RE: Wheelbase - 190" vs 220" - area of concern?
I will say, although we enjoy our 29B now, we had to have front shocks and a heavy duty stabilizer bar installed to assist in the swerve in wind or being passed by larger rigs at high speeds. Now it's fine, I only wish it came from the factory with considerations for actual driving and use.
RE: Winnebago View emergency slide-out crank
Jambo 31 We had to request the manual crank from the dealer - the factory either neglected to include it or someone took it before we picked it up.
RE: Class C MPG
Our 2006 Winnie Outlook 29B with two slides and Vue toad runs around 7.5-8MPG. I attribute it to weight, since we are close to max. I drive between 55-65MPH. It shocked me that the price of gas ahas MORE THAN DOUBLED since we bought the rig. Hopefully, a new government can figure out some relief.
RE: Got our 2008 Saturn Vue set up
Our 2006 VUE tracks great and our Blue Ox set is stable and reliable, we have to look in the the rear view camera to realize it's still there.
Enjoy your new Vue toad!
RE: Dead chassis battery?
We've had our chassis battery load-tested twice and surmise it's the step and the CO2 detector and...? that are draining the battery slowly, we've slowed it even further by getting a solar charger which helps considerably, although not perfectly. There are long stretches now where the MH stays in storage without a startup.
RE: Winnebago Outlook 29B shower privacy
I just used a little velcro on top of the door to stay open (private position) and added a couple of "fold-away"hooks for hanging clothes nearby in the BR. Privacy is not an issue unless someone else has to use the head at the same time.
RE: How do you wax/clean your Cab over area?
Yup, the extendable carwash brush is the only way to go, although I also climb up on the roof and attack it with the brush from above, I just keep the roof dry behind me as I back towards the access ladder cleaning in front of me as I retreat.
RE: Do most of you drive Toads with manual transmission?
We purchased a 2006 Saturn Vue AWD automatic specifically for towing. It's not light at 3,600lbs but overall we are under recommendations. We have to pull an IGN fuse and recycle the tranny oil every 7 hours, but so far it all works just great. We also installed a Unified Tow Brake system as well, it's a breeze to operate.
RE: Winnebago Outlook Issue - condensation in storage area??
I had a leak in the bedroom slide on my 2006 Outlook 29B the dealer (checked it twice) and had to replace the rubber seal and finally the carpets remain dry. If you have a warranty or extended warranty have 'em check it out. Since your condensation is under heat sources, perhaps a vent is needed, although I haven't noticed any obvious breathers. Maybe those that are from the Northeast (cold winters) may see this more than others in more temperate climates. Good luck.
RE: Saturn Outlook towing advice needed.
We have 2006 Outlook with a Vue for Dinghy. As per our instructions, we remove the ING 30amp fuse, keep the key on Accessory but nothing major works as far as I can tell except the driving, emergency flashers, brake and turn signal lights work. I had the dealer install a Unified Tow brake system, which operates from the motorhome's electrical system. It seems to me that Savannhsv is correct that the dash lights are a factor for the "day running", but ours don't go on and neither do the headlights.
RE: RV Web Site
I found this forum before I purchased and boy, am I glad. There is a wealth of information with the "sage" posters and newbies often have interesting questions. Thanks to rv.net I feel like a part of an online and on the road community.
RE: Beware Rear End Swing on Typical Class C's
In my two years experience, I find that tight gas stations are the worst. If I have a choice I'll choose one with lots of room to move. In a gas station near South Lake Tahoe last summer, I pulled in with our dinghy and ended up being stuck for 1/2 an hour (not for the swing) but a vendor/supplier blocked my exit. If I hadn't had the dinghy I could've backed up gingerly but, even with mirrors, I have been surprised how many close calls I've had. Hopefully, I'm learning each time not to swing that overhang into anything.
RE: Deluxe Add a Room (AAR) setup
I installed my own Deluxe AAR for my class C and found it a little challenging to attach the "skirt" I needed to make sure our pets didn't wander under the rig and out when off leash. Finally got it though and I read somewhere (here?) that my window panels could switch; meaning the window flaps would be on the outside in precipitus weather and on the inside for ease of use in good weather.
RE: Perhaps a Big Decision
Thanks for everybody's input! Here's a few responses to your questions:
Yes, an RV is not an "investment." I was certainly curious about selling the rig and the dinghy at the same time, but haven't seen a forum about it. Kinda a knee-jerk reaction.
As a matter of course, we usually live rather frugally - no second mort. on the house -all the home improvements came out of job earnings in Sonoma county, CA. we think we have one of the nicer homes in the neighborhood in value. (it was continually low-balled by people who couldn't qualify for a loan) -- so we became over-exposed for a year. The earliest to try again would be late fall '08.
Mandalay Parr:
Yes we'll do the pro and con thing...
hohenwald48:
Depends on where you live: figuring the market slide in our area was a 15-18% drop between 2005 and now. Sure the prices were inflated, but we are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many areas have kept their values. Ten miles to the south and we would have possibly had a 5% gain.
SuperDave178:
Thanks, your advice is cogent. If we both get jobs (less than we were making) we can still pay for everything. Our concern has been healthcare more than anything I get COBRA and my wife pays for hers. Funny thing, we were planning on "reinventing" ourselves across the country, not where we've spent the last several decades. We are diversified enough to pay off the home and RV (but wouldn't) and can handle things if we get work. Our NADA low-end value is 15K more than what we owe. I still take that with a grain of salt.
4tumbleweeds:
We planned to use it for 4-5 month trek across the country right now it's about 3x a year with a few days trips to keep it "lubed and operated."
time_to_go_now:
How much do you owe on the MH? Are you upside down? YES
How much do you owe on your house? Are you upside down? NO
How much do you owe on the Saturn? Are you upside down? NO
Yes we have good equity in our home, even now, but the crystal ball is foggy...
garyhaupt:
With the sale of the home we would've "bought down" in another state with enough to purchase a home fully, but not to rush to pay it off until we would be settled enough to call it home. The major concerns in the process of resettlement would be our worldly possessions would be in "storage" in CA until we found a place in the northeast. Our dream has been a small farmhouse on a few acres near family. My wife will never full-time, but will be excited to travel when we're in our retirement years.
winnietrey
Yup, you're right, plus we are going to a more-affordable part of the country...but the ethereal 130K helps with moving, traveling and healthcare catastrophes. Our safety net could be dissolved pretty quickly, padding that home sale profit would give us a better feeling about making such a gigantic change in our life.
Thanks for everybody's input! Here's a few responses to your questions:
Yes, an RV is not an "investment." I was certainly curious about selling the rig and the dinghy at the same time, but haven't seen a forum about it. Kinda a knee-jerk reaction.
As a matter of course, we usually live rather frugally - no second mort. on the house -all the home improvements came out of job earnings in Sonoma county, CA. we think we have one of the nicer homes in the neighborhood in value. (it was continually low-balled by people who couldn't qualify for a loan) -- so we became over-exposed for a year. The earliest to try again would be late fall '08.
Mandalay Parr:
Yes we'll do the pro and con thing...
hohenwald48:
Depends on where you live: figuring the market slide in our area was a 15-18% drop between 2005 and now. Sure the prices were inflated, but we are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many areas have kept their values. Ten miles to the south and we would have possibly had a 5% gain.
SuperDave178:
Thanks, your advice is cogent. If we both get jobs (less than we were making) we can still pay for everything. Our concern has been healthcare more than anything I get COBRA and my wife pays for hers. Funny thing, we were planning on "reinventing" ourselves across the country, not where we've spent the last several decades. We are diversified enough to pay off the home and RV (but wouldn't) and can handle things if we get work. Our NADA low-end value is 15K more than what we owe. I still take that with a grain of salt.
4tumbleweeds:
We planned to use it for 4-5 month trek across the country right now it's about 3x a year with a few days trips to keep it "lubed and operated."
time_to_go_now:
How much do you owe on the MH? Are you upside down? YES
How much do you owe on your house? Are you upside down? NO
How much do you owe on the Saturn? Are you upside down? NO
Yes we have good equity in our home, even now, but the crystal ball is foggy...
garyhaupt:
With the sale of the home we would've "bought down" in another state with enough to purchase a home fully, but not to rush to pay it off until we would be settled enough to call it home. The major concerns in the process of resettlement would be our worldly possessions would be in "storage" in CA until we found a place in the northeast. Our dream has been a small farmhouse on a few acres near family. My wife will never full-time, but will be excited to travel when we're in our retirement years.
winnietrey
Yup, you're right, plus we are going to a more-affordable part of the country...but the ethereal 130K helps with moving, traveling and healthcare catastrophes. Our safety net could be dissolved pretty quickly, padding that home sale profit would give us a better feeling about making such a gigantic change in our life. :o
RE: Perhaps a Big Decision
I am looking for work as we decide. If I can land a job that offers health care, we can use THAT money saved to keep the rig. If not, the writing's on the wall, but not right away.
Perhaps a Big Decision
Well, my wife and I may have to make a big decision next year. Keep our almost new motorhome and take from savings to pay for it (if I can't find work) or sell it:
A) alone or B) with our almost new tow vehicle attached...
We jumped the gun in 2005 and bought our brand-new 2006 Winnebago Outlook 29B in November, thinking we'd sell our home in early 2006 and move across country with a trip of a lifetime. In January we specifically traded in my wife's mini-van to get a 2006 Saturn Vue AWD V6 for a Northeast climate. Over the time we waited to sell the house, I lost my job, but we thought, we've updated our home of 16 years and it's at a fair price so it will go, maybe for a little less than asking.
Meanwhile, we got used to the Outlook, brought it into the dealer for minor warranty repairs and installed Bilstein shocks and a Safe T Bar as well as a Blue OX tow package with a Unified tow brake system for the Vue dinghy. We didn't do much to the interior save for adding an LCD TV in the bedroom and additional flip up counter for the kitchen and sliding doors for the shelves behind the sofa.
It's absolutely "ready to go," although we're not. The house dropped 130K in value and there's no sense in selling at the bottom of the market. Simultaneously, gas prices have soared and we are reluctant to go on many trips while we're hunkered down.
We don't want sympathy, we know there are many others hurting in this economy. We prepared, planned and attempted to execute our dream after 16 years.
Are we crazy to think about selling the RV? If it comes to it does it makes sense to sell the RV and the dinghy together -- would you ever consider making such a purchase? Both are in "cherry" condition: Outlook has 5K miles and the Vue <8K miles, well cared for both on extended warranties - transferable, I believe. OR should we hang on to our dinghy with the tow package and hope for better days? The housing market around here may not come back for 5 years.
Thanks in advance for all your replies. :)
RE: Ford V10 Motor, are there issues?
k1hog, We love our MH with the V10, E450. no problems in two years motors fine. We only wished we sold our home before we bought. We've been waiting for the "RE market to return" so effectively, we're managing 2 mortgages...not fun. but we're willing to wait since our dream is to travel - still not retired for many years...
