If you’re a Class B or Class C owner thinking about moving to a Class A, Winnebago offers the Vista, an entry-level motorhome that costs less than many Class C’s. This year, the company has added a new floor-plan to its Vista lineup – one that’s well-suited for couples or small families. It’s the Vista 30W and features a wide-open, amenity-laden floor-plan in an easily manageable 30-foot package.
The 30W replaces last year’s 30B floor-plan, but keeps many of its best features. The entrance has been moved toward the rear to accommodate a mid-entry door, which creates a more defined front living area, and the cockpit chairs swivel to offer additional seating. Dual, opposing slides open up the front area even more, allowing plenty of space for everyone to spread out without bumping into each other.
The streetside slide features a built-in dinette (a 40-inch LCD TV with dining/buffet table and chairs is optional) that easily converts into a 42-inch by 70-inch bed for extra sleeping accommodations. Across the way, the curbside slide is smaller and houses a sofa bed with an inflatable air mattress, which makes it a bit more comfortable than traditional sleeper mattresses. Over the cockpit there’s a 32-inch high-definition TV that can be viewed from the sofa bed and the forward-facing section of the dinette.
Also included in the streetside slide is the galley’s three-burner stove, optional ($154) oven and a microwave. When the slide is retracted, it closes off access to some of the kitchen cabinets and counterspace, which isn’t much to begin with but it’s certainly adequate for simple camping menus.
A splash guard on the stovetop offers a nice bit of separation between the cooking area and the dinette. The galley’s dual-basin sink is surrounded by drawers and cabinets that offer an adequate amount of storage, and a pantry across the way, next to the 6-cubic-foot refrigerator, offers enough space for a week’s worth of food.
A split bathroom is located amidships with a toilet and sink on the streetside and a shower across the hall. The bathroom door doubles as a partition between the coach’s living area and the shower enclosure.
The master bedroom holds a queen bed with an innerspring mattress, and the optional 19-inch HDTV ($441) is worth the investment if late-night TV watching is your thing. A wardrobe sits on the streetside of the bed and there’s also a small nightstand with a trap-door enclosure to hold books, glasses and other small items.
The motorhome is built on a Ford F53 chassis and is powered by a 6.8-L, 362-HP Triton V-10 gasoline engine and five-speed automatic transmission. The cockpit features a one-piece windshield and available side-view cameras. The optional ($434) video-camera system features a backup camera in addition to turn-signal cameras that alternate views on the console-mounted screen depending on which turn signal is engaged.
The Vista’s exterior shines, thanks in part to the optional ($6,720) full-body paint, optional ($1,225) front protective mask and premium high-gloss side-wall skin ($1,050). The available patio awning ($1,288) will keep the sun off your face, and barbecues are sure to be extra lively with the optional ($497) exterior entertainment center with AM/FM stereo, CD player, two speakers, removable TV table and an auxiliary jack for an iPod, all in a lockable compartment.
The utilization of space in the Vista 30W’s floorplan, and Winnebago’s attention to high-quality fit and finish, make this motorhome live much larger than its almost 31-foot length.
Specifications
Chassis: Ford F53
Engine: Ford 6.8-l Triton V-10
Fuel cap: 75 gal
gvwr: 18,000 lbs
Length: 30′ 11″
Width: 8′ 5″
Height: 12′ 4″
Interior width: 8′
Interior height: 6′ 8″
Wheelbase: 190″
Freshwater cap: 72 gal
Gray-water cap: 42 gal
Black-water cap: 37 gal
LP-gas cap: 18 gal
Base msrp: $94,513
Msrp as shown: $104,411
Winnebago Industries
641-585-3535
www.winnebagoind.com
