Winnebago View 24M Review: Get Outside in Luxury

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When I think of traveling and getting outside, the concept of RV’ing never really made it onto my list of options. In my mind, I thought RV’s were for retirees looking to travel and live out their golden years on the open road. From time to time, the thought of getting an RV came up when it was either pouring rain or when I was turned away because tents were not allowed due to heavy bear activity in the area.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to speak with the people at Winnebago and was presented with the opportunity to test out an RV. I was given the opportunity to select any model from their line up. Trying out an RV that had more amenities than my house didn’t really make sense to me. After browsing Winnebagoind.com, I decided on the Winnebago View, which is a smaller model in the world of RV’s. This RV offers all the basics that I could ever need or want while traveling, but it’s still pretty easy to get around in.

The Winnebago View provides all the basic necessities for traveling without feeling like you’re driving an 18 wheeler. The View has a few different models within the product line, which translates into different layouts or floor-plans inside the RV. I first thought that the layout wouldn’t matter all that much, but considering you’re spending a little over $100k, you should be able to customize an RV to what suits your travel needs best. Our choice in product line was the Winnebago View 24M.

Winnebago View along the California coast

Winnebago View Drive Performance

Winnebago View 24M Climbing Hills at 16% grades

For engine power, the Winnebago View was impressive. When you look at a large vehicle such as the Winnebago View, you almost immediately think of a big slow vehicle that slows you down on city streets, highways, and parking lots. Before your brain starts to wonder too much, I am here to tell you that the Winnebago View has some pep. This is not to say it’s the next street racing vehicle, but it has plenty of pick-up on highway on ramps, mountain passes, and around the city driving.

For hill climbing power, the Winnebago View charged up 16% + grades with no problems whatsoever. As I saw the 16% grade sign, I was a little skeptical on how the View would perform, was I going to be that guy slowing everyone down? The second I hit the hill I gave the View a little gas and the RV charged the hill like Max King running up a mountain. For testing purposes, I was able to do some short hill climbs with 16% grades as well as more prolonged hill climbs that lasted over 30 minutes in duration. The Winnebago View handled well in all situations.

Gas Mileage

Diesel was cheaper in CA while its more expensive in CO. Good thing we did our RV trip in CA!

As you might expect, the gas mileage on the Winnebago View isn’t going to compete with your Prius, Subaru Outback or pickup truck in most cases. The average gas mileage that I was able to get on the on the Winnebago View was between 12-14.5 miles per gallon including both city and highway. After talking with someone who has a 2014 Winnebago View, the secret recipe is to go 68 mph or less to get the best gas mileage when on the highway. This was something I learned after testing the View.

Winnebago View Specs

• Price Range – 111K to 118K (Base manufacturers recommended sale price)
• RV Length – 25’7″
• RV Width -7’6″
• Weight – 11,030 lbs.
• Engine Details – 3.0L 6-cylinder, 188-hp, turbo-diesel engine, 5-speed automatic tip-shift transmission, 220-amp
• Chassis – Mercedes tested, offered in a Dodge Chassis as well.
• Fuel Used – Diesel
• Gas Mileage – 20mph Stated, 12.5-15 actual
• Sleeps – 3-4 adults comfortably, 5-6 if little kids are involved

Rv’ing for the first time

The first time out in an RV, there is a lot of information that you need to know about the ins and outs of the vehicle. Just like any activity, there is a learning curve and once you’ve done it a couple times, everything becomes second nature. For instance, if you have a diesel model RV, you can’t expect to pull up to every gas station and get the diesel that you need. Rather, you need a bit more route planning and pre-planning. In addition, you need to check out weight and length restrictions in the areas that you plan to travel. On our trip, for example, we discovered that many California State Parks did not allow vehicles over 25′ for daytime use and over 30′ for overnight parking. These are things you need to keep in mind, in addition to the standard learning curve of RV maintenance.

Winnebago View in Big Sur, not a bad place for a first time RV trip!

RV Size

One of the biggest things you need to get used to is driving a large vehicle that’s 2-3 times the size of your car, truck, or SUV. I never thought I needed to use my side mirrors as much as I did while driving the Winnebago View, but I was constantly looking into these things when I first started driving. I think this is because I wasn’t used to the size and turning radius of the vehicle.

After a few days in the Winnebago View, you get a little more used to how it drives and turns and you become a little less nervous on every turn. My wife was pretty intimidated to drive the Winnebago View at first and it took a few times driving it before she became comfortable driving this size of vehicle. RV size is definitely something you want to consider when you look into buying or renting an RV.

Everything you need in one place

Winnebago View 24M Inside

One of the best things about driving the Winnebago View is that we had everything we needed while traveling. I never really thought about it before testing out the Winnebago View, but there is something to be said about having everything that you need to live, in a small compact place. One of the big benefits to an RV is that there is no need to pack and unpack each night vs. if you’re staying in different hotels or different campgrounds.  Since we didn’t own the Winnebago View that we tested, we didn’t have everything in the vehicle that we needed, but we were able to get the necessities pretty quick. If you own the RV, you can leave the essentials in the RV in between each trip, such as your toiletries, cooking utensils, etc. On the day of your next departure, you can simply load up your clothes and food, and you’re set to go.

Eat Like a King or Queen

Using the Gerber knife and cutting board with plenty of prep room

While there are a lot of cool things you can do with camping these days in regards to cooking, having a mobile sink, stove, fridge, and food storage rocks. One experience that comes to mind is when we went for a run along 17 mile road in Monterey. To start, we parked the Winnebago View along the road before 17 Mile road (avoiding the toll) and were able to get out for an incredibly scenic run. After our run, we talked about what we were going to do for dinner, option 1 – go out to eat, option 2 – go back to campground and cook, option 3 (best option) shower after our run, cook dinner in the RV along the road with nothing but a beautiful ocean view. Having all of our food, dry and refrigerated,, cookware, and stove to cook on was an awesome experience.

Eating out with left overs is typically hard to keep cold when tent camping, but with the fridge in the Winnebago View we were able to eat cold pizza for days without a worry of any food-borne illnesses.

Winnebago View Stove

The stove on the Winnebago View is a two burner propane stove that is sufficient for most types of cooking. If you’re looking to cook lots of dishes and side items at once on the stove, you need to do a little pre-planning.

There is a microwave in the View that doubles as a convection oven. This is good for heating up small dishes and making microwave popcorn, but we honestly didn’t use the convection oven portion of the microwave. The microwave/convection oven is smaller, so it’s not something where you can bake a big batch of cookies or brownies.

Sliding cabinets in Winnebago View, great for food storage

The food storage system on the Winnebago view has plenty of room for a couple weeks of being on the road. We stored plenty of Skratch Labs, canned beans and fruit as well as dry items such as pasta, rice, and snack food and never ran out of room to put stuff. The cabinet shelves are on sliders, so it’s easy to utilize all of the shelf space.

Going on the Go with the Winnebago View

Traveling has some great perks, but finding a clean bathroom usually isn’t one of them. Stopping at a gas station, rest area, or a fast food chain can be hit or miss. If this is a big deal for you, using your own toilet in the Winnebago View can be a real luxury.  You never have to worry whether there will be a missing toilet seat, no toilet paper, or a missing stall door. Another great feature, when it is chilly outside and you are camping, there is no worrying or delaying your exit from the tent; you stay warm when you do your business.

Keep in mind if you like to only use your RV bathroom, you get the joy of emptying your own waste, which might have you think twice about how much you use the Winnebago View for going to the bathroom. We tried to use an many public and private restrooms as possible to reduce the number of time we had to dispose of our own sewage.

Emptying Gray and Black Water

Grey and Black Water Service Center on Winnebago View

While there are some great perks to being able to wash your hands, shower, go to the bathroom, and anything else that involves water in the Winnebago View, emptying your gray and black water are not one of those perks.  For those who aren’t familiar with the water colors, black water is your toilet waste and gray water is what you use for your kitchen and bathroom sink in addition to your shower.

The first time you empty your sewage from your RV is always an interesting one. There are a few processes that you want to get right. Our first time emptying our waste, we forgot to hook up the sewage hose before we pulled lever to release the sewage. This meant that as soon as we took the sewage cap off, it went all over the place. Going through a practice run with clean water would be my recommendation if it’s your first time so you know what you’re doing without having to worry about getting covered with your own waste. To keep clean, it’s also advised to buy a box of disposable plastic gloves that you can throw away after handling everything at the dump stations. My wife, who thinks of everything, was prepared with these gloves and wasn’t nearly as grossed out as I was. She’s in the medical field and deals with bodily fluids with regularity! In addition to getting a tight seal with the sewer line, also ensure that the end of the hose is deep into the dumping station, to avoid the hose popping out and leaking on the ground.

Sleeping Beauty

Couch turns into queen Size Bed

Getting a good nights rest is one of the most underrated things in life. While I love to camp, I average about 2 hours of good sleep a night in most tents. It seems there’s always noises that keep me up while camping. The little squirrel outside your tent sounds like an 800 pound grizzly bear and you swear it’s going to eat you.

Outside of noise from the local campground critters, there’s always someone in a campground that thinks the quite hours don’t apply to them. I know I sound like an old cranky man, but I’ve come to enjoy my quietness when trying to sleep while camping. The list can go on and on for noises that can keep you up, but what’s more important is the quietness you get from sleeping in the Winnebago View.

Bed Comfort

In the Winnebago View, there are a number of different bed configurations between the different models. In the 24M model, the couch unfolds to become the queen bed. You don’t get a cheap mattress fold out bed, rather, it utilizes the cushions on the couch. For comfort, the cushions are good. My one big gripe in the bed are the gaps where the cushions meet. I am 6’0 tall and my wife is 5’9 and we found there to be a sizable gap right at the hips that kept us from giving the bed high remarks. Looking back on it, you might be able to put a blanket or something to make a more level surface which might make it more comfortable. Keep in mind, there are other versions with different bed configurations if you find the bed isn’t all that comfortable for you.

Winnebago View Top Berth Sleeping

The Winnebago View 24M also featured an above cabin berth. If you have ever been in a boat, it feels like a V-berth with a similar curved shape along the front of the cab. To reach the sleeping area, there is a small ladder that needs to be moved from just near the doorway to the middle of the room. It is important to secure the ladder before pulling out the couch bed. This area easily accommodates one adult, maybe 2 if they are smaller or like to spoon. The 24M also features a 3rd option with the dinette area converting to a single sleeper. This area would be ideal for kids, as the space was very tight in terms of length for anyone over 5’8″.

Rub Dub Dub in the Tub (or Shower)

The bathroom in the Winnebago View 24M is similar to a small basement add on 3/4 bath or boat bathroom. The shower itself features a handheld faucet and easy to retract shower door. The water stream was excellent. One of the features that I liked most about the shower is that you can turn a switch on the shower head and it will pause the water from coming out. This helps conserve water and it also keeps the water temperature the same as before you paused the water. We were able to get about 6 quick showers out of a full tank of water, and you might be able to stretch that to 7 or 8 depending how much water you use during a shower. When I say quick, these showers were the rinse off with the water, shut the water off, lather and shampoo up, then rinse off type of shower. After showering, simply slip the removable drying rack back in place and your towels have a place to try.

Winnebago View Fan

The bathroom area also features a neat vent and fan to help keep the area cool and smelling good. We used this quite frequently to avoid steaming the place up. The bathroom has a small vanity with ample storage below and above. My one beef with the sink/vanity combo is that it is difficult to wash your face without either making a mess with the water or bumping your head on the overhead cabinet.

Winnebago View Bathroom Sink and Vanity; a pocket door seals off the Bathroom from the rest of the RV

Inside Storage

Inside the Winnebago View – Plenty of cabinets for storage

The Winnebago View featured plenty of interior storage options. Along one entire wall of the RV, overhead compartments could be found to place your clothing, entertainment, books, etc. On the opposite side, a mix of overhead storage compartments and drawers for cooking items and dishes could be found. No matter the location, each compartment was designed to stay put while in motion to prevent items being catapulted across the RV.

Outside Storage

Winnebago Outside Storage

For those who travel with lots of gear for all their activities, I found the Winnebago View to offer enough storage for all my needs with a little left over room in case I need to add anything. There are lockable storage compartments that line each side of the vehicle, along the bottom. We placed bike helmets, camp chairs, and a small grill in these spaces and had plenty of room to spare. For those looking for additional storage, you can attach a bike rack or cargo box to the rear hitch in a few minutes.

Technology on the Winnebago View

GPS navigation, TV, and Stereo

Winnebago View Stereo GPS

The Winnebago View, no matter the model, features some pretty sweet basic technology. For starters, the stereo system features a 6″ color touch screen monitor that doubles as a rear view or back up camera. No need to fuss with it, it does it automatically when you place the RV in reverse. This feature is very helpful as you do not have a traditional rearview mirror, rather simply side mirrors. The stereo features a handheld remote and a USB port to attach an iPod or smartphone to stream your favorite music. The only issue with the stereo is that it is difficult to see with polarized shades. No biggie, the co-pilot can do the adjusting.

There were two separate stereo systems, your traditional cab stereo, mentioned above, and a central stereo system to play music throughout the RV and outside. The central stereo offers an auxiliary jack, Bluetooth capable, with CD/DVD player. The outdoor speakers were a pretty awesome feature and allowed for an impromptu dance party on the beach. Pair that with outdoor LED lights on the motorized retractable awning, and you are set for a great night outside.

To avoid getting lost or miscommunication with your navigator, Winnebago also offers the option of installing a Infotainment Center with Rand McNally RV GPS. The program can do more than get you from point A to B. For instance, with the Infotainment Center, you can search for RV service centers, find diesel stations on your route, and find RV friendly routes. One thing we noticed is that it takes more time to type in your destination or search criteria, when compared to your smartphone. So sit back, plan it out, and then start moving. The GPS automatically pauses your music and notifies you turn by turn and will also tell you if you are speeding (not that we ever heard this warning!)

Winnebago View TV

The Winnebago View 24M featured a flat-screen TV in the galley area. The TV screen was on a movable arm to allow for viewing from a variety of locations. We didn’t use the TV in our 2 week journey, as we prefer to read, play cards, and enjoy the quiet evenings outside. It is a nice feature to have if the weather is less than ideal. Many RV campgrounds offer cable hook up, which would allow you to stream the local news with very little set up.

Lighting

Winnebago View Outside Lighting

Throughout the cabin, and outside even, are strategically placed LED lights. These were awesome and placed just about everywhere I would think to want one. You could turn off the main lights in the sleeping area, but keep a small reading light on without disrupting the entire RV. Under cabinet lights in the kitchen area were a big help, while the track lighting that lined the counter looked cool and gave off just enough light to play cards.

Power sources

Throughout the RV, there are many plug in options available. Some in the kitchen area, which would be perfect for your kitchen gadgets, such as a coffee maker or rice cooker. The bathroom, eating and lounge area all were equipped as well. It would be fun to see USB plugs in the future, similar to the dual outlets now available to install at home. To charge your devices there are a few different options, run on battery, generator, or when plugged in to an outside power source, like when at a campground. During our travels, we used the generator a few times to charge our devices, but really tried to stay unplugged from things to maximize our enjoyment. This was a personal preference, but you should know that there are a variety of options available to help you stay connected.

Final Thoughts on the Winnebago View

With my first trip in an RV under my belt, I can say I am definitely impressed with the Winnebago View. The transition from a nice quality tent to the View presented no challenges what so ever and it makes you think, how can I convince my significant other into buying one? At a price tag of around $130k for the Winnebago View we drove, I’m not exactly running to the dealership and asking for two. On the other hand, If I had a mid-life crisis and wanted to quit my job and tour the country for a year, the Winnebago View’s price tag wouldn’t be so bad. There are also other options from Winnebago that are less expensive with prices starting at $63k. And if you’re looking to get a mansion on wheels, they have that too.

For the true outdoor adventures, the Winnebago Era and Travato are smaller in size and have a few less options, but offer all the basic necessities for adventure travel at a slightly lower price tag. I was able to check one of these out in person and they looked pretty sweet and had me wanting to click the buy button. Overall, the Winnebago View is a Luxury smaller sized RV that is definitely worth taking a look at if it falls in your price range and you’re looking to upgrade your life on the road.