Forum Discussion

vikkitennis's avatar
vikkitennis
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014

@013 Winnebago Sunnybrook Raven 345RE

My husband and I purchased last July a 2013 Winnebago Sunnybrook Raven, and have had a host of problems with the coach. It all began when we brought it home, and brought one of the three slides out, and the slide ripped the linoleum. Could not get it into the dealership until October. Just threw a few rugs down. Two weeks later, the electrical cord is shot, and melted into the coach: called Winnebago, and they told us to pay and replace it, and they would reimburse us. Did that.
Next issues were minor, but then in October, the furnace was a huge problem. The pilot light would go on, and then extinguish. At one time, the unit just "hummed" and my husband had to turn the power off for it to stop. Brought the coach in for furnace repairs in November, December, January, and February, where we told the service shop (not the dealer: they said nothing was wrong with it) where we told the shop,"Keep ii, play with it, and fix it" Yes it is under warranty, but it was more in the shop, than we used it. At the end of March the shop discovered electrical problems (remember the cord I mentioned?) and also discovered another factor either with the electrical panel or the furnace. We received the unit in May, and the last two times, it has worked very well.

Any input from the forum out there? Do we have a case against Winnebago. We live in California.

Thank you, and we love RVing!

Vikkitennis
  • vikkitennis's avatar
    vikkitennis
    Explorer
    Jul 21, 2014
    Thank you everyone for your advice and support. Just today, as we towed it home from a one-night stay, two drivers notified us about the RV brakes smoking. We found the wire was detached somehow and someway. We will bring it in this week as we were using the brakes of the diesel 3/4 ton pickup to brake, and have no idea when the wire became disengaged.

    Another item to be brought in.
  • Kstor's avatar
    Kstor
    Explorer
    Jul 21, 2014
    We purchased a 2003 Sunnybrook 5th wheel model 31bwfs new. Still travel in it. We have been out west on three week trips twice and all over the southeastern US many times. The fiver has been great! Very few problems. I really hate to hear of all these issues. I really thought Winnebago would help the company expand and offer more products. I guess time will tell! But it's apparently been a rough start!
  • DerekT's avatar
    DerekT
    Explorer
    Jul 20, 2014
    We have a Sunnybrook Raven 3350, 2013 model. Had many initial issues that were dealt with. Also a slide not sealing properly...reimbursed under warranty. Lately just noticed bad UV fading at top of the "nose" front. Will be contacting Winnebago but it is nearly two years .....we'll see. Not a fantastic unit but wouldn't deter me from looking at another Sunnybrook
  • mileshuff's avatar
    mileshuff
    Explorer
    Jul 20, 2014
    We bought a 2014 Winnebago Lite Five fifth wheel about a year ago. We've had a few minor issues but most were not caused by Winnebago. The Dometic awning light strip had some design flaws. They're fixing with a new design. The Dometic A/C unit had an issue of short cycling and was fixed. The Dometic Toilet had a bad valve which was replaced. If anything, I'm not too thrilled with Dometic RV items!!

    Otherwise we have loved this trailer. Cabinetry is well made, not flimsy for a lite trailer. Seems well built.
  • vikkitennis's avatar
    vikkitennis
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2014
    The whole idea is to use it with one or possibly two problems within the year; we use our coach every month. How frustrating to use it, no heat (no dry camping on the beach) used a portable heater, when the dealer told us the unit worked fine for them. We told both the dealership and the repair shop, to use it with hook-ups or no hookups. It was kept at the repair shop for 2.5 months: I cancelled trips, and suffered aggravation, while the dealer and Winne told me there was nothing wrong.

    I would not refer anyone to a Winnebago fifth wheel. As I mentioned, it was serviced more in the shop, than we used it. We pay $65 a month for storage, and there was 4-6 months I paid, when the unit was serviced.

    I do believe in warranties, but it should have been fixed the first time. Too many people not doing their work.
  • B_O__Plenty's avatar
    B_O__Plenty
    Explorer II
    Jul 19, 2014
    vikkitennis wrote:
    My husband and I purchased last July a 2013 Winnebago Sunnybrook Raven, and have had a host of problems with the coach. It all began when we brought it home, and brought one of the three slides out, and the slide ripped the linoleum. Could not get it into the dealership until October. Just threw a few rugs down. Two weeks later, the electrical cord is shot, and melted into the coach: called Winnebago, and they told us to pay and replace it, and they would reimburse us. Did that.
    Next issues were minor, but then in October, the furnace was a huge problem. The pilot light would go on, and then extinguish. At one time, the unit just "hummed" and my husband had to turn the power off for it to stop. Brought the coach in for furnace repairs in November, December, January, and February, where we told the service shop (not the dealer: they said nothing was wrong with it) where we told the shop,"Keep ii, play with it, and fix it" Yes it is under warranty, but it was more in the shop, than we used it. At the end of March the shop discovered electrical problems (remember the cord I mentioned?) and also discovered another factor either with the electrical panel or the furnace. We received the unit in May, and the last two times, it has worked very well.

    Any input from the forum out there? Do we have a case against Winnebago. We live in California.

    Thank you, and we love RVing!

    Vikkitennis
    Do you have a case against them for what? They built an RV. Sold it to you with a warranty. They repaired it under the warranty. It now works well. What do you think you can sue them for? Fixing the trailer under warranty?? Another case of lets see if we can sue them for something!

    B.O.
  • Ohiojude's avatar
    Ohiojude
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2014
    rvten wrote:
    Wonder if your SunnyBrook was made before Winnebago took over ownership.
    Go to the Winnebago owners forum. See if anyone else is having an issue.
    Irv2.com Winnebago Forum


    It is after Winnie bought the Sunnybrook line. We bought a Winnie Sunnybrook in Jan 2012.
  • Ohiojude's avatar
    Ohiojude
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2014
    Hello,

    We bought a 2012 Sunnybrook Raven in Jan 12. Every trip had an issue. The first one being there was no electrical for our television in the bedroom. We couldn't get any support from the dealer and Winnie did't believe. We did the work ourselves, spending a whole Saturday. I have never been so upset or frustrated as I had with this unit. We sold it in Aug 2013 for a Heartland. If this is an option for you, I suggest you try and trade yours in for something less frustrating.
  • rvten's avatar
    rvten
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2014
    Wonder if your SunnyBrook was made before Winnebago took over ownership.
    Go to the Winnebago owners forum. See if anyone else is having an issue.
    Irv2.com Winnebago Forum

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