Winnabago View MB Diesel

[Ron_Butler]

Not sure if this should go here or in the B+ category, because still not sure if this model is a B+ or C!!

Anyway, we are starting to think about downsizing, now that we are no longer full timing. We winter in AZ but still want to do extended traveling during the shoulder seasons as we move north and south.

We say a very clean 2012 24' View with a MB Diesel today. Would like to hear from other View owners with similar setups. MPG? Do you tow and if so, what? Problems with storage and weight capacity for extended travel? By that I mean up to 3 months of travel time.

What about looking for an older 5 cylinder MB rig? Too under-powered for towing and the mountains?

24' is as small as we want to go, just because of the floor plans and traveling with 2 terriers. Still need to haul a few toys as well!!

Thanks for any comments and feed back.

[Dakzuki]

Ron Butler wrote:
Dakzuki,

Yes, the unit itself has to be below head level. In the instruction book for my CPAP unit, it also warns against using an extension cord. Will go back and review that condition as well. Taking it in today to my sleep specialist, so will try to remember to ask about that as well!

I will take a closer look for outlets the next time we look at one.

Thanks

I suspect the extension cord warning is just because the manufacturer has no control over the quality of extension cords or how they are used. It is a pretty typical warning of many devices. That should not be an issue if the cord is of sufficient gauge (a CPAP can't draw that much current) and has the appropriate plug configuration.

I think your biggest issue is going to be getting the unit down low in a J or any RV with walls surrounding the bed.

One thing that could be done is punch a pass through in the wall (on a J) and put the CPAP unit on the bathroom side with the hose coming through the wall to you. Just thinking out loud.....

I just looked at mine and there's the two outlets mentioned above at the foot of the bed up kind of high on the wall and another 115V outlet at the foot of the bed at floor level.

[AprilWhine]

Here's some links to maintenance info:

Service documents can be found here. You will have to register on that forum to download, but you want to do that anyway. 😉 Very good source for technical info.

Also, if you want to look over the owner's manual, it can be downloaded here from MB for years 2010 and newer.

[Ron_Butler]

Dakzuki,

Yes, the unit itself has to be below head level. In the instruction book for my CPAP unit, it also warns against using an extension cord. Will go back and review that condition as well. Taking it in today to my sleep specialist, so will try to remember to ask about that as well!

I will take a closer look for outlets the next time we look at one.

Thanks

[Dakzuki]

Ron Butler wrote:
Thanks for the comments. Finding them informative. We have seen the 24J and feel that the floor plan would be adequate with our 2 terriers. However, I am on a CPAP machine and there is no place for it with that corner bed configuration and no plug-in back there for it. We did see how someone had addressed the plug-in problem in a used one that we looked at, but the placement is still a problem. It has to be lower than my head.

The Via is also very intriguing to us and would like to several more of those.

We saw a very clean 2010 Via but it has 100k miles on it! I know, I know, its a diesel!! I'm assuming that is about 1/5 or less of its life expectancy?!?

There are outlets (both 115V and 12V) at the foot of the bed on our 24J. You sure you have that correct or has WGO changed something? Is the actual issue the CPAP has to be below head level?

[PhilR_]

Ron Butler wrote:
We saw a very clean 2010 Via but it has 100k miles on it! I know, I know, its a diesel!! I'm assuming that is about 1/5 or less of its life expectancy?!?

The shop that takes care of our View more or less specializes in this platform. The owner told me he takes care of a number of Sprinters that have between 500k and 850k miles on them.

[AprilWhine]

The Mercedes Sprinter engine is a commercial engine. It is not unusual to see a used one for sale with almost half a million miles on it. The used one I bought had around 150k, so just broken in. 😉

Don't know if you can climb the ladder, but if so there is an electrical outlet near the cab over bed. Getting it below your head would be no problem.

[Ron_Butler]

Thanks for the comments. Finding them informative. We have seen the 24J and feel that the floor plan would be adequate with our 2 terriers. However, I am on a CPAP machine and there is no place for it with that corner bed configuration and no plug-in back there for it. We did see how someone had addressed the plug-in problem in a used one that we looked at, but the placement is still a problem. It has to be lower than my head.

The Via is also very intriguing to us and would like to several more of those.

We saw a very clean 2010 Via but it has 100k miles on it! I know, I know, its a diesel!! I'm assuming that is about 1/5 or less of its life expectancy?!?

[AprilWhine]

We have an 08 Winnebago View and tow an 08 MINI Clubman.

Average mpg as a notowbago is around 17, with the Clubman dinghy it's around 13 mpg. Not underpowered at all, but then, we don't overload it either. 😉

Hubby just added supplemental brakes to the clubbie because of legal requirements, not because it needed it.



We have previously owned one of the five cylinder engine RVs and used the same dinghy. No appreciable change in power but the mileage was better, about 18 notow and 14 with tow.



It is not a B+, it is a class C. This is per Winnebago who should be the subject matter expert.

A class B is built within a van shell, with possible roof mods. A class C is built on a cutaway van, with the entire box being added.

[Dakzuki]

I have a 2011 24J which we just got back form a month long trip towing a 2000 Chev Tracker. I feel the Tracker climbing steep grades but I'm still overtaking the semis. If you are familiar with Utah 12 (Torrey to Escalante) we made that run. 9600 foot pass with 14% grade on our descent. Yeah, I had to pay attention. It is not for the faint hearted RVer.

[Ron_Butler]

Don,

Just sent you a pm about the Welsh breeder we have used for years up here. Let me know if you get one and where!

[rvsolutions]

Ron
Answered your post on the Via in the class a forum, Sprinter is definitely not underpowered, we love our Via.
Off topic, but do you know of a reputable Welsh breeder on the west coast?

[jamesa403]

You also might want to check out the Triple E (LTV) Unity van which sits on a MB diesel chassis. It has a slide out, which gives more room. Also when you visit the web site, take a look at all the videos that they have there - one shows the reactions of an owner of a 42' DP, and what he thinks of the Unity. They have other models there as well.

[Just_Lee]

We just downsized a little over a month ago from a 38ft Diesel Pusher. We bought a new 2013 because there was a lot of improvements over the 2012. 11 inches longer for one and it made a world of difference.

We picked ours up in Iowa and put 5000 miles on it before arriving in California. We averaged 15mpg and have got used to the smaller size. I plan on towing a 96 Geo Tracker.

Check out the 24g and 24v......

Check out this site