Minnie Winnie 27P

With upscale Class A features in an affordable Class C platform, Winnebago’s 2001 Minnie
Winnie 27P just may be the best of all worlds. Built on a robust Ford E-450 van chassis
with a 14,050-pound gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), the 27P is just under 28 feet long,
so it is easy to maneuver. At the same time, a living room and bedroom slideout make for
residential-style living, and the equipment list rivals that of the most substantial
gas-powered Class A’s. The base price of the 27P is $69,960, which is a reasonable price
for the level of comfort provided. Weighing in at under 13,000 pounds and powered by a
306-horsepower Ford V-10, the Minnie Winnie has power to spare. Pulling a 7 percent grade
in third gear was accomplished at 60 mph with little effort. Acceleration was good overall,
with a 0-60 average of 20 seconds, and a 40-60 average of 12.3 seconds. Like all of Ford’s
van chassis, the E-450 is suspended by coil springs up front/leaf springs in the rear, with
gas-pressurized shock absorbers and anti-lock disc brakes on all four corners. The living
room slideout opens to produce an additional 15.6 square feet of floor space, and the
opposing kitchen is very well-equipped. The 12.3-square-foot bedroom slideout accommodates
a queen-size island bed. The Minnie Winnie has a long-list of standard and optional
features. Pick up the October 2001 issue of Trailer Life on the newsstand to read more
details. To read Trailer Life’s monthly tests in full, click here to subscribe to
the magazine.