We have decided on a 24 ft or so Class C. So far the only models that meet are requirements are the Mercedes Sprinter platform. We have found a comparable floor plan in both the Winnebago View and the Forester MBS. Of course the View is about $25,000 more than the Forester MBS.One dealer of both brands tells us no real difference in quality, just that Winnebago has the name, and invests in research that the rest of the industry copies, so you are paying higher for both. A second dealer of both brands says Winnebago is definitely of higher build quality, will last longer, and will bring a higher percentage resale.Appreciate any help you all can offer re. these two opposing comments.P.S. Not wedded to the Mercedes, just the floor plan. There is one Forester on the gas platform, the new 2291S that has a comparable floor plan. However, it doesn't appear to be out to the dealers yet, and Forester isn't providing any interior photos.

Winnebago - every time if I'm buying a new one. Be certain to consider the Via by Winnebago. It's a Class A, albeit priced as a Class C, with a lot more floorspace inside on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis.

So it's Forester MBS 2401S on Mercedes vs. Forester 2291s on Ford or Chevy vs. Winnebago View 24J on Mercedes?My pick of this group: 2291S on Chevy. Thicker walls, bigger bed, plenty of carrying and towing capacity, comfortable cab compared to Ford, better load ratings because this Ford is E350 and the Chevy is 4500, least expensive of the lot.How much you gonna drive it? Few thousand a year? You'll never pay off the diesel difference. Lowest carrying/towing ratings of the lot.Winnebago is a great outfit. But Forest River has really come up in popularity and customer satisfaction. EDIT: FR offers these models in their Sunseeker line also...If these are the units you're interested in, don't pull the trigger till you see 2291s. I'm sure you're itchy...

Thanks j-d. That was where I had come to. I know you can never make the difference up on delta mpg. Just didn't know if the Winnebago premium was worth it in design, fit, construction, longevity, etc.However, resale is interesting. I was told by one of the dealers selling both Winnebago and Forest River that in five years you would recoup about 65% with Winnebago, and only 50% with Forest River. If the Winn. was $100k and the equivalent Forester $80, you would end up $5k ahead with the Winn. If you had financing, it would break even as the Forester would be about $5k less in interest over the five years.Cheers,Chuck

We got our View used and couldn't be happier with it. We are newbies, too: this is our first RV. Our cost was 1/2 of retail new. No real problems with it either. Floor plan suits us perfectly.We have no experience with any of the others mentioned. We hope that whatever you get you have the times of your lives. Happy Trails.If God didn't exist, it would have been necessary to invent Him. Voltair

ChuckHM wrote:One dealer of both brands tells us no real difference in qualityWhen I was looking I looked under and around both brands very carefully. The build quality FR I looked at was significantly inferior to WGO. I looked at construction, wiring, plumbing, the roof, etc.Open up cabinets, access hatches, under the cushions, etc. The first thing that really irritated me about the FR was the seatbelt holes under the dinette cushions looked like they had been cut with a knife and fork.....really....they can't use a cutting template? Not sure if it was just that rig, but other stuff didn't sit well with me either.

Winnabego View vs Forest River Forester MBS | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

ChuckHM
Explorer
Feb 11, 2015
Thanks j-d. That was where I had come to. I know you can never make the difference up on delta mpg. Just didn't know if the Winnebago premium was worth it in design, fit, construction, longevity, etc.

However, resale is interesting. I was told by one of the dealers selling both Winnebago and Forest River that in five years you would recoup about 65% with Winnebago, and only 50% with Forest River. If the Winn. was $100k and the equivalent Forester $80, you would end up $5k ahead with the Winn. If you had financing, it would break even as the Forester would be about $5k less in interest over the five years.

Cheers,

Chuck
j-d
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2015
So it's Forester MBS 2401S on Mercedes vs. Forester 2291s on Ford or Chevy vs. Winnebago View 24J on Mercedes?
My pick of this group: 2291S on Chevy. Thicker walls, bigger bed, plenty of carrying and towing capacity, comfortable cab compared to Ford, better load ratings because this Ford is E350 and the Chevy is 4500, least expensive of the lot.
How much you gonna drive it? Few thousand a year? You'll never pay off the diesel difference. Lowest carrying/towing ratings of the lot.
Winnebago is a great outfit. But Forest River has really come up in popularity and customer satisfaction. EDIT: FR offers these models in their Sunseeker line also...
If these are the units you're interested in, don't pull the trigger till you see 2291s. I'm sure you're itchy...
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Feb 11, 2015
Winnebago - every time if I'm buying a new one. Be certain to consider the Via by Winnebago. It's a Class A, albeit priced as a Class C, with a lot more floorspace inside on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis.

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Winnabego View vs Forest River Forester MBS

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