Are Winnebago RV's the top of the line or close to it?

We found when looking at RV's over the last 45 years that the name on it really did not tell you much about the build quality. While the materials may be good who ever put it together may have stripped many screws, done things fast but not right ect. We have found top line rigs that were built half as nice a mid line rigs. We have found we have to judge each rig on what we find. Also because you find a real great one in one line look at another and it may not be half as nice. Really think it depends on the inspection and who was working on them that day. So it really comes down to learning a lot about what to look for in a rig and finding the one you feel best about.

I can vouch for Winnebago Itasca since I've owned one for ten years. No maint. issues except one in all that time. Fuel sensor in tank went out had to be replaced. You can do all the work on it yourself (especially if you have a garage to keep it in).

Well ... I disagree with the Winnebago naysayers with respect to what I bought from Winnebago.

Here's some highlights of our non-slide 2005 E450 Itasca 24 foot Class C 324V that rank it pretty high when comparing it to other Class C rigs - from what I have learned reading over the years, have discovered from checking out used RVs, and from attending RV shows. These details, IMHO, put it up there with - or in some details, above - Phoenix Cruiser, Born Free, and maybe some of the Canadian models:

1) Single piece fiberglass roof.
2) Deeply crowned fiberglass roof - not flat or slightly crowned.
3) The fiberglass roof has complete rolled over edges all along both sides.
4) The fiberglass roof has one-piece broad rolled over caps on both ends of it.
5) The roof insulation is at least 2 inches thick - maybe 3 inches.
6) Floor and wall insulation is about 1 1/2 - 2 inches thick, and the floors are steel lined on the bottom side facing the road.
7) All wheel wells are steel lined.
8) The driver and passenger side running boards are reinforced aluminum instead of fiberglass.
9) There are seven (7) outside storage cabinets - all lockable.
10) All outside storage cabinets are steel-walled and carpeted.
11) Two of the outside storage cabinets run cross-wise under the floor
for stowing long items like fishing poles, shovels, and beach umbrellas.
12) Winnebago included a full size spare and rim mounted out of the way up underneath in the back between the frame members just like on pickup trucks. A heavy duty lug wrench was included with the equipment for tire changing.
13) All coach framing is aluminum (instead of wood) with a special interlocking system used to attach it to the aluminum roof struts.
14) All four outside wheels came with brite stainless steel wheel liners and a special wrench for detaching them when changing a tire.
15) All cabinets are attached to the walls aluminum framing.
16) All cabinet fronts are solid hardwood.
17) All cabinet hinging mechanisms are steel.
18) All drawer latches are gravity locked.
19) A four-unit rechargeable FRS station is mounted by the exterior door.
20) The outside grey and black water tanks are 12 volt heated for cold weather drycamping.
21) The propane furnace has multiple rotatable outlets with the ducting going to them running along the inside cavities so as to also keep the inside fresh water lines and the fresh water tank from freezing.
22) The battery box is steel lined, is vented to the outside, is accessible from the inside of the coach, and is large enough for up to two Group 31 12V batteries.
23) The air conditioner has eight rotatable and adjustable-flow outlets.
24) The outside shower has a local ON/OFF water pump switch right beside it.
25) The cab mirrors are remote controlled and heated.
26) A master battery switch is located right by the coach door for easy access when fueling up for shutting off the ignition source for all propane flames.
27) There is a switch on the dash for powering the cab radio from either the engine battery or coach batteries.
28) There is a momentary booster switch on the dash for paralleling the coach batteries with the engine battery for extra engine starting power.
29) There is an outside entertainment center with it's own independent radio and antenna. This center includes an outside 120V AC outlet and an outside 12V receptacle.
30) The equipment includes a bumper-detachable table for a small BBQ.
31) The dash radio and dash CD player can be routed throughout the coach via built-in surround speakers.
32) The galley includes double deep sinks.
33) The galley includes a hinged fold-out table to provide more kitchen surface area and a cover for one of the sinks to provide more kitchen surface area.
34) The entire areas under both seats of the dinette are available for storage - no furnace or fresh water their to take up space.
35) The driver's seat can be tilted back almost fully - because the back of the dinette seat folds down when traveling to allow this.
35) The freshwater pump and it's piping system includes a built-in valve and hose for easy winterizing.
36) The grey and black dump valves are completely enclosed within a steel lined storage compartment that is way up high for great ground clearance.
37) The above storage area also includes enough room for storage of 20 feet of dump line so a rear box bumper is not required for this.
38) The 30 amp electrical cable, plus another 50 foot heavy duty extension cord can be completely stored within a steel lined storage compartment that is way up high for great ground clearance.
39) The above storage area also has enough room for storage of 75 feet of freshwater tank refilling hose.
40) The 4000 watt built-in Onan generator is mounted way up high right beside the frame. The bottom of it cannot be seen from the outside, so there is great ground clearance and sound suppression for the generator.
41) All interior cabling is bundled within, and protected by, additional cable wraps.
42) The furnace and air conditioner are controlled digitally for tight control of their temperature bands.
43) All coach system readouts are located in a small area right on the wall by the cooktop.
44) I'm 6'2" tall and can stand all the way up in the shower with some room to spare.
45) The tanks sizes are FW=46 gallons, GW=29 gallons, BW=39 gallons, and propane = 18 gallons.
46) The roof access ladder is solidly mounted - it has never loosened in about seven years of my 210+ lbs. going up and down it.
47) The RV came with an electric coach step.
48) The cooktop and oven underneath it are vented through to the outside with a fan to assist with the exhausting of fumes and vapors from the cooking and baking.

Other than it's skin not being aluminum, and perhaps it's interior not being as prissy looking, I consider it as every bit as well built as what I've read about Lazy Daze. Our rig's biggest "however" is that it's build quality and feature set combination is no longer available in a Ford based 24 foot Winnebago built product. The last close Winnebago model was their 24 foot 2006 Outlook 324V Class C on the optional E450 chassis.

Comparing our 05 Jayco and my grandparents 02 Itasca I'd say yes.

It depends on who you ask, I think Winnebago & Itasca are top of the line, depends upon which model you choose. They have entry level on up, they are doing something right or they still would not be in business. Even entry level models have fiberglass roofs. If you buy a Winnebago product join the WIT Club. Regards, Dick

Markiemark32 wrote:
or call these folks


Unfornately, most to many manufactuers turn out sub-par units at times.


Later,
Markiemark

Ya most of us can tell stories about different RV MFG's we had problems with. Mine were with another popular MFG who moved to Mexico.

Winnebago and Itasca same.
Both built in same location.

or call these folks


Unfornately, most to many manufactuers turn out sub-par units at times.


Later,
Markiemark

Navion is pretty much the same as a View, except it's in the 'Itasca' line. Winnebagos are middle of the line, I would say, but the View & Navion are considered some of their better products.