Itasca Windcruiser 37RQ

[Ian Sampson]

I have been looking at late 70's early 80's motorhomes. Have seen an Apollo 33' that looks interesting as well as an Airstream similar length. Just found an 1989 Itasca 37RQ not too far from me . Was interested to know if anyone has any thoughts about these. Essentially I am looking for an RV to restore and use not necessarily in that order. The proximity of the Itasca is attractive.

Cheers

Ian

[Al Spivey]

Go for the Winnebago.  You are still able to get parts and supplies from Winnebago on this age unit.  I have owned 4 Winnies and would buy another one.  Have been to the factory numerous times and have even been down on the production line while they were being constructed.  You will not go wrong buying a Winnie.  Check out the Winnebago Industries web site and look for brochues for older units.  You want find that on most of the other companies.  I still think that the year Winnie you are considering is the best looking model ever built from a pure appearance standpoint.  If you can get it for a good price then JUST DO IT.  Good luck Al

[Ian Sampson]

Hi Al

I downloaded the brochure from the Winnebago site. Its great ! Has all the specs etc. Just weighing it all out and trying to determine worth. They are good looking. Has the Airstream / GMC look to it. Ill keep you posted and thanks for the info.

 

Cheers

 

Ian

[Ken Nolte]

Hi Ian

I hope the purchase went well for you. I'm new here and still overseas and just purchased my first RV. I got the sister to yours. I picked up an 89 Winnebago Elandan 37' motorhome. I haven't actually seen it myself yet but will in a few weeks. I hope to keep it around and use it and do some upgrades and just keep it in good condition. If you find anything interesting, please pass it along on here. I liked the style of those models and the interior layout. I hope all is well for you and your purchase.

Stay safe out there.

Ken

[Ken Nolte]

Been some time since anything was posted on this. I will admit to a certain weakness for the Windcruisers and Elandans. Just curious if he bought it and a current status of it. Crazy as it is, I actually wouldn't mind finding another one to restore for my kids and their families.  

Hope all is well for everybody out there.

Stay safe..

Ken

[Sheryl Mason]

We just purchased a 1985 Itasca Windcruiser and have been researching them for a while now and they are very well built structure. They were purchased by Winnebago and they are in my opinion very restorable. Can still get body parts and pretty much any part you want for them too. Good luck on your venture, we just began on ours.

[Ken Nolte]

Hi Sheryl

Please keep us all informed on your progress. I have an 89 Elandan that I hope to do some updates on when I get home. Looking at the typical motorhomes of that time, the Windcruiser/Elandan models were out of the ordinary for sure. I've used mine a few times and love the way it drives and rides and the fact that it has a drivers door is a big thing. I wish you well on yours. I hope to be back to use mine in a few months.

Thanks for the post..

Ken

[Sheryl Mason]

We are sad to say we will not be finishing the restore on our Wind cruiser cause my health has deteriorated and I am not able to do the things I used to, so we bought a Suncruiser that doesn't require a lot of work.

[Sheryl Mason]

We are just doing a little upgrading to the Suncruiser which is an 1989 and needs very little work.

[Ken Nolte]

Sorry to see the news of your health. I pray that all will be well for you. As I recall the Suncruiser is pretty close to the Elandan in body style. I hope it serves you well. Keep us informed on it please. I'm sure there are others out there that find the older motorhomes fascinating.

Thanks for the update.

[Sheryl Mason]

We love the older Itasca's they are built to last and they hold up well.We will be going on our next camping trip in style, cause my husband is an electronics geek and is upgrading the tv, stereo and lights, well pretty much anything electric, and we are planning to put new air suspension system later on, the one it has is ok for now. It has a Ride Rite suspension, are you familiar with those?

[Sheryl Mason]

We love our Suncruiser but now we need to get rid of the 1985 Windcruiser and don't know whether to try and sell it for what we paid for it or just part it out.

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, Sheryl Mason; 

Thank you for coming back and telling us how your Winnebago Windcruiser/Winnebago Elandan /Itasca Suncruiser is doing.  Those three are all pretty similar, although when you are closer, there are differences that do become apparent, such as the Itasca Suncruiser usually has the four headlight system up front. 

Another one that has surprised me, when I got closer and discovered that it was not another Winnebago Industries fiber glass body motor home, is the similar looking Fleetwood Southwind, also built on the GMC P37 motor home chassis.   

Your comments about it/them are very similar to mine.  And I also like and appreciate the appearance and style of these older motor homes.  They are recognizable and distinctive.   Plus, for me, they have one really useful characteristic that is not found very often in the new "modern" motor homes, and that is a roof height of only 9 feet above the roadway, with a corresponding height of only about 10.5 feet to the top of the air conditioner covers.  For me, that means that there is room up there for antennas -- something not available with the new modern motor homes that are "taking advantage" of the vehicle maximum height increase to 13.5 feet a few years back.  The new ones do have all of that storage in "the basement," yes, but they also require five (5) steps to get up into them.  Our venerable vehicles require only three (3) steps to get up into them through the side door.  For many people, those extra two narrow steps can be significant.  

Regarding your 1985 Windcruiser, you know the vehicle.  You know what condition it is in.  If you also agree that it is still a functional motor home, then it would seem that finding a new owner for the Windcruiser would be a good way to keep that venerable motor home going and being enjoyed by another person or family.  After all, it is "a Good Old RV." 

Parting it out might leave you with a shell and chassis that will be more difficult to properly handle, than a complete motor home assembly that can move on its own.  

We are still in the part of the year when other people might want to try a motor home RV, or find one that is a little bigger than what they have now.  This is not like March, April, or May for RV sales, true, but it is still pretty good.  The concept of recycling does apply to motor homes also. 

Enjoy;   Ralph, Latté Land, Washington