golfknut
SW Michigan
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Joined: 02/21/2004
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When we were looking at them a few years ago they looked awful similar in quality.
You won't go wrong with either one.
A couple of points that were important to us during our search....and were reinforced after going to a recent RV show are counter space and access to storage spaces when the slides are in.
We couldn't believe the lack of counter space we saw in many $150K+ motorhomes, as well as the quantity of storage space that was inaccessible when the slide(s) were in. We knew we wanted full or near full access to all storage (and the bed) while packing at home or traveling on the road without having to run slides out. And the wife loves all the counter space we have.
My advice is to be most concerned about the floorplan, good available local service, and which one momma likes. Because as we all know, "if momma ain't happy........"
2005 Jayco Granite Ridge 3100SS
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Lieutenant Dan
Gloucester, VA
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Joined: 12/05/2009
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I see a lot more older Coachmens around than Winnies or Jaycos
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egrove
Dallastown, PA
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Joined: 07/07/2001
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When we bought our class C it was narrowed down to those two. When we looked at Jaycos on the dealer's lot they all looked very nice with no noticeable defects. When we looked at Winnebagos on another dealers lot, we saw numerous defects. Now much of this could have been the dealer. The Jayco dealer may have taken more time to go over the units and fix little things than the Winnebago dealer, but it did leave an impression with us. In the end it was that and the great price we got on the Jayco that made our decision.
- Eric
Eric Grove
Dallastown, PA
2009 Jayco Greyhawk 31GS
Our 2010 cross country trip
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Hoppers4
Port Orchard, WA
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Joined: 12/24/2005
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Our last rig, a Jayco, was a good product. Our current rig, a Winnebago, is definitely a step above. The Winnebago is built better and has EXCELLENT documentation available on line.
Had several problems with Jayco to include spider web fiberglass, a dead short in wiring behind the fridge (had to be pulled), and a water heater installed incorrectly. To be fair, all of these problems were fixed expeditiously and correctly by the dealer. AND the 2 year warranty is a definite bonus.
The Winnebago has had no problems to speak of.
08 Winnebago Sightseer 29R
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jbbrick
Near San Francisco
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Joined: 02/25/2002
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My previously owned Jayco has turned out just fine. As said, floorplans make the difference, and I've had good support from them when I had questions. In reality, they all use the same trim, hardware, appliances, motors, chassis and engine...it's just your choice of interior trim, floorplan, dealer support, price, value, etc.
'02 Winnie Adventurer 32V
2010 Ford Escape toad
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Kamphiker
South Florida (this 'aint paradise anymore)
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Joined: 07/09/2002
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you need to make sure that when looking at a used unit and comparing that you compare equal levels. This might be harder on older year models as the fact that a manufacture changes as the market demands.
I don't know what models would cross over but basically in a traditional "C" winnebago since around 2000 model year:
1) Minnie Winnie (up to 2005 ?)
2) Aspect
3) Minnie (Itasca Spirit) (Outlook 2006 & up)
4) Access
Manufactures seem to evolve a models platform through the years to more upscale so the first year of a model may be very different by the time the last model is produced under that same model name.
Basically it's not fair to compare apples to oranges.
2006 Winnebago Outlook WF324V
2009 Honda CR-V 2wd TOAD ......Campgrounds in the Smoky Mountains NP
Last Camping trip ->2011 SUMMER SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
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20anOut
Coastal NC
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Joined: 11/27/2009
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We owned a Coachmen for 3 months and traded it for a Winnebago. When we went shopping last summer we test drove 3 different Jaycos because we liked the floorplans but the fit and finish was noticably of less quality then the Winnebago. We felt that the way the Jayco handled when driving was more challenging then the Winnebago, although the Winnebago did need steering mods to improve the handling. The Coachmen didn't even rate a comparison to either the Jayco or Winnebago.
2008 Winnebago Outlook 29B, Ford Chassis, Dinghy - 2010 Lincoln MKX,
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super_camper
Ontario, Canada
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jbbrick wrote:My previously owned Jayco has turned out just fine. As said, floorplans make the difference, and I've had good support from them when I had questions. In reality, they all use the same trim, hardware, appliances, motors, chassis and engine...it's just your choice of interior trim, floorplan, dealer support, price, value, etc.
This is just not good advice as there is most definitely differences in the design across the various manufactures and perhaps model years within manufacturers.
I recall reading about a guy (on his own website) taking apart his fourwinds, I think it was a fourwinds 5000, and he chronicled some of his findings. Hoping someone has a link to the website so they can post it again. One of the many things he found was that there was an elbow between the toilet and black tank that occassionaly got plugged due to the drainage pipe being horizontal. Hard to believe something like cthat an actually get to manufacturing.
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dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
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Joined: 03/21/2003
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knobhill24 wrote:I have had both, I will vote for Winnebago, by far better company support and quality.
Jerry
06 Cambria
Our experience was just the opposite. We had a 2004 Journey and it was nothing but problems from start to finish. In the first year it was at the dealer for more than two months with a punch list a mile long. Our Jayco has been far from problem free but the problems we have had have been far far less severe and Jayco attended to them very quickly.
Some examples and there were many more:
Rust rust and more rust.
Gennie bolts missing and floor tiles problem not fixed after three tries.
The Ambassador we had next had problems as well but it had much high quality materials and was far better value for the buck. The problems were not the type that caused problems using the MH, which was the case with our Journey that, in addition to the items above had table leg fall out repeatedly, radio not working due to antenna being squashed and a new one had to be installed, sliding door falling off, batteries boiling over (2nd time when at dealer - problem was likely the charger used), loads of rattles and shakes, shoddy carpet, slide gouging the wall since it was not aligned properly and on and on.
You can get a lemon with any manufacturer but some put them out more frequently than others. You have to keep your fingers crossed with everything you buy.
2011 Itasca Impulse 26QP Silver Toad 2011 Escape Ltd AWD
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07 Jayco 32SS on Kodiak • 06 HR Amb 40PLQ ISC 330/950 • 04 Winnie Jrny 39W CAT C7 330/860 • 2000 Triple E Cder F53
Prev toads • 07 Tahoe LTZ • 04 Colorado Z71 04/06
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Semi Retired Grandpa
Corvallis, Oregon,USA
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Liked the Jayco until I found they installed only one coach battery in a small rear compartment w/o room for another. Having had a variety of motor homes and campers over more than 45 years I couldn't help but wonder if the Jayco designers had ever spent a few days in their own MH. Settled on a Winnebago last time around for that reason alone - two coach batteries! (still often insufficient).
Gary & Liesel
Cocoa, our Chocolate Lab companion
2005 Winnebago 31C
2004 Honda Element Toad
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