Itasca Spirit

Somebody at Winnebago is making up new stories if they say Itasca was "bought." Winnebago created Itasca to put a motorhome on a Chevrolet chassis at a time when there was a contractual obligation to build the Winnebago motor home on chassis from Chrysler Corp.

That became moot when Chrysler left the medium truck and chassis business, terms of the first Federal bailout. Winnebago as a corporation has used both brand names in different ways since.

Late 1990s through middle of first decade this century, Itasca models were marketed as equivalent to Winnebago models. In C's, Spirit was equivalent to the entry level Minnie, Sundancer was equivalent to upscale MinnieWinnie. The Winnebago got a Chalet brand marketed for the rental market, for which there was not Itasca equivalent. So in that sense, one might say Itasca was a step up, from the Chalet at least.

We have a 2003 30 ft. Class C Itasca with 2 slides. After 1 year we feel it is good quality but some "normal" repairs. We just visited the Winnebago factory in Iowa and learned that Winnebago bought Itasca many years ago and it is sort of a step up but mainly because they all have flex steel furniture. I would buy Itasca with no reservations and feel it is on par with Winnebago. Ours has 30,000 miles is on the Ford 450 chassis and gets 7-11 MPG. We paid $23,000 so yours sounds like a good buy if in good shape.

Don't know about 2001, but in 2003 we looked at both Spirit & Minnie and they were the same, purchased the Minnie. Some interior fabrics were different on pattern & colors other than that the same. Dick

years back I thought that Itasca was a little more expensive and had some options that were "standard" at the higher price. but you could upfit the winnie to "itasca" standards.
bumpy

I'm with Butch on this one.

Dusty R wrote:
We have an '03 Itasca 24V, on an '02 E-350.
Itasca is a step up from the Winnebago. Bought it new in the fall of '02. We've had no real problems with it.

Dusty

What do you base your information on?

I don't believe that they are a step up. If you look at the Winnebago site and compare the same models of Winnebago and Itasca they are the exact same price. If they are a step up I'm sure they would charge more for them otherwise everybody would just buy an Itasca instead of the Winnebago. That wouldn't make much sense. They are the same size same size engines and everything. They also have a little different exterior look to them.

Kind of like Chevy and GMC, same trucks just a little different look.

To the OP the reason for the Itasca is to give Winnebago just another line to sell under another name. A little different look is all.

We have an '03 Itasca 24V, on an '02 E-350.
Itasca is a step up from the Winnebago. Bought it new in the fall of '02. We've had no real problems with it.

Dusty