Downsizing From Travel Trailer to Winnebago View or Navion 24V

[Rolltide1]

Our family have since 2013 been traveling with travel trailers doing 15-30k a year all over the US and Canada. We are currently looking to downsize to the View or Navion 24 V for flexibility since we will have 2 less passengers. Looking specifically at years 2018-2020 pre Covid years too make sure this is will work with our style of travel verses the TT. Has anyone made a similar switch? Any differences in these years? Any assistance is appreciated.

 

[Morich]

I would guess that many motorhome users have gone through that progression but how it works for each will vary, One big thing is you will wind up with one less vehicle unless ading more! Depending on how and what type travel, this can change the picture in radical ways.
Going to the lake and stayed for a week is far different than touring where you want to set up camp and then drive around the area.
What we each like is so different in many ways, that I might suggest trying it first. Can you see the value in trying a rental to learn more about what differences you find work for you?
Much depends on what you value and what you expect. Some of the time we would find breaking camp to go to town would not work, while at other times we would be doing a single night at each site and no bother to leave!

 

[Eagle5]

Hi Rolltide1,
I would also consider the Minnie Winnie 22M. I have had mine for 7½ years, and I have never regretted the purchase. For me, it is perfect.
The new version of this is called the Sunflyer 22RS

Eagle5

 

[Morich]

I might throw in some ways I have learned to use online info to avoid making a trip to look at something that a closer look might have told me I did not want!
Winnebago does a semi-good job of letting us study things before buying. Things like owners manuals are online, parts system to let you see a floor plan and get down to "looking through walls" without even leaving the house!
Some sites and ideas that may help to weed out some things you might spot that YOU feel are not right for you?
The Winnebago home site as a place to find lots of further links with many others listed under the "owners" tab:

Home - Winnebago

www.winnebago.com

Good for lots of details like where and how the plumbing and electrical might be built or used!
I find a good drawing of how a specific RV is laid out inside might help me sort things I DON'T want.
Take a close look at the "parts" here:

Winnebago Cortona Portal

cortona.winnebago.com

A new system that seems to have lots of bugs I have not worked out yet, so it will take some trial and error to get it down but some of the info could really help avoid buying a nightmare?

Example of one of the early pages after choosing a specific RV. See the floorplan? It shows something that would make me move on without looking further. Personal bug with us as we know cold weather and DO NOT want our head sticking out of the RV when sleeping in cold country! Lots of personal choice on things and I try to avoid finding them AFTER I bought it!
You can choose any specific system like plumbing and drains at the right if you want to go down deeper into details like how the drain valves may work?
Things like taking a look for drains that look a little too complex to work well, may be spotted with a closer look? You can scroll to zoom or hold and swing the view around to look from the other side, etc.

This new sytem seems to have as many bugs as anything I have seen but it CAN actually be a big help with answering some of those questions the owners ahve no idea about. But, be aware it has a bit of steep learning curve so be preped to fight it for a while. I've learned I can do some things right away on some days but not others!

Lots of ways to shop the issue but I like to dop as much as practical when I get a specific RV in mind as it can avoid a wasted trip!
I can throw in some pointers if it is needed but I assure you there are still lots of bugs and questions I have. We might need to work it out togehter?

Wish you luck as it can be a trek!

 

[creativepart]

The biggest and most important difference is the increased maintenance/repair costs involved with a Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Well that and the increased cost to purchase in the first place.

If cost is an issue you will likely not be happy with a View/Navion. Everything Mercedes is more expensive to operate, maintain and repair. Heck, even the insurance will be many times greater every year. (I'm basing that on what I last paid for travel trailer insurance in 2015 and what I pay now for my 2026 View 24R.)

 

[klook]

We went from a TT to an older Class C last year. The TT was in excellent condition but 14 years old, and the Class C came very cheap, even though we spent thousands fixing it up. We have it customized to what we want it to be. I like not having a monster truck to pull it, and driving the C has been no problem. Even with adding a 14ft trailer to haul the jeep and my solar panels, I am 2 to 3 feet shorter then my previous rig. The biggest problem I see is reduced capacity to take things with you. Between the truck and the TT we carried everything and then some. Now we are going thru the C to cull what we took last winter out west to what will go to Maine this summer. And getting the frame of the C gone over as we only have a 350 lb tongue weight rating right now.

 

[Rolltide1]

This purchase will be kind of quick travel rig for doing our big long travel trips 5-7k and being able to move quickly. Will keep our 33ft trailer for all of our local stuff when we stay for a several days.
Want to stay with older models 2018-2019 since I fear the newer touch screen stuff that is not reliable. Prefer replacing simple switches verses being stuck waiting for a circuit board to arrive.
Any issues with those years in the Mercedes chassis? Sorry for the ramblings and poor grammar.Currently trying to appear to be working.

 

[klook]

Did not see a lot of newer Class C's or Mercedes chassis. They are expensive and most people took them to a dealer for service. I only worked on the common things that go wrong as they use the same furnaces, AC units, water heaters etc.

 

[Pointyears]

There's also the >$5/gallon cost of diesel. While you'd still come out way ahead of an E-series based class C because of the MPG, but that per gallon still hurts. It'd be nice if WBGO had a Transit-based RV.

 

[Rolltide1]

I might throw in some ways I have learned to use online info to avoid making a trip to look at something that a closer look might have told me I did not want!
Winnebago does a semi-good job of letting us study things before buying. Things like owners manuals are online, parts system to let you see a floor plan and get down to "looking through walls" without even leaving the house!
Some sites and ideas that may help to weed out some things you might spot that YOU feel are not right for you?
The Winnebago home site as a place to find lots of further links with many others listed under the "owners" tab:

Home - Winnebago

www.winnebago.com

Good for lots of details like where and how the plumbing and electrical might be built or used!
I find a good drawing of how a specific RV is laid out inside might help me sort things I DON'T want.
Take a close look at the "parts" here:

Winnebago Cortona Portal

cortona.winnebago.com

A new system that seems to have lots of bugs I have not worked out yet, so it will take some trial and error to get it down but some of the info could really help avoid buying a nightmare?
View attachment 2461992
Example of one of the early pages after choosing a specific RV. See the floorplan? It shows something that would make me move on without looking further. Personal bug with us as we know cold weather and DO NOT want our head sticking out of the RV when sleeping in cold country! Lots of personal choice on things and I try to avoid finding them AFTER I bought it!
You can choose any specific system like plumbing and drains at the right if you want to go down deeper into details like how the drain valves may work?
Things like taking a look for drains that look a little too complex to work well, may be spotted with a closer look? You can scroll to zoom or hold and swing the view around to look from the other side, etc.
View attachment 2461993
This new sytem seems to have as many bugs as anything I have seen but it CAN actually be a big help with answering some of those questions the owners ahve no idea about. But, be aware it has a bit of steep learning curve so be preped to fight it for a while. I've learned I can do some things right away on some days but not others!

Lots of ways to shop the issue but I like to dop as much as practical when I get a specific RV in mind as it can avoid a wasted trip!
I can throw in some pointers if it is needed but I assure you there are still lots of bugs and questions I have. We might need to work it out togehter?

Wish you luck as it can be a trek!

Thanks for the info will certainly be diving into to that.

 

[Rolltide1]

I would guess that many motorhome users have gone through that progression but how it works for each will vary, One big thing is you will wind up with one less vehicle unless ading more! Depending on how and what type travel, this can change the picture in radical ways.
Going to the lake and stayed for a week is far different than touring where you want to set up camp and then drive around the area.
What we each like is so different in many ways, that I might suggest trying it first. Can you see the value in trying a rental to learn more about what differences you find work for you?
Much depends on what you value and what you expect. Some of the time we would find breaking camp to go to town would not work, while at other times we would be doing a single night at each site and no bother to leave!

Thanks very much for the advice. That’s why we want to purchase an older one and after a couple of trips it doesn’t work for us we can unload it without eating a lot of depreciation. Our if we really do like it grab a newer one. Thanks again

 

[Morich]

Since talking shopping, a few things I have learned to look over may fit you and your chase?
With the new online info we can do a better job of pre-shopping before committing to the time to go look.
Some of the things I now would look at before going to see any specific RV?
Mostly things I want to avoid and that are also hard to see in person! Things I like to know about are pipes in walls far off from heat as they tend to freeze more easily? If I spot them , I may still want to go look but with preplanning, I can take a picture of the point in question off the drawing and ask when I go look, how I might be able to get heat to that spot if needed. Things like leaving cabinet doors open overnight are much easier to figure if you know WHICH door and WHERE the pipe lives!
A super bug with me is how the drains are opened and done. I find lots of complaints here on the forum involve some of the complex setups for the cables that operate the valves. If there is a six foot long cable that goes in and folds back in a curve to operate that valve, I try to avoid it! Lots of us have used power equipement like lawnmowers that have cables for throttle and such? You may have found they need to be adjusted at times? Think of how hard it might be to move a sticky item like a valve slide set in the same way but with a curve held in place by small clamps and hidden out of sight and reach as they are between the underlayment and floor? UGH!
Also I am somewhat against the added complexity of pumps needed to lift water from some point up and over to get it to the drain. Those second pumps are one more item to rust and stick or go bad in many different ways, so I like to avoid them!
I find I like drains that run downhill without help!
There ARE no perfect RV, but I do like to look for bugs when shopping and the drawings can let me rule out some things before I even call to set an apointment!

Not to say any of those "defects' are deal breakers but it is part of the process I like to know about BEFORE the check comes out!

 

[RayIN]

There's also the >$5/gallon cost of diesel. While you'd still come out way ahead of an E-series based class C because of the MPG, but that per gallon still hurts. It'd be nice if WBGO had a Transit-based RV.

I bought 19G of off-road diesel today, $103. No road tax on off-road diesel either.

 

[fanrgs]

Sounds like few of the OP's respondents actually own a View or Navion 24V. We do, so I will present a few "pros" that have not been discussed. First, our 2020 Navion 24V fits in almost every NPS, USFS, BLM, and BuRec cg. anywhere in the US. We live in Colorado and have camped in nearly every western state, except AK, plus Alberta and BC in the Navion. Prior to the Class C, we RV'd in 33 states, including Alaska, and 6 Canadian provinces in a travel trailer, then a fifth wheel.

The Navion also fits in two end-to-end parking spaces at every Walmart and grocery store we have stopped at because we have no toad. We carry two E-bikes on a cargo carrier, which makes us 28' long. Also, we intentionally shopped for a 2020 model because most 2020s were built on the newer 2019 Sprinter chassis wirh the 7-spd transmission, additional safety features, and larger screen, better equipped commo/entertainment center in the dash. OP, be careful to check the headlights on the exterior and the dash screen size to make sure a 2020 is on the newer chassis. Incidentally, we are very glad that we bought a Sprinter with the proven, dozen year-old, 3.0L V-6 turbodiesel vs. the newer four-cylinder twin-turbo for our many trips over 11,000' passes in the Colorado Rockies!

Although it had two 100w solar panels and two AGM house batteries from the factory, it now has 350w of rooftop solar, 100w of portable solar, and two 110A-h LiFePO4 batteries. With the 2kw inverter and 3.6kw generator, we are completely equipped to spend up to 4-5 days dry camping before we run out of water or fill the gray tank.

And, specifically for the OP, we LOVE our twin beds, 12v fridge, induction cooktop, and convection-micro!

 

[Keith_6a]

We bought a 2021 View 24d a few months ago. That model still has the old-school "one place" tank gauge and wired light switches without touch panels. The LED headlights are very nice, as is the radar-enabled cruise control and the MBUX navigation seems to work very well. BTW, it costs $150 per year to "light up" all the MBUX functionality and map updates, which is less than 1/3 what GM wants for our Equinox. We just finished having the two AGM coach batteries replaced with one Epoch 300AH heated/bluetooth LiFePO battery (lots of room to spare). We moved from a 35' pusher + toad so it's tough for us to minimize cargo for the Sprinter. I can understand why WB went to the 4500 chassis for the '26 models.

 

[fanrgs]

I understand Keith's cargo problem! We have four boxes of pots, pans, cast iron skillet and griddle, coffee makers, dishes, and other camping gear from our fifth wheel stored in our home basement. And that's after we had an "RV garage sale". We either don't have room for them in the 24V or they don't work on an induction cooktop or in a convection vs. propane oven.

 

[John Gozza]

So, we made the switch from a 30 Ft TT to a Class C (33 Ft Jayco Redhawk which was a “Covid coach” and a real lemon). We traded in the Jayco for a 2022 View 24D.

Although there were a few issues initially (tankless water heater and the retractable screen door), we are way happier with the View.

So thinking about RVing with the View vs the Travel Trailer…one big advantage is with rest stops. We can stop and walk around inside, and use the bathroom without going outside. Provided there is room and we are reasonably level, we can open the slide (or not), and can start the generator to run the AC, microwave, etc.

We do pull a toad (Jeep Cherokee). Having a set of wheels to go exploring or getting groceries or food, is essential for us and means we don’t have to break down our coach until we are ready to leave.

We towed our TT with a Ram 1500 Ecodiesel. We get better mpg from the View/Sprinter 3500 towing the Jeep, than we got with the Ram, towing a TT.

Connecting/disconnectng the Jeep to/from the motorhome is way easier and less strenuous than connecting/disconnecting our TT to a truck.

 

[tandbg]

I just want to add a bit to the 2nd vehicle part of this issue. Having been RVers for 15 years from the mid seventies to the 80s and then again from 2020 continuing, we started originally with a Minnie Winnie Class C and now, in our mid 80s back to a class C Navion, 2021, so different than what you are looking at. We have been quite pleased with Winnebago. It is true true true that the Sprinter Chassis is expensive to maintain, but worth it to us. The ride is terrific. We have travelled all over the country, sometimes living in the RV for three months at a time, never with a towed vehicle. It is easy enough to put the slide in and take off for where ever we want to go, to a hike, grocery store, day trip, visiting friends. The only few times we have wished to have a separate vehicle is when even the length of the Class C is too long for (few) scenic drives (Mount Greylock in Massachusetts) one particular place in Organ Pipe National Park. So that part all depends on personal space.

We are in love with our Navion.

 

[john_Navion]

Your situation is the opposite of ours but may be informative. We have a 2014 Navion G which has served us well for 119k miles. I have never had a towed vehicle. We have traveled all over the US and one trip into Canada and have never had a serious problem on the road (other than a collision with a deer and 2 blowouts). I love the design with the rear slideout making into a comfy queen sized bed, plus the side slideout. With the rear slideout deployed, we effectively have 3 extra ft of living space and interior storage. And we can go anywhere a UPS van can go, and they go everywhere!

Most of our travel has been long distance for several months at a time with a parrot and a cat. When we stay somewhere for awhile we’ve rented a car for local trips. Our overall diesel milage is 14 mpg and most of the engine maintenance has been at one MBZ dealer. (I had a 100k tuneup 2 years ago and it was like a new engine afterwards!)

But now we’re in our 80’s and planning shorter trips and longer stays, so I’m thinking about a trailer because rental cars are not always available and folding in our slideouts for local trips is not always convenient. However, I love traveling in the Navion and we’ve invested more into it recently to fix the side slideout (and wonder about the rear one). The thought of a toad has come to mind and I have a manual shift ‘18 Mini (“Real cars don’t shift themselves”) which could be towed. Getting a trailer would mean trading in the (36+mpg) Mini for a larger vehicle for towing, but that means higher everyday travel costs.

So, now that I’ve written this, I think I’ll be keeping the Navion for a while longer. I hope this helps you.

John
14 NiQ-G
Mtn View CA
( currently in Taormina Sciliy. The Navion, parrot and cat are home.)

 

[fanrgs]

John, I couldn't agree more! Yes, our Navion is more expensive to maintain than a Ford Class C. But it rides and drives so much more comfortably (we have not owned a Ford Class C, but we rented and drove several before buying the Navion). We are also now in our 80s, but got a 24V, in part, for the ease of getting out and back in the twin beds in the dark at 3:00 AM without disturbing the other spouse (you know why without further explanation!).

We also average 14-15 mpg in the Navion and had a Mini Cooper for 14 years that averaged 35 mpg. But (he says shame-faced), ours had the sportshift transmission. So, we tried to tow it on a dolly for a short time when we first bought the Navion, but decided it was too much of a hassle in parking lots and cgs. We are really travelers, not "campers", and, as you said, the Navion without a toad is the perfect size for doing that comfortably. BTW, our first family car with an automatic tranny was my bride's 1964 Ford, but my first truck with an automatic (of my 6 trucks over 55 years) was a 2011 Nissan!

When we now snowbird for a month or more in winter, we drive our SUV separately because we are only going from Colorado to southern AZ or NM. In late April, we returned from a 3-week, 2,800-mile trip to AZ, NM, and TX without a toad. We used Uber once, rode with relatives during one stay, and did all our grocery shopping, freshwater fill-ups and dumping, and diesel fill-ups before camping for one to four nights. And the E-bikes make cg. stays much easier and more enjoyable as we age.