2024 Fortis Motorhome Is a Family Dream: On-Road Living With a "Kid Kave"

Folks, the machine you see in the image gallery is known as the Fortis. It's the work of Fleetwood RV. You may have heard this name before; after all, we've featured their works on several occasions. But this is the 2024 version, so let's see what this crew has in store for us this time.

If you ever make it across the manufacturer's website, you'll notice that Fleetwood likes to consider this motorhome as the one that's "In it for the long haul." With that said, Fleetwood aimed to create a unit that's "reliable, will get you to where you're going," and will do so in "maximum comfort." Need I say more?

If you're still curious to see what this fresh lineup is all about, then kick back for the next few minutes and let these words take you away on a little trip through imagination. Heck, if you're one of the lucky few with a quarter million - $224,786 for the least expensive floor plan, the 32RW - just hanging around waiting to be spent, then you don't even need to dream; if the Fortis is up your alley, you know what to do.

Now, picture yourself in the possession of such a behemoth. It may be sitting in your driveway or even the dealership lot. No matter where it first finds you, you should sit back and marvel at it for a bit. Once you've done all that, grab your clothes, adventure gear, cooking and outdoor utensils, tools, even a washing machine, and hop inside. Give your significant other that goofy smile you've got, and start up your Fortis.

As you're driving along, a Ford F-53 chassis will be handling whatever the road throws at you, and creating the power you need will be a 7.3 l V8 engine with 335 HP and 468 lb-ft of torque. An automatic 6-speed TorqShift transmission with all the buffers you'd ever need ensures optimized power and consumption of all 80 gals (303 l) of fuel.

With the road spread out before you, you continue your journey, only to make it to your destination with a few hours of sunlight left in the day. There's more than enough time to get ready for your first on-road sunset experience.

At this stage, you'll want to unfurl the countless slide-outs that the four Fortis floor plans offer, set up that outdoor dining and lounging space, and even throw up a tent or two outside the unit if you feel like spending the night under a clear sky and teaching the kids all you know about the starry sky. Talk about tapping into timeless human activities.

With everything in place, it's time to whip up a quick meal to enjoy during the event. Depending on the floor plan that you've chosen, you'll be able to either whip up meals inside your Fortis or, as is the case with the 36Y, by using the outdoor kitchenette. This is the floor plan for me, folks!

Sometime later, the sun begins to call it a day. All the while, you and your family are all hanging around on lawn chairs, enjoying the show as though you're at an IMAX. A look toward your significant other, and that smile creeps across your face again. They smile back, just as goofy, and you both crack into laughter.

Suddenly, you look around to see that the kids are missing, but right before you start to panic, you spot them lying down on the roof of your Fortis, enjoying the show. You nudge your Mr. or Mrs. and direct their attention to the kids. "Aww!"

Once the sun finishes its daily spectacle, the night finds you with a fire throwing a golden glow upon your Fortis, and shadows begin to tell their tales, obviously fueled by your own tales of moments past and the future in the making. Is anyone up for some s'mores?

It's now late in the night, and it's time for bed. This is where I was blown away by what Fleetwood RV has achieved with the Fortis. As I explored the floor plans, I could make out at least four sleeping areas suitable for up to eight folks. This is made possible by jack-knife sofas, modular dinettes, drop-down beds, king-size mattresses for owners, and even bunk beds for the kids.

One unit, the 36Y, introduces a new feature to the lineup, the Kid Kave, a trademarked idea that's in full bloom here. What's the Kid Kave all about? Think of it as a Man Cave but for your kids. It's a solid wait to contain all the chaos and mess that children can leave behind in their wake. The little ones even have their own bathroom, entertainment center, bunk beds, and modular sofa in this space.

Honestly, I have nothing else to say about the Fortis lineup; I find it amazing enough. But, if you need a bit more incentive to go for one of these puppies, get in touch with Fleetwood, and they can chat your ear off for hours about all that Fotis has to offer and how it can change your life.