Getting close to buying a MH

[DavidM]

Well after being a loyal CampLite owner for seven years, I think I am about to go over to the dark side and buy a used motor home. The one I am getting serious about is a 2012 Winnebago Via, a Class A MH but short at 25 1/2' built on a Mercedes Sprinter diesel chassis.

We plan to use it for winter camping to get away from the harsh Connecticut winters and do a long 3 month western states camping trip. That will take a larger RV to be comfortable so it was a question of buying a 21' or larger trailer and a larger SUV to tow it with or just do it all in one with a MH, and the MH won out.

When I finally make up my mind and close the deal here in Florida where we are currently living as snowbirds until the CV eases a bit, I will put my 16TBS up for sale when we get back to Connecticut.

Normally I wouldn't post such drivel, but this board is getting stale and I am bored social distancing every day, so here you have it.

A couple of pics of the MH are attached.

David

[GrampaKilt]

Mercedes diesel chassis...yum, yum. At least you are replacing your beloved LL with a MH of good quality rather than those typical ostentatious monstrosities. GK

[stu1965]

dibs 

[DavidM]

Stu:

I sent you an email. Yes you will have first dibs on my 16TBS if I buy a MH in Florida now. Let's wait and see what happens.

David

[Merlin]

What fun! I ran a Youtube of a '12 Via and it looks really nice with well thought out features. If you leap, the Winnebago forum will be lucky to have you. This time I won't show it to my wife. 

[charliem]

David,     
Have you softened on the Mercedes Diesel? How are you going to get it fixed halfway between Reno and Las Vegas?

[MitchB]

We took the jump too. Went with a Winnebago View 24V floorplan, s/b delivered in August.

[DavidM]

David,     
Have you softened on the Mercedes Diesel? How are you going to get it fixed halfway between Reno and Las Vegas?

You are correct, I have been back and forth on the reliability of the Mercedes diesel over the last few months. I was first scared away by reading some of the horrible posts on Sprinter-Forum about the failures of the DEF, and DPF systems which required towing to a Mercedes/Freightliner service facility to fix. But I have concluded that these were early models, 2007 when these systems were introduced, and later models had much fewer problems as Mercedes figured it all out. I didn't see any reports of catastrophic failures on later models.

I have researched available service sites, mostly Freightliner shops and they are scattered about the country and the farthest tow to one would be about 200 miles from the wilds of Montana. I have also talked to one of the local Connecticut "German car" independent shops and they assure me that they have the proper diagnostic tools and can deal with the size of the  Via coach. The manager has also worked on Sprinter engines and chassis himself. So that also gave me some confidence that I could get work done locally or on the road. I am a die hard DIY engine mechanic, but the new electronic systems on modern cars are beyond me.

I am under no illusions about economy. Gassers are as economical as diesels when pump prices are figured into the equation. The Sprinter based coaches have 28 gallons of fuel capacity and the Thor Axis (gasser) has 55 gallons of fuel, so the range is similar or better for the gasser, albeit with a couple of hundred pounds more weight on board.

The final straw was that I want a Class A style MH where the cab is integrated into the rest of the coach and I want it to be no more than 25' long. The only two that meet this criterion are the Winnebago Via- based on the Mercedes diesel and the Thor Axis- based on a Ford chassis with a gasser which is fine with me.

I am totally turned off on Thor products given what they did to LL. They cheapen the product until it barely sells and it sells to the unsuspecting. I'll bet the Axis was done the same way- a cheap, entry level Class A built as cheap as the market will tolerate. I am hoping that the Winnebago is a step up.

David

[Pinstriper]

Lonestar and Barf had a Winnebego. That's about as good a recommendation as you can get.

[DavidM]

Well, we walked away from the 2012 Winnebago Via we wereabout to buy early this week. Too many problems that should have been fixed long before we got to the dealer's place on Monday. None were show stoppers by themselves and might have gotten fixed with another day or so of work. But after working with the dealer's mechanic for three hours and after finding 2 problems, I found a 3rd and then a 4th, I had had it.

I suspect the coach was not used for the last 3,4,5,? years. The batteries were dead. The front swivel seats wouldn't swivel- seemed to be binding for lack of use, the chassis alternator would not charge the coach batteries (after replacement), the emergency brake caused an alarm that couldn't be quieted, etc.

So I have concluded that I need to buy a newer RV that has less time on it plus more OEM warranty left. I am kind of boxed in to a 2018 or 2017. Those years were the last of the absorption fridges- the industry started changing to DC compressor fridges in about 2018. Compressor fridges are fine for full hookup camping, but we dry camp, often in shady spots (no solar) and a DC compressor fridge can draw 75 Ah of power each day.

So we are in an entirely different financial category which will require waiting at least until our Florida condo sells before we could consider spending that much money. But some good news- I found a family owned RV builder (sort of like LL before Thor) who builds a beautiful coach on the Mercedes chassis- Tiffin Motorhomes. Nothing fancy, just solid construction like solid wood cabinetry, outside storage panels that open to the side on hinges so you don't have to hold them open with your head. Simple stuff that makes an RV easy to use. They are 10-20% more than the equivalent Winnebago, but worth it IMO.

Stay tuned, more to come, but probably next year.

David

[Merlin]

Sounds like your depth of wisdom avoided one that was lipstick on a pig.

I went through the Tiffin MH "build your own" for their Wayfayer. What a beautiful coach! If the quality matches the looks, you'd be all set.