Bucksss
St. Croix Valley
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Joined: 06/30/2008
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I know I am comparing apples to oranges but would like your input, my priorities are Quality, Ride and or Handling, and Ease and Cost of Maintanence. I will be towing a 19 ft aluminum enclosed motorcycle trailer 5000 to 6000 lbs.
Thanks in advance!
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az99
N.Y.
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Joined: 12/26/2006
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They are both nice. I had a new 07 Journey and used it for 1 month and got rid of it. I then got a Seneca. I hated the way the Journey bus drove. It was just way to swoosy and rocky from the air ride suspension for my taste. I also hated the feeling of being the 1st to an accident. I much prefer the the ride and handling of the Seneca as it is a truck chassis.It handles like a sports car compared to the Journey. I also disliked the passenger door entrance of the Journey. The side door entrance of the Seneca is much better for practical use.
As far as quality they were both equally poor for total lack of quality control. Each unit had many, many little things that needed fixing that should have never left the factory. But that seems to be a motorhome industry standard.
There really is no comparison of the 2 units as they are so different. Overall the Journey has more options and is plusher but the Seneca is a much better driver. I pull a 24' trailer.
Take both for some long test drives on all types of roads and compare all the options to see what fits you best. Also the Journey is very heavy. Check driver licensing in your state for over 26K pulling a trailer. Good Luck
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dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
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Joined: 03/21/2003
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No question, you go for the Journey if you have limited your selection to these two.
We've had a Journey - lousy quality (pssttt - don't tell DriVer over at iRV2- he thinks Winnie can do not wrong. After 15 months ours was still not debugged.) but will meet your towing needs. The Seneca WILL NOT meet your towing needs if your load in the MH means you are approaching the GVWR. The GCWR is 26,000 lbs and subtract the 22,000 for the GVWR and you only have 4,000 left. Since we wanted to tow a Tahoe when we downsized that meant the Seneca was out (it was out on length already so that didn't matter anyway).
AZ is right on quality. Mind you, we have had far fewer serious problems with our Jayco but it is no longer available (Jayco may regret that decision).
You can find some good gasser Kodiak Greyhawks around at a good price.
Well, maybe the Journey willl not be adequate either. I notice max tongue weight for the trailer is 500 lbs. Is that enough for you. I also see they still have a 10,410 lb front axle GAWR - and ours had tires which had max pressure weight capacity (those wonderful Michelin XRVs) of 5,205 lbs each (which I felt was wrong then and I still believe that - our Ambassador had nice tire capacity cushions all around).
For what you need, I'd keep looking.
The bottom has fallen out of the market and you start seeing some good deals - this one looks to be as good as new if you don't need the bunk over the cab (we do and our son loves it).
Greyhawk 32SS
Don, Bev & Phil
07 Jayco 32SS on Kodiak May 07 Yahoo Kodiak Group
06 HR Amb 40PLQ ISC 330/950 9/05-5/07
04 Winnie Jrny 39W CAT C7 7/04-9/05)
00 Triple E Commander 5/03-5/04
Toad - 07 Tahoe LTZ 12/06 -
04 Colorado Z71 04- 06
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az99
N.Y.
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dleslie125 wrote: The Seneca WILL NOT meet your towing needs if your load in the MH means you are approaching the GVWR. The GCWR is 26,000 lbs and subtract the 22,000 for the GVWR and you only have 4,000 left. I am not sure what model of Seneca you are talking about but, my 34SS weighs 18,700 (actual scale weight) with full fuel and propane. To get it to 22K you would have to carry a lot of extra stuff. My trailer is about 6K + or -. The Seneca does a much better job pulling hills than the Journey and I even had the 350 HP Cat with the 6 speed. But again these are very, very different motorhomes. I also bet your 19' aluminum trailer with motorcycles is well under 5K.
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billystoys
Alberta
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Joined: 11/12/2007
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He can`t be talking about a 2008 36FS either as mine full of fuel, propane, water, dishes and a toolbox it will weigh in at 6886lbs or 3130kg on the front axle and 13398lbs or 6090kg on the rear for a total of 20284lbs or 9220kg. Leaving 5716lbs or 2598kg for a trailer.
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dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
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az99 wrote:dleslie125 wrote: The Seneca WILL NOT meet your towing needs if your load in the MH means you are approaching the GVWR. The GCWR is 26,000 lbs and subtract the 22,000 for the GVWR and you only have 4,000 left. I am not sure what model of Seneca you are talking about but, my 34SS weighs 18,700 (actual scale weight) with full fuel and propane. To get it to 22K you would have to carry a lot of extra stuff. My trailer is about 6K + or -. The Seneca does a much better job pulling hills than the Journey and I even had the 350 HP Cat with the 6 speed. But again these are very, very different motorhomes. I also bet your 19' aluminum trailer with motorcycles is well under 5K.
AZ I don't have either a trailer or a motorcycle. 
My Tahoe is around 5700 lbs and I was NOT going to tow it with a Seneca based on the labels we looked at. With our Winnie and Ambassador we had little problem sticking a LOT of stuff in the basement (especially with the Ambassador) and could easily put 3000 lbs in the basement and closets the way DW likes to take "stuff." Of course, I travel very light myself. : Actually, when you spend 6 months in Florida we find you can take a LOT of stuff with you without trying very hard.
Don
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az99
N.Y.
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dleslie125 wrote:
AZ I don't have either a trailer or a motorcycle.
My Tahoe is around 5700 lbs and I was NOT going to tow it with a Seneca based on the labels we looked at. With our Winnie and Ambassador we had little problem sticking a LOT of stuff in the basement (especially with the Ambassador) and could easily put 3000 lbs in the basement and closets the way DW likes to take "stuff." Of course, I travel very light myself. : Actually, when you spend 6 months in Florida we find you can take a LOT of stuff with you without trying very hard.
Don Don - Sorry my post was confusing. I was referring to the OP's trailer. I was just quoting your weight info to try to clarify it for the OP.
If I hooked a Tahoe to the back of my Seneca I would have to leave the backup camera on to see if it was still there.
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dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
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az99 wrote:dleslie125 wrote:
AZ I don't have either a trailer or a motorcycle.
My Tahoe is around 5700 lbs and I was NOT going to tow it with a Seneca based on the labels we looked at. With our Winnie and Ambassador we had little problem sticking a LOT of stuff in the basement (especially with the Ambassador) and could easily put 3000 lbs in the basement and closets the way DW likes to take "stuff." Of course, I travel very light myself. : Actually, when you spend 6 months in Florida we find you can take a LOT of stuff with you without trying very hard.
Don Don - Sorry my post was confusing. I was referring to the OP's trailer. I was just quoting your weight info to try to clarify it for the OP.
If I hooked a Tahoe to the back of my Seneca I would have to leave the backup camera on to see if it was still there.
But I sure wish I had your Duramax in my 32SS when I'm towing that Tahoe. It is fine on flats but up hill in mountains the 8.1 can wind up pretty high.
Don
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goodwind
Arkansas
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Joined: 11/01/2006
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SENECA SENECA SENECA SENECA! JOURNEY WILL NOT DO WHAT YOU ARE ASKING. Make sure you have the upgraded springs before you buy. Dane
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