Considering buying a Winnebago

Sorry I missed this earlier Randy. I know we talked a bit up at GL and glad to hear you're seriously considering it. Before buying our small Class C last March, I'd been thru owning a large pull behind and then the rentals as well, and just from my experience you would enjoy the heck out of the MH. Laurie and I were out to get the smallest rig with adequate towing capacity that could find because of some of the indirect reasons already stated. Here are a few thoughts based on this. You went in ours, and at just 23' it can get cramped for a family of five. For road trips no problem, as the 5 of us and 2 dogs had an easy time traveling the 800 miles up with Alan's new boat in tow. But we wanted the smallest one, not just for price, but for convenience of parking and maneuvering about, and also so that Laurie could drive it with confidence (I gotta sleep sometime). And we've driven the wheels off ours so far, racking up 20K miles since March, and we've enjoyed every minute. Unfortunately, the shorter and even lighter units don't save as much on fuel as I'd hoped they would, as it's the hole in the air you're punching that kills your mileage. And with that in mind, the large pull behind you mentioned would drag your 'Yota mileage down below 10mph. We're on a E350 chassic like Critter, but with the small V-10, and pulling a boat like yours, and not running over 65, the best you'll muster is maybe 8.5mpg. Without a boat, I've seen a best of right at 10mph, and that was only running +/-60mph. As for the size, I can park in most parking lots if I can back in and overhang the curb. You're gonna use it mainly to travel in and then sleep, so I'd try to keep it as small as you can stand, UNLESS, like that one you're looking at, the price is right and you don't plan on a bunch of long trips. You just can't get beat up for $5K. A lot of fun for the money.

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I knew you guys would provide some great feedback to help me decide if this would be right for us.

I am really thinking this old Winnie may be the way to go. I don't plan on pulling the boat very often with it but, I would like to have the option if needed. There is a storage lot right up the road from the lake we frequent that I think I could store it at. this would eliminate a lot of the worries of pulling the boat a long distance with it. I will probably want to keep it somewhere besides my driveway anyway. since I don't think this one is going anywhere until spring time, I think I will continue to look around to see what is available. I like the 5k price tag, at that price I don't have to worry so much about beating it up and backing it into things. like I said, I have never drove anything this large before. If I do decide to get this one I am going to have to take it for a drive because I want to make sure the front end is pretty tight and the steering and brakes are good.

Their is no way my wife would ever consider driving this rig or a C class rig for that matter or even my truck pulling the boat or anything else. So the MH seems to be the only way to go if we want to be able to pick up and move around. I think for the price, if I don't like it, I should be able to recoup my money from it and go another route.

Randy_in_Ohio wrote: Jllogan wrote: Now for the most important question, you are gonna put a wrap on it right? Maybe the nautique logo with some tribal markings around it, you know something that will match your armband tattoo? Nice pic there Justin. I don't know about the tribal markings, and I don't have any tattoos.... but I was definitely thinking a big Nautique logo would be in order! I love the way Reid did the logo on his, very cool. Give me a call when you have a minute, I want to ask you a question about that paint you ordered from DIM.   3-30.704-63-34 anytime after 4PM is good for me.

What paint?

I wonder why there arent more diesels in those ford chassis class cs it would seem to make sense , its another 10 grand up front but wouldnt the savings come right back in say 5 yrs?

That all makes sense. and as for pulling power i guess the v 10 or bb chev would do as much as you could ask for a motor ...advantage to the chev obviously

paaaaleeeease

Whaaaaaaat? All i was saying is that GM's not making the 454, 496, 502, or any big block any longer for a new vehicle; are they? So by virtue of the V-10 being bigger and having more torque than the 6.0 or 6.2 GM, you're seeing the vast majority of new Class C's now going with Fords. And as most people know, the GM big block is/was actually larger than the V-10, (6.8 vs 7.4, 8.1, 8.2) so the GM BB certainly should have had more power than the standard V-10 in a Class C. Ford makes a 3V version V-10 for big Class A units but we're talking the standard for a more apples to apples comparison on the Class C's. I don't think there are any GM chassis' being used for gas Class A's now.   And I can't imagine for even a second that you'd argue that a Ford won't pull a skier:)

Randy
thats a deal..buy it and bring it here...you can triple the price..lol..
check this one on the local ebay..81 smaller than the one you are looking..asking price 49K...
winnebago in argentina

reid you are right , its just us chevy fans reminiscing . I wish all boats steered on the left and jet boats would go faster with bb chevs but alas we have to rest on our laurels of olden day when most records in every facet of racing were set by chevs .................

it is kind of boring...

Not being in the US, what's the difference between a Class A and a Class C motorhome?

class A, are hot chicks, class c, are your normal trailer park chicks,
speaking of, must dash, lets see some of the locals

eric lavine wrote: class A, are hot chicks, class c, are your normal trailer park chicks, speaking of, must dash, lets see some of the locals

... and an old conversion van is a Brunstucky chick

Jllogan wrote: Whatever you get it has to be tall enough for me to sleep under right?

Absolutely Justin!

Randy_in_Ohio wrote: Kevin, I looked into a 5th wheel. But when I looked into the hitch I kinda ruled it out. From what I gathered, because I do not have an 8ft bed, I would need a hitch that slides backward and then forward when turning. The one that was recommended was $1,800! That's when I ruled that option out, and it seems a lot of the 5th wheel floor plans while really nice, don't accommodate a lot of people. They also tend to be more pricy and I'm looking to test the waters without getting in too deep.

Well your in luck because I'm throwing im a slider hitch. It also has a soft ride system and front stbilozers for when its off the truck.
The layout is a room over the truck with a couch, with fold down bunk above and at a 90 are two more bunks. this room can be closed off from the rest. The kitchette and couch in LR can be made into beds and there is a queen bed in the bedroom, This baby can hold some guests.