Forum Discussion

cag61's avatar
cag61
Explorer
May 28, 2017

Looking for Class similar to Winnebago 34y (2009-2012

I am looking to purchase a used Class A diesel either a Winnebago Journey 34y (2009-212) or something similar. I have been doing lots of research and not finding much. Here are my requirements.

Pull a 3 horse trailer ( about 6-7,000 lbs)
Around 34 feet, I go to Combined Driving shows and state parks so I need the shorter length.
We really like the layout where the dining table is opposite the sofa and the TV is on the side with the dining table. One side in this area is all we are looking for, the Winnebago has 3.
A full size Queen bed is a must, none of the shorty ones.

Any ideas would be helpful, Thank you in advance.

Chris

We currently have a Eagle Cap 950 Truck Camper.
  • We really looked at the 2009 34Y, which had the Allison 3000. We bought a Journey 40L in 2010 instead of the 34Y because Winnie put the 2500 Allison in the 2010 34Y. The 2010+ was light enough to tow a full size pickup and still allow plenty of cargo. Then the change it to the 34B, which wasn't 1/2 the floor plan of the Y.
    We had to 40L for almost 7 years and 75,000 miles. It was a great coach!
  • As said above, The Meridian is the Journey's sister so it might widen your search. I see 3 available on RVT that fit your search.

    If you go to winnebagoind.com and select "resources", you can get brochures by year and model.

    This will give you the specs. You can also download the chassis information from the columns on the right. For instance the 2012 34Y had the 340hp Cummins ISB and Allison 2500 and as stated above, a very lean GCWR of 33,000 lbs. To tow over a 5,100 lb trailer would really eat into your cargo capacity. Any of the larger models (36M, 40U, 42E) put you up into the Allison 3,000 and a full 10,000 lb tow capacity beyond your gross vehicle weight, and the 36M is only 36'8".
  • Thanks everyone for the help. I will search out those that you suggested
  • Gjac wrote:
    One thing I found in my search for 32-34 ft MH's is not all DP's in that size can tow 10,000 lbs. For example I looked at a Journey 34H, the 5 speed trans could tow 5000 lbs while the 6 speed could tow 100,000 lbs. Nice MH but no pass tru storage. The CC Allure or Intrigue are very nice if you can find them. HR Vacationer, FW Excursion, NRV Tropical M30, and HR Neptune are some other DP's in that 34 ft range that you might look at. Some of these shorter DP's have WB's shorter than gas MH's and less pass thu storage. Some come with 330 HP or less and will have less performance than a gas MH of similar length if that is important to you. Good luck in your search.
    That would be quite a trick to tow 100,000lb :) IIRC those Meridian/ Journeys that came with ISB engines had the Allison 2000 transmission, and there weren't very many. The rest were all CATs rated at 10k. No pass-thru is a bummer, but the trade off is the coach has one of the lowest profiles out there, AND you don't conk you head trying to get into bays under the slide
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    One thing I found in my search for 32-34 ft MH's is not all DP's in that size can tow 10,000 lbs. For example I looked at a Journey 34H, the 5 speed trans could tow 5000 lbs while the 6 speed could tow 100,000 lbs. Nice MH but no pass tru storage. The CC Allure or Intrigue are very nice if you can find them. HR Vacationer, FW Excursion, NRV Tropical M30, and HR Neptune are some other DP's in that 34 ft range that you might look at. Some of these shorter DP's have WB's shorter than gas MH's and less pass thu storage. Some come with 330 HP or less and will have less performance than a gas MH of similar length if that is important to you. Good luck in your search.
  • cag61 wrote:
    I am looking to purchase a used Class A diesel either a Winnebago 34y (2009-212)

    Pull a 3 horse trailer ( about 6-7,000 lbs)
    Around 34 feet, I go to Combined Driving shows and state parks so I need the shorter length.


    Any ideas would be helpful, Thank you in advance.

    Chris


    If you get a 2006 or newer Ford gas chassis motorhome around 34 foot you can tow 6000 lbs or a little more with hitch improvements, I do it all the time.

    I currently tow 6200 lb stacker trailer with ease with my 33 foot gas Bounder, does not struggle up the mountains.
  • Try looking a used Newmar or Bounder by Fleetwood. BUT I am thinking gas and you need Diesel. Most diesels in A models are 36 foot or more, there are B+ that are diesel I know but they are not going to pull a horse trailer.