Downsizing to View/Navion in the near future

[creativepart]

As I age I find the need to reduce and simplify. This past April we sold our fairly large home of 20 years with a couple of acres of land that was 20 miles from the city and bought and moved into a bit smaller home in town on a tiny lot. It's been an adjustment but working out pretty well. Now, we just returned from a 3200 mile 25-day trip in our 38' Class A 2017 Adventurer 37F and heck if my wife didn't ask about downsizing the RV, too. I had been thinking about this for a year or more, but was surprised when she brought it up.

We want to stay with Winnebago and have really been intrigued with the EKKO model. That model seems perfect for us... except for the lack of a black tank. The cassette toilet that model comes with is a non-starter with us.

And, now, for 2026 Winnebago has introduced the View Navion 25R which has a lot of the EKKO features we like and a 41 gallon Black tank with conventional waste dump system. So, we've started the process of looking at these with an eye toward "downsizing" from 37.6' to 25.' The list price on these is shockingly high. So, it's unclear what my Adventurer would bring in trade and what kind of discounts folks are offering but we've started down that road.

Of course, I'll keep reporting back about the entire experience.

 

[Eagle5]

Hi creativepart,
I still love my Minnie Winnie 22M which functionally does the same thing, and of course they are less expensive. With the heavier E-450 frame, it would tow your Nautilus very well. Then again, with either a 24' or 25' motorhome, you might not need to bring your Toad along on every trip, making things less complicated.
Just a thought.
Eagle5

 

[creativepart]

Thanks Brian, but we put 30.000 miles on a E450 chassis Class C from 2015-2017 and this option is not on our dance card this time around.

I know it's not good to get fixated on "ONE" RV but we're pretty set about this model. I'll likely fly to an in-state dealer to see one in person this week. We may take the leap pretty quickly.

 

[SeeTheUSA]

McClains dealership has one at their Ft. Worth store. They also now have a store in Kerrville, but for now it doesn’t appear they have a 24R .. they do have a 24T. McClains might move their 24R from Ft. Worth to Kerrville for you to see.

Wow, after owning three new View/Navions (06, 12, & 18 ) the MSRPs of the newest ones are shocking .

Good luck with your transition

 

[creativepart]

Yes, I'm in contact with McClains. I may fly up to check it out. There is also another just East of Dallas and another in Baton Rouge, LA.

Yes, the MSRPs are CrAzY!!!

We want the R because of the twin bed setup. The way we use our RV we prefer two separate rooms. That way I can be in the lounge area watching TV and my wife can be in the Bedroom reading or knitting. We're looking at the 24V as well, but the 24R has all the features we're interested in.

 

[bigbAZ]

If you plan on a toad make sure you check out the weight limits, which on the Sprinter 3500 built RVs are pretty slim, usually no more than 4,200 lbs if loaded to 11,030 which most are because the payloads are around 1,000 lbs give or take. (GCVWR=15,250)

Also the 2026 will be the VS30 chassis with the 2.0 diesel. I haven't heard a lot about that engine except that it derates when the oil temp gets too high which it commonly does on grades. There are 2 versions of that engine with the only difference between the regular and the high output being a software change. When the HO derates it goes to the same torque and HP as the non HO engine.

 

[Morich]

Have you considered the value of letting somebody else deal with the new issues on RV?
Unlike cars, we finally arrived at the idea that new RV are far more trouble than they are worth as the dealership experience is so bad! We finally got into buying new but after a couple of those, we fully backed off and decided most owners take better care of the new RV as well as get things fixed. That has driven us to look for the really nice used ones that have had all the flaws fixed before they decided to sell it!

NOT having to deal with warranty issues is worth a lot to us!
I am now willing to take the chance on lightly used RV that has been well treated over a new which requires letting some hammer head do a bad job while we wait for a month or so!
I like to catch chassis items under warranty but for the coach, I'm willing to risk the money to avoid ever seeing an RV dealer shop again.
But we have finally decided we are not likely to go that route again. We no longer find going out and meeting new people to be as much fun as it used to be.

 

[creativepart]

Have you considered the value of letting somebody else deal with the new issues on RV?

We buy new, we always do.

We like things that haven't been "modified" by some previous owner. My current RV is great, but in the past 8 years I've made "improvements" that I think are really terrific, but a new owner may not agree that they are really great improvements. We see folks here every day struggling to understand what some PO has done.

I too don't like Warranty repairs and pretty much know how to get things fixed as needed.

The new models have a major new thing that's worrisome and that's the Connect system. But if need be I'll head up to Iowa and make them fix it.

 

[Morich]

Yes, fully agree with NOT buying RV that have been modified!
But those are often easy enough to spot and avoid.
It's a trek to find what fits and about the time we find the "perfect" RV we find we have changed and it is no longer perfect!

 

[Bnystrom]

We buy new, we always do.

We like things that haven't been "modified" by some previous owner. My current RV is great, but in the past 8 years I've made "improvements" that I think are really terrific, but a new owner may not agree that they are really great improvements. We see folks here every day struggling to understand what some PO has done.

I too don't like Warranty repairs and pretty much know how to get things fixed as needed.

The new models have a major new thing that's worrisome and that's the Connect system. But if need be I'll head up to Iowa and make them fix it.

Do yourself a favor and get an independent third-party inspection done. Many new RVs are built like crap and Winnebago has had their share of problems with their newer models. Check out the owner's forums and you'll see.

 

[Eagle5]

A preview of a View!
2026 View 24R

 

[Scotty B]

Wow! That's really sharp!
Super stoked for you guys. Less is so often more.
Will you be able to park it near your new house to load/unload for trips? I remember you posting you could not do that with your current rig. Having to run a shuttle to do that sounds unsustainable for sure.
Changes in routine and scenery are good for the soul!
Good luck with your search and all the best!

 

[Morich]

I fully agree with having an inspection as a good idea.
But then I also know there can be problems with inspections!
I have done a fair amount of real estate swapping and that often gets into house inspections, whether buying or selling and that is where I find the problems.
Inspectors tend to see what they want to see and that can depend on who is paying for the inspection! I've not had an RV inspection because I found real estate inspections to be so worthless at times.

They have actually asked me at times, what type inspection I wanted! Do you want a good inspection or do you want it to drive the price down?
I have a hard time finding guys who just want to tell the honest truth!

 

[roundtail]

The new models have a major new thing that's worrisome and that's the Connect system. But if need be I'll head up to Iowa and make them fix it.

I can't say for sure, but if the two previous coaches I owned with integrated electronics are any indication, more than likely "Connect" is a Firefly system. My Renegade had the "Lyra", while Tiffin went the WGBO route and called theirs "proprietary". I imagine Firefly can create GUIs for any manufacturer that pays for it.

For the time I had them, both performed well enough, though neither was flawless (I'll elaborate if you want). My main concern is that everything it controls runs through a CPU (or CCU). That goes down, and everything goes down with it. The only exceptions might be control solenoids or relays that have other switching involved. But it seems to be the current better mousetrap for all the higher-end builds. Tiffin had all their satellite pads hard-wired, while Renegade went with wireless. The downside of wired is more connections. The downside of wireless meant having those ubiquitous CR wafer batteries, and the lack of constant-on backlighting.

On the "Shop Here" page, Winnebago does appear on the dropdown list, FWIW.

https://www.fireflyint.com/

 

[creativepart]

Will you be able to park it near your new house to load/unload for trips?

We think we could put this in the drive way behind the home for loading etc. We bought a Garden Home, All of the garages are behind the homes because there really isn't side yard. My house is on the slender side yard of the house next door and my slender (6' maybe) ends at my neighbors outside wall). Zero Lot Lines they call it.

There is a wide alley running behind all of our homes and we access the garage there. Our driveway is about 25' long so we feel we could pull in for loading/unloading, even if it stuck out in the alley a little. But we couldn't store it there. We have a wide road in front, but they discourage street parking. It's only for short periods.

 

[creativepart]

Of course, there are speed bumps on the way... I figured the sky high pricing was a number that left lots of room for negotiation. The dealer says that's not the case. They say their price is already discounted off of the Factory's $258,000 MSRP!

I'm not sure what Winnebago is thinking about their pricing on these. The 2026 pricing is $50,000 higher than 2025 pricing.

 

[Pointyears]

Of course, there are speed bumps on the way... I figured the sky high pricing was a number that left lots of room for negotiation. The dealer says that's not the case. They say their price is already discounted off of the Factory's $258,000 MSRP!

I'd find a different dealer unless you HAVE to deal with them. It's a buyer's market now and if they're not willing to deal hard they're going to have full lots. Time to put the screws to the dealers like they did to the buyers during covid.

 

[creativepart]

I basically agree. This dealer has a model that has exactly what we want and is only 260 miles away.

They also are low on what they are offering for trade. So, we're waaaay apart. We've told them Thanks but no thanks. Goodbye.

We're going to slow down, wait more quantity for sale and for the dealers to get more realistic on pricing. The model we're looking at is a 2026, so we are also looking at the previous 2025 model that's close in features to this model. It is routinely $45,000 cheaper!

 

[Pointyears]

I basically agree. This dealer has a model that has exactly what we want and is only 260 miles away.

They also are low on what they are offering for trade. So, we're waaaay apart. We've told them Thanks but no thanks. Goodbye.

We're going to slow down, wait more quantity for sale and for the dealers to get more realistic on pricing. The model we're looking at is a 2026, so we are also looking at the previous 2025 model that's close in features to this model. It is routinely $45,000 cheaper!

Yeah, I found the only way to get anything remotely close to sane pricing (it's all relative...) is to get the previous year's model (like I got my '24 Vita after the '25s were out) at a discount. I like the R better than the TT, too. My dealer only has TTs for $183k asking.

 

[Morich]

The problem I'm finding with my work on ideas for different solutions is that the move is just hitting to figure out the tariff situation and when we get one lineup sorted and go for parts, those first prices are gone and now way higher as so much of it come from other countries and we are too high if we buy US prices!
We may be able to buy it from US sources (HA!) if we wait twenty years but most of the work I talk to need it fixed NOW!
My guys are often out on a callout from somewhere in the "oil patch" and really need it shipped overnight or sooner but that is just not working in the current situation.

My wife and I just got in from a dishwasher shopping trip and that was a real trek. Shopping mostly the big box stores for price and we find them in ads but not stocked, so we check what it is to get it from the warehouse and the "new model" which is the same as the old, is about $150 more!
With the chaos involved and nobody able to make firm decisions, business is hard pressed to figure what to do with prices, so they are bumping them up to cover for any mistakes they might make otherwise!
If shopping for price, it pays to look for the dealer with less inventory turnover and try to find the pre-tariff rather than the higher one with the tariff added!
With things as simple as the drive wheel for a compressor it is almost impossible tog et a price for an item that you need a week or a month from now, just because the thing may get made in US shipped across the border in El Paso to have some work done and then shipped back across for a different part of building it and each time there is a tariff added with nobody able to say what that added amount will be next week!

It totally screws up any plans for making a bid to repair something, so they just have to shoot high!
I can't even imagine the nightmare of pricing RV, new or repairs! With things like electronics and boards made with parts from six different countries, there is no rational way to say what things made next week will cost!