2000 Journey Structural Problems

Ab8081 · 11-29-2005, 11:38 AM

I own a 2000 Journey that I purchased as an unregistered factory demo. I keep it in mint condition, always stored indoors and have had good luck until now.
About a year ago, I noticed a "creaking" while standing in the shower. I removed the vent to gain access under the shower enclosure and noticed a "wooden brace" had come unsecured. I thought it was odd but not major and resecured it. About 2 months later, I noticed the shower stall had about 1/2' gap between the wall and the fiberglass enclosure. I figured it was due to the previously found brace problem. A few months later, while looking at a side view of the coach, from the drivers side, I noticed that the rear side of the slide out was lower that the front. The compartment doors and the trim work above the compartment doors were angled slightly downward toward the rear of the coach, it didn't line up with the rest. Now I'm starting to feel something isn't right. I called the local dealer and he advised that on a coach of that age, it isn't uncommon to have to "adjust" the slide out. Well, he did it 3 times and it was only marginally better.
After the 3rd adjustment, I started hearing another "creaking" noise only this time it was inside the coach in the area of the refridgerator and it was noticably worse with the slide out extended. I took it back to the dealer and he found and aluminum brace underneath the floor had broken at the weld.
Well guess what. Everytime the dealer fixed it, it got worse. It's back there for the 3rd time to fix the "creaking" in the floor and he calls me with some horrific news. The "structure support" welds under the coach, near the rear wheels were breaking all over the place. The steel as well as aluminum welds are broken. Says the coach body has settled an inch and he can;t believe there isn't side wall damage. He assures me there isn't.
I'm just starting with this problem. Another dealer, the selling dealer, is involved trying to assist with Winnebago participation. Has anyone else got some ideas for me? Anyone seen this before. I know the unit is old but this is going to be a major repair and I'll need all the back up I can get.
Thanks.

Ab8081 · 11-29-2005, 11:38 AM

I own a 2000 Journey that I purchased as an unregistered factory demo. I keep it in mint condition, always stored indoors and have had good luck until now.
About a year ago, I noticed a "creaking" while standing in the shower. I removed the vent to gain access under the shower enclosure and noticed a "wooden brace" had come unsecured. I thought it was odd but not major and resecured it. About 2 months later, I noticed the shower stall had about 1/2' gap between the wall and the fiberglass enclosure. I figured it was due to the previously found brace problem. A few months later, while looking at a side view of the coach, from the drivers side, I noticed that the rear side of the slide out was lower that the front. The compartment doors and the trim work above the compartment doors were angled slightly downward toward the rear of the coach, it didn't line up with the rest. Now I'm starting to feel something isn't right. I called the local dealer and he advised that on a coach of that age, it isn't uncommon to have to "adjust" the slide out. Well, he did it 3 times and it was only marginally better.
After the 3rd adjustment, I started hearing another "creaking" noise only this time it was inside the coach in the area of the refridgerator and it was noticably worse with the slide out extended. I took it back to the dealer and he found and aluminum brace underneath the floor had broken at the weld.
Well guess what. Everytime the dealer fixed it, it got worse. It's back there for the 3rd time to fix the "creaking" in the floor and he calls me with some horrific news. The "structure support" welds under the coach, near the rear wheels were breaking all over the place. The steel as well as aluminum welds are broken. Says the coach body has settled an inch and he can;t believe there isn't side wall damage. He assures me there isn't.
I'm just starting with this problem. Another dealer, the selling dealer, is involved trying to assist with Winnebago participation. Has anyone else got some ideas for me? Anyone seen this before. I know the unit is old but this is going to be a major repair and I'll need all the back up I can get.
Thanks.

GG1 · 11-30-2005, 04:35 AM

YOUR COACH IS NOT OLD. You said its a 2000 right. 25 yrs old is old. If coaches start falling apart after 6 yrs its time to start thinking about going back to hotels. More Winnebago Horror stories. A few years ago I thought only one rv company was having problems like this and it was not Winnebago.