Lynne Jayzee wrote: After submitting my post I remembered that the Winnebago View is available on the gas Sprinter 3.5L V6 cutaway chassis. That thing has got to be heavy, and I'm real curious as to how it will perform.
- LJZ
LJZ, I just checked out the 2008 Winnebago View at LazyDays web site. With a 11,030 lbs GVWR anyone know the Views unloaded weight or CCC? Powered by a 3.5L V6 gas engine and looking so heavy I would not be surprised if handling left a lot to be desired. I do not like the cabover bunk design of the View and I think the new Itasca 08 Navion iQ 24DL with the REAR slide that I saw at the FMCA Rally in Pomona CA has a lot more to offer. Both being about 24 feet the Navion has a more creative floor plan with a dinette that can seat up to six using the expandable table, a rear slide with a permanent queen size bed that you can walk around all three sides instead of climbing into the overhead bunk in the View or making up the sofa. Bath size is OK, but the kitchen design in both leaves a lot to desire (the kitchen in a RT 210 is a far better design and size).
Don,
I had been checking into the Bs online and had not seen one closeup until my closest RV dealer got in some Views. My first thought was it look bulky, heavy and way too long. I also didn't care at all for the inside; overhead bunk was a deal breaker, had to almost crawl into the driver's seat and I felt the quality of the materials wasn't there. The slide only seemed to enforce my thoughts of it being heavy.
Lenora
NoraExplora wrote: After reading the posts in this discussion something else popped up in my mind about generators; propane vs gasoline. Just how quickly does the propane go vs gasoline. Then is the gasoline generator more noisy than the propane, more exhaust etc?
Thanks up front!
Lenora
I think if you go to www.funroads.com, which is the Onan website, they'll have specs for the fuel use / hour at various load levels for both the propane & gas models. AIUI, the 2.8 gas and 2.5 LPG units are identical except for the carburetor. LPG gives less power, thus the output derating from 2.8 kW to 2.5kW.
I seriously doubt that there's much if any difference in noise level. The way it's installed in a particular vehicle, and the presence or absence of exhaust mods like the resonator will make far more difference than the LPG vs. gasoline issue.
Fuel use can be an issue for folks who run their generator a lot... extended stay boondockers, carrying passengers in the rear in hot weather, using the RV in an emergency for shelter or home power backup. I think if I'd started RV'ing with a propane Onan & small LP tank, I'd just assume that it's just a 'normal' limitation of RVing... the moderate hassle of finding it in a strange place, and the delay of filling.
I'm on Thimble Island (the south service island on the Chesapeake BBT) right now, and running my 2.8 for heat & to power the reefer, recharge this laptop, etc. (my propane is turned off). And I'll heat water for "mo' coffee" in a while with the microwave.... I ran it all night last night in a truck stop, mostly for noise masking. It's just gas from the regular tank, so I'll refuel a little bit sooner, and pay a bit of road use tax that really isn't required by law...
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
Over two RV seasons and 22,000 miles driven I have filled the propane tank but twice. One time was conveniently at the B4 Rally right at the Raccoon Holler campground. The other was at a local U-Haul/gas station dealer. I've probably burned propane more in exercising my generator. If I have an electrical hookup I will never use the generator. If I don't I probably will not run the generator much more than an hour. It hasn't been that much of a burden or worry.
Davydd
2005 Pleasure-Way Plateau Sprinter B Camper Van
Davydd is the Welsh spelling for David with an English twist using a v instead of an f. See Our Pleasure-Way and my pork tenderloin sandwiches
Visited states in an RV
I think we will have 6 gal. of propane. In the past we used our propane only for heater and stove - didn't have AC. In the new SMB it will be the same setup (no AC) except we will have 2-130w, 7a solar panels feeding a 4D-AGM battery.
Water heater is electric and like the M/W will be powered by above thru a 2000w inverter.
If we find we do need more power, we can idle the Sprinter engine and have the idle control option just for that purpose.
We carried a little Honda generator for 20 years and only used it once in the drive-way with all the neighbors to get TV coverage of the Landers earthquake.
Regards,
Keith
The excellent adventures of Keith and Debbie. Observations about life, at home and on the road in our 2008 Sportsmobile Sprinter.
(Warning: Occasional sharp turns to the right.)
About surround sound in a "B". They should use virtual surround, like a SoundMatters Soundstage. Putting 5 speakers and a normal size subwoofer in a "B" is crazy, and I sell hi-fi for a living.Just using home technology vocabulary in a 20'Van is just marketing.
1. at least in CA i believe that the new chassis run on "low sulfur diesel" im not sure what that is or if its different from reg diesel.
2. ascent bathroom is roomier and more private, but takes more space in my opinion
3. ascents front seats do not swivel , at least in hte model that i saw.
4. roadtreks slide out step from the sliding door is nice
5. roadtreks window treatment have sheer and blackout options
6. acent leather fit and finish flooring euro lighting is nice (imho)
7. RT agiles windows look nicer from outside again imho
8. macerator on RT, not on Ascent
9. Coffee maker in RT didnt see it on Ascent, maybe its an option
10. sprinter models are too tall for most drivethrus, Rt 170 will pass
11. i think new sprinters are avg 18-20 mpg while chevy/ford are in the 10-12+ range depending on how heavy your foot is
ill think of more later
ps ive been looking at the ascent and ss for awhile now. however im having doubts as i have 3 boys and (i have a Chvy RT V190) my wife usually uses the rear bed and the boys play up front at the table. this would not be possible in the ss/ascent . its basically a one room option.
Markus, all new V6 Sprinters (and other new diesel engines) are design to only burn the new low sulfur fuel. I was told by Cummins at the Pomona RV Rally that this new low sulfur fuel has 15% fewer BTU's in it than the old fuel. Think of it as watering down the fuel, you are going to burn more fuel to go the same distance. AND HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THEY ARE ASKING $4.169 A GALLON FOR THIS LOW SULFUR FUEL. This would explain why we are receiving reports of the new V6 Sprinters getting 20% less mileage than the older 5 cyl. models. However, that 5 cyl. can not meet the new pollution requirements explaining why MB redesign the engine.
Don
* This post was
edited 03/19/08 06:31pm by loving retirement *
Great information, thanks. And I agree and have thought of most. Makes me think there are too many compromises with either one and I can not do diesel and a propane generator. Just too inconvenient.
And seats don't swivel? I would not have caught that and that is big.
This way if you know you are going to need extra propane you can just connect an auxillary tank. You can also get set-up to run outdoor stoves, heaters, etc.
I am having a T put in just in case I ever need it.
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I ran it all night last night in a truck stop, mostly for noise masking. It's just gas from the regular tank, so I'll refuel a little bit sooner, and pay a bit of road use tax that really isn't required by law... 
