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 05-05-2013, 03:02 AM   #1
Winnebago Watcher
 
joecoolermn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 3
Which coach to buy!

I have a dilemma! I currently own a 2004 27C sunova, and want to upgrade to a 32 to34 Adventurer, or suncruiser. We want more room and the nicer ammenities would be nice also. I have a close family friend that has worked at Baggo for several years and they are telling me to get a unit with roof air. That the reason they went back to roof air is that there were to many issues with the central air. I checked the search on basement air is it really as bad as people say? There is nothing wrong with a Sunova, but the suncruiser and adventurer are nicer!@!!
joecoolermn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 04:08 AM   #2
Winnebago Camper
 
glarnold's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bellevue, Nebraska
Posts: 41
We had a 2000 37G with basement air. Had plenty of problems, difficult to get at and work on. Wouldn't have another.

JMHO.

GL Arnold
__________________
2003 Winnebago Vista 21b
Former Full-Timers
glarnold is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 06:31 AM   #3
Winnebago Camper
 
Flanagan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Homosassa, FL
Posts: 23
You might consider a Sightseer. They have roof air and offer spacious interiors. We have a 2008 35J. It is not elegant inside but I have seen some that are.
__________________
3 Humans,2 Dogs,1 Vision, sharing a Winnebago Sightseer 35J on a Workhorse Chassis. Allen, Donna, Drew, Bella & Pippy in the MH we call Glor-E-B!
Flanagan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 06:53 AM   #4
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,080
If you're looking for new I would highly recommend an Adventurer 32H. We replaced our 2001 Adventurer 32V with a 2013 Adventurer 32H. The new one is only about 3" longer than the old one @ 33'2+". It has considerably more interior room with the full wall slide, and much more exterior storage room because of the roof air conditioers.

We loved our 2001 Adventurer 32V coach and had no problems with the basement AC in over 12 years and over 100,000 miles. One of the features we will miss is the basement air. Most motorhome dealers and repair facilities don't like them because they're different than roof units and they don't have the tools or skills to work on them.

If you do need service on the basement units use a residential heating and AC company. They are familiar with the units because they closely resemble the AC units used in most stick built houses.

Some advantages of the basement AC are lower overall height of the motorhome. No AC covers to get blown off in the wind or hit by tree branches. The entire unit can be lowered to the ground if service is needed. No climbing on the roof. In our opinion it's quieter than the roof air. It has an air filter that's easily changed. No water dripping off the roof from the condensate tube. No condensate tube to plug up.
__________________
Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
Hikerdogs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 07:34 AM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
Chillbilly's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Great Smoky Mountains, TN
Posts: 56
Nothing at all bad about the basement AC in the older Adventurers. In fact, it is much more efficient and quieter than roof mounted AC, and keeps the interior more at a constant temperature. RV techs don't know much about the basement air which is the cause for most of the complaints. Always call a residential AC serviceman. It wasn't because of problems that Winnebago stopped using them. Coleman, the manufacturer, decided to stop making them because Winnebago was the only customer and Coleman could not get a price increase from Winnebago. Winnebago considered making it themselves, or find another manufacturer, but decided to go with roof AC as it was a much less expensive unit for them. Don't hesitate buying an older Adventurer just because of the basement air. If it does go out, you can always have a roof AC mounted over one of the existing vents. Many people have made this swap. I haven't had a single problem with mine.
__________________
Chillbilly - Maryville, TN - Forest River Rockwood 5th Wheel - Ford F250 - Semper-Fi
Chillbilly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 06:33 PM   #6
Winnie-Wise
 
Bug512's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Warren County, NJ
Posts: 300
I can chime in here ! Since I work in the HVAC field (commercial building automation & engineering) and have a Adventurer with a basement unit I can tell you this...

I am currently having a issue with our AC unit, the condenser coil has a refrigerant leak on circuit #1, a new coil is on order and I will be able to do the install after Memorial Day due to traveling in May.

Here is the bast part, there sill is another circuit that works and will cool the motorhome ! Obviously not was well as two circuits but at lease I have some cooing. If you have a rooftop unit there is only one circuit in them, so unless you have two rooftop units, you do not have any redundancy.

The times I have contacted RV products they have answered all my questions and have parts readily available for our AC unit that was produced in 2004.

Documentation is available on their website. Personally if you have one you should look up the model number and download all the technical information that is available. Print it out and give it to the service technician if needed.

Service, any residential / commercial HVAC company will be able to work on this. Its the refrigerant cycle not rocket science.

Why did they go back to roof air? Cost would be the factor I think. It's most likely cheeper to put two units on the roof and a small amount of ducting then the basement unit.
__________________
Gene & Ginger 04 Winnebago Adventurer 33V, Workhorse, 11 Subaru Forester (Toad), Blue Ox Avail, BrakeBuddy, ScanGaugeII, BatteryMINDer, KONI FSD's
Gene's Pictures Ginger's Pictures Gene's Videos
Bug512 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 07:41 PM   #7
Winnie-Wise
 
dengraham's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Crossville, Tennessee
Posts: 417
I understand there were two primary reasons they dropped the basement air units. First, the new federally mandated refrigerant required a higher compression system which significantly increased their cost. Second, they could not run on just 30 Amps; instead they required 50 Amps which is not always available to us RV travelers. RV Products continues to make them with the new refrigerant. They sell many of them to the military who have lots of Amps produced by their large generators. For the diesel units they lost a compartment bay because of the new DEF emission systems. By going to the roof air they offset the loss of a compartment.
I miss my basement air system. It was at least 20-30% quieter. I would not be afraid of the basement air. There is a lot of documentation on repairs or preventative maintenance. I have several friends with units over 7 years old and a couple over 10 years old with no problems. I also owned a Suncruiser and loved it.
__________________
Dennis & Trish (and Sparky Doodle)
2013 Meridian 42E
2011 Ford Explorer
dengraham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2013, 07:43 PM   #8
Winnie-Wise
 
Bug512's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Warren County, NJ
Posts: 300
Mine can run on under 27 amps.

Why do you say they need 50?
__________________
Gene & Ginger 04 Winnebago Adventurer 33V, Workhorse, 11 Subaru Forester (Toad), Blue Ox Avail, BrakeBuddy, ScanGaugeII, BatteryMINDer, KONI FSD's
Gene's Pictures Ginger's Pictures Gene's Videos
Bug512 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2013, 04:47 AM   #9
Winnebago Owner
 
tigersharkjd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 113
We have had two coaches with basement air and now our first coach with roof air. My DW and I agree the basement air worked better and quieter. It would also work when plugged into 30 amp. Roof air is noises.
__________________
JB and PS
2013 Winnebago Tour
tigersharkjd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2013, 05:26 AM   #10
Winnie-Wise
 
dengraham's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Crossville, Tennessee
Posts: 417
Bug517,
The new high compression with the new Freon need more than 27 Amps to start and run. The old Freon ones only needed about 24-27 Amps.
__________________
Dennis & Trish (and Sparky Doodle)
2013 Meridian 42E
2011 Ford Explorer
dengraham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2013, 07:16 PM   #11
Winnebago Camper
 
herbertgk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 38
We had a 2000 Adventurer and now have a 2008 Adventurer, both with basement air, They work great, no problems. we love basement air, was sorry to see it go.
__________________
07 Adventurer 38 t Herb Mar and camping dog Lucy
herbertgk 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
Sleeping 6 in a Journey? Advice on which to buy? Giginurse Winnebago Class A Motorhomes 10 10-27-2017 08:30 AM
Which Chassis Is Which Mike In NY Winnebago Class A Motorhomes 13 01-02-2015 04:27 PM
Which battery is which jmccrack Electrical | Charging, Solar and Electronics 10 10-05-2005 02:26 AM

» 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 08:48 AM.


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