Thinking About Downsizing: Welcome Advice

[mycoolbeans]

Hi folks:

I am seriously considering downsizing from a Winnebago Journey 2004, cat 330 engine. We are thinking about something on the order of a Via/Reyo, or the Navion IQ. I know we will have to adjust our thinking concerning all the stuff we take along with us. We tow a 2006 Honda CR-V. Are these smaller units capable of towing such a vehicle. I realize there will be a loss of power uphills, air ride, etc. Nonetheless, I am interested in whatever experiences any of you have had who have made the switch to one of these smaller units. Please share any info or advice concerning such a move.

Thanks for you advice and suggestions.

[bellsharbor]

I did a post not too long ago about downsizing from a 2002 36' Journey and purchasing an Itasca 30B Sunstar. We had looked at the smaller units also and class C's but felt we needed a little more room since we winter in it for 5 months. So far we are happy with the move---will know more after this winter! We also pull a Honda CRV and I don't think you will have a problem pulling yours with any of the units you are looking at. Good luck and Happy Travels. John

[WW]

We just downsized from a 40' Beaver to a 24' View. We no longer full time so we no longer need all of the goodies the larger coach provided. The View is much easier to drive and fuel milage, towing a CRV, is much better - 12/14 mpg. Our View is the 24A model and we find it very comfortable for it's current use. We don't feel cramped. The shower is pretty small but we don't spend much time in the shower so it doesnt matter. We still top long 6/7 % grades at 40 to 45 mph. The Mercedes diesel is quite and does it's job amazingly well. Carrying capacity isn't very much but since we no longer carry everything we own that isn't a problem either. Maintenance and insurance expense are greatly reduced.
We're happy with our downsize.

[KIX]

Downsizing???? I have a good friend that just took delivery of a 2010 Winne Cambria. Loaded to the max. He wants to up size and he's only put 4,000 miles on the Cambria.

[mycoolbeans]

So many of our choices are driven by our own unique preferences. After all the discussion that I have had with others about downsizing, my wife and I actually stepped into a Via and Aspect. Within 30 minutes we realized that "downsizing wasn't for us". My wife had great difficulty maneuvering out of the co-pilots seat in the Aspect. With slides in on the Via, certain difficulties were envisioned. And, more to the point, the storage is not good compared to our Journey. Bottom line, not for us. Staying put, and being happy with what we have. I'm sure that the downsizing will work for many others whose circumstances are individual and different from ours.

[mcewena]

Same here but in reverse, we were looking at a used Journey as our first RV but now are looking at the newest Navion IQ or View Profile (or LTV 24MB) instead (layout seems much improved). We didn't want to be building (or crawling/climbing into) a bed every night, showering in a phone booth or sitting 90 degrees from the TV and many those units pass those tests (some A's failed them!). A lot of the As we've looked at may have had room for swinging dead cats but not any better designed layout for two (ie why have seating for 6 plus a booth?), plus our driveway will only hold a 34'er.

Biggest concern is the lack of counter/table space and no proper oven and tiny bathroom, LTV Unity is better in the latter respect but worse in counter/table area, plus can't transport a 3rd person as it only 2 seatbelts.

Towing is the same issue in either case as are regular car can't be towed 4 down and is too heavy for a trailer and a 5k hitch, but with the view/navion/Unity we might not bother towing except with our fun 50 year old british car.

According to the specs they have about the same towing capacity of a gas class A, OK maybe less, but since you have less room for stuff you should be close.

Still trying to tell myself I'm not paying over $100k for a "van" though