Forum Discussion

Community Alumni

Aug 19, 2016

2017 View/Navion 24G

The 24G has enough new and changed features to where I am considering trading out of my Navion iQ CL. There are few questions I have that maybe someone who owns a 24G can answer. The 24G comes with alloy wheels. However, the two inside rear and the spare are factory steel wheels which I am OK with. After reading a bit, I am not certain that I like the idea of mixing wheel types if it is just for looks and maybe a slight increase in load capacity. The local dealer has suggested that they would, if I preferred, factory wheels and different tires giving me some credit for the alloy wheels and take-off tires. The Michelin tires that I have now after 15,000 miles have been better than the original Continentals. Enough improvement in my opinion to make that change at the start.

The floor inside is raised a bit more than the cab so that even when the cab seats are raised up and turned around, seat booster cushions are necessary and listed as an optional expense. They feel a little awkward when seated on them; just feel a little tippy when you lean a bit.

There are more sleeping spaces than there are seat belts (3). Especially with the cab-over bunk. Obviously, the 24G is for empty nesters.

The standard tankless hot water heater has a circulating system so that hot water is instantly available at the fixtures farthest away from the heater. Nice trick, but I still would like to know how that is done. Currently, the bathroom sink nearly fills before hot water is available in our RV.

Winnebago applied a little magic to create a larger slide out to accommodate a dinette that will seat four people. Some compromises had to be made elsewhere to not make the motorhome larger on the outside. One trick is the swinging bathroom sink. I am not completely sure there is enough room inside with the door closed to move it over the toilet or the shower while standing inside. A bit snug, but that is the reality of a motorhome that can park in places other rigs can't.

The dinette table has two inset cupholders near the window side. I see them as an annoyance for two people seated there for a meal or playing cards. They must use something very sharp to cut such a clean hole through a foam core table top. Nice. I still could do without the holes. I used the ones on my boat for sure. None on any plane that I have flown on. Always seems that the only time we hit bad air is when beverages are served, but still I have yet to spill anything in more than 50 years of air travel. Cup holders are for cookie crumbs, paper clips, loose coins and pills you should have taken but could not find. My opinion.

The privacy door that closes off the rear bedroom has nothing keep it from swinging open if the the coach is not perfectly level.

The full body paint option adds more than $6,000 over the standard 'Graphics' package of decals and such. I actually prefer the 'look' of the standard package. Is the full body paint more durable to justify the expense?

Do the slide outs run off of the chassis battery or the coach battery? The dealer that I visited started the engine first before showing us the interior with the slides in. I seemed to know a little more about this rig than the salesperson showing it, but I chalk it up to having driven a Skinny Winnie for nearly 60,000 miles and I read some stuff on the Internet. The 24G was brand new on the lot, and with so many different models, they had not had time to get completely familiar. Right now we don't have slide outs and that was sort of intentional. Maybe that was because I know too many people that have had issues. Should I assume current designs are more reliable?

I just remembered; I think I saw some speakers mounted on the outside. Other than tailgating, when would you be able to use them and not tick off your neighbors? I see them everywhere, but never heard anyone using them. A friend has outside speakers on his 5th wheel and I am not impressed with the sound. If it were up to me, I would eliminate them and put in a way to transmit the sound to portable Bluetooth speakers (or headphones).

Over the years, I have done quite a bit of modifications to my Navion and now it's nearly the way I want it. If I can't get a new one close to my preferences, I will run the wheels off what we have.

I do like the idea of LED lights over the power hungry halogen ones that burn my fingers. The built-in 1,000 Watt inverter is a nice touch.

Not having to climb over my wife and 85 pound Lab to get out of bed would be nice. The other day I smash a toe into the corner and ouch. Black and blue.

Some news from 24G owners would be great.

Class C

MobileBasset
Explorer
Aug 19, 2016
Good job! You've convinced me to run the wheels off the one I have.
j-d
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2016
Speaking of Aluminum Wheels, most dually installations have alum on only the Outers. The Inners stay steel. I think part of it is the OEM lugs aren't long enough to mount two alum wheels since they're thicker than OEM steel wheels.

EDIT: Probably not possible to use dual alum wheels, even by changing the wheel studs to longer ones. Thinking back the way ours (Ford) is, the portion of the hub surface that "pilots" the wheels (supporting the load) probably doesn't extend far enough to support two thicker wheels...

Also, some alum are polished on only one side. In other words, the "dished" side of the rears is polished and the "domed" side of the fronts is polished. Owners of a rig with alum could have three different wheels: Front Alum, Rear Outer Alum, Rear Inner (maybe Spare too) Steel.

We've owned (still have) one vehicle with Aluminum Wheels. They ARE pretty, new. After awhile they get scarred and we had ours professionally refinished. Now that coating is peeling. They're pretty, there's a slight weight advantage (18-wheelers take advantage of that, to stay under max CCWR), and an alum wheel should run a little more true than stamped steel. I'm not sensitive enough to feel any difference.

I'm saying, I'd pass, given the choice again...
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Aug 19, 2016
Flarpswitch wrote:

The full body paint option adds more than $6,000 over the standard 'Graphics' package of decals and such. I actually prefer the 'look' of the standard package. Is the full body paint more durable to justify the expense?
.

IMHO ego sells more full body paint than need.

is that the model where the bed is split and the bottom has to hinge up to get the rear slide in?
bumpy
Olddud
Explorer
Aug 19, 2016
We don't have one but have been looking at them for 2 weeks, and test drove one. The aluminum wheels are standard. The bed does buckle in the middle, but you can get to the contents through the outside also. From the inside, it looks like a challenge.

The problem we have with it is OCCC. If you get the "standard" options that every dealer seems to order, plus bed over cab and diesel gen set, the OCCC is probably less than 1000lbs. If 3 people are travelling, you will probably go over the OCCC, no matter what you do. We saw one with all the bells we wanted, minus the overhead bed, and it had 1086lbs OCCC. I believe the bed adds 120lbs., comparing other models that are identical but with and without overhead bed.

We are now in stop mode after the OCCC problem. We travel very light, and just 2 of us, plus one cat. The two other models have 100-200lbs more OCCC.

I'm with you on the stupid outside speaker thing.
Community Alumni
Aug 20, 2016
Bumpyroad wrote:
Flarpswitch wrote:

The full body paint option adds more than $6,000 over the standard 'Graphics' package of decals and such. I actually prefer the 'look' of the standard package. Is the full body paint more durable to justify the expense?
.

IMHO ego sells more full body paint than need.

is that the model where the bed is split and the bottom has to hinge up to get the rear slide in?
bumpy

The mattress is divided roughly in thirds where the part at the head of the bed is lifted and put on the bottom part to allow the slide (3ft) to come in. The new memory foam mattress is an improvement in previous ones that I have tried out.
NCWriter
Explorer
Aug 20, 2016
We bought a used 24G this year (after owning an LTV Class B Sprinter), and we're happy with it after a five-week trip this summer.

Can't really help you on the 2017 model differences, and we have a sofa in the front slide (no evil cupholders:B) but I can give input on a few things.

We have a Lippert slide system and one of the two living room slide motors conked out soon after we got it. Don't know what brand they use now. It was annoying to have to take it into the shop, but it was a fast fix and the slides really make a huge positive difference for me.

We don't have the chair boosters. I use those front chairs as is every night and find them very comfortable (even after riding in it all day facing the other way). I just raise to the max height, and lower the arm rest if I need to lean on something to stand up. It's very fast and easy to swivel the seats, which was a concern I had, and it utilizes the front cab space as part of your living room. The ride up front is considerably more comfortable for driver and passenger than our 2006 Sprinter cab was.

Ours came with some nice options like full body paint - our previous van had decals. After 10 years on the road, all the van's decals were faded, worn and peeling. The Navion has been on the road since 2012 and the paint makes the RV look brand new. Can't tell you how long it will hold up, or whether it's worth $6K, but it really looks great IMHO.

Agree re the speakers. Never use them, never will.

We're really happy with the back queen bed, and sleep very well on it. I expected a hassle with folding down the top third, but it's not a big deal. Ours does not have a door to the bedroom (came with a heavy curtain we don't use.)

Like all the bathroom storage and we just did some mods to add extra shelves in tall spaces. We have a fixed sink.

We don't have/need a toad. Our old van which we loved was showing its age and was a little too tight after a big dog joined us. The amount of space inside now is a considerable difference, yet it's still quite nimble to drive and we're getting 15-16 mpg. We got a great trade-in on the van, and the 24G is has turned out to be winner for our needs. YMMV.
Community Alumni
Aug 20, 2016
If I could do something with the rear dinette (the only bed) I believe that much of the motivation for getting a newer View/Navion would go away. It won't be cheap, but a whoooooooole lot less than a new RV.

There is a privacy curtain that closes off the back and never used but once when my wife wanted to read during a night drive. That is another thing; the new 24G only has three seatbelts. Our iQ has three captains chairs up front (all swivel and recline and two seatbelts in the right rear dinette seat. There is a water tank under the left side. It will be hard to give up two seats.

If I could get a new View or Navion in lighter colors, full paint or no, I would be interested. Not until we got into situations where the AC was necessary did we discover that the colors on our RV that made cooling a challenge. Ours, I am convinced, is a one of a kind. I have in several trips across the country, never seen another like it. I added a link to the 2009 Navion iQ. Ours is the 'Champion Red'. If you scroll down to the iQ model, you can see the dinette. It seats four adults well for dinner. Two adults and an 85 lb. dog at bedtime, not so much.

http://winnebagoind.com/resources/brochure/2009/09-Navion-iQ-Brochure.pdf
Old_Crows
Explorer
Aug 21, 2016
What I'll suggest is to find a 2016 or earlier View Profile or Navion iQ 24 G. WBGO came out with a new floor plan for 2017.

There were two differnt lounges: sofa bed & L shaped two seat in the slide out. Seat belts for 4.

Lavatory is larger & has a standard sink. Not the the cockamamie swinging mess. Cabinets, cupboard & medicine cabinet in the lav.

They have a standard, dual fuel, 6 gallon water heater.

Generators: 3.6 Kw LP (lighter) or 3.2 Kw diesel

The Profile doesn't have the Snuffy Smith beak for bunk room over the cab.

Mission ready. Two up & two pups & full water tank, I have a little more than 700# reserve capacity.

Sprinter 3500 chassis; 11030# GVWR. '15-16s have V6 turbo/5 speed automagic or the I4 twin turbo/7 speed close ratio automatic. Honest 15 mpg.

We don't have the seat risers.

Painted exterior. Looks like new.

Good to above average quality and build.

Problem areas: small drip behind shower wall due to mangled gaskets and cross threaded fittings; storage for sewer hose is awkward and too small; microwave failed first trip..warranty replacement; minor adjustment to overhead cupboard doors so they all open the same height.

The big deficit is the Coleman Mach 8 heat pump. It is VERY NOISEY inside and out. Works fine even in Texas....but awful noise. Unless you MacGuyver a fix which I did.
Community Alumni
Aug 24, 2016
Today I stopped by the local Winnebago place to look at the 2017 View models they had. The 24G had the Alcoa wheels (standard equipment), but the other two floor plans were equipped with the 'Stylized Chrome Wheels", and option for almost $1,400 on those two models that the dealer ordered. The Alcoa wheels are very plain looking compared to the chrome ones. The Chrome ones appear to be alloy wheels with a chrome or very polished finished. I might re-think the factory steel wheels if I can get the nicer shiny ones instead. However, as they say, "It's cheaper to keep her." So, I may do the practical thing and stick with my Navion for the near future.
Old_Crows
Explorer
Aug 27, 2016
Flarp.... Sprinter 3500s (with duals in the rear) only have al-you-minium wheels on the front and OUTER rear. The inside duals are steel. If they have the shiny, blingy, high shine wheels, they have 6 steel wheels. The shiny bits are stainless wheel covers.

If you had a 2500 (4 wheels) the aluminum jobs are smart and snazzy. According to some, the AL ones may be a couple pounds more weight than steel. But they do look cool and are functional. Having 4 Al and 2 steel, in my opine, is not my cup of tea. Six steel is mo' better.

Criticism about the stainless covers focuses on their shifting on the steel rim. When they shift they damage the valve stems leading to a deflation ... usually at the worst times. If the cover's little grippers are properly adjusted they will stay in place. Or, you can band them to the steel wheel with stainless wire ties.

We had aluminum rims on our 2500 Ventura and, now, covers on our View. No issues with either set up. I DO make it a practice to thoroughly 'pre-flight' our RVs before and during a trip. That includes very close inspection of tires, sidewalls, treads, inflation, temperature (IR gun) AND the position of the covers on the wheels.