Four Winds model 34H October 07, 2008, 07:10:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1807I received the inquiry below from (Steve) concerning the 34H. I knew a couple of you own that model, and he gave his permission for me to post his inquiry on this forum. Feel free to contact him direct to let him know about the Kodiak/Duramax/Four Winds 34H coach.DennyHi Dennis, I've been reading your posts on rv.net as well as your website over the past several weeks and months and have come to appreciate your research and advocacy for quality and safety issues as opposed to being just a negative vote on Four Winds. I also notice that you still own a Four Winds product, We have owned small C-class rvs--22 foot Tioga and and most recently a 24 foot Itasca Spirit----- for the last 10 years and are looking to get something with more room. We have 3 boys ages 3 to 7. I have been looking for over a year.and my top two picks were the Forester 3101SS or if my wife wanted more room (she starts feeling cramped up after 3 or 4 days if things get to too cluttered), then the Winnebago Sightseer 35J. Then we looked at the Four Winds 34H with the bunk slide and started liking that. She likes the fact that every boy has a bed and no one is sleeping on the dinette or the couch. I prefer the 8.1L GAS engine instead of the Duramax. We like the fact that the C-class is easier to drive. About a year ago I took a Conquest Kodiak for a test drive and thought it drove great. We realize the following issues and wonder how you would address them in particular to this particular unit (2008 or 2009 Four Winds 34H).1) Unevern loading on the rear axle. We noticed that the fresh water tank (65 gal) was in the far back corner streetside.I don't feel real concerned about the CCC. I called a dealer that had this unit on his lot and he gave me the UVW as 16994. Theoretically this leaves 2506 pounds for people, cargo, water, and propane. Is this number misleading because all the weight ends up on the rear axle and none on the front? Compare this to 1605 for the Forester 31012) The need for suspension and handling upgrades. I see people talking about stabilizer bars and sway bars etc.Also read the Gulfstream Conquest literature that talked about "Stabil-Ride Suspension System" Is this standard on all Kodiaks or is this something that Gulfstream is adding on. Any other opinions on Gulfstreams quality would be appreciated, also. We haven't looked at them mostly due to interior furnishing items. My wife is big on stuff like that.3)..The cutting and stretching of the wheelbase to 239.5 on the Four Winds 34H. Is this a negative thing or just that the customer should be informed of the implications?4) Any other quality issues? I appreciated your comment about the newer Hurricanes having the storage compartments simply screwed to the luan flooring. I have more confidence in Winnebago quality, but they don't have any floorplans that we like. I've also studied the higher end units with more GVWR, i.e. Jayco Seneca and the new Four Winds 36 footers, but it seems these are only available with the Duramax Diesel, higher price, longer length, more luxury. Prefer to keep it simple. We live in Northern Minnesota, travel 5 to 10 thousand miles a year, mostly dry camping at area lakes and tow a 3500# boat, or going south or west to visit relatives, etc. We don't plan to tow vehicles. I've owned diesels before and know how much it costs to overhaul them plus it would take many years to even the costs of engine vs. fuel. It also seems that Four Winds is discontinuing it's current line-up of floorplans for 2009 in favor of the diesel coaches on the heavier chassis. (36A and 36B)5) Do you have any contacts that own the Four Winds 34H and have opinions about it.Any opinions you offer will be valued and I appreciate any time you have to offer, Sincerely, Steve Pinkerton, Bemidji, MN phone # is 218-766-7380New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out! Quote Selected
Re: Four Winds model 34H Reply #1 – October 07, 2008, 09:18:32 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1808Denny, he should feel free to join this group. I guarantee that he will be admitted. DonOn 7-Oct-08, at 7:11 PM, Quote Selected
Re: Four Winds model 34H Reply #2 – October 07, 2008, 09:41:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1809Don, I know that! But I forget how he can join (.... does he go to Yahoo? Maybe you could send him a link or whatever. My mind is starting to dissolve...Denny Quote Selected
Re: Four Winds model 34H Reply #3 – October 07, 2008, 10:10:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1810Actually, all he has to do is click on the link in my sig on RV.net which would take him tohttp://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/KodiakChassisClassC/DonOn 7-Oct-08, at 9:41 PM, Quote Selected
Re: Four Winds model 34H Reply #4 – October 08, 2008, 11:58:30 am Yahoo Message Number: 1816Steve, We have had our Four Winds 34h with the Duramax diesel since March 2007.I think we are around 7000 miles.Quote1) Unevern loading on the rear axle. We noticed that the freshwater tankQuote(65 gal) was in the far back corner streetside.I don't feel real concerned about the CCC. I called a dealerthat hadQuotethis unit on his lot and he gave me the UVW as 16994. Theoreticallythis leaves 2506 pounds for people, cargo, water, and propane. Is thisnumber misleading because all the weight ends up on the rear axle and noneon the front?QuoteCompare this to 1605 for the Forester 3101Weighed at a Cat scale while on our trip last December, I did not weigheach side. So, we are not very close to the rear axle rating of 13,500.But, close to the gross of 19,500. There hasn't been any indicationthat the weight on the 34h is evenly loaded. The motorhome is level.Steer Axle 6840Drive Axle 12400Total 19240Trailer Axle 5260Total Axle 24500We were towing our Dodge Durango. Our 34H has the Duramax Diesel engine.This was with full fuel. Almost empty grey and black tanks. About 2/3water and 1/2 LP gas.Two adults, 2 children and 1 dog, about 580 lbs.Other modifications that affect weight.Replaced 26inch TV with 26inch LCD. And removed the rear 19inch TV.Added sway bar to the front and track bar to the rear.Note that the UVW given is without any options. The diesel adds around300 pounds. We also have the second air conditioner in back and the15,000 btu unit with heat pump in front.Quote2) The need for suspension and handling upgrades. I see peopletalking about stabilizer bars and sway bars etc.Also read the Gulfstream Conquest literature that talkedabout "Stabil-Ride Suspension System" Is this standard on all Kodiaks oris thisQuotesomething that Gulfstream is adding on. Any other opinions onGulfstreams qualityQuotewould be appreciated, also. We haven't looked at them mostly due tointerior furnishing items. My wife is big on stuff like that.I have installed the Koni shocks, front and rear tracbars and frontstabilizer bar. Whether these are needed or not is personal preference, but they do improve the handling. I think even in stock form, ithandled better than some cars I drove in the 80's.I did the rear tracbar, front stabilizer, and rear tracbar together sowhile the improved the handling I can't say which helped the most. Somepeople have not seen improvement with the rear tracbar, others have. Iinstall the front tracbar later and it improved the precision of thesteering alot.No matter what you do, it is still a 35ft, 19,500 lb. truck and must bedriven accordingly. But, it is fine even on twisty 2 lane mountainroads. But, in the motorhome I have to follow the speed given in thecurve signs.Headlights are the other main complaint about the chassis and I havereplace mine and added fog lights.Quote3)..The cutting and stretching of the wheelbase to 239.5 on the FourWinds 34H. Is this a negative thing or just that the customer should beinformed ofQuotethe implications?I assume it would be better if it came from the factory this way withthe factory warranty, but it doesn't bother me at all. It would besomeones responsibilty at least within the Four Winds warranty period.I also, don't think that I have heard of any problems with the frame inany of the forums. I did have to deal with frame problems with ourprevious travel trailer.I think having the longer wheelbase even with it being cut in is muchbetter than having the standard shorter wheelbase.Quote4) Any other quality issues? I've owned diesels before and knowhow much itQuotecosts to overhaul them plus it would take many years to even thecosts of engineQuotevs. fuel.Fortunately, I don't have anywhere near the issues that Denny has hadwith his. But, I wouldn't say the quality is great. Even though theseare expensive because of their size and being on the Kodiak chassis, they are still lower end units. Better wood would help with lessscrews being stripped and of course teaching their workers how not tostrip screws. A panel fell off in the read TV compartment and a metalpiece fell of the slide.The only thing I have taken the motorhome in for was the generatorstaarted continously spewing smoke out the exhaust. But, that was aCummins thing, not Four Winds. But, I also do the smaller stuff myselfsince it is a 90 minute drive to the dealer.I don't think that you would have to worry about the cost of the dieselengine to overhaul. I wouldn't think you would get anywhere near thatmany miles. We have been getting a little over 9mpg and with thecurrent difference in cost per gallon of gas you may never make up thedifference in the purchase price. But, I wouldn't not get the diesel.I think that the 34h was mostly available with the diesel, so withshopping around you still might find a better deal with the diesel. Andliving in the mountains here in New Mexico, having a turbo keeps thepower up better at higher elevations. And power is no problem eventowing the Durango in the mountains.In the end, we are happy with the Four Winds 34h. The kids love theirbunk beds, but so do we since we don't have to make up and take downbeds every night. They were with me when I was looking for a motorhomeand decided they had to have the bunk beds. And we are using themotorhome for trips we would have considered just driving our carbefore. Thanksgiving in Texas and Christmas in California. And evenusing it for what would usually just be a day trip to Albuquerque andmaking it a weekend.Denny, feel free to forward this to Steve if he is not yet a member.And he can email me directly if he has any further questions.David Steinman Quote Selected