Skip to Content

The Minnie Winnie: Iconic Model From an Iconic Brand

The Minnie Winnie: Iconic Model From an Iconic Brand

Most people with even the slightest interest in RVing, (and even most people with no interest in RVing at all), have heard of Winnebago and the hugely popular Minnie Winnie.

The name “Winnebago” is to “RV” as “Kleenex” is to “tissue” and “Q-tip” is to “cotton swab”. That’s a rare level of brand recognition where a company or product name is so well recognized that it can be used interchangeably with the actual name of the item. Some of that comes from being around for a long time, or even first-to-market.

In some cases, a brand name can even replace the name of the item itself in common usage. For example, when’s the last time you asked someone for the “cellophane tape”? We all say “Scotch” tape instead, which is of course the brand. We’ve heard lots of people, especially non-RVers, refer to just about any RV (especially a motorhome) as a “Winnebago” so that brand has obviously reached a rarified status!

We featured the Minnie Winnie 26T in our post on 7 of the best Class C RVs under 30 feet.

But in today’s post, we’re taking a close-up look at a different model of a Minnie Winnie and all it has to offer, especially to traveling families.

What’s a Minnie Winnie?

The Minnie Winnie is one most popular RV models ever produced by Winnebago Industries.

The now-iconic model really hit the sweet spot for many travelers and has held the interest and support of RVers for four decades.

The Winnebago Minnie Winnie debuted in 1973 and its standard features were versatile enough to attract RVers who travel solo, as couples, and as families.

As we write this, the 2023 Minnie Winnie is available to consumers in five floorplans. They’re built on the Ford E350 and E450 chassis.

The smallest (the Minnie Winnie 22M) is 24’5″ in length and sleeps 5 comfortably, and the largest (the Minnie Winnie 31H) is 32’9″ and sleeps 8. In between, at 26′ 4″, the Minnie Winnie 25B sleeps six, even without slide-outs.

The cockpit of a Minnie Winnie

This is the cockpit of the Minnie Winnie 31H. The Minnie Winnie has a bunk over the cab, a classic feature of a Class C motorhome.

We’re featuring the largest Minnie Winnie floor plan (the 31H) in today’s post because it’s especially inviting to larger families and RVers who enjoy traveling with friends.

But first, a hat tip to the company whose brand name is often interchangeable with the term “RV” itself: Winnebago Industries.

Winnebago History

Back in the 1950s, a company called Modernistic Industries in California broke ground with a 15-foot travel trailer known as “Aljo”. The cost to buy one? A whopping $895!

A funeral home manager and part-time entrepreneur named John Hanson was living in Forest City, Iowa, a place that was barren in terms of employment and prosperity.

Hanson loved traveling and camping in his family’s Aljo, so he opened a travel trailer dealership in Forest City which sits in Winnebago County.

With his home area badly needing jobs, John Hanson convinced California-based Modernistic Industries to open a travel trailer manufacturing factory in Forest City.

In 1960, Modernistic Industries became Winnebago Industries, named after a river that runs through Forest City and the county in which Forest City sits.

The first fully self-contained Winnebago motorhome left the factory in 1966 with the “Flying W” painted on the rig. It was priced significantly lower than the competition but was made with innovation and quality. It had a serial number of 001. (It’s widely reported to have continued running well into the 21st century.)

Several Winnebago RVs across the years with the iconic "Flying W"

The iconic “Flying W” has become synonymous with Winnebago over more than five decades.

Winnebago is now a leading manufacturer of outdoor lifestyle products and offers Class A, B, and C motorhomes as well as travel trailers, 5th wheels, and boats.

Winnebago Industries’ brands now include Winnebago RV, Chris-Craft Boats, Newmar Corporation, Grand Design RV, and Barletta Boats.

About the 2023 Minnie Winnie 31H

The 2023 Minnie Winnie 31H is built on the Ford E450 Chassis with a 350-hp 7.3L V8 Premium Engine. It has a TorqShift 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and a 210-amp alternator.

All that power nicely carries a well-thought-out living space with two slide-outs for ample room.

The Minnie Winnie 31H really does sleep 8 people, and even up to 10… especially if some of them are kids, of course!

Winnebago accomplishes this with a queen bed (60″ x 75″), one pair of bunk beds (30″ x 73″), a sofa bed (40″x70″), an over-the-cab bed, and a U-shaped dinette that converts to a bed (45″ x 74″).

The floor plan of the 2023 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H

The floor plan of the 2023 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H.

Besides the driver and co-pilot seats up front, the sofa and dinette have three seatbelts each. Theatre seating is an option in lieu of the sofa, which would leave two theatre seats, so only two seatbelts in that area instead of three.

If you’ve been doing the math, you can see that there are a maximum of 8 seating positions with seat belts. That means you can legally only drive with 8 on board. But the flexibility of the sleeping arrangements can allow you to invite some guests over for the night, so you really could sleep ten people on board!

The interior height of the 31H is a generous 6’10” with an 8′ width.

Holding tank capacities are as follows:

  • Fresh Water –  44 gallons
  • Black Water – 37 gallons
  • Gray Water – 34 gallons

The water heater has a 6-gallon tank, and the LP (liquid propane) tank has a 76.14 lb capacity.

The Minnie Winnie 31H has a 55-gallon fuel tank and runs on gasoline.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a video is worth even more. So here’s a video tour of the 2023 Minnie Winnie 31H, courtesy of Winnebago:

The Minnie Winnie is truly an iconic model from an iconic brand.

Geek Out with Us Every Week

Join our newsletter to learn about all things RV-related. Every week we offer free tips, tricks, product reviews, and more to our online community of RVers. So, whether this is your first time on the road or you’re a seasoned expert, we’d love for you to geek out with us!

We'd Love It If You Shared This!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Gay Travel Enthusiast (Jason)

Tuesday 31st of October 2023

Hey guys. Another story! I remember the Minnie Winnie from the late 70s-early 80s. No one in my family owns one that far back. But I've seen quite a few over the years. IMHO, they're the best looking RVs by Winnebago.

TheRVgeeks

Thursday 2nd of November 2023

Can't say we disagree, Jason. They are pretty iconic looking!

Diane Anderson

Friday 4th of November 2022

I have a 2019 22M. It has a rear slide out for the queen bed. I am a widow now and have a terrible time making this bed. Any ideas??

TheRVgeeks

Saturday 5th of November 2022

Hi Diane. Good question... making RV beds can be a challenge for two people (tight spaces!!), let alone doing it alone! We feel for you. Not sure if these would help, but you might want to check out "Beddys"... they're a fitted sheet with the rest zippered to it, so that it's like a full bed set. Here's a link that might help explain them: https://beddys.com/pages/what-are-beddys-bed-sets

They're not cheap, but it could be worth the money if it makes the task easier! Hope it helps!

John

Thursday 3rd of November 2022

We had a 2014 Minnie Winnie 31KP. The layout was very good, and the build quality was top notch. We miss it sometimes, but like the additional room and bath and a half of our current gasser class A.

Bob

Tuesday 1st of November 2022

Wow ... That's downright horrible! I have had a Winnebago for many many years. Great Company, and Great products, but they really dropped the ball on this one. I have a 2001 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 27P that is Soooooo much better. E-450 chassis with a Trition V10 Engine. HWH jack system. Two slides. When I watched that info-commercial, it could have been in a hospital room. More inside storage and TONS more storage in the outside basement area, nothing unique there. How about a a outside entertainment system with a shelf that can hold a TV. How do you fit a Grill in a bay that's 24 inches high, or any type of tools, or water hoses, or sewer accessories. My Winnie may be a lot older, but I have a Fireplace inside, Dual love-seat couch with middle storage, a LARGE pantry, (2) two TV's with built in DVD player, a dedicated drinking water filter and spigot on the sink, and so much more!

Don't know what they are charging for that unit, but I am keeping mine!

Kathleen Donaldson

Tuesday 1st of November 2022

After reading your article I was expecting 4 bunks. A set of bunk beds is 2 so 2 sets would be 4! An edit is in order. Thanks.

TheRVgeeks

Wednesday 2nd of November 2022

Good catch, Kathleen… we’ve updated the article. Thanks!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

PLEASE NOTE: We're handy RVers, not professional technicians. We're happy with the techniques and products we use, but be sure to confirm that all methods and materials you use are compatible with your equipment and abilities. Regardless of what we recommend, consult a professional if you're unsure about working on your RV. Any task you perform or product you purchase based on any information we provide is strictly at your own risk.

We participate in affiliate programs from many companies (including the Amazon affiliate program), which provides a means for us to earn a small commission by linking to products there. But our opinions are our own and we only link to products we can recommend to friends with complete confidence. And using our links won't cost you an extra penny!