Jun
30
2009
30
2009
Sweet Minnie Winnie
Filed under: The Minnie Winnie, Travels
Look at this cute little RV! It just happened to find it’s way into our driveway. Yes, can you believe it? We have ANOTHER RV! Woooooo! We just couldn’t handle traveling in “normal” vehicles. Matt has been scouring the internet for about 6 months and we finally found the one we wanted. A 1983 – 23 foot Class C Winnebago “Minnie Winnie”…located in Seattle. He flew out a couple of weeks ago and drove it back.
It’s currently in our backyard, completely gutted. Matt is gearing up to paint this week, followed by new flooring and all the other stuff we like to do to RV’s. The 80′s green and orange is lovely, but not quite my style. 
Bella is super excited about the bunk over the cab, and I’m excited to be able to travel comfortably again. And of course, Matt loves a good project.
It’s sure a cute little thing…I can’t wait to show you all the inside when it’s done. Oh, and of course it’s diesel! We will be converting it to run on veggie oil later this summer. Our first big trip will be a 2 month adventure back to Minnesota and Iowa this summer…and we’re dreaming of a West coast road trip next summer. And no…there are no plans to go back “on the road”! Just some good old fashioned travel in our fancy recreational vehicle.
Here’s to happy trails!
Posted by Sara @ 5:44 pm | Leave a Comment
30
2009
Oh, that is just what we’re looking for! Big enough for a family with some kids, but not needing room for La-z-boy chairs or big screen TVs. Awesome score! We might need inside pics, before and after!
30
2009
Michelle…no worries
I will post the before photos too. And yes, it’s the perfect size for us. I love that we can pretty much park anywhere, and we’re not restricted on size. Some oceanside campgrounds (especially in California) have restrictions on length.
30
2009
I’m so excited to see what you do with it!!! Congrats on the BabyWinnie!
30
2009
Congrats on your new RV! I stumbled across your blog last week and it has been a blessing. Thank you!
30
2009
Love it! We may need to look into one too. Can’t wait to see photos. And thanks for taking time to post.
30
2009
oooo, i LOVE it!!! so exciting!! i have my eye on a couple of campers right now too. i’m so happy you found this one!!!
30
2009
Hey! Where is your live lightly tour site? I was trying to share with some friends headed out on a similar adventure and haven’t been able to access the site….
30
2009
Ami…the LL site has been down for a few weeks. The server crashed and our web designer is having to completely re-build it.
Should be up by the end of the week…we hope!
30
2009
Oh! a west coast road trip next summer! I hope it finds you in san francisco again. I am having another little girl in September, and I’d love photos of my 2 girls by you! I so love the ones you made of Audrey.
30
2009
You crack me up, in a totally good way! I love the Minnie Winnie tho…can’t wait to see the inside…and you in it, of course!
30
2009
I’m on the hunt for a trailer– but if I could make a RV run on veggie oil?! Wow. How do you do that? Does your husband do it or does a mechanic?
30
2009
Amanda…here is a link: http://www.greeneyeautos.com/ We had two other Class A RV’s that ran on veggie oil as well and traveled the country for 18 months on it. I would send you to our website, but it’s currently down for maintenance
30
2009
Ah ha! You’ll be back on the road full time in no time!
30
2009
Saw this on FB, but had to comment here too! My dream is to do a road trip all across north america someday – and my DREAM RV is a minnie winnie! I love that they’re big enough to really live in, but not so big you can’t drive and park easily! I hope you enjoy it! I can’t wait to see what you guys do with this one – the other RV was beautiful!
30
2009
Cool!! An RV running on veggie oil! I learn something new every day!!
1
2009
I LOVE your blog! And I *think* you have given me the courage to dread my hair.
We shall see. Can dreads make you bald??
Congrats on the RV
1
2009
Sara,
Just love your blog very much.
I was also interested in your dreads. Are you still loving them and do you think you will keep them?
You are beautiful and the dreads just “fit” you.
Blessings,
Cathy
1
2009
*jealous*
We are looking for something jut like that!!
I can’t wait for more pictures and stories of travels.
1
2009
Looking forward to seeing the inside when done up.
1
2009
We had one just like yours when I was growing up! Bella is right, the bunk over the cab is the best part! Enjoy the great family memories to come!
1
2009
Hi Sara,
How fun! How exciting! And before I let any more time go by…congratulations on becoming a family of four! And please let me know when you are in San Fran next…I’d love to meet up with you again if you have the time. Last time had that “first time meeting” awkwardness…but I’d love to get to know you a bit more and also pick your brain about raw food!–I’m still very interested but totally not doing it, yet… :p
1
2009
What a darn *cute* RV!! I can’t wait to see the before and after photos!!
I’d love something like that for me and my 2 kiddos!!
1
2009
This looks like so much fun. I cannot wait to read about your renovations and your adventures!
2
2009
Wouldn’t it have been easier to keep the other RV?
2
2009
Sara, I have followed your tour for a while now, and simply luv it. How do you guys manage to live on so little, but have so many adventures.
2
2009
Ellen…Our last RV had quite a large payment (similar to a small house) and this one does not! So I’m very glad we didn’t keep the other one. It was made for full time living, this one is for shorter road trips.
Shell…we do work and have salaries, just in unconventional jobs/hours. I “telecommute” and work for my family’s company every day and Matt does quite a bit of construction work, but does larger chunks at a time and then has a break. We’ve been blessed to find means/income that is flexible and we’re so grateful!
2
2009
fun! I own a restaurant in Colorado about two hours from Boulder. Up in the mountains. I can save you all the veggie oil you want…..
5
2009
oh my gosh! So fun! I tried to convince our family to do the rv thing going across country with our pups in tow…they declined (; I’ll get to come around one day (:
9
2009
oh so much fun! I would love to own something like this someday. It must be so handy having a husband who loves to gut and remodel. He seems to always do such a beautiful job!
13
2009
Awesome! I feel inspired now
Thanks
Brian
18
2009
ist this a dodge based and if you have a 5500 cc petrol/gas fuel could you help me indicating the part number of the fan belt
I have a same one 1981 but the belt was wrong and cannot get one whatsoever
thanks
20
2009
We need an update.
22
2009
a stewart: no…it’s a Chevy…sorry I can’t be of more help!
Thomas: no worries…there will be an update hopefully in the next week or so.
23
2009
I’ve been following your blog for a while and you’ve inspired me to buy my own RV and “greenovate” it. Do you know any good resources on the net for how-to’s to do this (I got the veggie conversion stuff down, everything else is a little new to me though)? Thanks for all the great info and living lightly!
4
2009
Wow! This is wild. I watched, with great interest, your living lightly tour. Ever since I saw your project RV and how you had it running on veggie, I wanted to do the same. So, just today we arrived back home in our new 1983 Minnie Winnie diesel!! It looks just like yours! Hopefully we can run ours on veggie also. Looking for more news about your conversion and trip!
4
2009
Heather…as far as greening an RV, it’s just the same as greening a house. For floors, cork, bamboo, or marmoleum are great. For walls, stick with zero VOC paint. A composting toilet is nice if you can swing it, and a solar system will allow you to boon dock!
Kathy…that’s crazy! We’ll be posting pics soon…
5
2009
We just found and bought a 1983 Minnie Winnie, too, but have some ambivalence about it. It is a terrific RV in all the ways you set forth. But ours belched smoke and drops of black oil, even at 55 mph; the fuel economy was only 12 mpg, tho we had been told it would get 18 mpg; and there is a strong diesel smell in the cab area. Any advice?
9
2009
That red tods caught my attention. Beautiful
14
2010
I friend of mine has an 80′s Minnie Winnie for sale or trade. Seattle, WA
Don’t have the specifics on it handy, so I will go take pictures and post the other details ASAP.
It’s older…1980′s. Runs well and has low miles (100,000? +/-). It has dual exhaust, dual tires. Needs work inside, the roof has started to leak.
She started to gut it and couldn’t finish. Now she just has no time at all and wants to pass it on to someone looking for a great little RV.
Open to all offers of trade or cash ($1,400 or Best Offer). 206-366-5819
17
2010
My husband and I have also recently purchased a minnie winnie (1978). Starting the renovations and full of ideas. I am mostly light construction and decoration, while Jimmy takes care of the mechanics, electrical and plumbing. Please post pictures. We have not found a website that shows the interior. This one is in such bad shape, we are not sure what works and what doesn’t. Thanks for any help w/website to visit. I am tired of looking at all of those mansions on wheels.
17
2010
hi, im currently homeless and living in weeklies and its getting unbearably expensive. I do have a line on a 1978 minnie but know squat about them except the engine and trans as i was a dodge lover in the day. However I know squat about all the other stuff. i know it runs good, roof air works, shifts ok, has 160k, is there a site i can learn more about these.
17
2010
ya-i forgot to check the notify me box.
17
2010
well, i JUST BOUGHT my first MINNIe WINNIE. she needs lots of tlc but i think its worth it. i know the roof air works with electric plugged in. he ‘says” the stove and fridge work too but to no avail–i was more concerned with mechanicals instead of luxeries. high miles too. email me if u want to see pics…
im going to be on here awhile as im an idiot with these things—- dodge motor and trans smart– camper stupid. lol.
5
2010
WOW! I just bought an ’84 Minnie Winnie, 22 ft. GM 30 1 ton chassis, great shape lots of upgrades (brakes suspension) but the previous owner upgraded to a bigger RV, I’m so lucky becuse everything works on it! but it’s got a 350 gas engine
How hard would it it be to convert to diesel? I’m starting to look into it.
6
2010
My wife and I just bought a 1983 Minnie, it’s in great shape because it was kept that way through out the entire 2+ decades. Everything works. 69000k miles. We are moving in this weekend. We are parked at our kids side yard and electricity, sewer etc is all available. Had to remove the drivers side mirrors to get it in but no biggie. Already planning highway 1 trip to SF, the Sequoia’s, Las Vegas etc. We will begin to live! instead of just exist… a big difference.
6
2010
Saul…Sorry for the delayed response! I would not recommend attempting to replace a gas engine with diesel. A huge hassle. I would sell that one and buy a diesel if you want to do veg.
Robert…congratulations!! Have fun exploring this amazing country!
30
2010
You you could edit the page title Sweet Minnie Winnie to something more catching for your subject you make. I liked the the writing yet.
20
2011
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29
2012
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29
2012
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