brookside
Fort Scott Ks
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Joined: 07/22/2001
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Dutchmen Motorhomes, are they any better than the travel trailers? Has anyone had one for more than a couple years? If so, what sort of warranty work, etc. had to be done? I thought that I had read several things a couple years ago about a legal case, probably lemon law, involving Dutchmen. It has been a couple years since I have seen any of their products but they are at the bottom of my list as a manufacturer. Although you get what you pay for, more or less, performance is much more important than looks so if one manufacturer's products looks as good or better than the others - stop and think about it as they have cut corners somewhere - hopefully advertising but most likely quality of materials or quality control. Cathy
Cathy, Alfred, and Andrew.
Appreciating each day
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clydedoerr
Hardeeville SC
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Joined: 06/23/2005
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Dutchmen now belongs to Thor Industries. Thor is one of the largest RV manufacturers out there, and my experience in dealing with them has always been positive. I owned a 1992 Dutchman travel trailer that was a real piece of junk. Floor rotted out from all the water entering thru the front window, with no signs of leakage at all. That was of course before they were bought out by Thor. I currently have a four winds 5000 and am very happy with it. They are also owned by Thor.
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dmatt
Ventura County, CA
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Joined: 07/29/2003
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We have a new Dutchmen 29R so can't give you a "history" of usage but we are very happy with it. It is at the dealer getting a few minor issues taken care of. To tell you the truth, I was surprised by how few issues I had to fix/adjust. As to how it will hold up, there are quite a few Four Winds owners here that have had theirs for years with no or very few problems (the Four Winds and Dutchmen are nearly identical, just different badging)
2007 Four Winds Dutchmen 29R-Ford E-450 V-10 towing a 2008 Toyota Matrix XR
2007 Toyota 4Runner(V-8) towing a 2006 Reinell 220LSE, 5.0L, 280hp GXI
Our camping photos
 under the stars
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Mike& Rose
Lake & Horse country,Blackstone Valley MA
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Joined: 02/12/2007
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I posted the following in the general forum a few weeks age.....
"Went to an RV dealership and looked at a new Class C. The decals were all bubbled and the paint looked uneven. I was surprised that they would let an Rv like this off the production line, let alone sent it to a dealer for "Show". The salesman boasted that his dealership had a special check list BEFORE the PDI and fixed everything wrong with the RV. I pointed out the defect and he said it was normal. OK. A car dealer may sell you a lemon, but at least it looks nice and shiny and perfect in the show room. My confidence in the manufacture has dropped, so I better keep shopping. Has anyone else come across this?? "
So I ain't one to gossip...but make sure you go over the "Dutchman" with a fine tooth comb!
See you on the road!
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murphy04
Cape May, NJ
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Joined: 03/30/2006
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We had a 2002 Dutchmen Classic TT and traded it in for a 31F Dutchmen motor home. Very few problems with the TT, and only one issue with the motor home was the converter was putting out too much voltage and it damaged the circuit boards in the refrigerator. Upon replacement, everything is working great.
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RoxanneAkimbo
Texas
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Joined: 10/21/2007
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I just bought a new Dutchmen, so I'll be letting you know....
2007 Dutchmen 24'
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map40
MI
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Joined: 01/15/2005
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Mine was built in the same factory, and very few factory problems. Only problems that it would have been way too difficult to find or happened after several uses.
2007 Four Winds 31F
Life rocks when your home rolls
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tenbear
Northern Vermont, USA
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Joined: 08/11/2004
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I have had mine since 2004 and it has about 24000 miles on it. The only warranty work I have had was when a crack developed in the shower pan on a trip to Michigan and Indiana. We stopped at the Four Winds factory in Elkhart, a couple of weeks after the warranty had run out and they replaced the pan and surround at no cost. I am very pleased with it and the service. I would buy one again.
Mine is a basic unit, not many frills, but it suits us. I have done several modifications to "personalize" it.
2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
Subaru Impreza Outback
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