HELP! View/Navion stuck between V and G model?

[rooster55]

Any feedback appreciated. I think we have narrowed the long and winding search down to a 2015 View/Navion. So much more counter space in the G model, love the cabinet in the bathroom and the larger kitchen window. The V hands down, I love the twin beds. We haven't always had our best sleep on RV queens, particularly after sleeping on a king at home.

Husband is tapping his foot while I decide. I don't no where we would put the coffee pot on the limited counter space in the V? Ugg.

Any pointers?

Have received some really impressive quotes, and we are ready to get back on the road 🙂

Becky in NW FL

[PaisleyDale]

My dealer only had the V and they wanted to move it and I wanted to get out of my 5th wheel, so I was stuck. We do like the twin beds, made up all the time and it can be a king size if wanted but DW has a bad back and a new knee so crawling is bad. I might like the G but I have not been inside one.

More counter space would be nice but we have not had any problems. We make coffee using the pop-up shelf and the inverter, worked great till the coffee maker quit.

We really like our V, size, twin beds, mileage and being able to park it almost anywhere. Which ever one you get hope you enjoy it as much as we do - good luck.

[Community Alumni]

I too have been to an RV show recently and If I did not already have ours, I would be tossing a coin for your two choices as well. I do like the external storage on the 24V, so I would lean toward that. It seems like the coffee pot is an issue, so let's try to fix that. What if you were tent camping; how would you make coffee? Easy... boil water in a kettle. Find a thermal bottle and a drip filter that would sit on top. Make your coffee into the bottle and you will have better coffee and the leftover will be fresher longer. I grind my beans before making coffee. If there is no electricity and I don't want to disturb the peace with the generator, I have a small inverter sufficient to power the coffee grinder. This takes up less space. Leave the coffee maker home. I vote for the 24V. No, the 24G.

[Dakzuki]

kgray39011 wrote:
What did you decide to do?
Did you buy the 24V?

The Wife and I went to view the Winnebago Navion 24V at at recent camping show. However, we walked into the Thor Axis model and liked the layout better than the sprinter chassis class c. It is a class A on a Ford Class C E350 chassis with the V10 gas engine. It sells for nearly $20K less than the Winnebago for a very similar layout. That $20K is a lot of diesel fuel. We have not drove either model yet and scheduled a test drive for next weekend on both models at our local RV Dealer. Has anyone here looked at the same units side by side? Any thoughts or opinions?

I made the mistake of driving both a Sprinter and E series back to back. You can see the results below.

[rooster55]

We did narrow it down to some fantastic pricing. Depending on which model, $89K for new 24V. I (as we women can do) had decision paralysis. I hated the thought of paying that much and really having nowhere to put a coffee pot or any kitchen appliances. While continuing to browse, we visited a dealership close by and the owner had his personal coach for sale with only 7K miles on it. My whole reason for wanting a 24' was the ability to park it at our home, anything larger was a no go. Loved the diesel pusher of course, room to do a cartwheel and a backflip and cook for Turkey Day.

I explained our storage dilemma. Owner said he had no plans to replace his coach in the foreseable future and we were welcome to have free parking in his locked and covered personal spot for as long as we needed. Done deal. We are in a 40' Allegro Bus for the time being and I just love it. Will work out really well for us this year, we have a lot of long trips and long stays planned out west. I won't be sweating where to put my laptop or how to comfortably watch TV.

I could see us potentially downsizing again as the long trips fall by the wayside, but for now with our back issues, those seats are like "sitting in a box of kittens", hahaha!!!

We did see the Axis as well. It was def much roomier and something we would consider too. I wish there was some way to just add a few feet to the Navion, I want to drive small, but live a little bigger. I guess no "perfect" coach. Just look for us at the gas pump for now, haha!! Good luck with your search!

[kgray39011]

What did you decide to do?
Did you buy the 24V?

The Wife and I went to view the Winnebago Navion 24V at at recent camping show. However, we walked into the Thor Axis model and liked the layout better than the sprinter chassis class c. It is a class A on a Ford Class C E350 chassis with the V10 gas engine. It sells for nearly $20K less than the Winnebago for a very similar layout. That $20K is a lot of diesel fuel. We have not drove either model yet and scheduled a test drive for next weekend on both models at our local RV Dealer. Has anyone here looked at the same units side by side? Any thoughts or opinions?

[rooster55]

Wow!!! Have looked up the Leisure Travel TB, must say very impressive. Looks like the high end finishes we liked in the Airstream Interstate and more room like the Navion. Huy boy. Nice, nice, nice.

[bobojay5]

My comment about the 2 tone cabinetry is just based on the pics. Haven't seen one in person, so we might love it then. Who knows.
The suggestion about just sitting in the different models and just looking and thinking is a great idea.
My suggestion about comparing the WGO's to the Leisure Travels is a good one if you can find them anywhere. Leisure recently had to quit building their class B's because they are so far behind on their class C's. Friends of ours ordered a Unity last August and will not get it until early April. Dealers are quoting a 10 month wait time now on the Unity & Serenity. Wow!

[kiwidancer]

It does have the pullout bathroom door. We love it because it opens up the entire bathroom to include bed "room" and wardrobe. Makes it feel much less claustrophobic. Some owners don't like the doors, and have taken them down and hung a curtain. I thought having the door would also work well if you wanted to confine a pet to the back while going in and out the camper door.

My husband is the main driver, and he likes the way it handles. He says the steering felt 'skittish' to him at first, like a Jeep Cherokee we once owned. He is now used to it and can't remember what the Pulse even felt like. It is a very comfortable cab, and I love riding it. It feels luxurious! It has a longer wheelbase, although it is only 6 inches longer than our old Pulse (which was equivalent to the Navions and Views), so the turning radius is not as 'tight'. He says that doesn't bother him. We both think it is more stable when parked and we notice less rocking when going in and out of driveways.

Personally, I still think the Sprinter Class C's are the best looking motor homes out there from the exterior. But the interior of the Axis/Vegas offers so much more for the size and price, including a drop down bunk and tons of exterior storage. We've had almost no issues with ours.

[Janet_Schultz]

Good choices you have narrowed it down to. We have had TT now we have Via P. A lot like the J mode in Navion Pros more counter space more living space. Cons bed hard to make, but easy with quilt. The corner bed sleeps very well, with storage under. But back to your decision. The more storage area and counter the better. I have thought before " Well I can make adjustments ". But in reality you can make but only so many. Go for the one that feels right for you. No bed as in he M is in my opinion not good. We want a place where one can go to bed and the other stay up if they want to. My suggestion is sit in both for awhile and think. Where would this and that go. Can we both be comfortable. See if one just feels better than the other. Personally I like open look the " feel" of the G. I would get sofa option with table. If you can't sleep well, go to sofa they are comfortable. I have done it many time when I am just restless. Best of luck to you. It is a big decision.

[rooster55]

Thanks kiwidancer. I like the View cabinets too. I guess the picture of just the kitchen makes them look odd when you can't see the whole layout. I think we went into an Axis? Do you have the angling/cieleing pin bathroom door? I think that was the big no-no for us, but I'm getting confused. Loved the size and layout, does it handle well on Hwy? Thanks for input, much appreciated.

[kiwidancer]

Well, I love the two-toned cabinet fronts. Those are really attractive, and I can understand your dilemma. For what it's worth...we once had an Outback travel trailer with the bed slide in the rear. It was a great use of space, but noise at night was a real issue. It also felt slightly unstable in windy weather.

We had a Fleetwood Pulse (Sprinter Class C), and were ready to get into a small unit with permanent beds (ours had a sofa and dinette; had to make up the bed each night). Even though we loved most everything about our Pulse, we were also a bit ready to get away from the Mercedes Sprinter. We found a small (25ft) Class A that has twin beds, which can be made into a King if desired. We like the twins with small aisle. We have loved having the beds. It has simplified camping so much, and they are regular twin sized and very comfortable. We also have a comfortable sofa and a large, open cab area with seats that swivel. There is a table to place between the seats, and it is large enough for dining or a game. We feel like we got everything we needed, and in the same size as our Pulse...but in addition to sofa and dining space, we now have beds. Just thought I would mention it in case you wanted to check them out. It is a Thor Axis, 24.1. Not the great gas mileage we got with our Sprinter (10 mpg.), but much cheaper in the first place.

Good luck with your search!

[rooster55]

Thanks for feedback on bed slide, that's the kind of thing I don't know about, and Thanks bobojay5, had never looked at the Leisure Travel, it looks very well thought out.. Ugg, more "homework".

[bobojay5]

That G kitchen is nice, but then again for us there's way too much storage that would go to waste in there. Then having to fool & live with with that bed though. I shudder at the thought.

I hadn't seen the new 2 tone cabinetry. In the pictures at least, that just looks strange to both of us...

If we were buying a small class C today, this is what we'd go with:

Twin Bed

[rooster55]

V Kitchen.