| To people unfamiliar with "the RV lifestyle", towing | | | | ("Class A" refers to the "bus" style of RV, where the |
| capacity may not seem all that important. However, | | | | engine and drivetrain and living compartment are all a |
| to regular RV'ers, towing capacity is a big part of | | | | part of one big bus-sized unit. In contrast, Class B |
| "the RV lifestyle". After all, companies like | | | | RV's are usually "fifth wheels" which are towed |
| FLEETWOOD persuade consumers to part with large | | | | behind, or sometimes on top of, a pick-up truck, and |
| six-figure sums not just based on buying a particular | | | | a "Class C" RV is more of a sleeper van conversion, |
| vehicle, but also on buying the whole supposed | | | | much smaller than a Class A.) So, Class A RV's need |
| lifestyle that goes along with it. | | | | to be able to tow the types of vehicles which RV |
| For many Americans, "the RV lifestyle" is their dream | | | | owners use when they're not driving their RV's. |
| retirement, traveling wherever they would with no | | | | FLEETWOOD's 2005 and 2006 Providence, Discovery, |
| time constraints, meeting both new faces and old | | | | Excursion, Expedition and Bounder Class A RV's all |
| friends along the way, spending months at a time | | | | were sold to consumers with a sticker advertising a |
| with grandchildren or favorite nieces and nephews...It | | | | towing weight capacity of 10,000 lbs. A 10,000 lbs. |
| sounds all so leisurely. | | | | capacity would allow towing not only of smaller cars |
| But there's one very important ingredient to this "RV | | | | but also larger sedans and small- to mid-sized pick-up |
| lifestyle": you need a car, which you tow behind your | | | | trucks. |
| RV. RV's cannot run downtown for a quick cup of | | | | Now, suddenly, FLEETWOOD has issued a "recall", |
| Starbucks or a stop into Pollo Loco-they're too big | | | | telling consumers that the 10,000 lbs. towing capacity |
| and there's nowhere to park. You cannot park at a | | | | was a mistake and offering a new sticker, to be |
| theater or most restaurants with an RV. Other than | | | | placed over the old sticker, indicating a tow limit of |
| WalMart and a few others, there are few retailers | | | | only 5,000 lbs. |
| with parking lots big enough for RV's. Thus, almost all | | | | "This is not a recall; it's a cover-up," comments |
| RV'ers park their RV's at RV parks and jump into | | | | prominent consumer protection attorney Robert F. |
| passenger cars or pick-ups for a night on the town, | | | | Brennan of the La Crescenta, Ca. law firm Brennan, |
| or just about anything other than driving on the | | | | Wiener & Associates. "A recall is used where the |
| highway. | | | | manufacturer can do something to fix the problem. |
| This is where towing weight comes into play. Most or | | | | Putting a sticker on the RV, stating that it now has |
| all Class A RV's come with a tow hitch so the | | | | one-half of the towing capacity that was |
| owners can tow a their pick-ups or passenger cars | | | | represented when it was sold, is more of a fraud |
| behind them as they drive down the highways. | | | | than a fix. |