Opinions on 2008 Winnebago Access 29T

Winnebago uses two types of construction methods on their fiberglass roofs:

1) One method gives you a flat roof with the roof's side edges joining the coach sidewalls inside a molded strip. (probably the least costly for them)

2) Another method gives your a curved ("crowned") roof with rolled side edges molded right into the rest of the roof. These rolled edges nicely overlap (about 3 inches) the sidewalls. (probably expensive for them)

Method 2) is the best for strength on top (giving less cracks over time in the top fiberglass sheets), and long-term leak-proofness along the side edges.

I just looked at the Winnebago site again for photos showing the rears of their current Class C motorhomes. Their Access Premier line appears to use method 1) for the roofs. Their Aspect line appears to use method 2) for the roofs.

Reading their Class C "Overviews" of the two lines, it looks like Winnebago considers the Aspect line as the more upscale one - hence with the superior roof construction.

A used Aspect Winnebago Class C might be the better unit.

other opinions about the 2008 Winnebago Access 29T?

Let me tell you what I THINK goes on with Wheelbase, Rear Overhang, and Axle Loading...

It's my belief that the Floorplan drives the Wheelbase. To have a Walkaround Queen Bed requires a certain-length bedroom. A little longer if the bed lays Lengthwise to the coach, a little more if it's Full Queen vs Short Queen. A little less if the bed is crosswise, but then it's usually in a slide, and the slide adds weight back in the overhang.

Next, the Bathroom. The Designer (notice I didn't say Engineer) puts the shower pan over the rear fender well on one side. Gives you a skylight dome so you can still stand up! On the opposite side s/he puts something that doesn't require floor to ceiling headroom.

What this design does is require a certain body length from rear axle to rear bumper. If a coach with this bed'n'bath design is otherwise only 26-27-ft long, the wheelbase will end up very short. Coach'll be a tail-wager, and you can recognize this with a side view picture of the coach. The "house" (not counting the Class C cabover) will appear "balanced" over the rear axle. If the coach is 28-29-ft, then the wheelbase gets longer as the rear overhang remains the same. The weight balance shifts forward. By the time you get to the 31-ft length (and I should probably say "models" since most C's are longer than the digits in the model number would indicate), that rear overhang is still the same, but there's a lot of house and corresponding wheelbase in front of the axle.
A wheelbase change from 190 to 214 is 24-inches, Two Feet and that can shift literally a ton of weight from rear axle to front. The 29 you're looking at has a slide forward of the axle. That might be enough weight (they say a slide adds 500-pounds) to get enough weight balanced forward.
All this is why I say you'd better weigh this thing. I've heard of two ways to look at weights.
1. Have at least a Third of Total Scale Weight on the Front Axle
2. Have the Front Axle loaded to at least 3/4 of its Rating.
Weigh it. I'll venture it's heavier than you think. Our 31-ft has no slides, and isn't a full basement unit. Austere, basically. Has 218-inch wheelbase and I found that with the two of us on board and loaded for travel, we had 99% of rating on front axle and 98% on rear.
You're looking at a "2008 model" coach. It could be on a 2007 or a 2008 Ford Chassis. I believe it was in 2008 that Ford upgraded the front axle from 4600-lb capacity to 5000-lb. With that came bigger front brakes and a few other beefier components.
There's a discussion running about "fiberglass roof deal breaker." That's another issue, and Winnebagos have the 'glas roof. But I think "overloaded rear axle" just might be deal breaker for me.
Make sure the tires are correctly inflated. I'm sure you'll need 80 rear (which is max) and you can't go wrong with 65 front (max for 5000-lb axle) but NOT MORE. Excess front tire pressure reduces stability.
Just for me, camping as a couple 95% of the time, our no-slide Jayco 31 is fine, and dinette is opposite the sofa. Well diagonally... On your brochure, we'd like 31C. With a family of five, 31J with the extra bunk area intrigues me. 220" wheelbase on both. I'd weigh those too. Gotta be close to full weight rating.
The Fleetwood C's seem OK, but all else equal I'd choose a Winnie model.
Did I mention Weigh It?

j-d wrote:
I wish the wheelbase was longer. Suggest you include a truck stop in your test drive route and weigh it on a CAT Scale. If there's not enough wheelbase, rear axle can be overloaded while front axle doesn't carry enough load for good tracking on the road. Be sure the tires are consistently inflated. Suggest 65 front and 80 rear. See how it drives.

specs show 190" wheelbase. Other models, for example a 2005 Jamboree 31W GT model has 214". How much of a difference will this make?
Thanks

I wish the wheelbase was longer. Suggest you include a truck stop in your test drive route and weigh it on a CAT Scale. If there's not enough wheelbase, rear axle can be overloaded while front axle doesn't carry enough load for good tracking on the road. Be sure the tires are consistently inflated. Suggest 65 front and 80 rear. See how it drives.

We love our Winnie!

Thanks for the input. Yes,it does have the fiberglass skin on the roof. It does have a small slide (dinette only).

It appears to be a good deal at $35K-$37K for a 2008 with 11,000 miles. The storage with rear and side access looks great! The shower is small for my big fat body. Perhaps this should be a hint that I should reduce my body size instead of looking for a bigger rig with a larger shower and larger driver's seat (see my other thread)!!!!

The floorplan is similar to the 31C that we have with the exception of the turned kitchen and rearranged dinette and sofa - I like it! The bathroom setup really works out well for us and is a clever use of the space while affording privacy for the person showering. The other thing we like about the shower there is that we leave the shower door open and have a non-skid mat in there with the water dish for the dogs in there. Nice for during travel!

You will love the onboard genny, especially when you are sight-seeing on hot days and can run the a/c for your furry family member.

As for the Access itself, we've been really happy with ours (Chalet branded because it was a rental, but the model is an Access.) We continue to be impressed with Winnebago's quality.

I like the floor plan the way the bath is laid out. it is like my 1999 chieftain where you have a private potty and can close off the hall when taking a shower for more room. does it have a fiberglass roof? (never thought I would have to ask that question for a winnebago).
some people will fuss about no slide but that is one less thing to have to maintain /go bad.
bumpy