Quick Question for 2007 Journey/Meridian Owners

[jthvalkyrie]

I am alittle late catching up with this thread but here goes...

I have a 2007 Itasca Meridian 36G. It has both the temperature/compass module and SmartWheel (added as an option).

If you have any other questions, just drop me a line.

safe travels,
John

[theroc]

Hi John!

Ya know, I bet you have one of the early-built 2007 models.

What I am finding is that the very first 07s off the line were actually 2006 models that were just called 2007 models. In my search and research, looking all over the country at different dealers' websites, I'm find that this may be so. An early 2007 will have the exact same features and color scheme as the 2006 models.

All the later model 2007s will not have a smartwheel or the temperature/compass readout.

So far, I've only found 2 new 34H units in the country that are labeled 2007 but are really 2006 models. I'm contemplating trying to make a deal on one of those but I have to travel quite a distance to those dealers.

Thanks for the response!

--'rocco

[Sammie]

I just noticed today at my local Meridian dealer that the 2007 models do not have metal enclosed slide out awnings. My 2006 Journey does.

[jthvalkyrie]

Perhaps Winnebago used my rig to take pictures for the '07 brochure
My rig was built in July 2006 and we bought it in early september. The title lists both Model Year and Year of Manufacture as 2007!

We wound up selecting this 36G motorhome rather abruptly after we had declined delivery of another unit (2005 Tropical 396). That motorhome was a leftover and had a number of serious defects that caused the deal to fall through. The dealership did a good job of keeping us as a customer, giving us a good price on this '07 Itasca that had just been delivered to them that week.

good luck,
John

[Pusherman]

--rocco,

In my opinion, the most important feature to purchase is the non-2007 diesel engine,
which adds about $10K to the price of the unit -- not to mention the new maintenance challenges (which I do not understand nor do I want to).

You can purchase a 2007 coach as long as it was built on a 2006 chassis. My understanding is that Freightliner began building the 2007 chassis's Oct 1, 2006. You can call Freightliner to verify when a chassis was built just by the last 6 digits of the VIN. I would guess there are numerous coaches to choose from at this point.

Good luck on your new purchase.

[Jestme13]

Ya know guys, technically the 07's dont have to be all gooped up until they are manufactured after Jan 1, 2007. Early 07 builds should be quite safe from the 07 histaria.

[Pusherman]

Until the production run of 2006 Chassis have been used up. Since Freightliner started shipping the '07 Chassis beginning Oct 1 '06, I would guess coaches built late 2006 have the 2007 diesel engine requirements.

[boulderado]

It is my understanding that only engines manufactured after Jan 1, 2007 will be ULSD engines. Therefore my guess is that all 2007 Freightliner chassis manufactured at least until Dec 31, 2006 will have an 'old' engine. At lot of chassis manufacturers stocked up on 2006 engines and will be using them well into 2007 as well.

[Pusherman]

I don't know for sure when the new ULSD engines began manufacture, but I was at Freightliner in Gaffney in April of last year for Camp Freightliner, and the president of FCCC told us that they expected to start manufacturing with the new engine beginning Oct 1, 2006.

[theroc]

Okay, so no matter, any way I look at it, if I factory order a Winnebago DP (Journey/Meridian) at a dealer at the present time, I'm going to get a ULSD-only engine, correct?

The only way to avoid it for sure is to look for one sitting on a dealer's lot right now that was built after October 01, 2006, right?

Oh man, the pressure is on!

Thanks everybody.

--'rocco

[Pusherman]

Check with your sales people. They can call Winnie to find out if there are any '06 chassis's available, but my guess is the '06 Chassis's are consumed by now -- but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Otherwise, definitely, find one on a lot somewhere.

P.S. Pls let us know what your dealer says regarding if the '06 chassis's are consumed yet!

[teekay]

Had discussion with a manager of DOC/DFP exhaust products and he said that to qualify as an 06 engine you needed to mate a block and a crankshaft. Further, he said that warehouses were full of 06 "engines".

For engines with DPF exhaust syatem you can expect higher under hood temperatures due to high amount of exhuast gas recirculation. Active DPF systems will inject and ignite diesel fuel into the DPF to burn off the accumulated particulate matter.

I'm glad my rig is an 06.

DOC = Diesel Oxidation Catalysist
DPF = Diesel Particulate Filter

[theroc]

Update: Hi again. I finally will be taking delivery of a Meridian 34H this week.

The dealer tells me the compass/temperature module is somewhere in the area of $300. They haven't gotten back to me on what they will charge to install it. The salesman said that it will be pretty labor intensive in that they have to place a sensor somewhere on the roof to measure the ambient temperature. He estimates that the labor will be at least as much as the unit itself.

I'm not sure whether to try to install it myself or not. I'm a klutz when it comes to wiring and cutting holes in the dash! I'll think a bit on it and see.

Thanks again for all the responses!

[R. Francis]

I have a 2007 Meridian and the two items you mentioned were not on mine. I believe that they have discontinued these two items.

Roy Francis

[theroc]

Hi Roy. Yeah, the Freightliner info center has been moved to the center display in the dash. The compass and ambient temperature readout has been discontinued.

As I say, I'm debating whether to have the dealer install the compass or do it myself. Man, $300 + $300+ for installation, to have a compass is ridiculous but I'm so used to having a compass and temperature readout in my cars that I almost will feel lost without them in the motorhome.

[diesellabs]

I'm not sure the temperature sensor should be installed on the roof...you may get an unusually high reading. I'm not sure where my sensor is located, but it isn't on the roof...probably under the front chassis area. Works well, though.

[Izzyblueye]

My sensor is under the coach. Having one on top seems senseless to me. IMHO get a second opinion.