Which to choose, Vista 29V or Intent 28Y

[RobertClark]

Hi Guys

Looking at getting our first RV
Must be no longer 30ft
Must be an A class with single wide window by dinette.

Any suggestions or comments between the Vista 29V or Intent 28Y would be appreciated.

Thanks

Robert

[JLUSoCal]

Both are good, and the most significant difference I think is the "level" of motorhome with the Vista being a bit above entry-level. I own and am impressed with a 2017 29VE. Bought used to save money and spent the money saved on upgrades to a good platform.

There's a great thread here for the Intent here - https://www.winnieowners.com/forums/...es-353677.html that I read and get great ideas from them as the motorhomes are very similar.

Here are some personal opinions that are very subject to your needs.

On the 29v
single slide
Pros -

• Single walkway front to back
• Slideout all on the hookup side (nothing in your camping area by the door)
• not too deep (don't have to push into the camp spot too far and take away from that outdoor space)

Cons -

• Kitchen in the slide (electrical and gas lines have to flex / route)
• Heavy on one side (Winnebago put weights on the opposite side)

A table on the passenger side and couch opposite - you look out onto your campsite, and it creates a good space to talk to folks on the couch/table.

Bathroom

The bathroom is all on the passenger side making it difficult to block off like you can from a split where most times the door (or another door) makes the bathroom part of the bedroom when you want. You can't use the shower, and someone else uses the toilet in private - minor but a consideration.


One other note is outside storage; the 29v is about the max you can get given the layout. I'm genuinely impressed with the storage and how they used just about every nook and cranny. They also have a nice finish to it.

I notice a few other things (again, sorry, my experience is with the Vista). The residential fridge might eat batteries when not on power - Winnebago batteries are nothing special even at 2 of them. I do like on the 28y that the sink is away from the main counter, giving you more space.

Also, watch TV locations - in most motorhomes they're not in the best place but with Class A's you can swivel the front chairs, so there's that...

Shower size might be important to you as well. Both are not the same size if that matters.

I've not been in a 28y, so I can't comment on the actual feel of the layout - sometimes, what shows on paper is different from the actual experience.

Again, all personal opinions and both are good coaches. Prices vary, so you have to consider that.

Oh, and one other thing that I just live with, a short queen. I'm 6'1" and I wish they had room for a full-size queen!

[Podivin]

To my eye the Vista looks to be one step above the Intent. When we were shopping I REALLY wanted to like an Intent - love the dash board, but the layout, storage and general build quality just weren't quiet there for us. Of course all of these things are personal preference, so you need to go sit in each for an hour or two and just stare around to see what you see. Figure out where you're going to put things (dishes, food, pot/pans, clothes etc). How comfortable is the seating, get a real good feel for each one. Ultimately we bought a rig that was a few years old and and was another notch up the quality ladder, but it was a tie for 1st place between the one we bought and the 29ve. I walked in to many Intents, gave them lots of chances to win me over, but in the end they just couldn't do it.

[theSane]

We love our Intent. I think the question to ask yourself is, are you willing to pay more for an upgrade in amenities?

We bought our Intent used and spent a few thousand on making the livability and suspension updates we wanted to make it "ours". Generally no matter what model you pick, you will want to budget some money for "enhancements". Same as when you buy a new house and want to make it "home".

[creativepart]

The Vista has, larger fresh/black/grey tanks and 50% more basement storage. It has a nearly twice larger propane tank. Plus the option to have it built with two AC units and 50-amp service.

[IOS 3]

If you are considering used, the Vista 27N (now an Adventurer) is a good 28 footer. Opposing slides and full size queen that is a true walk around.....

[sundog964]

We just purchased the Vista 29V, with the additional air conditioner, and 50 Amp service.

The extra A/C made such a huge difference for us while in the south, Texas, NM, AZ, NV and CA.

[GiGi]

I have a 2019 Vista 29VE and I love it! We went from a 21 foot Roadtrek to a 24 foot Thor Vegas (BIG MISTAKE!), back to a 24 foot Forest River Forester (loved the drivability in the diesel!), to the 29VE. I love it!! I love the layout, private bedroom and nice size bathroom. I love the kitchen and the seating area. I love the big windows with the cross breezes and light. I have 2 AC’s too but except when in FL, I have only needed the front one (glad to have both though). I am a single woman (my husband died in February while in the RV) and we bought this with his health in mind for me to be able to continue traveling. I have had a few issues with the antenna but this forum was helpful in finding answers. I also added stability bars (can’t remember what they are called) in the front to help with the driving and in case of a tire blowout. So far I haven’t had any major issues with the coach.

[Morich]

For the way we live and use the RV, I find you may be looking at the wrong items when thinking about looking out the windows. Step one for us on trading is more toward sleeping and seating qualities as those are two which are often sub-par. If you spend much time at all in the RV, having a place to set is a biggie and the dinette is NOT it. We also want a bed that we can get into and out without having to make it every time! No Murphy, swing up, or slide out into the weather where it is either hot or cold to sleep!
Imperative to us to be able to use the RV with the slide in as there are too many times when we can't slide it out and feel right as it sticks into the neighbor's face! Opposing slides are out for us!
I definitely do not buy new and want to deal with those problems ever again. Let somebody else do the trauma of dealing with that stuff!
Then we look at things like plumbing and what it involves to dump the tanks. We do not want any setup that requires extra pumps to dump tanks as that is certainly looking at more trouble than needed.
But all of those points will always be open to personal choice and our choices are not your choices in many areas, so doing the homework is always good. This is a site where you can look at all the parts of the RV which you can't see like the plumbing:
https://catalog3d.winnebagoind.com/menu/Parts.htm
It requires some download but is a really great method to be able to "see" through walls and floors while turning the RV all around to spot things that are potential trouble.
Good luck with the shopping but do keep in mind that new is not always better in RV's. Since we put so few miles on each year, we find much better value in 3-4 years old as the have got the bugs worked out. Repair on RV is different than cars as we don't often take them in and pick them up even next week. More like possibly several weeks while the trip plans go down the drain!