Fleetwood Heritage

[geofthecyclist]

Now I'm panicking!

Sounds like I've spent good money on a new UK van which to my mind is quite gorgeous! Reading these comments it seems virtually guaranteed, like most caravans - especially UK manufacture, to read these reports, to leak and fall apart.

Are these comments about older caravans or just the stories about problems? Can anybody reassure me that we are not in for disappointment or shall I cancel the deposit cheque?

 

[Geist]

Honest answer? - buy a German caravan.

'Gorgeous' is as gorgeous does - and my definition of 'gorgeous' is a van that is still as dry as a bone after 5 years.

Not many UK vans meet that criteria of gorgeousness.

Think of it as a flighty young thing, all fake tan, hair extensions and false nails, who giggles incessantly and who can't think of a single world event that's more important than whether her boy-band hero is back in drug rehab, versus a serious, homely, substantial German widow, who can run a large pig farm single handedly while putting ten children through university and organising for her local Christian Democrat party.

One might well be prettier than the other - but the other one is of far more use.

So it is with German and UK caravans

 

[allen1]

I wouldnt worry to much Geoffrey since Adria took over fleetwood they have come on in leaps and bounds and build quality has improved no end as far as I can see,the Heritage is also the brand leader,so you should be ok ,fingers crossed....

 

[allen1]

Hi Giest,

You are waxing lyrical tonight what flavour schnapps are you drinking,LOL

 

[Geist]

Hi Giest,

You are waxing lyrical tonight what flavour schnapps are you drinking,LOL

It's a karrtofflen based spirit (an old Bavarian recipe), served neat or with ice made from water squeezed from the side panel of a Swift Challenger

 

[geofthecyclist]

Hi Giest,

You are waxing lyrical tonight what flavour schnapps are you drinking,LOL

Well Geist - you had me worried until I read of your troubles with the van and the supplier.

I am surprised at how many problems there eseem to be with expensive kit. I keep reading about shoddy after sales service, and caravans that develop faults just after delivery or limited use.

I think the way you describe your values does make the point that some of the decision making is determined by your own preferences. The problem I found with German vans - and I was first attracted to the Burstners - is how continentals seem to use them. I dont want hard seats without knee rolls and wet rooms and I do want as many comforts from home as I can get - without quite such a massive weight to cart round and a similarly hefty tow car. So I am heartened by the reasonable water ingress guarantee, and the takeover by Adria.

 

[Pelyma1]

Calm down! We've had one for 18 months and had no issues despite having 2 young kids and 5 dogs the van is like new. When we looked at EC a couple of years ago I said to my wife the one van I won't be looking at will be Fleetwood, but I gave Richard Allen a right grilling, met the Adria head honcho and grilled him too. We agreed the modifications I wanted and it is all history. Compare that to the living nightmare my parents had with an Avondale Osprey!!

 

[Brum1]

Geoffrey.

Go ahead with your Heritage purchase and enjoy your caravan.

Try not to be put off by those who look on throu green eyes.

 

[spj]

Hi all,

We bought a 2007 Heritage 640ES in November last year, in December it developed a leak and a blockage in the Alde heating system, 7 weeks, a number of phone calls and 2 emails later Fleetwood finally sent Alde to fix it. The system worked for about 2 months and the same fault came back, the complete floor was soaked with antifreeze under the factory plastic sheet which I was going to leave down for its first winter, this I was left to clean up but it is still wet under the shower. The leak was fixed again and all was well until July when it started again, Alde came out again and did further tests, they found a stray voltage through the heating pipes, this was making the antifreeze set in the pipe, it looked like silicone sealer, the pipe was blocked and the joint swelled up and leaked.

The voltage was from some Fleetwood wiring trapped against the heating pipes in the doorway area.

Fleetwood tried to blame Alde, Alde have rightfully said it is Fleetwoods problem and Richard Allen from Fleetwood last week told me he would exchange the caravan, this week he has gone back on his word and offered me a free service!

I am now stuck with a

 

[Mikey1]

Also had an awful experience with a Fleetwood Heritage.Was told people expect too much from a 20k van.

The most expensive van on the market and had 2 A4 lists of faults/damage,quality control at the factory is non exsistent.

They were going to change the van but it would have been a 4 month wait couldnt use own van in the meantime.

Went to dealer and picked old van back up and got my money back.

We saw Richard at the show grilled him in front of customers very sheepish.

Have you been told the story about the Portigese cabinet makers?

Trust me i do not look at these through green eyes!Relief yes