New Spirit 26T owners

[sd.perron]

Hi, we have been trailer campers for a long while and just bit the bullet in to the motor home life! We are picking up our Spirit 26T tomorrow and are super excited (and I am a little nervous). We hope to gain a lot of knowledge from this forum. Any and all info and tips are much appreciated. And if there is a 26T specific area please let us know that too!

[creativepart]

Hi! Welcome and congratulations.

The Class C forum here is the specific forum for Class C owners, but it contains all Winnebago Class C motorhome discussions, not just the Spirit model.

Since you are picking up tomorrow, I suggest you be sure to:

1. Make the seller show you not only how everything works, but show you that everything does work.. Don’t let them rush you or skip over anything. And, don’t sign the purchase papers until this has taken place. Oh, and test drive it to ensure it drive well, too.

2. If buying from a dealer, be prepared for the F&I person to attempt to sell you all manner of unnecessary things at inflated prices. None of these things is needed. Foremost of these will be a Service Contract. You decide if you want that but be aware the dealer’s product will be inflated 2 - 3 times over what you’d pay for similar or better plans elsewhere.

3. Lastly, I suggest that every new buyer go “camp” in the new RV immediately after picking up the RV. It is super rare for there not to be issues right from the start. You think the seller would have gone through everything and made sure it’s all set to go. But unfortunately this isn’t the case. It will be up to you to ensure the RV is good to go. And, a seller is never more willing to fix things than the day or two after you pickup the RV.

Good luck and have FUN!

[sd.perron]

Thank you so much for the information! We may just do a driveway camp

[WillinFeenix]

Congrats. We picked up our 26t a few weeks ago and drove it to Maryland. Day 1, check engine light comes on and a message to check fuel filler valve. By this time we were hundreds of miles from the dealer. It’s a Ford Chassis issue. Not all Ford dealers work on Winnebago RVs, and if so, it could be weeks. No one told us this. Decided to keep going. Could not find a Ford dealer in Maryland that would look at it. After many frustrating days, and a dozen hours on the phone, found someone a long ways away. Two days 4 hours plus tolls. Returned to Storage lot. Could not get water pump to work. Assume it was my ignorance. Nope. Talked thru with Winnebago roadside service. Another 10 hours on the phone. Winnebago customer service is no help. Finally figured out that i could get repair done at non authorized shop. I will have to pay and seek reimbursement from Winnebago. Appointment for repair was set 4 weeks out. Then, took the unit to a campground to empty tanks. Read everything on how to do that. All set, opened black water cover and sewage ran out all over my shoes and pants. Valve was open and could not be closed. Nice. Just to be clear, Im on my own with these issues. Neither Ford nor Winnebago have provided any help or support. So, Inhave a significant asset, parked and I can’t use it. The unit itself is nice, and things will probably work out. But, these events have really taken the joy out of RV ownership.

[sd.perron]

I am so so sorry to hear about that. We had issues with our Minnie Winnie and customer service was actually awesome. If it makes you feel better, we have friends that bought a unit through Tiffin on a Mercedes’ chassis (which cost a LOT more than even ours) and they have had nothing but issues with Tiffin. their unit caught fire and that was actually the last in a series of events. They have had to hire an attorney to help them.
I hope it does not come to that with you and hope you will have better luck. Dang though, I hate that for you. Don’t give up!!!

[creativepart]

Originally Posted by WillinFeenix

Day 1, check engine light comes on and a message to check fuel filler valve. By this time we were hundreds of miles from the dealer. It’s a Ford Chassis issue.

This is a known issue on many different fords for the past 11 years or so. It has to do with the fuel Inlet. If you have a fuel cap it can mean that the cap is not on all the way tight.

Most Fords though don't have a separate fuel cap. But the system still can still behave as though the cap is loose.

Here's a video that explains the error and provides a fix that you can do yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2c4bCFFNpQ

[creativepart]

The black tank valve could be as simple as it being left open during the PDI at the dealership and then not being able to close it due to the black water and solids in the pipe. If it is just that - and while that's likely it could also be something more significant - after the tank is empty it should be able to allow the gate valve to close.

Just to be clear, Im on my own with these issues. Neither Ford nor Winnebago have provided any help or support

It's a very hard lesson to learn for a first time new RV owner that you are pretty much always going to be alone with these issues.

So, I have a significant asset, parked and I can’t use it. The unit itself is nice, and things will probably work out. But, these events have really taken the joy out of RV ownership.

Don't let this get you down. It is EXTREMELY common for new RVs to present not only new learning challenges to you at every turn, but it's also all to common for new RVs to rack up some new fresh issue with every use for the first few months up to a year.

You'll learn that Winnebago is in northern Iowa and not really equipped to help out on most things. And, dealers are buried under way too many other service calls to "fit you in." And even when they do many times they are not much actual help.

You've bought a house that is built upon a truck chassis. It's not at all like buying a car. It's not designed like a car, built like a car, sold like a car, nor serviced at a dealership like a car. You'll be happier with the purchase when this reality sinks in fully.

Trust us here to help you and if we can't help directly we can likely point you in the right direction. Soon, you'll be an experienced PRO and handling problems like a boss.