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Walk-Through: Bounder Classic 30T

Originally Published in MotorHome Magazine

The Bounder motorhome brand has enjoyed a long, successful history and Fleetwood RV continues that heritage in 2010 with its new Classic line. The Classic inherits many of its predecessor’s innovative features and livability while shedding some added-cost décor to provide a feature-rich coach at a more affordable price.

Unfortunately, the company dropped the traditional predominantly brown Bounder color scheme that made the exterior of these rigs so distinctive in favor of a more generic Class A look, but there are still enough Bounder color cues to let sharp-eyed RV enthusiasts know this isn’t any ordinary Class A.

The Classic 30T is one of three floor-plans and lengths and Fleetwood’s first 30-foot Bounder that answers a growing call by enthusiasts for a shorter but fully equipped and easy-to-drive Bounder.

The Classic 30T answers those needs and more, focusing on features and equipment that have been proven over decades of use and experience. The long list of standard equipment begins with Fleetwood’s Power Platform, providing impressive compartment and pass-through basement storage with heated center-mounted storage tanks, straddling the Ford V-10, front gas chassis.

Tasteful exterior graphics rather than full-body paint, a 20-foot Dometic awning, dual-pane tinted windows, four-point automatic levelers, as well as a 4kW Onan Micro-Quiet AC generator – often optional items – are just a sampling of the Classic’s standard equipment. Increased water capacity is also available in the form of an auxiliary tank, available as a factory-installed option, for those who may enjoy more remote destinations and boondocking.

Inside the dual-slide floorplan, low maintenance vinyl flooring is used throughout the cabin, galley and bath, with wall-to-wall carpeting reserved for the bedroom and cockpit. A conventional dinette that employs Fleetwood’s “Dream Table” mechanism gently lowers the tabletop into the bed position using a wall track and gas strut. Next to the dinette, the 8-cubic-foot fridge comes with matching cabinet insert and handy pullout basket pantry to form one side of the cabin while the street-side slide holds the double-size jackknife sofa bed, with more storage below, and the galley.

A GE stainless steel micro-convection oven is set into the beautiful medium-tone raised-panel cabinetry used throughout, and the matching range with oven and sink are set into deep counter-tops with a large side extension that provides additional food prep area. Storage is a hallmark of this coach and is found throughout the interior as well. Most cabinets that ring the cabin are more than 24 inches deep with additional storage in a second pantry cabinet next to the sink.

Even small items for ease of use, often added by a new owner after the sale, are found everywhere on this Bounder. A built-in counter-top knife holder, large spice rack, unique pull-down utensil service tray, sink sprayer and coat and hat hooks at the entry door are all examples of conveniences provided and/or designed by Fleetwood folks who camp.

A large, wide makeup vanity with more drawer storage and offset single sink is provided in the bedroom passage, and there is a full-width medicine cabinet above with the enclosed toilet room and shower with skylight and china bowl opposite. A pair of hard doors slide across the passageway to provide useful and multiple privacy options.

The bedroom offers a large curbside wardrobe for two with lower cabinet storage alongside the tall four-drawer dresser with optional LCD TV above. The queen-size bed with nightstands fills the second slide and for those tall campers, Fleetwood provides a mattress extension that drops between the headboard and mattress to give an additional 4 inches of bed length whenever needed. Nice touch.

The cockpit is sensibly laid out. It’s simple and clean with easy-to-read gauges and everything within reach. Comfortable cockpit chairs and the tank monitor panel on the co-pilot’s side of the dash offer comfort and convenience while directly above the cockpit is a complete audiovisual entertainment center that includes a standard 26-inch LCD TV and AV switching box to keep the crew entertained during the drive.

It is immediately obvious that Fleetwood has integrated decades of coach-building experience in outfitting the 30T. Storage abounds in this well-equipped, very livable floor-plan with few options to ponder and fewer things to do after the sale. The Bounder Classic 30T is the kind of turnkey motorhome that offers the features and conveniences RVers expect on the road.

Our thanks to Mike Thompson’s RV Super Stores in Southern California for making this coach available for review.

SPECIFICATIONS

CHASSIS: Ford F53

ENGINE: Triton 6.8-l V-10 gas

FUEL: 75 gal

GVWR: 22,000 LBS

LENGTH: 30′ 7″

WIDTH: 8′ 6″

HEIGHT with A/C: 12′

INTERIOR HEIGHT: 6′ 7″

WHEELBASE: 208″

FRESHWATER CAP: 50 GAL

GRAY-WATER CAP: 40 GAL

BLACK-WATER CAP: 30 GAL

LP-GAS CAP: 20 GAL

BASE MSRP: $100,940

Fleetwood RV, 800-322-8216, www.fleetwoodrv.com.

Class A MotorhomesFleetwood RVs

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