Mine is an Itasca, which is made by Winnebago. Model is Cambria, similar to the Winnebago Aspect. I have a 2008 model 26a, on the older (14050 lbs. GVWR) chassis. I bought it after my summer vacation in 2007, after I had done about two years of research. It specs as 26'7" long, and is just under 8 feet wide going down the road. Easy to drive, and I can go places most Class A owners would not go. It has almost all options, except the leather package and outside entertainment center, which I wouldn't want. I had the dealer install levelers, and towing gear for the Subaru. I have the microwave/convection oven. My tanks are 37 fresh + 6 gal. water heater, 37 grey, and 29 black. I replaced the two Group 24 batteries with two Group 27 batteries, put in a 60A smart converter, and added hf ham radio equipment, and a DirecTV reciever. I also installed the AM Solar package with two 100W solar panels. Yeah, I'm an electronics tech and a ham.
This motorhome has an entertainment center over the cab, so technically it is a Class B+, but at almost 27 feet and with a slide, it is basically a Class C. The slide has a big U dinette (not like the tight ones in truck campers), which works out great, as I can kick back and watch DirecTV, take naps, etc. Times I've taken my friend Ellen, she says the bed the dinette makes is very comfortable. Ellen likes the hoop based chair, I don't. It will be replaced with storage when I full-time, for now it holds Ellen or dog items. The big U dinette allows for a big, round table (with a leaf) that I love, I can have computer, ham radio, maps, and snacks all cluttered up on it. There is actually a lot of room once I put the slide out. The unit is also functional, but cramped, with the slide in.
There is a corner bed 54" x 75", perfect for me. The other rear corner has the toilet and the shower, and it is adequate. I've found there is plenty storage for me, and I think I can full-time in this beast. Here's a link that may go stale after a few months:
I think I made a good, informed decision about the motorhome. I looked at lots of things, and I would love to have an Airstream, Bigfoot, or Arctic Fox trailer, but I want to run around the forests in a Subaru, not a heavy duty pickup. Lazy Daze was attractive, but the Winnie has a great dealer a mile from me, nation wide service, and a slide. Lazy Daze owners diss slides because of the loss of cargo carrying capacity, but my unit still rates over 2000 lbs. CCC, that's with full tanks and 3 or 4 people aboard. I think I can keep my stuff under a ton. 5ers and Class A motorhomes are too tall to go where I like to go, and the diesel Winnies (Navion, View) are just not big enough, $20k more, and can only tow 3500 lbs., like the Lazy Daze.
I had surgery December 2007 (fine now) and spent January in Alabama in the motorhome. Plus, the 6 weeks we just did. So, I've had some time in the unit, and I like it a lot. Friends have demanded I host movie night in the motorhome instead of my house, and I've seated 5 for a few hours. I have a glitch with the DirecTV losing the sat signal, I think I have it down to the DTV unit demanding very steady power. I am still debating about where to put the laundry hamper. My ham radio was turning on and off the dome light with every dit and dah I sent, so I pulled the bulb, I need to trouble shoot that. I had two warranty issues, a bunched up slide seal, and squeaky running boards, no big deal. Boondocking, I run out of fresh water after about 10 days, so I need to learn to stretch if I want to go the 14 day limit at most sites. The solar panels do OK most days, but if I want 5 hours of TV at night and the overhead fan most of the day, I need to run the genset about a half hour every other day. That's OK. There are several little things I don't like about the Ford part, and the Jensen entertainment system, but it is all functional and I can shake off the little irritations.
A picture is worth a thousand words?
Emo and me.
Looking forward
Looking back
Gotta run, more about the big trip later.
