Snowy Range Pass

Snowy Range Pass

Saturday, May 05, 2012

Honey, I shrunk the motorhome


Wednesday, we took the next big step in the transition from full timers to any timers.  We have enjoyed six good years traveling in our Meridian 39 diesel motorhome visiting all but a few states.  It was hard to let go of a coach that worked well for all those miles and years, never leaving us stranded and having no major failures.  I know from following other folks’ journeys, this is not always the case.  

We bought the Meridian specifically to full time and while I know many use this type of coach for travels of all kinds, we felt that a change in lifestyle was also a time for a change in equipment.  It was a great way to see the country, but its size also included some restrictions on the kind of places we could go and camping opportunities.  Simply put, we were looking for a change to a simpler way of traveling. 

Of course, we could not say goodbye to the Meridian without a reminder of the trials of life on the road. The biggest of the day/night shades decided to fail again, just before the trade in.  So, for one last time, we restrung another of those poorly made shades.

We always considered ourselves to be good at not carrying around a lot of stuff and were always well under the Meridian’s weight limits.  However, the emptying of the coach was a bit of a surprise.  Since most of what carried would not fit in the new coach, we hauled it all to the new house.  We have stuff everywhere.  Clearly, we were not as careful as we thought.
In some ways we have come full circle to where we started.  Our first, of now four motorhomes, was about the same size as our new one, but certainly a lot less sophisticated. We are hoping to enjoy the new one as much as the first three.

The new one is a 2012 Winnebago View, which is around 40% smaller than the Meridian.  It is also our first Mercedes.  It is a Sprinter Chassis with a Mercedes Diesel engine.  It will also get over twice the MPG as the Meridian. Our plan is to travel whenever and try to tow a car as little as possible.

Just like the Meridian, we have started off with some electrical issues right away.  We took delivery on Wednesday and were back on Thursday and had the failed converter replaced.  I still believe there is a problem with the 12 volt system and that the dealer managed to kill the house batteries, as well.  This is almost exactly how we started with the Meridian.

Since we do not have much furniture yet and have been released from our babysitting duties, we hope to make a short test run next weekend to a Winnebago gathering in AL.








































26 comments:

Along the Way with JnK said...

New adventures...how exciting!

That is one of the reasons we would never buy a new RV. We want someone else to work out all the kinks.

Bob said...

I sometimes feel like I'm "obligated" if I follow someone's blog, but I couldn't help myself and decided I wanted to be number 100.
Have fun with your new motorhome.
Hopefully there will be no issues getting parts for the Mercedes in the States.
How are the sleeping arrangements? Any that I've looked at seem to be quite "cozy" in terms of the bed. Is it a full sized queen? Just being nosy.

Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009 said...

Those are some wonderful flashback photos.
We just restrung two of our shades too. Oh the joy of restringing.

Jerry and Suzy said...

Since I guess we are also "anytimers" now, we have also thought of downsizing. But then we think again and realize if we put a few thousand dollars into some upgrades for Rosie we wouldn't have to spend a lot more to get a newer and less reliable rig. We may think again about the whole thing in a couple of years, as we are planning a "last hurrah" trip starting in 2015 or 2016. Time will tell, as it always does!

Sherry said...

That great header picture makes it clear that you have a future big rig driver in your family. She's as cute as a button!!

I'll be anxious to know how you like your View. We may be, for other reasons, having to downsize as well.

I assume you traded the Meridian. Hope the folks who have it now will have the same good luck and adventures as you did.

Paul and Marti Dahl said...

It may be small, but it's a keeper. The View is a great little ride, and the fuel mpg is hard to beat.

Best of luck with the new lifestyle! :c)

Rick said...

Congrats on the new rig! Our neighbour across the street has one of those and he loves it.

That should be just perfect for the kinds of RV trips you're planning.

Travels with Emma said...

Congratulations! It looks like a nice ride. :)

John and Carol said...

We wish you many more enjoyable adventures an anytimers in your new View.

Erin said...

A big diesel vehicle is made to be on the road, not sitting around for most of the time, so I think you made the right decision. Congratulations on your smaller motorhome. We'll be following your adventures in this baby as it would be one that would be under consideration when we decide to call it quits and become any timers. Of course, who knows what will be available when that time rolls around :-)))

Mike and Terri said...

Your new Winnebago looks like a nice size for your anytime travels, and for sure you won't have any restrictions on where you can park it.

Sherry and Charley Dilworth said...

Glad that your downsizing went so well and that you now have your smaller RV. We would also be interested in how you like your new home because our next step in RV's will very likely be a motorcoach.

Peter said...

I have been thinking of doing the same - shrinking the RV. It is mostly the fact that you can't go everywhere with that big 40' monster (+18ft of trailer) plus the fuel costs are just gonna go up and up and up and up....

Gypsy said...

I hope you love it, and have many happy travels in it. That's exactly what I would love to have, and I'll be anxious to hear how it goes.

Happytrails said...

Love your View!! I am sure you all will really enjoy the new rig, gas mileage and the ability to park in more sites than before!!
We have started looking lately for our next (smaller) rig and we have looked at the View/Navion as well as the Roadtrek and Pleasure-Way. We are several months away from a commitment but it is fun gathering information. Let us know how you like the View!! :-)

Luci & Loree said...

Think i saw Emerald Bch there!! Congrats on all the wonderful, challenging changes!!

Sue and Doug said...

congrats on the new rig!!!..looks like a beauty and perfect for those 'anytime' road trips!!

meowmomma said...

Well now... Congratulations again!!! And those vintage photo's tell the story, don't they!

I see you have the all important "throne" in the new house for the princess to dine in!!!

Nan said...

Life is all about changes! Enjoy life's new views!

Jeannie and Eldy said...

Wonderful homes, both of them! The new rig looks great! You've come full circle...Enjoy!

Carol K said...

I hope you enjoy the view from your View!

DearMissMermaidDotCom said...

Welcome back to the Class C world. I am fulltiming in my modest Class C and having a blast. You must be thrilled to have a new house and new RV all at once. I don't tow a car at all and it is true, there are so many more places you can go in a smaller motorhome without a toad. Good luck on your next stage of life and transitions.

Carol K said...

I just had to leave another comment to remark about your header picture. Your granddaughter's expression is priceless. A foretaste of when she gets to drive for real someday, maybe? ;)

Wayne and Roberta said...

The View is very nice Enjoy!

Kevin Read said...

I love the size of your new motorhome. You never realize how much stuff you have until you have to move it.

Enjoy being "Anytimers".

Kevin and Ruth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

Karen and Al said...

The View sure looks like a nice rig and so much easier to drive.