Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-21-2015, 04:22 PM   #1
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 9
Some years better than others?

Shopping for a Journey/Meridian 36G. A 2001 Journey I saw yesterday seemed to have much better finish detail in the cabinetry and doors than a 2007 Meridian I saw five minutes later. Thoughts? Thanks
Birdie66b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2015, 01:51 PM   #2
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 28
Hello, can't add anything to the quality but have just bought a 2000 journey and looking forward to enjoying it to the fullest this summer when we do rte66. Know that doesn't help you but we decided on the journey over a couple of other ones mainly based on the layout, we really liked the 36G so that's what we went with
nij_tp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2015, 06:47 PM   #3
Winnebago Master
 
jerichorick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Full-timer/volunteer w/SOWERS
Posts: 2,734
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZaficionado View Post
Shopping for a Journey/Meridian 36G. A 2001 Journey I saw yesterday seemed to have much better finish detail in the cabinetry and doors than a 2007 Meridian I saw five minutes later. Thoughts? Thanks
Winnebago went into survival mode back when the RV recession hit. QC was the sacrifice made to stay in business.

2011 and on, as far as I know, went to the residential refrigerator which is a big plus. This introduced AGM batteries as standard and the 2800W true sine wave inverter with the upgrade option in this 40U. 2008 they went to the basement in the chassis instead of hanging off the slides which causes a lot of trouble closing problems.

The DEF systems allows for the drive train to be better tuned. My engine with DEF is rated at 380HP. Without DEF it is a 360HP. And I get 7.7mpg at this time, average, at 26000+/- miles on the rig.

In short, you won't get the great finish of the earlier models but some of the advanced features are not that bad a tradeoff.

Hope this helps.

Rick Y
__________________
Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
jerichorick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2015, 05:43 AM   #4
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 9
Much appreciated
Birdie66b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2015, 05:46 AM   #5
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 9
I really like the 36G floorplan as well. We are still 6 months off, but will perhaps meet down the road. Route 66 is in my backyard and is great fun! Lots of wide open spaces. Enjoy!
Birdie66b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2015, 07:16 PM   #6
Winnebago Master
 
jerichorick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Full-timer/volunteer w/SOWERS
Posts: 2,734
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZaficionado View Post
I really like the 36G floorplan as well. We are still 6 months off, but will perhaps meet down the road. Route 66 is in my backyard and is great fun! Lots of wide open spaces. Enjoy!
I hope I have given you some food for thought. I did a search for the 36G, which I think is listed as the 36GD, and it looks like 2003 is the last year for that model number. One problem with getting an older rig is getting an extended warranty to cover the major components.

About Rt66. We had a great trip on it several years ago. And, don't forget Cars! Love those movies.

I do hope you can find what you are looking for. Happy and safe trails.

Rick Y
__________________
Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
jerichorick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2015, 04:38 PM   #7
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 28
36G is the Cummins 36G is the Cat I believe (happy to be corrected) we bought a 2000 36G with 72K. AZ hit me up on pm.
nij_tp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2015, 06:20 AM   #8
Winnebago Master
 
jerichorick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Full-timer/volunteer w/SOWERS
Posts: 2,734
Quote:
Originally Posted by nij_tp View Post
36G is the Cummins 36G is the Cat I believe (happy to be corrected) we bought a 2000 36G with 72K. AZ hit me up on pm.
http://winnebagoind.com/resources/br...ourney-bro.pdf

Cummins ISB 275HP.

"pm"?? Preventive maintenance?

When did you get this coach? Please tell us more.

Rick Y
__________________
Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
jerichorick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2015, 07:17 AM   #9
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
For quality of build and cabinets especially, I think 2004 was the last good year.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
John Hilley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2015, 07:54 AM   #10
Winnebago Owner
 
LeeOts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 54
We just sold our 2006 WGO View 24J and bought a 2010 Vista 30W. The fit & finish in the View was much better than the Vista. The cabinets on the 2006 were either all wood or so well made that I couldn't tell. The cabinets doors in the Vista are wood but everything else is some sort of vinyl covered MDF. The View counters and table were all trimmed with wood while the Vista has vinyl vacuum molded over MDF so the edges can separate. Since it's only the two of us old farts, I'm not too concerned but the Vista probably wouldn't survive a passel of kids.
__________________
Lee
2010 WGO Vista 30W, 1993 Geo Tracker
Just a user with no RV or mechanical expertise
LeeOts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2015, 08:41 AM   #11
Winnebago Master
 
jerichorick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Full-timer/volunteer w/SOWERS
Posts: 2,734
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeOts View Post
We just sold our 2006 WGO View 24J and bought a 2010 Vista 30W. The fit & finish in the View was much better than the Vista. The cabinets on the 2006 were either all wood or so well made that I couldn't tell. The cabinets doors in the Vista are wood but everything else is some sort of vinyl covered MDF. The View counters and table were all trimmed with wood while the Vista has vinyl vacuum molded over MDF so the edges can separate. Since it's only the two of us old farts, I'm not too concerned but the Vista probably wouldn't survive a passel of kids.
John and you are both correct. Even the way my cabinets were installed is far below what they used to be. I had the cabinet over my couch start to fall off the ceiling! Turns out that the factory never put mounting struts in the ceiling frame. The 1/16 inch under skin was supposed to hold the loaded cabinet up. I wonder what kind of roads this coach is designed to ride on? Silk? I put a aluminum bar on the roof of the slide and ran screws up through it, cut the ends off and sealed things up. It works but why should I have to do such an intrusive repair?

The sad part of this Winnebago austerity program is the suffering of their once solid reputation for quality. I see that they just built a e-coating plant for $7M. Nice idea but I have only read of windshield frame rotting problems. What about putting $$ into a well trained QC staff who can effectively communicate with the engineers.

The truth may be that many innovations and features of the newer coaches are better in Winnebago products for the price range, but other components that once were reliable have been replaced with inferior products such as the slide drives and cabinet materials. Could Winnebago be dumbing down to the standards of the competitors? Is the greater need more profit over customer satisfaction and reputation integrity?

Just food for thought.

Rick Y
__________________
Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
jerichorick is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New Years Greeting skigramp General Maintenance and Repair 13 01-02-2009 05:21 PM
Winnebago Service Tips.....Model Years before 1997 smlranger Vintage Rigs - Retro is cool! 8 12-31-2008 04:09 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.