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Old 02-26-2015, 08:42 AM   #1
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Flagstaff MicroLite?

Hi Everyone,

I was looking at Video's for campers (I think I'm addicted to the idea of camping, and hope that I am just as addicted to camping) for a 2014 Flagstaff MicroLite 21FBRS. The video is on YouTube, and here is the link:



So, you don't have to watch the whole thing, it's a nice unit that the owner (who may be on this forum) decided to trade for a bigger unit with the larger shower. Very up and up video, good looking unit. But, it's missing one thing:

Nowhere on the coach does it say "MicroLite by Flagstaff". It says "MicroLite", and the graphics are a tad different than the normal graphics by Flagstaff.

Since I am scheduled to leave and drive across 4 states tomorrow night (Friday) to pick a 21FBRS up on Saturday, that has the Exact Same Graphics, it got me to wondering... Is this a unit that Flagstaff pulled off the line to inspect and it failed their inspection?

If anybody has a clue why they don't have the "by flagstaff" on the graphics, please let me know.

Thanks,
Joe
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Old 02-26-2015, 08:57 AM   #2
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I have no idea about the graphics... but its a great trailer
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Old 02-26-2015, 09:27 AM   #3
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enjoy

E owned one for 5 months. its a nice trailer for that size but I made the typical mistakes. My tow vehicle, a Honda Pilot struggled to pull this effectively. Load that trailer up and i was at max. 6 cylinder, and short wheel base now good idea , even with weight distributing and sway stabilizers. Then I went and bought a new Ford F250 Diesel 6.7 and it pulled it like it was not there. But realizing my new TV could now haul what I was planning to purchase later in life to retire, a 5th wheeler. Well the dealer gave us a our money back on the Microlite trade, and now we have all the room in the world with our Columbus 36' 5th wheeler. Now wish I bought that 350 . ha
No idea about the graphics..
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Old 02-26-2015, 09:28 AM   #4
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It occurs to me that many people may have MicroLite's that are unbranded. And, they may be exceptional units that work perfectly and have no problems.

I call it "unbranded" since it doesn't say "By Flagstaff" on it. This may be a normal practice for all I know (but I do know of videos that show 2014 units that do say "by Flagstaff"). I'm really speculating as to why they don't say "by Flagstaff", and suggesting a possible reason, but there could be many other reasons (although I fail to come up with one in my imagination).

Still going to go to the unit, and this is as close to buying something "Sight unseen" as I have ever done. They probably think we are showing up to sign paperwork and drive home, and may not realize that the deal is subject to termination if the unit does not pass our inspection... and any reason they have for delaying the inspection by us will result in a more detailed inspection. I will kick the tires and and all of the other things before signing anything.

One can probably see that I have bought pig in poke's before.

Joe
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Old 02-26-2015, 09:49 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by january14 View Post
It occurs to me that many people may have MicroLite's that are unbranded. And, they may be exceptional units that work perfectly and have no problems.

I call it "unbranded" since it doesn't say "By Flagstaff" on it. This may be a normal practice for all I know (but I do know of videos that show 2014 units that do say "by Flagstaff"). I'm really speculating as to why they don't say "by Flagstaff", and suggesting a possible reason, but there could be many other reasons (although I fail to come up with one in my imagination).

Still going to go to the unit, and this is as close to buying something "Sight unseen" as I have ever done. They probably think we are showing up to sign paperwork and drive home, and may not realize that the deal is subject to termination if the unit does not pass our inspection... and any reason they have for delaying the inspection by us will result in a more detailed inspection. I will kick the tires and and all of the other things before signing anything.

One can probably see that I have bought pig in poke's before.

Joe
You are over-thinking it. Forest River, as well as a number of camper makers have an identity crisis. They all consumed many smaller makers, retained names, and then inconsistently applied them. For instance the Flagstaff division produces both the Rockwood Roo and the Shamrock 21ss. No where will you ever find Rockwood Roo by Flagstaff, you will, inconsistently year-to-year, find Flagstaff Shamrock, Shamrock by Flagstaff, and then nothing but Shamrock ON the camper. What's on the Certificate of Origin is another animal. Regardless, it's a Forest River MicroLite.
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Old 02-26-2015, 10:04 AM   #6
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Well, I can't say that I blame you for taking the unit back. I have a Nissan Frontier which should pull the unit without a lot of problems... some problems with uphill is expected, but I'm not going to worry about it a lot. Just a little. I know I will know it's back there.

I have looked at several more videos on the 21FBRS and I have seen 3 or 4 different dealership videos that show a 2013 with the same graphics as the one we are looking at. And, it's possible that the newer graphics package for the 2014's was not ready when they were producing the 2014 line... so they used the old graphics. I am more comfortable than I was before, but we are going to ask for a fax copy of the Title on the camper to make sure it's a 2014.

Joe
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Old 02-26-2015, 10:08 AM   #7
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This is not the first time someone has told me that I am over thinking it. :-) Until I retired, that's how I made a living. Yes, I do drive myself crazy sometimes.
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Old 02-26-2015, 10:12 AM   #8
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Well, I can't say that I blame you for taking the unit back. I have a Nissan Frontier which should pull the unit without a lot of problems... some problems with uphill is expected, but I'm not going to worry about it a lot. Just a little. I know I will know it's back there.

I have looked at several more videos on the 21FBRS and I have seen 3 or 4 different dealership videos that show a 2013 with the same graphics as the one we are looking at. And, it's possible that the newer graphics package for the 2014's was not ready when they were producing the 2014 line... so they used the old graphics. I am more comfortable than I was before, but we are going to ask for a fax copy of the Title on the camper to make sure it's a 2014. Our 2015 Heritage Glen 232IS was built in August 2014 and we purchased September 2014 and our graphics are 2014 Heritage Glen but the last of the units produced (floorplan discontinued) have Hemipshere side graphics though Heritage Glen.

Joe
Date of manufacture will also be on the roadside sticker, front of unit.

I'm surprised more have not jumped to explain this to you already, but I'll take the lead... 2014 units would have begun construction in the summer of 2013. It is absolutely commonplace to get an early 2014 that is completely identical to a 2013. FR uses all parts in inventory before any changes are made. My 2008 21ss was built in July of 2007 and delivered to us August 2007 and it was still built with the narrower box, but later 2008 21ss were built with the 6" wider box.
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Old 02-26-2015, 10:13 AM   #9
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This is not the first time someone has told me that I am over thinking it. :-) Until I retired, that's how I made a living. Yes, I do drive myself crazy sometimes.
Ha-ha-ha! I'm a Professional Engineer so I over-think EVERYTHING!
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Old 02-26-2015, 10:55 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by january14 View Post

Still going to go to the unit, and this is as close to buying something "Sight unseen" as I have ever done. They probably think we are showing up to sign paperwork and drive home, and may not realize that the deal is subject to termination if the unit does not pass our inspection... and any reason they have for delaying the inspection by us will result in a more detailed inspection. I will kick the tires and and all of the other things before signing anything.

One can probably see that I have bought pig in poke's before.

Joe
I understand your reluctance to commit to something sight unseen. I could never do that myself. But there should be no ambiguity with the seller about your intentions, especially if the seller has to drive any distance to meet you. Make it clear to them you are "Just looking". Or that your purchase is conditional on the findings of your inspection of their camper.
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Old 02-26-2015, 11:27 AM   #11
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Its a dealership.
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Old 02-26-2015, 11:30 AM   #12
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Sorry. The video led me to believe it was a private sale. Good luck!!
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Old 02-26-2015, 12:23 PM   #13
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Oh. Im not buying the one in the video. The person that owned it traded it for a 25ds.

The one that we may buy is at a dealership and it has a different interior. I was merely wondering why some 2014 units have different graphics from other 2014 units.

I now understand that probably the units were built using the 2013 graphics, and possibly other parts.
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Old 02-26-2015, 12:56 PM   #14
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Had the same thing with my 2010 Roo 23SS. It had the white trim inside and out since it was an early 2010 build. Later 2010s have black trim. But it had 2010 model year interior fabric and exterior graphics.
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Old 02-26-2015, 01:39 PM   #15
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We found the same thing on one we ordered. We ordered a 2015 26RLWS and found that even though they are 2015's the front end is totally different. They changed mid year.
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Old 03-07-2015, 11:11 PM   #16
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Yup. They added the fiberglass front thereafter.
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Old 03-30-2015, 06:15 AM   #17
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Oh. Im not buying the one in the video. The person that owned it traded it for a 25ds.
That would be me. Glad the video was helpful. We had the 21 for 1 year and like it but wanted a little more room and a better shower so we traded for the 25. We have had that for 1 year now and it has been trouble free too. As for the branding, I don't know anything about that.

Good luck with your purchase, IMHO these are great trailers.
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Old 03-30-2015, 06:22 AM   #18
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You did well on the video. Liked the video on the 25, too.
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Old 03-30-2015, 06:35 AM   #19
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You did well on the video. Liked the video on the 25, too.
Thanks. Those videos have had a lot of hits so I guess there are a lot of people interested in MicroLites.
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