Preparing to buy 2005/06 VECTRA 36RD - looking for owner/expert for advice.

[Artcele]

Hello,

After a very long homework to choose a preferred diesel pusher, I now consider buying a Winnebago Vectra 36RD. Year 2005/06/07 (350hp)
Considering the sibling Itasca Horizon, as a second choice, but floorplan less desirable.

I come from France to land somewhere like Florida or Texas, and I would like to discuss with owners, or RV buying experts, to get even more prepared.
Helping me to examine and appraise a selected unit at a dealer lot? Of course, reward for you and why not coming to France visiting our US RV Lovers Group!

Main features leading to this choice:
- My budget
- Winnebago is an independent company from the beginning, with a good building technique (more automation, less risk of worker turnover, constant quality)
- Good wheelbase-to-length ratio (Security, steering, wandering)
- Maximized room (4 slides) for a reasonable length (Europe RVpark, and easier manoeuvering)
- FreighLiner Evolution chassis, no stacked truss, more outdoor room.
- Nice floorplan (very subjective!)

About the inspection,some specific advices for Vectra? special areas? recurrent/well-known weak parts?
Some of my critical points:
- Water infiltration is, of course, my nightmare, wishing to inspect the roof, galley and bathroom with high scrutinity
- Splitting inspection like Chassis-truck/house
- Moving parts, like levelling system, slideouts mechanism (btw, worth upgrading the motors?)

Best timeframe to buy? After snowbirding in FL/TX/South, like june to october?
I won't rush my first buy, flying to US 1 or 2 times before buying.

Your experience and advices are warmly welcomed! Thanks.


ps: If you wish to visit France, our meeting takes place in may, and if you plan to travel here, we have resources (easy/free parking, spots, friends....)

 

[SeilerBird]

Welcome to the forum, to the US and to RVing. Winnebago makes a great rig. You should be very happy. When you find one to buy make sure to hire an independent inspector to go over it. If the tires are more than 6 years old then replace them immediately. When you are in Florida look me up.

 

[Artcele]

Hi Tom,

What a first cool message!
Indeed, my plan is to have my unit in perfect shape before RoRo shipping.
The unit go directly to FreightLiner shop for maintenance, and they offer a one day service where you can attend.

My first trip to FL could be mid Feb 17, I let you know, of course !

ps: Your beautiful pictures are full of life and colors, I like them.

 

[John Canfield]

Welcome! Send cbeierl a private message,  he has owned that same model for several years. Winnebago had a problem with the bedroom slide leaking, finally made a seat kit that worked.  Speaking of seals (rubber gaskets), probably all of them will need replacing on a 10 year old unit.

Once you find one,  I strongly recommend you let the Winnebago factory do the inspection and maintenance work (you need a pre-purchase inspection of course.)

Any time is the right time to buy in Florida.

 

[Artcele]

Hi John, I appreciate the welcome!

Obviously, the Winnebago factory is a major spot, before and just after purchasing the unit.
About the pre-purchase inspection by a professional service, where can I find the most appropriate? a Winnebago local specialist? any RV center? RV mobile mechanic?

I notice some price and availability fluctuation,  at least online, but perhaps less noticeable in real life.
My guess is that really northern snowbirds fly there, buy and sell local unit, thus avoiding a long drive, and its risks and failures.

I PM'ed cbeierl, thanks!

 

[SeilerBird]

Hi Tom,

What a first cool message!
Indeed, my plan is to have my unit in perfect shape before RoRo shipping.
The unit go directly to FreightLiner shop for maintenance, and they offer a one day service where you can attend.

My first trip to FL could be mid Feb 17, I let you know, of course !

ps: Your beautiful pictures are full of life and colors, I like them.

Thank you for your kind words. I have toured the Winnebago factory in Forest City Iowa. Very cool and educational tour. If you can get there I highly recommend it.

https://winnebagoind.com/company/visit

February is one of the best months to visit Florida since Disney World is at it's emptiest. The weather is usually perfect then with no chance of hurricanes. I look forward to meeting you.

 

[Artcele]

So coool to meet you thanks to this forum, and it's a very pleasant perspective to meet you for real !

Indeed, I choose February purposely and am glad you confirm my choice.
You're right, RV dealers could look like Disneyland in some places, lot of clowns there, funny shows and... horror trains !

Tom, you are welcome here, in France.

 

[SeilerBird]

So coool to meet you thanks to this forum, and it's a very pleasant perspective to meet you for real !

Indeed, I choose February purposely and am glad you confirm my choice.
You're right, RV dealers could look like Disneyland in some places, lot of clowns there, funny shows and... horror trains !

Tom, you are welcome here, in France.

I would love to come to France since a girl I am madly in love with is currently living there. However there is a small problem. I recently spent 10 years full timing it and driving around this country. I had a blast. However I really don't think I saw 5% of what there is to see here. Most Europeans underestimate the actual size of the US. France would fit into the US 15 times. But I will keep it in mind since I would love to see it.

 

[Artcele]

You already know a lot of people in France

Exactly! When I came back to France, I felt like I live in a small village.
I have been driving very long distance in the US, on both coasts, but not across. plus Europe and Africa.
By the way, you should try this geographic site about the real size of countries. familiar maps renderings hide their projection distortion, and can really be misleading.
thetruesize.com

 

[SeilerBird]

Oh so you have visited the US already so you know what you are getting into. We have foreigners on this site that plan a three week trip to the US and plan on visiting both coasts and everything in between. They think they can see everything just by stopping there for a few minutes. February is a good choice to visit Florida since the spring break college kids are not here yet. Have you been to Florida? It is a wonderful state with a lot to see.

Thanks for the link, yes projections can be misleading.

 

[Artcele]

Yep! I visited southern Florida, from Key Largo, up to Titusville.
In february, should be busy hunting for RVs, but indeed, would like to visit awesome places.

 

[SeilerBird]

Yep! I visited southern Florida, from Key Largo, up to Titusville.
In february, should be busy hunting for RVs, but indeed, would like to visit awesome places.

I am in Orlando and down the road towards Tampa are several very large dealerships. What are you looking for? I am retired so I have all the time in the world to go RV shopping with you and I love looking at RVs. There are many awesome places to visit in central Florida.

 

[Artcele]

Wow! It is great if you can shop with me, and I wish to make vids and pictures of my "RV Quest", of course.
My friends from the french RV Group are following my project, they need proofs
This project is really a thrilling experience for me, trying to do my best.

Am looking for a not too long diesel pusher, I really like the Winnebago Vectra 36RD, from 2005/06/07, and the Journey 36G, as my second preferred model.
Am currently learning to know the Vectra, up to the useful details, to be at ease the day, in front of the beast

Am not at all in the rush to buy my RV in this first trip, I wish to learn my RV lesson, it is a personal challenge you know, also, I wish to take time to visit and relax.
Happily, I have no pressure to buy on a given deadline.

In my project, a little later when ready, after succeeding in buying my first RV, I would like to travel across the country.
Anyway, I have to drive it to the Winnebago factory to have it perfectly checked and maintained, and this would be a long RV trip for me!

 

[Artcele]

I have specific questions about the Vectra/Journey:

- When you buy an used unit (2005/06/07), which house parts do you recommend to replace, in order to be safe, and not waiting a failure or leak?

- How do you effectively check the roof waterproofing? Need to climb on it? specific spots?

- Do you recommend to upgrade the slideout actuation motors with stronger ones? I saw that several kits were available? About rail lubrification, do you recommend a specific grease for summer/winter?

 

[SeilerBird]

I have specific questions about the Vectra/Journey:

- When you buy an used unit (2005/06/07), which house parts do you recommend to replace, in order to be safe, and not waiting a failure or leak?

Nothing. Failure is pretty rare so it is best just to wait for something to fail.

- How do you effectively check the roof waterproofing? Need to climb on it? specific spots?

Roofs leak at the places where the roof has been penetrated, like vents, skylights and air conditioners. When it does leak there is almost always tell tail signs of water leakage on the inside.

- Do you recommend to upgrade the slideout actuation motors with stronger ones? I saw that several kits were available? About rail lubrication, do you recommend a specific grease for summer/winter?

I have never heard of someone upgrading their slideout motors. They are not something that fails very often.

 

[Artcele]

Thanks Tom!
Asking too many "insane" questions  , you can feel how afraid I am of this beast!

 

[SeilerBird]

Thanks Tom!
Asking too many "insane" questions  , you can feel how afraid I am of this beast!

There is no such thing as an insane question. The only reason online forums exist to for people to ask questions and get answers. There are thousands of people who read forums and never post a question. So there are plenty of people who have the same questions as you do and are too afraid to ask. So thank you for helping them out. You have nothing to fear, an RV is not a beast, it is a nice place to live and play. So don't be afraid to ask all the questions you wish. The only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask.

 

[Artcele]

Great! I thought I asked too many questions, but I would be more than happy to help other people.

Later, it can be cool to publish pictures and vids, describing it from a buyer perspective.
The video i like, exposing well the 36RD, because the outdoor have all doors open, and we feel someone is living inside, almost:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbG5n4tAGU4

 

[Artcele]

I plan to buy useful accessories, the kind of things you really need, but I don't know them yet.

An example is a dust cover, covering the RV entirely,  convenient, and made of a lasting material. Is there a recommended brand ?
wheel dust cover too.

I read that tires pressure monitor could bring security and optimize consumption. Is it a must have? recommended model?

 

[emiddleb]

- Do you recommend to upgrade the slideout actuation motors with stronger ones? I saw that several kits were available? About rail lubrification, do you recommend a specific grease for summer/winter?

The Vectras you are looking at use a hydraulic system from HWH to move the leveling jacks and the slides.  There are no actuation motors, just a single pump.  As far as lubrication, usually only the large front slide has exposed rails/rams and the only thing you should do on them is occasionally wipe them clean and coat with a silicone spray.  Never use grease... dirt will stick to it.