crickeydog
Marietta, Ga.
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Joined: 01/29/2004
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I looked and didn't see any previous comparison threads but forgive me if this topic is already a beaten horse.
We're beginning the process of shopping for our retirement MH. Can those of you Class A owners who have had expereience with both the Freightliner and Spartan chassis, please give me some insight as to the general concensus of which if either is built better than the other? And their individual serviceability. That is: Which has the better service network as well as individual serviceability when it comes to routine maintenance. I'm not concerned so much about which engine manufacturer choice is best but about the overall chassis in general. Many thanks in advance.
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!
AIR FORCE RETIRED "EITHER LEAD,FOLLLOW,OR GET OUT OF MY WAY"!
2006 GMC 3500 SLT CC DRW 4X4 D/A LBZ,PREDATOR & FS2500 OIL FILTER
2004 HR PRESIDENTIAL 30 SCD 5'ER.
CHEROKEE & CHEYENNE, MINI DOXIE'S
LOADED LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, FLYIN LIKE A JET PLANE!!
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69RoadRunner
VA
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Joined: 01/18/2008
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Newmar's with the Spartan chasis get Comfort Drive, which makes driving a lot more enjoyable.
09 Newmar Ventana 3942
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Buck62
Charleston, South Carolina
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Joined: 04/28/2005
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I have a Spartan chassis and have been really impressed with their customer service. I have had a couple of chassis related items and when I call Spartan their service technician tells me where the closest service center is and will even make the appointment. The Spartan technician gives me their name and remains my contact person through the whole problem. I always get a follow up call from the technician after the repair verifying that the repair was done and I was satisfied and to call anytime I have an issue. On my last issue, it was determined that my information center was defective causing the ABS light to not go out. The Spartan technician overnighted by Fed Express a new information center to the service center for a quick repair turn around and get me back on the road. I have not been to the Spartan factory service center but, everyone I talk to raves about how they take care of their customers during preventative maintenance visits. The Spartan chassis I have drives like a car and I have been very pleased with it. On my next motorhome, if I have a choice of chassis, it will be a Spartan.
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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You will surely get a lot of "my choice was best".
The reality is that both make/made quite a range of chassis. Both made leaf spring, hydraulic brake DP's as well as full air suspension and air brakes.
Kind of like asking if Ford or Chevy is better. Likely more similarity between a Chevy Cobalt and Ford Focus than between a Chevy Cobalt and Chevy Corvette or Chevy Tahoe.
Best advice is to drive them and ask questions about those on your short list. The more specific the questions, the better the answers. The more general "opinon" style, the more "opinions" you will get.
BTW, some upper-end coaches are unibody/monocoque and have no chassis at all. Much more expensive to build, but much more structurally rigid.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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crickeydog wrote:I looked and didn't see any previous comparison threads but forgive me if this topic is already a beaten horse.
We're beginning the process of shopping for our retirement MH. Can those of you Class A owners who have had expereience with both the Freightliner and Spartan chassis, please give me some insight as to the general concensus of which if either is built better than the other? And their individual serviceability. That is: Which has the better service network as well as individual serviceability when it comes to routine maintenance. I'm not concerned so much about which engine manufacturer choice is best but about the overall chassis in general. Many thanks in advance.
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!
If you have the difference in choice...go with Spartan.
FL has a much LARGER service / parts distribtion network...but Spartan isnt anything to laugh at.
FL's "main" service center(s) may be OK for service...but Im extremely leery of a lot of their locations. I havent and will never take my own coach to FL for "routine maintainence"
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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djevans
Tennessee
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Joined: 03/24/2002
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I too am leery of many FL service sites. They just don't seem interested in RV's for sure and I've encountered, let's just say, technician based issues. I'd hate to see what would happen in some areas if the issue I might be having was complicated.
That said, our Freightliner XC chassis rides as good as any SPARTAN we've driven to date. It certainly been reliable.
If I was satisfied with the ride, I'd purchase either chassis.
Don . . . near 36.171N 086.784W, TN near here
WA4ZFN
2003 Fleetwood Revolution 40C - Saturn VUE
350hp Cummins ISC
- - - P i c t u r e s - - -
I'm confused, WAIT! Maybe I'm not!
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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Both pretty much use standard off-the-shelf truck stuff; same manufacturers for the steering box, air bags, rear-ends, air compressor, wheel bearings, etc.
After the warranty period, anybody will work on either.
Even under warranty, a CAT or Cummins or Allison certified house will work on either brand.
I would lean toward the one with IFS, disc brakes and the bigger engine.
I haven't used a Spartan service center (that I knew about) but have used a variety of Freightliner and independents, etc and will tell that they all seem to have their own personality and you can catch any of them on a bad or good day. My least favorite and most favorite service centers are both Freightliner shops. One has 20 bays and the other has three.
Guess which one I like better?
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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69RoadRunner wrote:Newmar's with the Spartan chasis get Comfort Drive, which makes driving a lot more enjoyable.
I would agree with that 100%.
We've had both, Spartan & Freightliner, and both are a good product. In the past the biggest difference was Spartan was IFS (independent front suspension) and Freightliner was a straight beam. The thinking was a Freightliner handled better, a Spartan rode better. Now they each offer both, straight beam and IFS, so there goes that comparison.
The big deal now, and it is a VERY big deal IMO, is the Newmar exclusive (for now) Comfort Drive System.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
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escaper1
Centerville,Ohio,USA
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Joined: 11/16/2003
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I have had both one under an damon escaper(freightliner) The spartan under a American coach. It is like comparing a chevy and a Ford. My spartan because of the coach was a little higher end side radiator, independent suspension. But all in all I liked the frieghtliner better no troubles out of it, But when calling customer service on both chassis neither was superior both of them good. The staight axle freightliner actually seem to ride better then the spartan but it was also lighter. I now have a semimonque chassis from Monaco all three have been good. I don't think I would worry which chassis as long as it had the carrying capacity that I wanted. And I do prefer the side radiator just for ease of service to the engine.
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canttellu
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 09/07/2008
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I have had both, prefer Freightliner, but then I like Chevvy better than Ford. I really wouldn't care which one I had. The Freightshaker actually does ride better.
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