Minnie Winnie 24ft

[1mtnman]

I am seeking comments that Class C members might have on a 2004 Minnie Winnie 24 foot Class C. The unit has low mileage, new rubber, generator and is in good condition. This unit does not have a dedicated bedroom but rather an over the cab bed and a fold out couch plus dinette. The unit is on a F450 and has the Ford V10 engine. Being a 2004 it has the 4 speed transmission. Is this transmission a determent? How about the rated HP and performance of this engine?
Thanks for any comments.

[pnichols]

Our 24 foot Itasca has two queen beds. The DW uses the back corner bed so she can spread out with her bad back and I use the cabover queen. This gives us both plenty of sleeping room, with both of us being able to get out of bed quickly for night runs to the bathroom. When we have the grand kids along, we just put them in the dinnette bed that makes into a full size one.

Those make great little RVs that can just about get into campsites anywhere, including most places where a two wheel drive truck camper can go. They accelerate and climb grades superbly when on the E450 chassis because of it's lower differential gearing, yet still cruize along pretty silently in OD at 55-60MPH. We can easily travel in the 9 MPG range, and sometimes 10MPG range with ours. The 5 speed (6 speeds internally) computer controlled transmission was introduced in the 2005 E350/E450 chassis.

A 2004 Minnie Winnie in good condition on the E450 chassis (I assume the OP meant "E450" and not "F450") should be a great little rig, especially since the E450 Super Duty rear differential ratio should kindof help make up for the one less gear in the 2004 year transmission.

[CloudDriver]

We have a 2003 24 ft Minnie as in my signature below. Bought it new and now have 91,000 miles of travel with it. All scheduled maintenance done by me in the driveway. Only time it has been in a shop was for warranty replacement of the ABS control module.

We use both the jack knife sofa and the overhead bed and have a 1-1/2" memory foam topper for each. Made a big comfort difference.

[Dusty_R]

We have an '02 24' Itasca. It's on an E-350 with the V-10. Sounds like it has the same floor plan. We like it, bought it new in the fall of '02.

[DrewE]

The newer transmissions are a little better, but the 4 speed ones of that vintage are not bad by any stretch. The main improvements are in the computer control and programming; the actual cruising gear ratios are identical (or close enough to identical for any practical purpose).

I'd have no concerns about the V10 engine. It should be adequately powerful for a rig of that size. You aren't going to win races against Corvettes, of course...and maybe not Chevettes...but that's no surprise. I have a 32 foot class C on a '98 E-Super Duty (which was renamed to become the E-450) with the V10, and I have no complaints about the chassis or its performance.

[OFDPOS]

If you are young and able or even older and able the overhead bunk is ..ok..
Being older or in my case back surgery and maybe another in the near future , that overhead bunk got to be a chore real quick !
We sold our Mh with that very set-up and bought another short MH with the rear corner bed.
Much better !

[Bumpyroad]

how many will be in the group? I certainly wouldn't want to climb up overhead at my age and physical condition. and I certainly don't want to sleep on a makeshift sofa and dinette. if that "fold out couch" is a jack knife sofa, they are dreadful to sleep on.
bumpy

[Jopops]

On a unit that short (and hence that light) I don't think you'll have any problems.