I Come in Peace.....

glsimms · 10-26-2016, 08:12 PM

Hello, Jayco guy here. The wife and I presently own a Jayco JayFlight hybrid TT. It's the X23B model. We bought this new in 2012. We have been very happy with it but feel it's time to move on.

We are looking to move to a new trailer, one that has a walk-around bed. One model we like is the Coachmen Apex 269RBKS. It's a new floorplan for 2017 and it looks like it replaces the 269RBS. The dealer we are going to has both models and it will be interesting to see what the price differences will be.

I guess the question I have is are you happy with your coachmen (in particular Apex owners)? How is the fit and finish? Anything else you could add is appreciated.

woodpile · 10-26-2016, 08:33 PM

We are very pleased with our Coachmen. (Not an Apex)! Two seasons in with no problems.

Welcome to the forum from SC!!

SeaDog · 10-26-2016, 08:38 PM

Welcome to the forum its a great place to get your questions answered. The forum from what I have seen has nothing against SOB owners (lol) and I encourage you to check out the brands we have.

phillips · 10-26-2016, 08:49 PM

We bought a 2016 Apex 300bhs, this was our first season with it and we love it, got 27 nights in it. Few minor issues but nothing major by any means.

asquared · 10-26-2016, 09:06 PM

Welcome to the FRF from NC. One thing forest river has with its products that no other manufacturer in the industry provides is its level of service to the owner. They publish the contacts for each department on their website. These people are actually reachable! They have tons of FROG (Forest river owners group) rallies where they sponsor a catered meal and FROG swag giveaways. The biggest rally of the year is the factory rally in Goshen, IN. At the factory rally you have a lot of fun with catered meals, seminars, factory tours and day trips. They will also repair up to 3 items within reason during the factory rally whether or not you are still in warranty or even the original owner of the rig.

If you do buy the coachman, look into the optional factory 2nd year warranty. You can find the link in our library section.

**bikendan** · 10-26-2016, 09:17 PM

Don't believe that the 2nd year FR factory warranty is available for Coachmen products.

glsimms · 10-26-2016, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

Don't believe that the 2nd year FR factory warranty is available for Coachmen products.

Thanks for the welcome folks.

Why doesn't FR offer the 2nd year warranty?

BTW, since I live in Indiana, the FROG get togethers sound interesting

asquared · 10-26-2016, 09:34 PM

Check out the FROG website. There are rallies across the country but only the one offers factory service at your camp site.

**bikendan** · 10-26-2016, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsimms

Thanks for the welcome folks.

Why doesn't FR offer the 2nd year warranty?

The second factory warranty was only for original FR brands.

When FR acquired Coachmen, Prime Time and Dynamax during the recession, FR didn't include them.
Each company kept their original 1 year factory warranty.

Remember FR is a corporation. Their divisions manufacture the RVs.

asquared · 10-26-2016, 10:26 PM

Dan thanks for the warranty correction. All FR divisions, original or not are eligible for the factory rally repairs though.

B and B · 10-26-2016, 10:53 PM

Ack Ack Ack...Jayco Attacks!!

All serious now. I had a Rookwood TT that had a crappy slide, plain and simple a mistake waiting to happen with the Super Slide. Rebuilt after 1st outing by my local dealer only to become unreliable again the next year. I learned a lot in 13 months and traded on a Fifth Wheel, much better unit. The Goshen Rally, had some things fixed, had a great time and as others have said they do stand behind there product. There are many models to choose from to suit whatever market segment you are intertested in

ResQfrog · 10-27-2016, 07:23 AM

If you go with the Coachmen unit you can also join the Coachmen Owners Association (COA) the first year is free, just send in the paperwork. They also have a big rally each year plus some smaller ones. This last year it was in Mackinaw City, MI. For 2017 it is in Goshen at the same fair grounds as the big FROG rally.

DreiHunde · 10-27-2016, 07:42 AM

Extremely happy with our Coachmen. Luckily we haven't had any big issues (knock on wood

). When we were shopping for it back in 2014, I sent the factory an email asking about model options and the next day I got a phone call back from the head of the Catalina line. Answered every question I had and provided me with some insight on the 2015 model that I did not know. That played a big part in our decision to buy ours.

If you have any questions about the Apex I would certainly reach out to the factory. I think(hope) you will be pleased with the experience!

Good luck and welcome!!!

clintbonnie73 · 10-27-2016, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsimms

Thanks for the welcome folks.

Why doesn't FR offer the 2nd year warranty?

They FR does .. but you must sign up for the 2 year warranty within 10 days of purchase.. which I don't quite understand.. I missed doing it.. and might try sending in the $150 anyways..

BooBoo23 · 10-27-2016, 02:43 PM

The 2nd year warranty window of application has been changed to 90 days.

**bikendan** · 10-27-2016, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintbonnie73

They FR does .. but you must sign up for the 2 year warranty within 10 days of purchase.. which I don't quite understand.. I missed doing it.. and might try sending in the $150 anyways..

The OP is asking about a Coachmen product which doesn't qualify for the 2nd year warranty.

And it's 90 days, not 10 days.
And they often have allowed for longer times since many dealers don't tell customers about it.

boaski · 10-27-2016, 04:19 PM

Most of the components have at least a two year warranty to begin with look at all the paper work they give you and register the items .

CaptnJohn · 10-27-2016, 06:54 PM

Friend has an Apex and is very happy. It is 2 years old and has seen a lot of use. He is waiting on a Cherokee now as they found a floor plan she has to have. The pulled it to Gatlinburg from WV and we pulled our SOB there from NC ~~ they are parked across now!

KDHfan · 10-27-2016, 07:57 PM

Have owned an Apex 288BHS for two seasons and love it. Some small issues that i fixed myself, but overall, very pleased with our unit. I had one issue with a window that required a dealer fix. Called Coachmen and they were very responsive and helpful in getting my issue resolved.

glsimms · 10-28-2016, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsimms

We are looking to move to a new trailer, one that has a walk-around bed. One model we like is the Coachmen Apex 269RBKS. It's a new floorplan for 2017 and it looks like it replaces the 269RBS. The dealer we are going to has both models and it will be interesting to see what the price differences will be.

I guess the question I have is are you happy with your coachmen (in particular Apex owners)? How is the fit and finish? Anything else you could add is appreciated.

UPDATE: The DW and myself made a 3 hour drive to Indianapolis yesterday to look at the new 2017 Apex 269RBKS. It was not a good experience. Let me say first, we purchased our current RV from this dealership (in Cincy). When we get there the salesperson told us the 2016 Apex model had been sold, which I can understand as that is a chance you take. So we go to look at the new model. This unit has 2 slides, kitchen and a large dinette/living slide. The large slide won't work. The maint. guy checks fuses, no go. Then he takes off the cover where the switches are and checks for loose wires. While this goes on our salesperson shows us other trailer brands. None of which interests us. Later she informs us the unit we drove 3 hours to see is in the shop. We also noticed a wire dangling on the floor under the kitchen slide and the faucet hose? was dangling from the front bottom of the kitchen island. Now if I'm selling something, I make sure that everything is working. The wife told her we may buy this floorplan, but not this trailer. If it's having issues while on the dealers lot who know what other problems there might be? It just sent all kinds of red flags.

To make matters worse our salesperson seemed like she wanted to talk about her upcoming Halloween party more than about the trailers she was showing us. All in all not a good experience.

Now there is a local Coachmen dealer near me that sells Apex units. So I call them and see if they have this model or if maybe they will be getting one. The dealer says "No they don't have it". He says if I want to, I can order one, but they won't get one for me just to look at. Talk about customer no-service, so much for wanting to buy from your local dealer.....

I had every intention of buying a trailer yesterday and came home with nothing! So I think we will just wait for the RV shows and see what's available. End of rant.....

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