I want an RV that's easy to travel with and has modern features to go visit my kids in college and travel. Obviously the Winnebago View and Itasca Navion would be awesome, but are expensive. I've noticed there's a new class of RV's call RUV's (recreational utility vehicles) that are smaller and shorter, but have all the features of other RV's. Looks like the beggining of 2016 will be a lot of new models released. Thor has a Compass and now Winnebago has a new Fuse. I need to see what the MSRP will be on these. Lots are on Mercedes and Ford diesels. Seems to be a split between some having a 5000# tow capacity and others at 2000#'s. I guess the idea is that if you have a smaller narrow RUV like this, you probably won't be towing a TOAD. What are your thoughts on this class motorhome. I really want one!!!

The Winnebago website says it starts at $95000

I like the idea of the Ford chassis that Winnebago is using on the Fuse. I don't like that the Fuse has only 2 floor plan options, both with slides. One has the fridge in a slideout, the other has a queen bed you can't use with the slide closed.

It's a short Class A, like Winnebago and others built years ago.Is it really a new class or, a new marketing tactic? :)

I would avoid the Mercedes based class C with the diesel engines. We had a bunch of them at my work, and around 110,000 miles, 4 of them failed transmissions, and had to be replaced at $4,400 each. I don't think you would want to tow with the Mercedes vans because of lack of power and a poor transmission design. Some have new designs based on the F-550 pickup, you can get those in 4 WD, or some van based RV's can be shorter. You might want to look at Lazy Daze brand class C. They are well balanced, shorter RV that is compact enough to park in most parking lots. Lazy Daze never did build slide outs. But this also keeps them lightweight too. . There is a lot of variety out there, you should be able to find something!Fred.

RUV's | Good Sam Community

rjstractor
Nomad
Nov 27, 2015
tatest wrote:
First year of motorhome production for Winnebago (1969) the offerings were a 17-footer on Ford's P-350 SRW panel truck chassis, 18, 22 and 24 feet on the Dodge M-300 DRW chassis, and a 27 footer on the heavier (but stlll DOT Class 3) Dodge M-375 chassis. All but the 27-footer would fall into or under the size range Thor is now marketing as RUV, and they targeted a similar recreational (rather live in it full time) market.

My first motorhome was a 22 foot 1972 Winnebago Indian built on I believe an M-400 chassis. It had a 413 V8, with 17" (I think) split rim wheels and 6 big lugs. GVWR was 15,000, with a 10K GAWR. Way overkill for such a small rig, I doubt it weighed 10K empty.
GORVN4FUN
Explorer
Nov 27, 2015
Sully2 wrote:
A shorter coach in 2016 is what Im going to be eyeballing for sure. Prefer a V6 engine...5000 lb towing...etc.

I dont care what the MSRP says ( they dont mean anything anyway) but if a dealer wont give me a rig for what I feel is the right number....I'll jump out...advertise what Im wanting and pay cash to the lowest bidder

My feeling exactly.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Nov 27, 2015
mlts22 wrote:
I don't think the Sprinters are unreliable... but from what I've read from years on this forum, when they break, you pay Mercedes prices for parts and labor.

tatest hit on something: When looking at the size of the older class "A"s, that had fully self-contained rigs in 22-24 feet... Even shorter ones are doable. As far as I know, the shortest is the Winnebago VIA. It would be nice to see something based on the E-450 chassis, and in the 22-24 foot range, similar to the old King's Highway class "A"s of yesteryear.

Problem with European sourced Commercial vehicles, getting parts. They are running CabOver Scania Trucks as Roadtrains hauling 200 tonnes of Iron ore in Outback Australia. They love the ride, power, ergonomics, safety,handling, fuel economy BUT getting parts means downtime.
burlmart
Explorer
Nov 27, 2015
okay...

Forum Discussion

RUV's

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

RUV's

Thor RUV Question

How Do We Classify an RUV?

Thor Vegas vs Axis RUV

Thor AXIS or VEGAS ruv