Winnebago Leisure Seeker C2364

There are several ways to add to the interior space of a motorhome. One is the slide-out (quite rare until a few years ago) but the alternative is where the interior space is used more effectively - as is the case with the Winnebago Leisure Seeker C2364 that we borrowed from Sydney RV Centre in NSW.

From the outside, the Leisure Seeker looks like a traditional C class motorhome - as indeed it is, having a Luton peak bed over the cab and a lounge/dinette in the rear - but the 23ft (7m) design incorporates a very interesting feature to make it more user friendly, especially for those who find climbing into a Luton bed slightly awkward. Read on...

ON THE ROAD
The Leisure Seeker sits on an Iveco 50C18 cab chassis, with a 3L turbodiesel engine that delivers a maximum of 130kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

Iveco offers a choice of two gearboxes: a six-speed manual or a six-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). Our review motorhome came with the latter and it's one of the better AMTs around.

On the road, the 3L diesel gets the Leisure Seeker along well enough, and its 4495kg GVM and Tare of 3794kg means there is plenty of load capacity.

In the driver's cab, the Iveco has most of the usual driver comfort/safety items - power steering, power ABS disc brakes, cruise control, various storage compartments, power mirrors, power windows and driver's airbag. The passenger airbag is an option.

WEATHERPROOF CONSTRUCTION
The Leisure Seeker's floor consists of a welded steel frame with ply timber above, galvanised steel sheeting below and foam insulation in between. The cabin and living space is supported by a welded aluminium frame with block foam insulation sandwiched between internal vinyl-clad ply and external fibreglass, except for the roof, which is made up of EPDM rubber. This stands for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer and is considered ideal for outdoor applications because of its good resistance to ozone, oxidants and severe weather conditions.

In keeping with much of its range, Winnebago has used a Hehr door with separate (non-security) flyscreen and Hehr glass hopper windows. We're a fan of these because the glass is scratch resistant (unlike acrylic) and the hoppers can usually be left open in the rain.

External bin storage is generous, with a large bin at the rear nearside and a smaller one on the opposite side. Beside the entry door, the gas locker contains two 4.5kg cylinders. Above the nearside wheel is the entertainment unit, complete with AM/FM radio/CD player, speakers, powerpoint and 12V socket. Other external features include an external shower, gas point for a barbecue and an awning.

FLOATING BED
Inside the Leisure Seeker is what appears to be a standard layout, with a Luton peak bed, bathroom cubicle behind the driver's seat, kitchen bench along the nearside and a lounge/dining area in the rear. However, push a button and the slightly lower than usual ceiling in the rear powers down to reveal a 7ft x 4ft 10in (2.13m x 1.5m) bed that sits just above the lounge seat backs. In fact it can be set at any height, so that the lounge seats can still be used while someone else is in the bed.

The bed, with a 'bedpost' in each corner, rises and drops on a cog-and-tooth system. It's a slightly different setup to what Winnebago uses in its Freewind range.

With the bed fully lowered, the windows on either side plus a roof hatch give good airflow.

Across the rear wall, the lockers can be used with the bed fully up or down, but not mid-station.

When the bed is raised, the lounge/dining area comprises a sideways facing lounge plus two single swivel lounge chairs on the opposite side. Between those two is a lift-out table that doubles as a small shelf (ie, glass or cup size). If a larger one is needed, a two-pole table can be used in conjunction with the lounge.

Fitted into the corner beside the fridge are a couple of small cupboards, one fitted with glass holders. Above are the bed controls, powerpoint and antenna for a flatscreen TV plus a halogen reading light. The latter seems oddly located, but the optimum position for a bed reading light can be tricky to find.

KITCHEN AND BATHROOM
Split in two, the catering department has the kitchen bench along the mid nearside and the fridge on the opposite side with microwave above. The fridge is a two-door 150L Dometic three-way and the microwave an LG with a round cavity, rather than the usual square style.

Fitted into the kitchen bench are a stainless steel sink/drainer with flick mixer tap and filtered drinking water outlet, plus a three-burner Cramer cooktop, both with smoked glass covers that maximise benchtop space. The covers include a hinged flap at the door end. Under the cooktop is a Spinflo grill/oven.

Kitchen storage consists of a cutlery drawer, pots and pans drawer, two cupboards and, above, three tall overhead lockers.

The Leisure Seeker's bathroom is compact but has a separate shower cubicle with concertina curtain, a Thetford cassette toilet and a well kitted-out vanity cabinet that includes a washbasin, cupboards and a storage compartment. Vent hatches are fitted above both the shower and vanity unit. Opposite the bathroom behind the passenger seat is a wardrobe with plenty of hanging space; it's also where the lounge table is stored. Winnebago has fitted the flatscreen TV above the wardrobe, but unless the Luton bed is the preferred viewing location, it would probably be better in the lounge/dining area.

The Luton bed measures 6ft 10in x 4ft 6in (2.1m x 1.4m) and has an average ceiling height of 2ft (61cm). Windows on either side give ventilation and a storage box is mounted at the offside end. There's one ceiling light at either end. If not needed, the bed can be lifted up, assisted by gas struts, to give easier access to the driver's cab.

Electrics and technology are standard Winnebago, with 240V for the powerpoints, fridge and air-conditioning and 12V for just about everything else.

We like the control panel mounted above the entry door with voltmeter and ammeters telling exactly what is going on, plus the 240V circuit breaker and 12V fuses. Controls for the hot water heater are under the sink, along with the water tank gauges. The Webasto heater control sits on its own next to the fridge.

THE BOTTOM LINE
This layout, with its rising bed, offers a very interesting alternative to the traditional C class design with a Luton bed and "NZ back", ie, a rear lounge/dinette surrounded by windows. It nonetheless retains many conventional C class features, ensuring it will remain attractive to those who like that particular design.

LIKED

I WOULD HAVE LIKED

Sydney RV Centre
1410 Pittwater Road
Narrabeen, NSW 2103
(02) 9979 4449
www.sydneyrvcentre.com.au