Columbia Northwest acquired the designs and key employees from Fleetwood / Coleman plant in Somerset, PA, and then introduced the Somerset Camper line in September 2011.
Buying a Somerset appears equivalent to buying a Fleetwood / Coleman.
Here is a link to the news article in the RV D@ily Report announcing the introduction of the Somerset Camper in Sept. 2011.
Here are links to discussions and photos of new models shown at an RV Show in September 2011
Other options and comparisons to a Fleetwood / Coleman Sun Valley (my camper) include the following:
Investor CEO Warren Buffet's company Berkshire Hathaway (stock chart) owns
Forest River RV, which now owns most popup manufacturers (except Jayco/Starcraft).
* Forest River's Coachman Brands - Viking or Clipper brands
Coachman is owned by Forest River, which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway
Closest option to the popular Fleetwood Sun Valley Floor Plan is the
Viking 2406 or Viking 2308ST or
An idea of an actual discounted price of the 2011, found on the internet is:
Clipper 126 is around $9,900*, compared to the
Fleetwood Sunvalley which was closer to $11-12,000*
*Options may not be comparable
Has stepper door
Does NOT have Sunbrella Tenting
VRX-14 Sectionalized Tent w/Storm Cuff and Sunbrella 302 Windows
Does not have the Fleetwood Lift System
Does not have the Fleetwood Backsaver bed supports
* Forest River - Flagstaff or Rockwood brands
Forest River is owned by Berkshire Hathaway
Closest option to a Fleetwood Sun Valley Floor Plan is the Flagstaff 227 or Rockwood 2270
An idea of an actual discounted price of the 2011, found on the internet is:
Flagstaff 227 is around $8,700* compared to the
Fleetwood Sunvalley which was closer to $11-12,000*
*Options may not be comparable
Does NOT have Sunbrella Tenting
Five-Piece Vinolon Supreme Tenting
Tinted Vinyl Windows (needed without Sunbrella Tenting)
Does not have the Fleetwood Lift System
Does not have the Fleetwood Backsaver bed supports
Forest River also owns Polomino now, which has always been a lower priced brand
* Jayco - Jayco or Starcraft brand
Privately held
Closest option to a Fleetwood Sun Valley Floor Plan is the Jayco 1207
The Jayco 1207 is a popular competitor to the Fleetwood/Coleman Sun Valley
An idea of an actual discounted price of the 2011, found on the internet is:
Jayco 1207 is around $8,800* compared to the
Fleetwood Sunvalley which was closer to $11-12,000*
*Options may not be comparable
Does NOT have two (2) King Size Beds. One bed is a Twin Size Bed on the Jayco.
(to me, this is the biggest disadvantage of the Jayco similar floorplan vs Fleetwood)
Does NOT have Sunbrella Tenting
Has instead, Tinted vinyl windows with fine-mesh screening
Does not have the Fleetwood Lift System
Does not have the Fleetwood Backsaver bed supports