Community Forums

RedT · 11-28-2020, 09:20 AM

I have an opportunity to purchase a 2014 Itasca Meridian 36M (haven’t looked at it yet) and am interested in current, or past owners’ experience with this coach. I currently own a 2004 Meridian 36G, and am knowledgeable of the Winnebago product.
Would appreciate your opinions - good or bad.

Rmedad · 11-29-2020, 08:35 AM

We had a 2014 Journey 36M that we bought new and just traded this past Feb after 6yrs and 70,000mi - 3yrs fulltime. Great size coach with comfortable floor plan and plenty of cargo capacity. Ours had the extra sink/vanity ("1/4 bath") in the bedroom where my wife kept all her stuff - cut down bathroom congestion. Towed 4300lb Edge back and forth across the country multiple times and the Cummins ISB 6.7L 360hp was up to the task and still able to routinely get 9-9.4mpg (60-65mph). Good road manners and good size when maneuvering in some of those tight campground roads. Check the big wall slide to see if the mechanism was upgraded to the newer Powergear SlimRack system from the prone to fail Scwhintek system. Lot of weight on the wall slide with galley, residential fridge, 10gal hwy, and W/D. WBGO did ours in 2018 on their dime. Trouble free coach - nope, especially the first year or so - lot of poor quality production issues showed up but once we worked thru those it held up well with only occasional minor problems (like any coach). We also had the stacked washer/dryer installed - worked great. Like you we also had a previous Journey - 2001 Journey 36LD DL, and I like the Cummins over the Cat 330 for power and mileage - plus no diesel exhaust smell with the DEF.

Recommend negotiating for full engine/transmission/chassis/genset service as part of the deal if you decide to buy (unless the dealer has verifiable records of recent service) and check dates on tires. AGM batteries may bear checking also.

Good luck!

RedT · 11-29-2020, 11:21 AM

Thank you for info! I was wondering what the timeline was on the Powergear / Schwintek slide system. Do you know when the change over was on production units?

Rmedad · 11-29-2020, 09:00 PM

Thinking they started putting the Powergear system in the slides late 15 early 16 models, but don't have a reference. Easy to see difference in any coach you might be looking at. Not a deal breaker if everything else looks great, but something to consider when negotiating price if it has the Scwhintek. Also not a big deal on the small bedroom slide...just the full wall slide. WBGO did not willingly pay to do ours, but I persisted (nicely) and they finally agreed to cover cost as "goodwill". Around $3k if I recall.