adria are still operation out of the same address and they are staying in the UK so I don't think this situation is quite as terminal as some may think.
Paul
Hopefully Adria will honour the warranty, my Heritage is only 8 months old,touchwood, apart from satellite aerial cable, I have not had any problems.
Its another say day in the caravan world. Hopefully the rest will survive this economics downturn..
East Coast Leisure on the A127 in Essex have ceased trading caravans due to the state of the economy. They stocked Elddis and where only appointed Bailey Dealers last year.
East Coast Leisure on the A127 in Essex have ceased trading caravans due to the state of the economy. They stocked Elddis and where only appointed Bailey Dealers last year.
Alas we have taken deivery of a new Fleetwood in November 2008.
Who is responsible for the warranty?
Is it the dealership with whome we had the contact of sale or the administrator?
Who is responsible for the warranty?
Is it the dealership with whome we had the contact of sale or the administrator?
Friends have been told that they will probably need to take an insurance out.
Another sad loss from the caravan world.
Another sad loss from the caravan world.
I spent quite some time in a Fleetwood van at the NEC last October and was very taken with a twin bed rear washroom model on a single axel,however whilst waitng for a salesperson to become free I couldnt help overhearing a long conversation between a couple of prospective buyers and a gentleman from the owners club. They were telling each other of the quality problems they had encountered but assuring each other that it is only to be expected! I have just parted with a German van that has given me no trouble whatsover in 6 years of intensive use (amounting to 2 years occupation) I decided to give it a miss. None of us wants to see people loose thier jobs but I cant say I am that suprised,fans of the marque might put up with problems but new customers wont.
Dave
Dave
Parksy
Moderator
Thompson Plastics the Hull based caravan end panel manufacturers who were at the centre of the much publicised row between Bailey Caravans and Fenwicks the caravan cleaning product company have also gone into administration. This was first announced on December 22nd.
The business is being restructured by the parent company.to safeguard jobs.
http://www.humberbusiness.com/news/Local/Hull/January-2009/Company-s-future-in-the-melt
The business is being restructured by the parent company.to safeguard jobs.
http://www.humberbusiness.com/news/Local/Hull/January-2009/Company-s-future-in-the-melt
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