Vectra Owners, comments please

Catcoach · 06-22-2013, 11:49 AM

I have just agreed to purchase a 2005 Vectra, pick it up next Friday. Any comments, suggestions on any known issues or things I should be aware of would be appreciated.

cbeierl · 06-22-2013, 02:02 PM

We've been vary happy with ours--custom ordered in Dec '04, picked up in Feb '05. We've got about 60,000 miles on it so far...

jerichorick · 06-22-2013, 06:18 PM

Dear Catcoach,

We just traded or '05 40FD for a 2011 Meridian 40U. We had problems with the main drivers side slide rear track buckling. It is very easy to overload the basement and I caution you about that. And the bed roof leaked. This was an expensive fix and only Forest City could do the job correctly. Keep an eye on all of the roof seams and clean and calk them when needed.

Driving the coach was like watching TV. I miss that tight turn ability.

Hope you enjoy it.

Rick

lajuene · 06-23-2013, 07:16 AM

here are a coupe posts I saved a while back for future reference. Do a search of the forums for the word "Vectra or Horizon" and you'll find a ot of info on our rigs.

88888888888888888888888

I am having probs with brake lights not working either on coach or toad and he told me of some hidden fuse panels. They are located on the drivers side, at the rear of the coach, behind the body panel with the grille work on it, right in front of the engine radiator.

There are four screws, two on each end of the panel, that hold this panel shut. Remove screws, the panel swings up just like a bay door. Inside are a couple of fuse/relay panels, one related to lights, the other to the xmission.

88888888888888888888888

sheet 14402, sheet 3
shows panel uncovered that has relays including Smart Wheel
It's in bay under drivers seat. Must remove 8 screws and remove cover.
see electronics pdf sheet noted above

88888888888888888888888888888888888

Docking lamp replacement
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/chan...ml#post1495722

888888888888888888888888888888

Awesome page of Relavent help. This is a Itasca Horizon but that's the same rig.
RV modifications, gossip, rants, our experiences, documents, trips, other stuff about our 2005 Winnebago Industries Itasca Horizon 40AD

******************8

Have fun!

lajuene · 06-23-2013, 07:19 AM

BTW, we would buy another used Vectra if this one got totaed because we ove it. Have had a few routine problems but woud never trade it. Long slide problem was from previous owner I think but HWH in Iowa is the manufacturer and we are going there to repair it.
RV modifications, gossip, rants, our experiences, documents, trips, other stuff about our 2005 Winnebago Industries Itasca Horizon 40AD

Petro · 06-23-2013, 10:25 AM

Our 2005 Itasca Horizon is the twin sister to the Vectra. We like the coach and plan to keep it for our remaining years of RVing.

Don

jerichorick · 06-25-2013, 10:38 AM

FYI. I found great LED values at BuyandFun.com under authomotive lights. I bought a bunch of LED's for the puck lights at a real bargain. It took a couple of weeks to get them but they work fine. There is a set of 10 in the 3500K temp range that gave us good light and are much cooler than the Halogen. Other base configurations and styles are available.

Catcoach · 06-30-2013, 09:46 PM

OK, I am now the proud owner of a 2005 Vectra, 40FD flooplan and so far love the coach. Just drove it over 1200 miles to bring it home to Colorado and can't believe how great it drives and I love the power on the mtn passes.
Yes it has a few problems, after all it is a used coach, but I am confident that I will be pleased. Look for posts now on how to do some changes etc. First on the list is probably replacing the carpet with some type of wood flooring. I know there are tons of post on the site on this project.

goldfever · 08-29-2013, 09:55 AM

I am getting ready to buy a motor home on my own, while hubby in Kuwait. we have been looking together for a year before he deployed. I think I have decided on a 2005 Vectra with the Freightliner Evolution chassis - is that a good comfortable ride? Considering it against a Holiday Rambler Endeaver 2007, which is a better coach?

Steve Ownby · 08-29-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldfever

I am getting ready to buy a motor home on my own, while hubby in Kuwait. we have been looking together for a year before he deployed. I think I have decided on a 2005 Vectra with the Freightliner Evolution chassis - is that a good comfortable ride? Considering it against a Holiday Rambler Endeaver 2007, which is a better coach?

http://holidayrambler.com/StaticFile...07endeavor.pdf
http://media.gowinnebago.com/models/...Vectra-bro.pdf

Here are links to the brochures for each coach. They appear to similar in build level. Both are rear radiator. The standard engine for the Vectra is a Cat C7 with an up grade to the Cummins ISL. The only engine in the Endeaver is the Cummins ISL. the Vectra is built on the Freightliner chassis and the Endeaver is on the Roadmaster RR8R chassis which is built in house by Monaco. They both are high quality coaches.

As on any used coach the care it has received previously means everything. If service records are available, look them over carefully. Drive both. Sit it both for a good period of time and see which feels the best.

Good luck and safe travels.

tigersharkjd · 08-29-2013, 05:34 PM

We loved our 2008 Vectra, drove well, rode well, quiet and lived well. We loved the basement AC.

becks · 08-29-2013, 09:13 PM

Did the Vectra not have a side radiator in 2005 ?

FIRE UP · 08-29-2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by becks

Did the Vectra not have a side radiator in 2005 ?

Well Sir,
The Vectras, as well as the sister ships, the Itasca Horizons like ours, used the side venting on the driver side for the dash air conditioning and, on the passenger side, the basement A/C for the coach since there's no roof top A/C units. To the best of my knowledge, they're all rear radiator, but, I'm no expert here.
Scott

becks · 08-29-2013, 10:31 PM

The 2005 Vectra with the 350 Cat motor had the rear radiator.
The 2005 Vectra with the 400 Cummins motor had the side radiator.

jerichorick · 08-30-2013, 12:22 PM

We just traded our '05 Vectra 40FD for this Meridian. It drove well and handled the mountains good. We had the Cummins. The coolant expansion tank failed and this is a common problem with around this year in Freightliner. Make certain this is addressed before you buy the coach. The new tank is not cloudy looking. We did experience a roof leak in the bed slide that was difficult to get corrected. Ended up at the factory for the corrective fix. The basement on the slides could be a problem for overloading. We had that problem because of our needs for tools in this volunteer ministry we are in. The floorplan is nice but the cabinets are small. We found the couch in ours was built for bigger people than us but that can be changed to a newer style if you wish. Don't expect much from the house batteries. The DC is way too small for this unit. And, check the date on the tires. If original have them replaced.