Minnie Winnie Drivetrain Question

[Harvey2019]

Does Winnebago extend the drivetrain/driveshaft of a 2019 26' Model 25B Minnie Winnie Ford E450 frame? We are having transmission/drivetrain problems and while we are under warranty with both Ford and Winnebago, neither wants to fix it. AND we are having a heckuva time trying to find anyone who will take a 26' RV for said issues. Now we are trying to determine if Ford or Winnebago is ultimately responsible. So, if Winnebago extended/replaced the drivetrain/driveshaft, warranty is on them and not Ford - according to Ford.

Anyone have a similar experience and care to share?

TIA!

[wahoonc]

What is your wheelbase? If you check the Ford website for the specs it will tell you what was available that year. Typically Winnebago stretches the chassis and adds an extension to the drive train. Yours is short enough that Winnebago may not have stretched it.

Aaron

[powercat_ras]

Specs on your RV say it has a 190" wheelbase. The longest E350 and E450 chassis listed by Ford for 2019 was 176". So I think that Winnebago lengthened the chassis and driveshaft 14". They were good at this and has done it 1000s of times in Forest City over the years, in the way that Ford documented how to do this in a way that was allowed and approved by Ford in documents that you can probally find online if you want them for reference.

I suggest neither Ford dealer or Winnebago dealer or even the Winnebago Factory Service Center will be able to resolve your ??? driveshaft ??? issue, whatever it is since you were not specific.

You might try calling a large vehicle service center like FleetPride and see if they can diagnose for a reasonable price, and then service your vehicle if affordable to do so.

[wahoonc]

For some reason in the back of my mind I seem to recall that the RV manufacturers usually buy the 158" WB chassis. They stretch them according to Ford specs. It should be a Ford issue. The suggestion to find an independent driveline shop is a good one.

Aaron

[Harvey2019]

Thanks for your response! It's 15.17 feet. We're trying to figure out if that was short enough not to need to be swapped out. We haven't been able to figure it out yet...

[Harvey2019]

Thank you for your response! We've been told it's different things by different garages. Still a mystery. Your information helps narrow the number of rabbit holes!

[Harvey2019]

Gotcha! Agreed. Thank you!

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Harvey2019

Thanks for your response! It's 15.17 feet. We're trying to figure out if that was short enough not to need to be swapped out. We haven't been able to figure it out yet...

If you get underneath you should be able to see where the frame was cut and spliced. Also if you run the VIN through a decoder I believe it will tell you what the WB as when it left the factory.

Aaron

[Eagle5]

Just in case you haven't seen it, here is the 2019 Ordering Guide, and the only two Motorhome Prep Package wheelbases which Winnebago could order for their Minnie Winnies were:

• 158"
• 176"

The Brochure for 2019 had these four wheelbases:

• 22M & 22R = 158"
• 25B = 182"
• 26A = 190"
• 31D, 31G & 31K = 220"

Thanks, Eagle5

[creativepart]

I'm old and my memory is even older it seems. But wasn't there some drive-shaft imbalance issues back around 2020? Maybe it was on the new V8 chassis, I don't recall. It just sounds familiar.

Drive shafts were not properly balanced and were either replaced or rebalanced. As per usual, I don't recall.

Here's proof I still have a working memory:

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f4...ion-24261.html

[Harvey2019]

Winnebago says that based on the VIN it was not extended. Ford says anything that is over 24' has been extended. It is currently at a shop in a holding pattern while we sort service out between Ford and not-Ford.

[Harvey2019]

Go you! A working memory is a wonderful thing! Thanks for the link. Our problem is similar but not quite that. I appreciate your digging up as the more intel we have, the more ability we have to push warranty service through!