Winnebago Minnie Towable

[daveandconni]

Allan,

Great to hear. I appreciate your feedback. We are looking forward to our adventures in the Minnie. Thanks again

[Hey Ernie]

Cruzbill…..I read your description in the first post and it all made sense and then when I saw your photos, I see your first post was spot on! I’m making mine so it attaches to the same tubing as the bumper only in front of the bumper. Then a tongue will come out up and over the bumper and the receiver will attach on top of it. I have all of the parts cut and pretty much ready to weld. BUT… I’m going to take another look at how your setup might work out better. I’ll post pictures when I’m done. (You may have to help me with that too!).

And as you might know it just started raining. So back to making the tire covers.

A little side note; I wrote and posted this whole thing 3 hours ago, and when I checked back in just now I found nothing. So from now on I’m doing it where I can save it, then copy and paste it and if it all gets lost in the shuffle I can just go back and copy and paste again.

[Miseagull]

Hi,

I am soon to be a real member of the Winnebago towable group as I am in process of ordering a new Minnie. I am trying to make my final decision on the floorplan I will order. It will come down to the real life length of the dinette that Winnebago puts in the 2500FL and 2500RL. Last weekend I made a huge mistake and didn't insist on the sales guy converting the dinette so I could lay on it and test it. Because the back cushions are form fit into the back of the dinette and there is a decorative strip around the dinette, it looks like there may be an inch or two or three that lost in length from the wall-to-wall dimension. Does anyone know what the actual sleeping length is with the cushions removed? Thanks a bunch!

[Badlands Bob]

It's been my experience that the dinette will be about an inch shorter than the person trying to sleep on it.

The Winnebago floor plan shows that the dinette in the 2500FL/RL is 44"x72". My 2201DS came with the U shaped dinette which makes into an 83" bed.

[cruzbill]

Ernie, I'm not a welder, but, I would not put any angles in a receiver hitch setup. The rear of an RV shakes and shimmys like ole' Elvis and any vertical / horizontal weld will surely fail. Keep it straight and level, and use an anti rattle device on anything you plug into the receiver.

Roadmaster Inc. - Tow Bars, Braking Systems & RV Accessories

[Hey Ernie]

Cruzbill, I gave the shake, rattle and roll some thought. I even thought that when it was all put together that I would find a lonely road with a lot of bumpy patches and a few pot holes and follow right next to it in another car to see how bad it shakes. Or maybe borrow my grandsons GoPro and tie it to the ladder.

I’m going to look into the anti rattle, is there a brand that you know about? I didn’t know they made such an animal.

[cruzbill]

I use the Roadmaster Quiet Hitch. Simple, effective, stops all movement in the hitch. If you do the roadtest you describe, make a short video and post it. Example, if you mount a bike rack back there, put the bikes on and watch it shake. I had a couple of bikes on a Swagman rack, good rack, but the J-hook that secures the bike frame to the rack cracked at a weld. Had a welding shop in Arizona fix that for me. Didn't lose the bikes, luckly.

[Br0wnBear]

Well the dealer’s attempt at fixing my leak by applying silicone to the window frame a couple of weeks ago did not fix the problem. After the last big rain there was a huge puddle inside in the same places - the curb side night stand near the master bed, on the wood above the pass through storage and above the drawer. There is no water on the ceiling, in the cabinets above the bed, and no evidence of it running down the wall, so I really can’t tell how it’s getting in. But I’m taking it the 3 hours back to the dealer again this weekend to have them try again to fix it. Frustrated. I love this camper but really wish it had been properly sealed and leak tested at the factory. The wood on the nightstand is starting to show some water damage now. I’m hoping once it stops getting new water it will dry out.

[Badlands Bob]

Have you tried to duplicate the leak with a water hose? Actually finding where it's leaking is most of the battle.

[HRTraveler]

Originally Posted by Br0wnBear

Well the dealer’s attempt at fixing my leak by applying silicone to the window frame a couple of weeks ago did not fix the problem.

It may be coming from one or more of the light fixtures on the front outside of your trailer near the roof.

I had a very similar problem on a previous trailer. Absolutely no signs of water intrusion in the walls but the wooden bed support, comforter and mattress were getting wet. I believe the water followed the aluminum frame down to the bed support and "wicked" from there to the mattress and cover.

I added a bead of Dicor Lap Sealant (do not use self leveling sealant) around the top and sides of all the lights and solved my problem.

https://www.amazon.com/Dicor-501LSW-...T9YRN833ZYR8VE

[Br0wnBear]

I tried for about 20 minutes with a hose at the campground where we were this past weekend, spraying the side above the window. Nothing came in through the window and I felt bad making a muddy mess spraying water there. I would have liked to take the hose up on the roof and spray down. I have to keep it at a storage lot that doesn’t have running water so it’s tough to do when not camping. I can’t find a DIY car wash near me with enough height clearance to bring it in. It’s supposed to rain again Thursday so I may go stay in it at the storage lot to see if I can find the source during the rain. I’d like to point the dealer in the direction of the leak if I can find it.

[TDI-Minnie]

Originally Posted by Hey Ernie

Cruzbill, I gave the shake, rattle and roll some thought. I even thought that when it was all put together that I would find a lonely road with a lot of bumpy patches and a few pot holes and follow right next to it in another car to see how bad it shakes. Or maybe borrow my grandsons GoPro and tie it to the ladder.

I’m going to look into the anti rattle, is there a brand that you know about? I didn’t know they made such an animal.

Ernie,
Not sure if you are on Facebook, but the Minnie Owners group has some interesting solutions for this. A few guys have welded up very elaborate racks on the back.

Just keep in mind that anuthing you hang off the back reduces hitch weight and that generates trailer sway!
Check this demonstration on trailer balance and sway:

https://youtu.be/i2fkOVHAC8Q

[HRTraveler]

Originally Posted by TDI-Minnie

Just keep in mind that anything you hang off the back reduces hitch weight and that generates trailer sway!

That would be my biggest concern.

[Bigbird65]

Solar panels maybe?