vehicle selection advice; 2006 Winnebago View 23J

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
What are you trying to find out exactly? Appropriateness for camping space, size? Durability? I doubt you would find roads in worse condition in South America than they are in Mexico and Guatemala. I have traveled (by train)to Tierra del Fuego. On the bus from Asuncion Paraguay I did not note any high-center dips or peaks.

Reversed seasons. If I went with an RV during the rains, I believe I would assemble a "what-if" kit to deal with the possibility of a leaky slide.

Slide switches are notoriously scumbag quality. I would by default change the witch before I departed then take extra circuit breakers and a spare switch. Brasil produces a lot of auto parts of European design or under license.

Yes, just general appropriateness, if that's a word. I bought a 2006 Itasca Navion 23J. I've got a spare parts list and will put the switches on it. I don't expect to see much AC power, if any, so I'm putting on 300-500 watts of solar. The seller did the resonator, a new MB transmission, changed out the seal between the cab-over and cab body from steel to aluminum, and a variety of other things. I haven't taken delivery of it yet, but will run through the list of items I've learned from here and on the Yahoo Skinny Winnie group. Thanks for the advice on the slide. I'm concerned about that thing and wish it wasn't on board (due to weight), but I think it will work out. Thanks.

Lou Morris wrote:
We have an 07 Winne View H, with slide, jackknife sofa and dinette. Bought it new in 06, been living and working (software) in it for the last 10 years, and much of that time has been in Mexico.

Still love it. Has held up very well, large enough for us to live in but relatively nimble in Mexico.

Everyone's different, but I highly recommend the slide, especially if you travel with more than one person. Makes all the difference for us, so much more space means you can have a couple of visitors inside comfortably f the need should arise, and has never failed (and we're much less than anal about maintenance).

I second the suggestion to get the metal/aluminum turbo resonator. Solves that issue forever.

Carry some spare belts, and order an after market ATF dip stick (it doesn't come with one). Last year we ran low on ATF fluid due to a leak while on the way south, put us into limp mode, which isn't fun on narrow 2 lanes in Mexico .

We needed some service work on it and discovered while in Sayulita that a new Mercedes dealership opened in Puerto Vallara and works on Sprinters. Nice people, great prices ($25/hr). And if you ever need it, the Mercedes dealership in Hermosillo will also work on Sprinters and are equally friendly and low priced.

Thanks Lou,

I'm in contract to get a 2006 Itasca Navion 23J. I've studied the Yahoo Skinnie Winnie group plus the forums for a list of spare parts. I'm a full timer in my fifth wheel rig (last 2 years), so I have some idea, but have a lot to learn about travel south of the boarder. I've been to Central America many years ago and loved it and just got back from a 14 month adventure to Alaska in the RV, but the current South American adventure is epic for us and the largest trip so far.

Good tip on the dip stick, because I did not have that on my list. It's looking like we'll launch on this trip 6/1/18 driving down from Texas. I think we'll use Airbnb to find a house on the coast in Uruguay so we can get of the "tin can" for a few months. We'll decide down there to either drive back up to the US, which is the primary plan, or alternately ship from Buenos Aires to Florida.

To increase cargo, I'm making a number of mods to the Navion just for this trip, and that can be reversed when I sell it. All in, I'm shifting 400 pounds out of vehicle weight and into discretionary cargo. I'm doing things like, removing the micro/convention oven, exchanging the AC for a Fantastic Fan with hood, removing the hitch (but installing skid wheels), exchanging the 3.6Kw generator for my Honda 2000, and exchanging the toilet/black tank for a Thetford Curve porta potty. I'm also removing the cab-over bed and installing cargo netting so I can get some storage/ weight up on the front axel.

I'll put 300-600 watts of solar, including an inverter, plus replace the Parallax 7345 power center with a new Parallax model 8345 with a better multi stage charger. I appreciate you experience in Mexico as it's the same general conditions that I'll face I suppose.


I will not operate over the GVWR, because the transmissions are too weak in these vehicles. Fortunately, the seller had replaced the transmission at Mercedes 2,000 miles back. He overloaded it with cargo + towed a toad; just blew it out at about 70,000 miles. I'm also putting a heavy duty transmission cooler on it, but not a deeper pan, due to clearance issues. If I keep within the GVWR, cut the service interval in half on the tranny and install the cooler, I think I'll be ok.

Any advice that you have is greatly appreciated.

John

That Lou Morris knows what he's talking about I know for a fact he's been there done that in fact he maybe the most interesting man in a Winnebago, well next to me

But watch him in the line-up he'll snake your wave for sure!!!!!
Safe travels Lou and your lovely companion

What are you trying to find out exactly? Appropriateness for camping space, size? Durability? I doubt you would find roads in worse condition in South America than they are in Mexico and Guatemala. I have traveled (by train)to Tierra del Fuego. On the bus from Asuncion Paraguay I did not note any high-center dips or peaks.

Reversed seasons. If I went with an RV during the rains, I believe I would assemble a "what-if" kit to deal with the possibility of a leaky slide.

Slide switches are notoriously scumbag quality. I would by default change the witch before I departed then take extra circuit breakers and a spare switch. Brasil produces a lot of auto parts of European design or under license.

We have an 07 Winne View H, with slide, jackknife sofa and dinette. Bought it new in 06, been living and working (software) in it for the last 10 years, and much of that time has been in Mexico.

Still love it. Has held up very well, large enough for us to live in but relatively nimble in Mexico.

Everyone's different, but I highly recommend the slide, especially if you travel with more than one person. Makes all the difference for us, so much more space means you can have a couple of visitors inside comfortably f the need should arise, and has never failed (and we're much less than anal about maintenance).

I second the suggestion to get the metal/aluminum turbo resonator. Solves that issue forever.

Carry some spare belts, and order an after market ATF dip stick (it doesn't come with one). Last year we ran low on ATF fluid due to a leak while on the way south, put us into limp mode, which isn't fun on narrow 2 lanes in Mexico .

We needed some service work on it and discovered while in Sayulita that a new Mercedes dealership opened in Puerto Vallara and works on Sprinters. Nice people, great prices ($25/hr). And if you ever need it, the Mercedes dealership in Hermosillo will also work on Sprinters and are equally friendly and low priced.

coloradotallman wrote:
We have the 2007 View 23B which is still the T1N due to a Nov 06 chassis and a Feb 07 conversion, so don't limit yourself to 06 on your searches. No slide, but we enjoy the dinette on overcast days and the oodles of storage. We even have the storage over the cab instead of a bed. Even with a 3500 chassis I would check your suspension, tires and brakes before leaving. I would also update any plastic turbo resonator to aluminum, as these are notorious for failing. Apparently a good Mercedes dealer/repair in San Jose Costa Rica if needed. We took an 06 LTV to Guatemala but enjoy the larger size of the View.

Thanks. Yes, I've been looking at RV upfitter years 2006 and 2007, which is Daimler chassis dates 2005 and 2006. Upfitter year 2007 is tricky, because some are the next generation Sprinters mixed in with the older T1Ns.

We have the 2007 View 23B which is still the T1N due to a Nov 06 chassis and a Feb 07 conversion, so don't limit yourself to 06 on your searches. No slide, but we enjoy the dinette on overcast days and the oodles of storage. We even have the storage over the cab instead of a bed. Even with a 3500 chassis I would check your suspension, tires and brakes before leaving. I would also update any plastic turbo resonator to aluminum, as these are notorious for failing. Apparently a good Mercedes dealer/repair in San Jose Costa Rica if needed. We took an 06 LTV to Guatemala but enjoy the larger size of the View.

midnightsadie wrote:
A LTV is a rv made by www.leisurevans.com a very well made rv. ours has the I 5 MB diesel on a sprinter 3500 ser chassis.

Oh yes, thanks. I looked at vans, but unless like a sportsmobile or 4x4, the body/equipment profile so low to the street doesn't work in South America.

Another big constraint, since I want diesel, is that it must be pre-2007, so it burns the older fuel. No ultra low Sulphur diesel is to be had down here. Finally, I don't want to spend much, because theft/comp insurance on the vehicle is also not to be had for South America. It's liability only down there. If you wreck it or it gets stolen, you fly home or buy a replacement down there.

A LTV is a rv made by www.leisurevans.com a very well made rv. ours has the I 5 MB diesel on a sprinter 3500 ser chassis.

midnightsadie wrote:
I read on this site about slides broke, stuck, leak.I have a 2007 sprinter LTV, I,m camping don,t need it. IF I was stationary for months it might be nice.

Thanks. What is LTV?

This little class c's slide doesn't need to be out either. It's easy to use it with it in, so I'm wondering if just not using it or not using it much is an option.

Also, I noticed this 06 View's slide has stainless eyes installed into the floor with a little 14" nylon strap coming down from the bottom of the slide's frame on each side and clipping into the eye on the floor; for extra stability. I hadn't seen that before, but maybe this is common.