Winnebago Industries offers new motorhome lineup for 2003

Winnebago Industries, Inc., the sales leader in Class A and C motor homes combined, has made changes in its motor home lineup of Winnebago, Itasca, Rialta and Ultimate motor homes for 2003.

With ten new or redesigned models, including the Company’s first triple-slide motor homes in the Ultimate Advantage and Ultimate Freedom lines, Winnebago Industries’ product lineup has increased to 76 models for 2003.

Class C Offerings
Winnebago Industries continues to have the best selling Class C models in the industry, maintaining a trend that began in 1998.

The 2003 Rialta is built on the front-wheel-drive Volkswagen chassis, offering terrific maneuverability. New standard features include a 2,800-watt Onan Microlite generator and new AM/FM stereo with CD player. The 2003 Rialta is available in three models with four 22-foot floorplan options.

Introduced in 2002, the Winnebago Vista‘ and Itasca Sunstar‘ motor homes are also built on the fuel-efficient Volkswagen chassis. Built in the classic Class C design, the 2003 Vista and Sunstar provide many sleeping areas, a full galley and a bathroom area with wardrobe in a compact 21-foot size.

Multiple sleeping areas, slideout availability for expanded living areas and basement storage are all key ingredients in making the Winnebago Minnie and Itasca Spirit motor homes best bets for family trips. The Minnie and Spirit each provide excellent entry-level value, with six models to choose from ranging from 22 to 31 feet in length. The 2003 Minnie and Spirit models now feature an advanced radius-style roof design, which maximizes headroom and provides improved insulation. A new front entertainment center option is also available on select models.

The Winnebago Minnie Winnie and Itasca Sundancer lines each feature three, widebody models for 2003 ranging from 27 to 31 feet in length. Their impressive list of standard features includes a new one-piece radius-style fiberglass roof, plus single and dual slideout rooms that provide living space usually associated with a larger Class A motor home, providing abundant storage both inside and out. The redesigned 30V model features a unique new couch/range slideout in front as well as a rear bed slideout. A new entertainment center with a larger 27-inch color television is also available on all 2003 models.

Winnebago Industries’ Class A Offerings

Winnebago Industries also continues to expand its offerings of Class A motor homes, all of which feature one to three slideouts in 2003.

Brand new last year, the 2003 Winnebago Sightseer and Itasca Sunova continue to offer outstanding value, quality construction and comfort at an affordable price. These entry-level, wide-body, basement-style Class A models are available in 27- to 33-foot models, including the new 33L. The Sightseer and Sunova feature many standard features typically found as options on competitive coaches in this price class. The new Sightseer and Sunova 33L models feature a dinette/couch slideroom, hoop base lounge chair, complete galley, private bathroom, large wardrobe across from the bath and a bedroom with large queen size bed. The 33L also includes two standard high efficiency roof air conditioners, an energy management system to efficiently distribute power as needed and manual generator transfer switch. The exterior features a durable fiberglass skin, attractive graphics and large storage compartments with box-fold, one-piece doors like those typically found on more expensive motor homes.

The 2003 Winnebago Brave and Itasca Sunrise range in size from 30 to 36 feet in length. New features include a standard drivers’ door with power window and an optional six-way power driver’s seat. The driver and passenger seat belts are now four-position belts with an adjustable D-loop. Solid surface galley countertops are now standard, as is the new porcelain residential-height toilet. Fifty amp electrical service is now an option on most Brave and Sunrise models.

The Winnebago Adventurer and Itasca Suncruiser lines feature a new model, as well as two redesigned models in each line for 2003. Ranging in size from 30 to 38 feet in length, the new 37C joins the redesigned 35U and 38G models. The Adventurer and Suncruiser also feature new exterior styling and new galley cabinet designs.

Introduced last year, the Winnebago Chieftain and Itasca Sunflyer fill a niche for motor home consumers who want top-of-the-line elegance, exclusive amenities and upgrades with the convenience, performance and floorplan flexibility only front engine, gas-powered motor homes can provide. The 2003 Chieftain and Sunflyer are available in four luxurious floorplans, three of which feature a convenient U-shaped kitchen. A color rear-view monitor is now standard for 2003, as well as a home comfort plus package which includes a heat pump for the TrueAir Residential Central Air Conditioning System, auxiliary automotive heater and insulated powered ventilator fans for the galley and bath areas.

Winnebago Industries continued its expansion in the diesel pusher market as well. The Winnebago Journey series is Winnebago Industries’ entry-level diesel pusher product and features four dual-slideout models ranging in length from 32 to 36 feet. Built on the 26,850 lb. GVWR Freightliner chassis, the horsepower (hp) on all 2003 Journey models was increased to 300 hp from the previous 275.

A new 39WD model joins the Journey DL lineup for 2003, bringing total model offerings to six ranging in length from 32 to 39 feet in length. The new 39WD model features a 330 hp Caterpillar diesel engine on a 27,910-lb. Freightliner chassis with a front galley/sofa slide and a rear bed slide. The bedroom also features a convenient second lavatory with dresser.

The Itasca Horizon‘ features five models ranging from 32 to 39 feet in length, including a new 39WD similar to the Journey DL. The Journey DL and Horizon models also feature a new standard powered keyless entry with remote and a newly designed sliding stepwell cover. The 50 amp electrical service is now standard, as well as the heat pump feature for the TrueAir Residential Central Air Conditioning System and insulated roof vents. A full width mud guard with Itasca logo is also now standard for the Horizon, as well as docking lights in the rear bumper. Optional window awnings and a bedroom ceiling fan are also now available for either the Journey DL or Horizon.

Winnebago Industries’ premium diesel pusher Ultimate Advantage line also expanded with a new 40K model. The Ultimate Advantage line now features four models ranging from 36 to 40 feet in length and is based on the 32,000-lb. GVWR Spartan Mountain Master GT chassis with a 330 hp Cummins diesel engine. The new 40K model is built on a 33,700-lb. GVWR Spartan chassis with a 350 hp Cummins diesel engine and triple slideout floorplan with two slideouts in the front living room/kitchen area and one in the rear bedroom. The bedroom also features a second lavatory.

Winnebago Industries’ top-of-the-line Ultimate Freedom line features triple slide floorplans for 2003. Built on the 33,700-lb. GVWR Spartan chassis, the 2003 Ultimate Freedom utilizes a 400 hp Cummins diesel engine, for its two 40-foot floorplans. Similar to the 40K Ultimate Advantage, the 40KD features two slideouts in the front portion of the motor home and one in the bedroom, while the 40ED model features a galley/sofa slide in the front and two slideouts in the rear bedroom. The bedroom features a bed slide on the passenger side, as well as a unique lavatory/dresser slide on the driver’s side of the motor home. The Ultimate Freedom also offers standard full-body paint and a new efficient, hydronic heating system for a continuous hot water supply. The new system also provides traveling heat, engine pre-heat option for cold weather starts and zone heating with thermostats for each of the front, back and basement areas. The Ultimate Freedom also features dual climate control with individual controls for the driver and passenger. Also, the luxurious leather driver and passenger seats are now heated for comfortable winter driving. An in-motion satellite dish and insulated roof vents with an automatic rain sensor are also now available.

Working with Spartan Custom Chassis, Winnebago Industries’ designers utilize the Company’s Ulti-Bay‘ chassis design for the Ultimate Advantage and Ultimate Freedom, providing major efficiencies in terms of material use and storage space utilization.

Spartan provides the front and rear sections of the chassis, while Winnebago Industries completes the mid-section structure of the chassis and body with tall, extremely spacious storage compartments in the area normally claimed by chassis rails. The Ulti-Bay design centralizes exterior storage and provides a significant increase in storage space – up to 203 cubic feet of exterior storage space is available. The Ulti-Bay design also provides a consistent location for important components such as the electrical and water service centers, generator, etc.

New features on the Ultimate Advantage and Ultimate Freedom include a new Euro styled recliner lounge chair with ottoman, a beautiful wooden headboard in the rear bedroom, an optional water supply hose with reel, an additional slideout exterior compartment tray, a newly designed powered stepwell cover panel, and new enhanced interior door designs, as well as a new dash radio with AM/FM stereo and built-in six disc CD changer with large, easy to use buttons.

New Winnebago Industries Motor Home Features

Various new features are offered on several of Winnebago Industries’ 2003 motor home models.

Winnebago Industries has unveiled a newly designed BenchMark dinette for 2003 that offers abundant storage and easily converts into a comfortable bed. Styled like residential furniture, the new BenchMark has sprung seat cushions and attractive fabrics that wrap the dinette. The seat cushions also open fully from the top to reveal maximum access to storage areas below. Unlike a drawer storage system, BenchMark makes available the entire space under the cushions for storage.

The new central vacuum cleaner system in the Winnebago Chieftain, Itasca Sunflyer 39T models, as well as the Ultimate Advantage and Ultimate Freedom motor home lines simplifies cleaning tile floors by simply turning on the vacuum and sweeping the dirt into the built-in vacuum pan under the cabinet. The system also has a bag of attachments that are mounted inside the closet for convenience, and a 30-foot hose for full use inside the motor home, as well as for plugging in outside to clean the carpeted luggage compartments or a tow car.

Communication is easier in 2003 with two-way radios with a built-in docking ports now available on the Winnebago Adventurer, and Chieftain, Journey and Journey DL; and Itasca Suncruiser, Sunflyer and Horizon.

The Sleep Number bed by Select Comfort can be adjusted to an individual preference. The Sleep Number Bed is featured exclusively in select 2003 models from Winnebago Industries.

Select Winnebago Industries motor homes feature a new DuPont Flexshield base coat/clear coat finish, providing a low maintenance, high gloss automotive finish with maximum durability and the highest chip resistance available.

Several features are new for Winnebago Industries 2003 diesel motor home lineup, including the new TripTek. This new system uses the rear backup monitor for monitoring engine diagnostics, preflight checklists, etc. Unique to the industry, Winnebago Industries is also offering an improved chassis manifold air supply under the front hood of the motor home. This on-board compressor has 50 feet of hose and a gauge for use in pumping up tires or beach toys. Sturdy powered sunvisors are also featured Winnebago Industries’ 2003 diesel lineup as well as the Winnebago Chieftain and Itasca Sunflyer. The driver is able to control both front visors, with the passenger also able to control the visor on his or her side.

Other features found in the innovative 2003 lineup include the unique RV Radio, TrueAir Residential Air Conditioning System, StoreMore Slideout System and the OnePlace Systems Center.

WINNEBAGO OFFERS PREVIEW OF 2004 MODELS

Copyright 2003 by Out West Newspaper

BACK TO NEW RVer HOME PAGE