30' Winnebago Information

[bellsharbor]

Hi Everyone--

We are looking to downsize to around a 30' class A, due to health reasons. Winnebago is a must and I would appreciate any feedback as to your experiences with ride, handling and an overall experience with the 30b or 30w. The wheelbase looks a little marginal and I have no experience with the Ford chassis or engine. Thanks in advance for any information. Think Spring!!

John

[ROMAD]

Our friends just purchased a 30W and it is a nice floor plan. They got the optional dining chairs and table which makes for a lot of space in a small coach. The Ford chassis and powertrain is bullet proof and easy to find a servicing dealer.

[HUGHP]

We've been pleased with our 30B purchased new 7/03. The Ford has been trouble free. If we were to trade for a larger coach it would bee for want not need.

[Campingman]

Happy with our 07 30b, front end rides a little rough on concrete freeways.

[tderonne]

Some folks would call your 36' Journey "short". Could you expand on just what you're looking to do by going to "around 30'"?

Would you be buying new?

We love our 31Y (31'7", 190" wheelbase) Adventurer. Drives fine as far as I'm concerned. But came from a 30+ years of a 1977 Class C with 170,000 miles. Anything drives fine compared to it (not that it drove bad, but it was an over worked van chassis, not a "real" RV chassis). Our shopping must haves included a couch/dinette slide. We have the same living room as a 35U, or some of the 38' models. We started looking at the Sightseer 30B, but really liked the content of the Adventurer in a very similar floorplan. (And I suspect an Adventurer would fell very familiar to you, probably not so in a Sightseer or Vista.) I wasn't a big fan of the bedroom slide before we got it, but it really gives us room in the bedroom (we can fit a pack-and-play at the foot of the bed, for our youngest). Bathroom is a bit tight, but it's a bathroom, I prefer the living room space. We stay under our chassis's 20,500 GVWR pretty easy, but some 30' coaches were (and are?) built on 18,000 pound chassis. That may be an issue, especially coming from a bigger rig with all your stuff.

[bellsharbor]

Thanks Gene, Hugh and Mark for your input--it was very helpful.

Tim--I have never heard a 36 footer being called "short". Maybe the 32' but not 36'. Not sure to what you are referring. If it’s the wheelbase, the 36' is a great riding coach. Thanks for the information on your 31Y.

John

[tderonne]

I personally think a 36' is pretty big. I consider my 31' on the short side. I have heard folks talk about downsizing to a 36' from a 40+' coach though. It's all relative.


Good luck in your search.

[Whaler]

I had a 2004 30B, and it was a good coach,but I wanted to upgrade with a coach of about the same size to get a nicer interior,so I have a 2009 Adventurer 32H now, and I'm still happy with Winnebago, and it drives and feels the same as the 30B.