Winnebago Fuse 23F Floorplan

The new Winnebago Fuse 23F is hitting the dealers as we speak and the information is now up on the Winnebago Web Site.  

Why the excitement?  It is the third floorplan in the Fuse lineup after the twin bed 23A and rear slide out bed 23T.

Winnebago Fuse 23F Quick Look

Winnebago has released a new Fuse model.  The Fuse 23F.  There have been rumors of a different model appearing next year but it seems one has made it out into the wild.

I have heard through the grape vine that Winnebago will have the 23F on display at the the Hershey show (Sept. 12-16) and at the Compact Coach rally (Sept. 27-30).

What is it?  A Winnebago Fuse with a rear corner bed and a dinette.  This looks like it has a very similar floorpan to the Winebago View 24J.

This is a 2019 model so you get all of the good upgrades Winnebago has been rolling out this model year.   The compressor refrigerator, 2 solar panels, Inverter,  raked off rear for more clearance and all the rest of the 2019 goodies.

It looks from the photos that there is a huge amount of exterior storage under the bed. 37.9cu ft of exterior storage in the 23F vs 35.2cu ft for the T and 23.2cu ft for the A.

There is no information up on the Winnebago site yet.  I did find this if you are looking for more information.  https://www.manualslib.com/products/Winnebago-Fuse-23f-2019-9037137.html.  I think this is just the standard 2019 Fuse manual .

I borrowed these photos from https://www.motorsportsland.com/inv/2019-Winnebago-Fuse-WF423F-32298/#mainpic .  There are more.  This seem to have the first one out there for sale.  If you are going through Salt Lake at the moment, take a look.

2017 Tampa RV Show

If you have never gone to a large RV show, go.  But be prepared to get overwhelmed.   We went to the Tampa RV show last week and saw lots of stuff.   You could look at all of the large class A motorhomes and wonder why our Fuse could fit in their bathroom but that would not help much and ruin any sense of perspective.

I limited myself to looking at motorhomes that are close in size and layout to our Fuse 23a or were on the Transit platform.  I am mostly interested in seeing what innovative things the other companies are doing.  I really am interested to see if there are any ideas I can get to improve our Fuse (and what I would want on a custom Fuse when I hit the lotto).

There was nothing really new on the Fuse front.  We have already talked about all of the new stuff on the 2017.5 Fuse in earlier posts.  We were able to see explicitly that Winnebago raised the Fuse an inch and a half between the 2017 and the 2017.5 models.  They had both parked next to each other at the show and it was very apparent.

Since we started out at the Winnebago booth, the first new thing I saw was the new Winnebago Paseo.  It is Winnebagos class B motorhome on a Ford Transit chassis.   A nice motorhome, but Sonya and I are still happy with our choice.   We need a little bit more room than a B provides and want twin beds which are not available on the Paseo.

We stopped by the Coach House booth and saw our first really cool feature.  If you have not heard of them before they build a very upscale coach and are twice the price of the Fuse making it outside of my price range.

What they had in their units that was really cool was a reclining love seat with tray tables.  I had wondered in the past if airliner seats could replace the love seat in the Fuse and this was a refined version of the same idea.   This was a little larger  than the love seat space in the Fuse, but they were over-stuffed, had a divider between the seats and were just super premium.  The good thing for us is that they were made by Flexsteel.  I have bought Flexsteel products in the past for the house and they generally have lots of options.  If nothing else, seeing the tray tables made me wonder if just that would make the love seat we have a whole lot better. (Note from Sonya: We talked to one of the Winnebago folks and mentioned it would be great to have similar recliners in the 23A.  During the discussion I learned Winnebago makes, and is increasing, the production of RV furniture.  Maybe they could custom make one for the Fuse.)

The next vendor I visited was Leisure Travel Vans.   I got to see the new Wonder.  This is another motorhome built on the Ford Transit chassis.   Leisure makes a real nice motorhome and their cabinets are to die for.  But they are more expensive and you rarely see them on the dealers lots since they are purchased as soon as they are made.

The Wonder has a huge number of interesting features.  It uses a Murphy bed to gain space inside the unit.  The style is extremely clean and is a open euro-style floor plan  with the bathroom in the rear.    It is a 2 person coach but it is really nice.

I took another look at their Unity TB model that is on the Sprinter chassis.   I like this one as well and it is a twin bed unit like the Fuse.   At 6 foot tall, I still don't fit on the beds.  This was confirmed by a person who was looking at the Fuse beds.  They had the same problem being 6' tall and not fitting.   One thing I did like on both the Wonder and the Unity is that they are using a 30amp generator and a diesel generator option is available.   The batteries are also on a slide making servicing them much easier than the Fuse batteries.

Phoenix Cruiser was right next door but was rather disappointing.   Same models that they have had over the last several years.   The features seemed to be the same as well.

Another B+/C built on the Transit chassis I looked over was the Thor Gemini.  They did not have a twin bed option, but overall it appeared to a fine unit at first glance.  This is probably the closest competitor to the Winnebago Fuse I saw at the show.  Overall quality, features and price were in the same ballpark as the Fuse.  I would call it Hyundai/Kia vs Ford if they were cars.   I would say the Fuse is a step ahead but only a step.  The good thing for both companies right now is that their floor plans don't overlap so they are not going head to head on the Transit chassis.   My quick look at the Gemini was that a plus/minus comparison is needed against the Fuse.   That should be good for a comparison article in the future.

The last vendor I looked at was Hymer.  Hymer is a huge RV company in Europe and recently bought Roadtrek. Though they don't have any models they are selling in North America today that would be an alternative to a Fuse (their single US offering is a class B) they have models in Europe that would.   If I was Winnebago, this is the competitor I would be concerned with.

Hymer is bringing some innovation to the market that I am interested in.  They are doing away with the generator and are using the main engine, batteries and an inverter to power the air conditioner and other 110v needs. Based on comments from some of the experts they are a little ahead of the wave with this, but are definitely heading in the right direction.    

Hymers euro styling is extremely sleek and makes most of what I see in US motorhomes look dated.  I took immediate note of the faceplates they were using at the entrance.  They also combine the auto and coach entertainment systems which would get my SiriusXM radio to be useful when stopped.

Hymer has missed the mark one one important item.  They use a cartridge toilet.  That is pretty standard in Europe, but is not going to work in the US (at least with my wife).

I also stopped at the Onan/Cummins booth.   I continue to hope that there is something we can do to help with the generator noise.   Walking up I asked if they had something other than the resonator many of us have installed that would quiet the generator.  Unfortunately they have no magic for the QG2500 generator to make it quiet.    The person I talked was very nice and said that most of the noise is mechanical and not exhaust noise.  He did say that Onan was working on a replacement  several years out that would be quieter but there were no quick fixes.   I had to ask.

Winnebago Fuse - Top Questions

We spent a few hours at the Tampa RV show talking with folks about the Winnebago Fuse while sitting in a 2017.5 Fuse 23a.  Sonya and I had a great time doing it.

These were the most common questions we got:

Q: Gas or Diesel ?

A: It is a Diesel -  It is built on a Ford Transit 350HD with the I-5 Power Stroke Diesel engine

Q: What kind of mileage do you get ?

A: 15-17mpg in the flats of Florida running down the Interstate at 70 mph.   You can do better if you drive slower.  Our Fuse did not slow down or have any problems going up and down the mountains in WV, TN, KY, VA, GA this summer.

Q: What about DEF ? 

A: Not an issue.   You can look at the message center and see when you are down to half a tank.  It will put a nag message up when you have to add more.  I got about 3000 miles before it said it was at half.  It adds a penny or two to the cost per mile.   You can go down to Walmart and get more DEF and add it yourself.  The filler is just below where you add diesel fuel so it is very easy to do.

Q: How much can it tow ? 

A: The latest Fuse has a 5000 lbs hitch, but can only tow 3000-3500 pounds safely.  The original Fuse had a 2000 lbs hitch.  Winnebago wanted to make sure there was plenty of margin so that a new/careless user could not break the vehicle.

Q: What kind of car do you tow ? 

A: We don't tow.  We purchased the Fuse since it was small and maneuverable and we would not have to.  There are folks in the Facebook group that do tow.

Q: How easy is it to drive ?

A: It is easier to drive than my F-250 pickup truck.  It is a little narrower than the pickup and just 3 feet longer.   Sonya will drive the Fuse, but not the pickup if that says anything.  She drives a Nissan Pathfinder normally and has no problems.  It can go a little fast, so you need to watch your speed.
(Sonya's added comments - I noticed that many women who were first time buyers were a bit intimidated with the idea of driving a RV.   This was me until a couple of months ago, so it was nice to talk about how easily it handled and fun it was to drive.)

Q: How many people can it sleep ? 

A: I generally tell people the Fuse 23a is a 2 + 1 + dog motorhome.  Meaning it sleeps 2 people + the dog very comfortably.  You can take an extra adult on occasion with you, but it gets a little tight.   4 adults are just too many.

Q: What about storage ? 

A: Take a look, there is lots.   Inside and outside there is plenty of storage.   Don't overlook the storage under the driver's side bed.

Q: How do you use your Fuse ? 

A:  Generally we are on the go.  We don't use the slide unless we are going to be somewhere for a few days.   We generally only use the TV over the bed since when we stop we are ready to start winding down for the day.  We love the twin beds since we can stop at a rest stop and take naps in the middle of the day.  We searched for a twin bed model since we thought that if each of us had a small  private/personal space we would be able to deal with the close quarters better.  The ability to raise the head of the beds makes it comfortable to relax on them anytime of day.

Q: You told me about all of the good parts, so what are the bad parts of the Fuse ? 

A: There are no real bad parts but there are some things that Winnebago needs to improve.  The air conditioner is noisy like a window unit in a house. The generator is noisy.  The USB plugs have a blue light that is too bright.  The good thing is that Winnebago is listening to its customers.  Many early issues have already been corrected on the 2017.5 model which is the Fuse we were sitting in.

Q: What are some of the things the sales folks are not telling us about/pointing out:   

A: Froli sleep system; Storage under the drivers side bed; Solar; USB plugs everywhere; Bike rack.

Q: The Fuse seems a little too big/small 

A: Take a look at the Travato or the View if the Fuse seems too big/small.  Winnebago and the other manufacturers make lots of models so there are lots of options.  You need to decide how you are going to use the motorhome and then find one that fits your needs.  We took two years to figure it out so take your time and make a good decision.

Why I Like My Fuse Instead of an A

This summer I had the opportunity to use a large class A motorhome for about 36 hours.   It was an amateur radio event (Field Day) and the local Camping World (Camping World of Tallahassee)  was very generous .  They donated the use of 3 large motorhomes for the event.  They were really nice and I appreciate their support.

For those that don't know Field Day is the one weekend a year where a large number of ham radio operators take their equipment into the field and operate like there was a disaster. Some people do it from their house.  Some groups do it from their local emergency center.   Some clubs, like ours, go all of the way and operate in the field disconnected from everything.   Living in Florida this is good practice for a hurricane.

This gave me an opportunity to compare the Fuse to a 37 foot long Gulf Stream class A.   It definitely was a different beast from the Fuse. Some positives and some negatives.

On the positive side, the large class A was very quiet with the generator and air conditioning running.   The generator was 20 feet away  (as far away as the Fuse is long) from the living space and could hardly be heard.  The A/C was ducted and had almost no noise.  There was space in the living room for 8-10 people to sit comfortably with a couch, dinette, recliner and captains chairs.  It had huge amounts of storage space under the coach.   You easily could full time in something this large with 4 seasons of clothing and still have extra space. Multiple slides and a huge amount of floor space throughout made this feel like a palace.

On the negative side, it was huge.  The experienced driver from Camping World had no problem getting it in to place.  I would have dinged, bent and mutilated the unit multiple times.  It may have been why the unit was traded in since there was some damage to the rear of the unit.  Per the driver it got 5-7mpg and had a 70 gallon fuel tank.

In this unit, travel would have to be planned out and routes mapped in advance. You would definitely have to tow a car if you were traveling.  We like to be spontaneous and this would not with our style of travel.

For me I still would take the Fuse over the large class A.   It reminded me of why I wanted something small. I do want to be able to just pick up and go.  The Fuse is very efficient with its use of space.  You don't get extra space like in the class A, but we do have all the space we need.

Our style of traveling means we want to see things and change our plans as the mood strikes us.   So we wanted something small to make it more convenient.  Not something that creates its own series of issues.  People having different tastes and needs is why they make so many different sizes of motorhomes.

Someone asked if I would do Field Day in the Fuse?  I would if I had access to external electricity.   The Fuse only can run the generator for a maximum of 20 hours and I would need 36.  That would be a problem.  We were demonstrating radio operations to 4-6 people at a time plus the two operators.  The Fuse is really only big enough to hold 3-4 people max. We needed the large amounts of space the class A has.

Sometimes you want the small economical car, sometimes you want a sports car, and sometimes you need a pickup truck.  This is why we have different options.

Winnebago Fuse 23a vs View 24v comparison

The two closest competitors to the Winnebago Fuse 23a are the Winnebago Trend 23d and the Winnebago View 24v.    These are all twin bed Class-C motorhomes made by Winnebago.

In this family the Fuse is the middle child even though it is the latest model.  The Fuse 23a and Trend 23d are close siblings and the View 24v is the big brother.  We compared the Fuse and the Trend earlier at: http://confusedrv.blogspot.com/2016/08/winnebago-fuse-23a-vs-trend-23d.html

My belief is that the Winnebago Fuse is a motorhome designed for two people and an occasional third as is the Trend.   The View in my opinion is designed for 4 people and not feel like there is much empty space when only two are traveling.  When our two children were smaller we would have had to buy the View 24v.   Now that it is only Sonya and I traveling, the Fuse is perfect even if one of the kids decides to come with us.

I want to clarify that the Winnebago View and the Itasca Navion are the same,  just different branding and some different colors.  Everything else is pretty much  the same between the brands.

Before the Fuse was announced we were about to buy a View 24v.  If there had been one equipped like we wanted we would have it today instead of the Fuse (we did not want the overhead bunk).  When we saw the Fuse we fell in love.  It met our needs better but I am sure we would have been happy with a View 24v.

For fairness,  all images in this comparison are from Winnebago sales literature unless otherwise noted.  That should make all the images the same quality.

Fuse 23a Floorplan (Winnebago Ind)

View 24v Floorplan (Winnebago Ind)

Both of these motorhomes have twin beds.  The layouts are very different.  The Fuse has a large open floorplan with the bathroom in the back.  A slide out up front with a love seat and kitchen.

The View is a split floorplan with the twin beds in the rear.  The kitchen and couch (or sectional) make up the front living space.  This front area has a slide out. There is an optional bed over the cab.  The bathroom in the View splits the coach into two separate living spaces.

Bathroom

• The bathroom in the View is a bigger/not quite as tight.
• The Fuse has a window in the bath and the View does not. 
• The Fuse has a pocket door and the View has a traditional swinging door
• The View has a porcelain toilet with sprayer and the Fuse toilet is plastic and does not have a sprayer.

Bedroom area

• The beds in the Fuse are slightly longer but the same width as in the View
• Both the Fuse and the View beds can be made into a king sized bed configuration.
• The bathroom is at the head of the bed in the Fuse and at the foot of the bed in the View
• There are drawers under both beds in both the Fuse and the View.
• The cabinets slide open on the Fuse.  The cabinets lift up on the View.  
• There is more overhead storage in the View.  This is from overhead storage over the heads of the bed.
• The View has a nice night stand area when the beds are not made into a king configuration.
• The closet is bigger in the View

Living/kitchen areas

• The living and kitchen areas are about the same. The Views is slightly larger but the open floorplan of the Fuse evens this out. 
• The Fuse has a love seat.  The View has a couch which is wider than the love seat on the Fuse.  They both can only fold out into a bed only when the slide is out
• The microwave, refrigerator, and cooktop are the same.
• The sink is bigger on the View though is is split.  The Fuse has a nicer faucet.
• The View has more kitchen storage.
• There is not a place for a front table in the Fuse when the slide is in.  The View has a place between the front seats.
• Both units have TVs in the bedroom area.  In the living area the TV in the View is over the kitchen sink, the TV in the Fuse is over the cab.

Cab area

• Both front seats in the View rotate.  Only the passenger seat in the Fuse does
• The seats are a little further apart in the View making the cab seem bigger.
• There is a place for a table between the front seats when rotated in the View. 
• There is a TV over the Cab in the Fuse.  There is a window or bed over the cab in the View.
• There is more storage over the cab in the Fuse.  There is only storage along the sides over the cab in the View without the overhead bed.

Mechanics

• The Fuse is built on a Ford Transit Chassis.  The Trend on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis
• Both are Diesel.  
• The miles per gallon are about the same between the two units. Both are between 15-20mpg mostly impacted by speed.  There is a slight edge to the Fuse but maybe 1-2 mpg.
• Both have Dual Rear Wheels.  
• The Fuse has an LP generator.  The View has either and LP or Diesel generator
• The Fuse has a traditional water heater.  The View has an option of an on demand water heater
• Water and sewer capacities are about the same.  The View has the ability to fill the tank by turning a valve when connected to shore water.  The Fuse water tank has to be filled via the fill inlet only.
• The Fuse is lower to the ground.  There is a concern about low ground clearance on the Fuse that has been addressed slightly in the 2017 1/2 version.
• The Fuse has three similar sized external storage compartments.  One on the drivers side and 2 on the passenger side for a total of 23.1 cu ft.  The View has one large external storage compartment that is 2/3s the width of the View and 3 other compartments, 2 on the passenger side and one on the drivers side for a total of 43 cu ft.
• The View can carry more weight.  4220 lbs. vs 3140 lbs. using the GCWR - GWVR method 
• The 2017 1/2 Fuse has a 5000 lbs hitch which is the same as on the View.
• The View is 1.5 feet longer and 1 foot taller.
• The  View uses a pump to empty the gray tank.  The Fuse is all gravity.
• The generator on the View is bigger than on the Fuse.  3600 (LP) or 3200  (diesel) watts vs 2,500 (LP) watts on the Fuse.  It is also much easier to access on the View through a side access hatch vs from underneath on the Fuse.
• The View has an inverter.  The Fuse does not.
• Both come with 2 group 24 batteries for DC power.  Solar is optional on both.
• The View comes with an installed water filter.  The Fuse does not.

Other

• The Fuse is $20,000-$30,000 less expensive than the View

So why did I pick the Fuse over the View ?

• I wanted smaller and even though it is only a 1 1/2' longer, the View seems much larger
• The Fuse felt smaller and easier to drive during the test drive
• I felt that the maintenance on the Fuse Ford Transit chassis would be cheaper and easer to find than the Views Mercedes Sprinter maintenance
• It was easier to get in and out of the Fuse since it was lower to the ground.
• The Fuse was less expensive by about $20,000
• The open floorplan in the Fuse made it seem bigger and more open and airier inside.  The floorplan of the View 24j has this same effect when compared to the View 24v.

When would I recommend a View over the Fuse ?

• If I was traveling with more than 2 people most of the time.
• If I was a full timer - The extra storage space outside would be nice.
• If I was going to tow a car.  The Fuse is limited to sub-compacts even with the latest towing improvements.
• If I did not want the open floor plan of the Fuse and wanted a defined bedroom and living room.

Winnebago Fuse 23a vs Trend 23d comparison

People continue to ask about the Fuse and other motorhomes that are similar.  The market for Large Class B/Small Class C motorhomes seems to be very popular.  People ask about the Fuse and which other ones should they look at.  What are the plusses and minuses between the different motorhomes.

Two of the most similar motorhomes on the market are the Winnebago Fuse 23a and the Winnebago Trend 23d.   For fairness,  all images in this comparison are from Winnebago sales literature unless otherwise noted.  That should make all the images the same quality.

Fuse 23a Floorplan (Winnebago Ind)

Trend 23d Floorplan (Winnebago Ind)

The layouts of these two motorhomes are almost identical.  A large open area with the bathroom in the back and twin beds that make into a king sized bed.  A slide out up front with a love seat and kitchen.

Bathroom

• The bathrooms are almost identical
• The Fuse has a window in the bath and the Trend does not. 
• The Fuse has a pocket door and the Trend has a traditional swinging door
• The closet and drawers in the bathroom seem to be the same

Bedroom area

• The bedroom areas are slightly different
• There are drawers under both beds in the Fuse.  Only under 1 bed in the Trend
• There is a designated compartment for storing the tabletops on the Fuse.  Not so on the Trend.
• The cabinets slide open on the Fuse.  The cabinets lift up on the Trend.  
• The amount of overhead storage is about the same with the edge being given to the Fuse.  The entertainment center is located in the bedroom overhead cabinets  on the Trend and is up front on the Fuse.
• The beds are slightly longer on the Trend.  The Fuse has a pop up shelf to extend the drivers side bed to lengthen it.  It blocks the refrigerator when in use and requires the slide to be out.
• There is an accordion divider between the bedroom and the living space in the Trend.  There is a removable curtain that can be used to divide the space in the Fuse.

Living/kitchen areas

• The living and kitchen areas are about the same 
• The love seat is the same in both units.  They both can only fold out into a bed only when the slide out
• The microwave, refrigerator, sink and cooktop are the same.
• The storage in the kitchen is very similar.  The drawer layout is a little different with 2 deep drawers in the Trend and 1 shallow drawer and 1 deeper drawer in the Fuse.
• The front table can be used in the Trend with the slide in.  It can not be  used without an additional product in the Fuse when the slide is in.  The socket is blocked by the love seat.
• There is only 1 TV in the Trend. It is on an arm that can be positioned to be seen from the front or back.  The Fuse has 2 TVs, one in the in the front and one in the bedroom.

Cab area

• Both front seats in the Trend rotate.  Only the passenger seat in the Fuse does
• There is a TV over the Cab in the Fuse.  There is a window over the cab in the Trend
• There is more storage over the cab in the Fuse.  There is only storage along the sides over the cab in the Trend

Mechanics

• The Fuse is built on a Ford Transit Chassis.  The Trend on a Dodge (Fiat) Promaster chassis
• The Fuse is Diesel.  The Trend is Gasoline
• Side note - I had a friend who had a gasoline powered Class A that had fuel leak and then caught fire.  He swore to never buy another gasoline powered motorhome fearing for the safety of his family.  All of the motorhomes my Dad had were gasoline powered and he never worried about that though he never had a fire.
• The miles per gallon are about the same between the two units. Both are between 15-20mpg mostly impacted by speed.
• The Fuse has Dual Rear Wheels.  The Trend has single rear wheels
• The Fuse has an LP generator.  The Trend has a gasoline generator
• The Fuse has a traditional water heater.  The Trend has a on demand water heater
• Water and sewer capacities are about the same
• Both are low to the ground.  There is a concern about low ground clearance on both units
• The Fuse has three similar sized external storage compartments (23.1 cu ft).  The Trend has one external storage compartment (9.5cu ft).
• The Fuse can carry more weight.  3140 lbs vs 2150 lbs. using the GCWR - GWVR method 
• OCCC on the Fuse is 1500 lbs  on the Trend 1100 lbs
• The 2017 1/2 Fuse has a 5000 lbs hitch.  The Trend has a 2000 lbs hitch (which is the same as the 2017 Fuse)
• Both are the same length and width and height +- an inch or two.

Why did I buy a Fuse over a Trend?   

To be honest very few of these details came into account.  It came down to feel.   We liked the more open feel the Fuse has.  This is due to the pocket door and window in the bath.   This made it feel more open to us.   We also liked the sliding cabinet doors.  We worried that if the upward opening cabinet doors on the Trend popped open things would fall to the floor.   

The price on both units was about the same.  The Trend was about 5% less expensive than the Fuse. We thought either would have worked for us.

If you are interested in either of these motorhomes I recommend watching the sales videos that Lichtsinn RV produces.  They are very good walkthroughs of the units.  Winnebago has also put a virtual tour of each unit on their web site as well.

Feel free to add comments especially if you think it would be beneficial to someone making a decision between the two motorhomes.