First Time RV owner...need some advice please!

How about you rent one for a week to see what you need vs what you want and to better prepare yourself to evaluate/question a potential purchase?

Welcome to the Forum.

So far you have been given good advice and I think you will get a lot more.

Let me address Winnie and the Fleetwood issue,I have had both,a class A Winnie and a Class C Fleetwood Tioga. Both have good Quality build in my opinion.

The problem that I see with the Winnie is that it points to very poor maintenance if you found this many things wrong. Another thing to consider is at that size and with 2 slides you may be close to the max GVWR ( Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)and maybe close to your GAWR(Gross Axel Weight)
Leaving you with a smaller CCC (Cargo Carrying Weight)

All a fancy way of saying it may be overloaded before you get all your supplies and people onboard. This was the problem that I had with my Winnie.

As for the Fleetwood if they are willing to do the PDI and orientation that sounds better. Yes it will be smaller without the slideout but it is a very nice floor plan,with the rear bed,couch and the Curbside Dinette. I had that on my Winnie and it so much better than on the other side where you will look at your neighbors while eating. We also liked that we could sit there and watch the kids play outside.

As for the upgrades,that is the fun of having your own rig you can do what ever you want to make it your own. I know I did.

As you can see in my signature that I have a Fleetwood Tioga that was a Former Rental it had proper maintenance and has held up very well in that harsh environment. I have had absolutely no problems with it.

Good luck in your Quest for a RV that will suit your needs and budget.

Especially check the cab over area for water leaks. Look for stains, feel and gently push on the corners to make sure there is no "give". Smell for mildew. Do this around the coach door, vents, and all windows. Make sure all appliances work. Make sure the house batteries have the correct amount of water in them. Check the date codes on the tires, and plan to replace them if over 6 years old, no matter how good the tread looks. Have the truck engine and tranny checked by someone who knows these things. Good Luck

You're on the right track...checking things out before you buy. Have a mechanic go through the chassis too. Plan on new tires (safety) right away. Both brands are respectable. Get on the roof lay on the ground and look underneath with a light. open every drawer, cabinet, compartment and look for water damage. Good luck, it's a lot of fun once you learn the ropes.