Winnebago quality

swb7 wrote:
Salesman tell me Winnebagos are worth more (better build?).

I am going to make a wild guess here. The salesman was trying to get you to buy a Winnebago!

I bet if you went to another sales lot that only carried Tiffin motorhomes, you would hear the same thing.

Assuming the 1996 Winnie is truely in good condition, $16,000 still sounds steep. $10,000-$12,000 seems more in-line, assumed it is not some sort of luxury model. This simply because of the age.

There will be sales tax added to the purchase price. Around here it's 7%.

We are very happy with our 2004 27P Minnie Winnie. This was my 50th birthday present from my wife three years ago. It had been in storage since 2006 with 18K miles on it, and after some wheeling a dealing we bought it for 30K cash, sold our show truck so had the money to buy it and do maintenance and upgrades.

Upgrade, HWH leveling system. Took me two weekends and a week of nights to install. Now having it I wouldn't have a Motorhome without it.

As said above, I was impressed when I went on Winnebago's website and found the compete parts , wiring, plumbing manual. When I called them on the parts I wanted, and advise on the caulking for the roof seams, they were right there to help me. Their customer service is the greatest I have experienced.

pnichols wrote:
I wonder how Adzel composite is glued or otherwise fastened to the internal framing within the walls in the Sunseekers?

BTW, do Sunseekers have aluminum, steel, or wood internal wall framing?

Aluminum floor joists, wall joists, and ceiling joists. Walls are vacuum laminated with heat sensitive glue. The vacuum seal process applies tons of pressure to the surface during lamination.

Can't speak for Winne quality but it seems that most people speak highly of them.

The one thing I wanted to point our is that $16,900 seems like a lot for a '96 anything. I paid $7500 for a '94 jamboree in 2010. Have you looked on Craigslist or thought about a private party sale? Honestly, I would probably only pay $7K max. In my opinion, on rigs that old, build quality isn't as much of an issue it's more about how well it's been taken care of.

Have you looked at the Nada value? Nada value assuming it has a genny and an awning

Good luck with your search!

I wonder how Adzel composite is glued or otherwise fastened to the internal framing within the walls in the Sunseekers?

BTW, do Sunseekers have aluminum, steel, or wood internal wall framing?

Very happy with our Winnie. Not a lick of trouble with it.

paullac wrote:
Disclaimer: We don't own a Winnebago, we have a new Sunseeker.

I agree with all the factoids above. Very well established company, recognizable brand name, great support, etc.

But...

We looked at used units for a year. We lost track of the number of units. I bet it was at least 30 (seemed like 300 at the time!). Every Winnebago we looked at (except one - & the owner decided to keep it just before we put an offer in) had delam. Typically in the cabover area, sometimes on the side walls.

I'm saying this because the "best" motorhome brand out there is meaningless if the previous owner didn't take proper care of it or if it has some underlying issues.

So, I would NOT necessarily pay $3000 more just because it was a Winnebago. However, I would pay $3000 more if it was a well cared for unit in good shape (regardless of brand).

By the way, we got so ticked about delam that it was a major factor in us picking a Sunseeker. Not only do they have a standard fiberglass roof (similar to Winnebago), but they use an Azdel composite in the walls (instead of luan / wood) which is essentially moisture proof.

Good luck as it can be a tedious process!

Exactly, well written. If you want some of the features from Winnie the sister coach is the Forester - it includes a soft touch ceiling, all the optional features from the Sunseeker, standard partial paint and full wheel arches and fiberglass running boards, and flush mounted interior lights, lighted cedar lined closets, etc.

Best of luck....

Disclaimer: We don't own a Winnebago, we have a new Sunseeker.

I agree with all the factoids above. Very well established company, recognizable brand name, great support, etc.

But...

We looked at used units for a year. We lost track of the number of units. I bet it was at least 30 (seemed like 300 at the time!). Every Winnebago we looked at (except one - & the owner decided to keep it just before we put an offer in) had delam. Typically in the cabover area, sometimes on the side walls.

I'm saying this because the "best" motorhome brand out there is meaningless if the previous owner didn't take proper care of it or if it has some underlying issues.

So, I would NOT necessarily pay $3000 more just because it was a Winnebago. However, I would pay $3000 more if it was a well cared for unit in good shape (regardless of brand).

By the way, we got so ticked about delam that it was a major factor in us picking a Sunseeker. Not only do they have a standard fiberglass roof (similar to Winnebago), but they use an Azdel composite in the walls (instead of luan / wood) which is essentially moisture proof.

Good luck as it can be a tedious process!

Ordered my 3rd Winnebago! 2014 Access 31WP Should be here 5/15/13.