RV Experts - What About This RV?

   / RV Experts - What About This RV? #1  

Hakim

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Joined
Feb 26, 2001
Messages
893
Location
San Diego, CA
Someone recently pointed me in the direction of the Winnebago View. It is the same as the Navion. It uses a Dodge Sprinter body and a diesel Mercedes engine that gets 22 mpg. Its 23 ft long and has a slide out. Its big yet small.

Might this just be the best of both worlds?

I have seen 2006 models for around $65,000. Probably some deals out there if I look around a bit.

Anyone have some more specific insights into this RV?

Any help much appreciated.
 
   / RV Experts - What About This RV? #2  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Might this just be the best of both worlds? )</font>

It certainly "appears" to be so, and I haven't actually looked at them or talked to anyone who owns one, so I'll just mention a few of my concerns.

1. I read somewhere (and can't remember where) that there may be plans to make that chassis available with a larger V-6 diesel engine. If they do, the resale will really drop fast on the existing 5 cylinder ones.

2. The specs on their website show the gross vehicle weight ratings, but I haven't found anything to show the curb weight. In Texas, at least, you have to actually show a weight ticket from a certified scale for that particular vehicle in order to register it. Over the years, many Class C RVs have been built that were overloaded before you put any personal property in them. Just one example is the Dolphin that was built on the little Toyota chassis. I'm certainly not saying this Sprinter would be overloaded, but I'd want to see a weight ticket to learn what the load capacity would be before I'd consider one.

3. Remember the little Winnebago Rialta with first a gasoline and then a diesel Renault engines? What a disaster! I don't know how they're doing now with the VW engine. This Sprinter should certainly be much better, but I'd approach with caution.

4. Fuel mileage sounds great, but I think potential buyers should actually drive one, of course. Does it have reasonable acceleration? How well does it hold its speed on hills?

It certainly looks great, and there are companies other than Winnebago now manufacturing Class C motorhomes on that chassis, so I'd sure want to look at some of them as well and compare the different brands.
 
   / RV Experts - What About This RV? #3  
Hakim

I don't have direct experience but I have talked to the handlers at the dog shows that use modified Sprinters to carry themselves and dogs to the shows. All have had good things to say about them.

If I were buying I would want the dual tired rear axle.

Vernon
 
   / RV Experts - What About This RV? #4  
I got to drive one.
I thought it handled well and had more power than I expected. The rv I drove was empty as far as what you would normally carry when using it, so you have to keep that in mind. I think that is the most modern well designed rv I have seen in it's price range.
I have read many post's that they are going to a v-6 also. I would sure look into that before I bought one. Of course I guess there is always the chance that the v-6 motor may or may not be an improvement.
I think it is worth a test drive in one if you are interested in it.
If you haven't already go to rv.net and do a search on them and you can see what owners think of them, from what I recall most of it was good.
 
   / RV Experts - What About This RV?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Bird,

I am a true neophyte with RVs. Have never owned one, and am feeling my way along. Your insights are so helpful. I will follow up on your various points when I go to look at one in person.

I live in San Diego but still go over to Tucson now and then. I am thinking I would get a better deal in Tucson or Phoenix than here.

Every time I drive by RV dealers in AZ, they seem to have just OCEANS of them on the lots. Got to be more price flexible, I would think.

One thing I want to avoid is having to spend too much of my time on maintenance and repairs. I understand that an RV is more "hands on" for the owner than a SUV. But I am not all that good with automotive repairs.

Also, I want something that is "relatively" mobile within a town. I don't want to have to tow a car. My trips are probably not going to exceed 7-10 days at a time.

I think I recall Bird, that you mentioned the "Chinook" a while back on a thread, as being one of those you though were an excellent choice. Any idea how the Chinook compares with the Winnebago View?

Thanks again for your comments. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / RV Experts - What About This RV? #7  
Having had several RV's over the last 20 years, small and big, I would have to agree with Bird regarding the GVWR. These smaller units are notorious for not being able to carry any additional weight. That unit is rated for 10,200 lbs. I would have the selling dealer load it with fuel, propane and water, then take to a truck scale. If the wet weight is more than 9000 lbs run away quickly. For 2 people you probably want around 1500 lbs for yourselves and gear/food, etc.

Good luck with your search. The RV lifestyle is a great one.
 
   / RV Experts - What About This RV? #9  
Gas = 6 lbs/gal

Water = 8.33 lbs/gal

Not sure of the propane weight.
 
   / RV Experts - What About This RV? #10  
Hakim, I feel that anything I say about the quality of the different brands would be so badly dated that I wouldn't want you to put a lot of stock in my opinion. So . . ., keeping that in mind; in past years the Chinook was a very high quality brand while the Winnebago was mid-range at best. For quality of the basic rig, you have to look at things such as the type of framing used, type of insulation, type of exterior skin, type of roof, routing of electrical wiring and plumbing, material used for plumbing and fixtures, quality of indoor fabrics, hardware used for cabinet drawers and doors, and on and on. You're trying to evaluate both a home and a motor vehicle simultaneously.

As for "hands on", yes, you're maintaining both a home and motor vehicle. Most of the maintenance is fairly simple, but some can get both complicated and expensive. There are only a few manufacturers of each of the "appliances"; i.e., refrigerator, furnace, air-conditioner, cookstove, water heater, water pump, generator, etc. so I don't put a great deal of importance on which brands an RV has, although with brothers in the RV service business, they do have some preferences.

Slideouts - - personally, I hate'em and my brothers love'em. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif They do give you a lot more living space, and obviously, I'm in a very small minority since the vast majority of RVs have them now. But they add weight, maintenance headaches, and are a good source of water leaks in the rain. Some use just an electric screw type mechanism while others are electric over hydraulic. Repairs can get quite expensive. And it can really get frustrating when you get ready to go and find the slideout won't go in.

One of the most common problems with RVs are water leaks, both plumbing and rain getting in. Many of the other problems are simply the result of lack of use. Air-conditioners get clogged by mud daubers, water heaters freeze and burst when someone forgets or doesn't know how to properly winterize them, water heaters rust out after a few years, furnaces get mice nesting in them, and such things.

And when all is said and done, regardless of brands and quality, the most important factor is your personal preference. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Is the floorplan right to suit you? Is the seating comfortable? Does it have the storage space you want in the locations you want? Is the bathroom comfortable? Is the bed the right size? Does it have the appliances and features you like, such as TV, VCR/DVD, microwave and/or convection oven, ice maker, TV antenna or satellite?

The "options" available on RVs almost make selecting everything to build a house seem simple. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And of course it's been 16 years since we were in Tucson and there were some good RV dealerships there. I don't really know about the choices in different parts of the country, but right now there are more RVs on the lots of more RV dealers within 15 miles of my home than I've ever seen anywhere in the country; RV dealerships all along I-35E from just north of Dallas to just north of Denton. So many, in fact, that it's mind boggling. I don't see how they can all sell enough to stay in business.
 

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