Winnebago Raises the Standard

Sitting amid tall trees beside a pretty lake, you might think you were in a national park, butThe new 2006 Winnebago View, and its twin, the Itasca Navion, are aerodynamically styled, diesel-powered motorhomes that have just about every feature you can fit into a 23-foot long package.

Roger Martin, Winnebago‘s vice president of sales and marketing, likes to compare the new model to a Swiss army knife that “puts all the critical tools you need into a knife that fits comfortably in your pocket.”

This compact but loaded RV is the perfect motorhome, in Martin’s view, for at least two categories of buyers: young, first-time RVers who are looking for something smart and stylish with lots of features, and veteran RVers who are downsizing from a 40-foot Class A and want something nimbler and smaller without giving up their favorite amenities.

Martin said the early response from dealers and customers is highly encouraging. A dealer in California sold his first unit an hour after receiving it, and a dealer in Florida sold his first two units in a weekend.

The Winnebago View/Itasca Navion was previewed at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville last December, and production and delivery to dealers began in the spring.

It is the first Class C diesel motorhome built on the Dodge Sprinter cutaway chassis from DaimlerChrysler, and it is powered by a five-cylinder turbo-diesel Mercedes Benz engine. The drive train and aerodynamic styling have enabled the motorhome to achieve fuel economy estimated at 17 to 19 miles per gallon.

Entering the market at a time of high gasoline prices and increased interest in diesel technology is an advantage for the View/Navion. But what potential buyers will notice first is the sleek styling, not only on the outside, but extending to the interior, with curved cabinets, a round stainless steel sink, satin nickel hardware, and push-button latches.

Winnebago and Itasca offer the model in two floor plans, one with a dinette slideout and the other with a sofa slideout. Both expand room in the front of the coach, adding to the roominess that comes from an interior height of six feet, eight inches. The motorhome also comes with a large skylight with a sliding screen and sliding pleated shade.

In both floor plans, the dinette offers seating for four and converts to a bed. A 15-inch LCD television with DVD player is mounted above the dinette. At the front of the coach, above the cab, is a bunk with a hinged mattress that can be lifted to provide easy access to the overhead area.

The galley has a microwave/convection oven, a three-burner range, and a full-size, double door refrigerator/freezer.

The bath area has chrome fixtures, a stainless steel sink, and abundant storage. There is also a flexible showerhead, skylight, and rollout shower door.

One of the floor plans offers a rear bed that can be flipped up to reveal side-by-side storage compartments underneath. One of the compartments can also be accessed from outside the motorhome for extra convenience. There is also another sliding exterior storage bin and a ladder mounted on the back of the motorhome.

A 3,500-pound hitch equips the motorhome to haul jet skis, motorcycles or other recreation equipment.

The cockpit has luxury cab seats with lumbar support. The dash includes a radio/CD player that runs off house batteries with the flip of a switch. There is also a thermostat-controlled heating and air conditioning system.

Options on the motorhome include an Onan 3,600-watt generator, a water purification system and a satellite radio receiver.

Suggested retail price starts at $78,600 and can run to the mid-$80,000 range, depending on equipment selected.

Winnebago Industries offers a standard 12-month, 15,000-mile basic warranty, plus a limited warranty on lamination for three years or 36,000 miles and a 10-year limited parts and labor warranty on the roof. The chassis is covered by a three-year or 36,000-mile basic limited warranty and a seven-year or 70,000-mile power train warranty.

For more information about the Winnebago View and Itasca Navion, visit www.winnebagoind.com.

You can see Winnebago or Itasca motorhomes in Washington at:
Roy Robinson RV in Marysville, (866-273-5053 and www.royrobinsonrv.com)
SouthSide Motors RV in Tacoma (800-586-1240)
Watts RV Center in Kent (800-477-7026 and www.watts-rv.com).

In Oregon, you will find the motorhomes at:
RV Corral in Eugene (866-967-6006 and www.rvcorral.com)
Roberson RV in Salem (800-333-3631 and www.robersonrv.net).