Palomino Puma: Anybody have one?

[lazyjj]

We bought a eat over 2012 model in 2013. Ours was a 27' 5th wheel. Loved and really miss it sometimes. Very good build quality for money. We went for a part for ours after a 2 week vacation last July and after owning only 2 years we came home with what we thought was an upgrade. We bought a 2016 Coachmen Chaparral 5vr with more room but I have taken it back to dealer 3 times for repair and made a few.minor ones myself. You have done well with your purchase. Enjoy!

[dhayesh]

We own a 2006 30DBSS and love it. Have had no major problems. Standard small problems that occur. Plan to recoat the roof this fall, because it is looking a little thin. We take grandkids with us often.

2006 30DBSS Travel Trailer
2004 GMC 2500 HD

[txboy]

We have a 2015 32dbks and love it. Only problem so far is the pos Irv radio.

[mandring]

I'm kinda in the same boat, so to speak. I just picked up a 22xlr TT. The dealer had to install and run wires for a brake controller. Do to some poor placement of a relay, my truck caught fire as soon as I got my rig home. I was able to get the fire out before it did any damage. But the wiring in my truck was cooked. They ended up forking out $2500 to fix it. After a month, I was finally able to use the camper. Took it somewhere local just to have a shake down run. I had more fun than I expected. I'm really happy with it.

I will agree. The radio it came with isn't the greatest. I'm tempted to replace it with something else. Its a Boss single din. It has a DVD rom, and it has video out through a component cable (yellow) but no sound on the red and white. It only plays through the speakers in the camper. ...The wife, watches TV to fall asleep. So it makes it problematic when the TV shuts off, but the DVD keeps playing. I think in the meantime I'm just going to get a small DVD playing to hook up to the TV. Prolly should have spent the extra $20 and got a TV with a built-in DVD player. Mah, you live and you learn.

I also just had the idea of bringing my laptop and a HDMI cable. That would do the trick.

[ScottAndKim]

We have a 21fbc 2015 model and love it. Problems have been small. Leak around one pipe caught and repaired and the AC had a problem that must have come from factory and that's fixed. We are out almost every week in ours..


Kim and Scott
Puma 21fbc
Ford F-150 Ecoboost with max tow.
Oh and the fur babies Charlie and Tater.

[FJRDarksider]

We have a 2015 259RBSS we bought from TerryTown in Michigan (I live in Ontario) even with the dollar the way it is we still saved money given the options on this unit. Love the floor plan.....however, I will NEVER buy another unit from Terry Town. Worst experience ever!! Unit was not ready when we picked it up. Glad I camped for two nights once we got it because the issues compounded. It was ridiculous.
The amount of metal burrs and sawdust in this thing was unbelievable......and it was attacked with a silicon caulking gun (not pretty)
Rear jacks blew a fuse then fell apart. They also used Tek screws to install it to the rear bumper which negates the use of storage for the waste hose.
Slide out out of adjustment because a water inlet fitting had fallen in between the gap during manufacture.
Fridge dented and cracked.
Table scratched.
TV antenna covered in sealant and won't turn.
Brace for propane tanks installed over the access hole for manual front jack operation.
Underbelly falling off.
Bent stove cover brackets.
Loose plumbing connections (thankfully all leaks discovered early)
One of the windows was built crooked (should never have been installed)

I have been fixing the smaller issues as I go but the point is, I never should have had to spend this much time fixing a unit that should have been properly prepared which the dealer did admit. So.........dealer wants me to drive it back to them (6 hours one way) and have made no attempt to offer compensation. They have my money and the trailer is imported to Canada so it too bad so sad for me....buyer beware I guess. I had to have the unit ESA (CSA) approved myself up here before a dealer would look at it to do the warranty work. Thankfully that is in the works but the original dealer has washed their hands. I am hoping FR steps up and makes this right.

Why didn't I take it back right away? Logistically, my wife and I had to get back home which would have meant leaving the trailer back at the dealer unsecured with no idea when I would get it back. Needed to protect my investment best I could knowing in advance that the FR warranty specialist assured me that any warranty work would be covered even in Canada....What he didn't advise me of was the ESA approval. But that's on me for not doing my homework.........

I still love the trailer and once it's all fixed I'll be even happier......that said. It is an entry level 5W.

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by FJRDarksider

We have a 2015 259RBSS we bought from TerryTown in Michigan (I live in Ontario) even with the dollar the way it is we still saved money given the options on this unit. Love the floor plan.....however, I will NEVER buy another unit from Terry Town. Worst experience ever!! Unit was not ready when we picked it up. Glad I camped for two nights once we got it because the issues compounded. It was ridiculous.
The amount of metal burrs and sawdust in this thing was unbelievable......and it was attacked with a silicon caulking gun (not pretty)
Rear jacks blew a fuse then fell apart. They also used Tek screws to install it to the rear bumper which negates the use of storage for the waste hose.
Slide out out of adjustment because a water inlet fitting had fallen in between the gap during manufacture.
Fridge dented and cracked.
Table scratched.
TV antenna covered in sealant and won't turn.
Brace for propane tanks installed over the access hole for manual front jack operation.
Underbelly falling off.
Bent stove cover brackets.
Loose plumbing connections (thankfully all leaks discovered early)
One of the windows was built crooked (should never have been installed)

I have been fixing the smaller issues as I go but the point is, I never should have had to spend this much time fixing a unit that should have been properly prepared which the dealer did admit. So.........dealer wants me to drive it back to them (6 hours one way) and have made no attempt to offer compensation. They have my money and the trailer is imported to Canada so it too bad so sad for me....buyer beware I guess. I had to have the unit ESA (CSA) approved myself up here before a dealer would look at it to do the warranty work. Thankfully that is in the works but the original dealer has washed their hands. I am hoping FR steps up and makes this right.

Why didn't I take it back right away? Logistically, my wife and I had to get back home which would have meant leaving the trailer back at the dealer unsecured with no idea when I would get it back. Needed to protect my investment best I could knowing in advance that the FR warranty specialist assured me that any warranty work would be covered even in Canada....What he didn't advise me of was the ESA approval. But that's on me for not doing my homework.........

I still love the trailer and once it's all fixed I'll be even happier......that said. It is an entry level 5W.

Please don't take offense but there is no such thing as an entry level camper. It is kind of like saying I drive an entry level truck its a Chevy or a Dodge or a Ford someday I would like to drive a Freightliner or I drive an entry level Chevy car not a BMW.............. Camper size and price are more of a matter of preference.......... If that were the case many never buy above an entry level camper even after camping 50 years.

[FJRDarksider]

Fair enough, and no offense taken. I agree everyone has their own preference and although I am happy with my PUMA (or I will be once these issues are resolved) there is a difference between a 20K unit and a 50K one. Like comparing a Kia to a Mercedes. I am exaggerating of course!

Cheers!

[Joegoblue]

I posted on this issue earlier during my travels. On August 29th, I traded in my 2008 Puma 5th wheel for a 2016 Flagstaff 8528 IKWS Classic Superlight 5th wheel. I purchased both RV’s from Cheyenne Camping Center in Wolcott Iowa. I find CCC in Wolcott to be a fair and responsible distributor. If you are looking to purchase a RV, I would recommend them.
Within the first 10 days I began to experience problems with the toilet. It backed up. I purchased a drain tape, a 10 gallon plastic tub and a couple of cups and was able to get the pipe to clear. I thought the clog was cleared but it wasn’t. It backed up again and again. I would push the tape to a depth of about 5 feet, when I pulled out the tape I would feel a little résistance and the pipe would drain. I could not return to the dealer as I had two scheduled events to attend. I had to be in Michigan mid-September and in Virginia mid-October.
My spouse was most unhappy. Need I say more?
As we moved down the time line, I learned everything about the Dometic 320 toilet. I re-attached the hinge and reshaped the ball so it seals. I put a valve on the water in line so I could work on the toilet with the water turned off. Bought institutional size box of latex gloves used frequently. Multiple wipe downs with sanitizer to clean up mess in bathroom. I learned that the black tank was OK and the toilet was OK but something was clogging the pipe.
After about 30 days, I wrote an email to Cheyenne Camping Center Service department and described what was going on. The service manager immediately responded that he had seen something similar before, the black outflow pipe was likely too long, solids could not clear. We stopped using the toilet.
That was when I first posted on this sight. I received some very helpful contact information from fellow members. I emailed Jacob Carter at Flagstaff. Mr. Carter advised me that the issue of a long pipe had never come up before. He suggested I take these steps.
1. Contact a dealer and schedule an inspection and verification
2. If there was a problem, Flagstaff would work with the dealership to determine what needs to be done.
3. Flagstaff could not help me schedule an appointment; I had to do that on my own.
So I contacted dealers in Virginia and West Virginia. I heard the same story from everyone. The dealers were very busy, impossibly booked really, but they could make an appointment in November or December. I was not surprised. That is what I suspected from what I had heard on the forum.
By now, I just wanted the crapper fixed and was willing to pay out of my own pocket. But both the service centers I contacted advised that I take the unit back to the seller, Cheyenne Camping, or to the factory. Otherwise, I would void the warranty.
About this time my wife flew home to help with some grandchild care. She said, “Fix It”.
I tried a few things after she left. This model has an interior black tank spray down feature. I pumped water into the tank. I sat in the bathroom and studied the toilet. Nothing happened until there was suddenly a Mount Vesuvius cesspool explosion in the toilet. I slammed down the lid, raced outside, shut off the water and pulled the black tank drain valve. Donned Latex gloves and sanitized the bathroom once again.
By now I am in Kentucky heading for Iowa. I try once more. This time I fill my 10 gallon pail with all the hot water in my tank, dawn, bleach and a digestant. I pour this into the toilet. The toilet won’t take it. I watch the water level slowly inch down, When the water level finally gets below the floor level, I head off to the grocery store. I get back and check the toilet. Horror of Horrors, a crap plug has floated up to the top of the toilet and clings to the flange. There is a lot of excrement. I clean it out.
Two or three days later, I arrive at Cheyenne Camping Center. They confirm the pipe is long, They pull it out, cut it, reseal it. I am on my way home now.
I have a couple of observations. Despite everything, I like my 8528 IKWS. We will have a lot of good times in this RV. But 8528IKWS buyers beware. Before you buy one, bring in 30 pounds of ice cubes and drop them in the toilet. If they don’t clear the pipe and go into the black tanks, don’t buy the RV.
We changed our entire trip plan because of this issue.
Forester and Forest River, implement some quality control procedures. There is no way you should be putting you customers who put revenue in your pockets through this kind of mess.

Joegoblue
70 days camping this year
Lifelong camper