We Almost Had An '08 3210!

The anticipation of that brand new RV slowly grew and grew and like a kid on Christmas morning I was up and adam at o'dark-thirty. We drove the requisite 108 miles to pick up our baby! Let me tell you I was prepared. I had done my research, read your positive and negative comments on this forum and had my PDI list in hand. I had my gasoline for the generator & pumping station test; a DVD and a CD for the A/V tests; circuit tester; everything I had been reminded of in your postings. It poured cats & dogs all the way to the dealership and the wind was howling (should have taken these as warning signs).

We arrived to see our name scrolling across the marquee "CONGRATULATIONS TO THE (insert name here) ON THE PURCHASE OF A NEW '08 CYCLONE". Never had I had my name in lights before--very cool! Anticipation is about ready to boil over by now. Momma tried to calm me until the tag and title paperwork was complete and then the PDI would begin. (I just want to sneak a look-see at the new girl but she is hidden in the service bay due to the weather.)

Finally we are ushered into the service area by our PDI escort. I round the corner and there she is; just gorgeous with her bright Full Throttle graphics, her shining wheels and her deployed awning. The door is open beckoning me to enter and have a gander.

As I climb the steps I have to stop and back on down for another gander. What the He*@! Where did the rear garage door disappear to?! That's right folks, there is no garage man-door on our precious rig!

Two full size scooters, when tied down using the factory tiedown points, cannot be accessed unless the rear ramp is lowered. The door from the kitchen swings right across the front tiedown and probably wouldn't clear the front fender.

We are awaiting word from Brian (Cyclone Product manager) via our Sales Rep as to how the evident "faux pas" will be remedied.

While we awaited the hot-line's ring, we continued the PDI which proved very enlightening and educational. We will save these observations for another post until we hear from Mecca in Elkhart, IN.

I signed up with this org the day that my order was placed and I have visited religiously since. I thank all of you for your insights and to Jim Beletti for what I see as an untiring devotion to this site and to Heartland Owners in general.

Hi TrukNutt,

So sorry to hear that your new arrival was not as you expected it. I hope there is a cure soon for you on it.

Thanks for the kind words. The forum is a lot of work for me and for my moderator, John but it is rewarding too. I am pleased when members like yourself finds information of interest and assistance.

Jim

Truknutt,

Is the "missing" door a factory mid-year change, or big oversight? My O8 3210 definitely has an access door from the outside. You are right about the interior door from the kitchen not clearing the fender of a bike tied-down on that side. (The door actually hits my tie-down strap before it hits the fender). Bottom line is you can't access the bikes from the kitchen door -- even if the slide is out.

You're going to love your 3210 -- when you actually pick it up. I had a few things wrong with mine that annoyed me a lot and my dealer is "less than impressive", but Heartland is doing their part to make everything right.

Jett

Jett,

We still haven't heard from our sales folks as of last night so I can't say if there was a mid-year change or not but, you have to admit the AWOL door is more than a slight mid-year change; it's an engineering disaster!

We first saw a Cyclone at the Timonium, MD Show last February and were really impressed with the balance of function, craftsmanship/decor, and price. Hoping to get another glimpse of a cleaned up rig, we ventured to the Hershey, PA show in September and found 1 lonely 3912 way down back in the corner. Turns out the dealer was just taking on the Cyclone line and was "feeling out" the public's desire for the product line. They had Razors and I know they deal in Keystone Raptors.

We originally ordered a 3210 with both Full Throttle & A/V Metal packages, Auburn decor, upgraded reefer w/ice maker, security monitor, counter extension and roll down screen for the garage. What arrived was a 3210LE Full Throttle. The Sales Rep had just received the new LE info and according to him the LE was what you got if you ordered the A/V Metal Package. I figured new term for old stuff!

Can you please compare your rig to what I found?

On the walk around, I noticed that there are now:
a) 2 gray tanks (is this due to the Washer Prep Package?)
b) The infamous diamond plate tool box is now just an uncovered deep well with 3 d-rings in the underbelly storage compartment
c) New dresser/cabinet layout in the bedroom (nearly identical to the Keystone units) that has the Security Monitor screwed to the ceiling now
d) A rack/shelf in the latrine
e) Dinette table only has 2 legs (wobbly)
f) Momma's spice rack and message center are gone
g) Safety rack for loft is gone
h) No doors on top cabinets over the kitchen sink
i) Helmet rack in garage is replaced with a corner cabinet box to house a baby TV (hookups are inside)
j) There were no cabinets up top (where the electric beds would park if we had them)
k) Now has about a 24 inch fold-up shelf in the garage instead of the brushed aluminum work center
l) LED taillights
m) TV moved from over the entry door to the entertainment center
n) Lastly, the missing man door and steps

The amp for the Audio has power leads that are exposed for a youngster to grab and the Auburn decor in the dinette didn't match the Sand Dune decor in the bedroom.

We lost quite a bit of storage cabinetry between the garage and the bedroom and the missing doors in the kitchen render the cabinets as mere cubby-holes.

I don't mind, and was prepared for, some design changes due to the new model year but, the (engineering) thought process is somewhat confusing to me. The tiny corner cabinet box hiding the TV hook-ups, the lightswitches for the garage are still located near the non-existent entry door, and where do you store a 12 foot ladder in a 10 foot garage when there are 2 bikes strapped in?

I'll stop ranting now! I was just taken aback by the numerous changes made to the model in less than 3 months. Should have waited but just couldn't pass up on the deal.

On a positive note, we don't have a bank note, yet!

"Stayin' Positive in PA!"

TrukNutt,

My "08" has to be one of the first 08's that came out of the factory -- I bought it in Feb 07.

(a) Mine only has 1 gray water tank (I sure wish it had 2)
(b) The "tool box" is over rated -- the lid is more trouble than it's worth. I'll probably remove mine one of these days.
(c) I don't have the security system
(d) I have a rack & shelf in the latrine
(e) My table has 3 legs but we don't use it any more. I removed 2 of the leg recepticals out of the floor (one is recessed). We use a smaller, lighter folding table.
(f) Spice rack and message center are there
(g) No loft bed safety rail
(h) Upper cabinets have doors
(I) I have the corner tv cabinet (but use it for storage)
(j) Cabinets in garage are there -- great storage area! I wonder why HL dropped them.
(k) Work center is there
(l) I have LED taillights
(m) The TV is over the entry door -- but I've been telling my wife I'm going to move it to the entertainment center one of these days. (I thought I had an original idea -- but I guess the factory thought of it too)
.. and of course I have the much needed man door and steps.

I leave the ladder attached. It can't be stored in the back.

Little things I like

(a) The plastic slide-out bins behind the wheels -- great place to keep chocks, a few leveling blocks, etc.

Things I don't like

(a) The screen door won't stay down
(b) 1/2 of the water in the freshwater tank drains out going down the road.

Jett said:

(b) 1/2 of the water in the freshwater tank drains out going down the road.

Click to expand...

Are you kidding?

Mine did the same thing. Heartland has a fix for it that was completed by my dealer. It works just fine now.

water tank fix ?

What was the factory fix for the water tanks" my dealer never fix them, and Lots of other things!!!
07 Cyclone
04 GMC 2500 HD
2 kids