WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES HAS INDUSTRY'S BEST SELLING CLASS C MODEL, CLASS A GAS MODEL AND CLASS A DIESEL MODEL

-- NAMED TOP SELLING MOTOR HOME MANUFACTURER FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR--

FOREST CITY, IOWA, February 28, 2005 - Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO) has earned the number one Class C model, Class A gasoline-powered model and the Class A diesel-powered model honors for calendar 2004 according to Statistical Surveys, Inc., a retail reporting service in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The Winnebago Minnie was the top-selling motor home during 2004. The Minnie features 10 floorplans in lengths of 22-32 feet and is available on a Ford chassis.

The Winnebago Adventurer was the top-selling gasoline powered Class A motor home during 2004. The Adventurer features seven floorplans in lengths of 33-38 feet and is available on a Workhorse or Ford chassis.

The Winnebago Journey was the top-selling diesel powered Class A motor home during 2004. The Journey features five floorplans in lengths of 32-39 feet and is available on a Freightliner chassis.

For the fourth consecutive year, Winnebago Industries was named the top selling motor home manufacturer. In 2004, Winnebago Industries dealers retailed more Class A and Class C motor homes combined than anyone else in the industry; selling 11,622 motors homes in calendar 2004 for 19.0 percent market share.

"We are extremely pleased to have the number one selling Class C model, Class A gas model and Class A diesel model, and for the fourth consecutive year, the top selling manufacturer honor," said Roger Martin, Winnebago Industries' vice president of sales and marketing. "We share this success with our network of dedicated dealer partners and our loyal employees who strive to build the highest quality product on the market today."

About Winnebago Industries

Winnebago Industries, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of motor homes, self-contained recreation vehicles used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds quality motor homes under the Winnebago, Itasca, Rialta and Ultimate brand names with state-of-the-art computer-aided design and manufacturing systems on automotive-styled assembly lines. The Company's common stock is listed on the New York, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges and traded under the symbol WGO. Options for the Company's common stock are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. For access to Winnebago Industries' investor relations material, to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases or for information on a dollar-based stock investment service for the Company's stock, visit, Winnebago Industries.com

edited year typo

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DriVer,

You tell Winnebago that I want a Class C with a diesel in it!

Chet

That's easy enough. Winnebago has a new classs C with a Mercedes Benz diesel in it. I think the product is called the "View"

there's also the Gulfstream Ultra SE I believe it's called. It's the Kodiak chassis with the available Duramax. They are actually pretty cool coaches..and they turn on a dime.

D

I'm sorry DriVer, but why are you reporting old news? It looks like advertisement! Or is it, "old news is better then no news"?

I personally would like to see current news about how their going to improve quality, customer satisfaction and extending their warranty to 3 years and unlimited milage. Now that would be news.
Tomcat F15

quote:

Originally posted by Tomcat F15:
"old news is better then no news"?

Tomcat, I don't make the News I just report it. This release was published for release for 2005 although the reporter did typo the year.

I am with you however concerning extending the OEM warranty from 1 year to a minimum of 2 years if not 3. It would be in keeping with other manufacturers that offer 3 year limited bumper-to-bumper warranties and 5 years - 50,000 miles on the automotive side.

The prices that we pay often approaching $200,000 for these RVs exceeds the cost of a brand new masonry constructed home.

When consumers that are not retired buy MHs, the average yearly use of the motorhome is no doubt on the order of 45 to 60 days and this is not enough time to get the bugs out of a unit before the warranty expires within the year time span.

Now on the other hand if I bought a new motorhome and lived in it full-time right off the bat, a year should be adequate to iron out the warranty problems.

Given the average of those who weekend and those who full time a 2 year bumper-to-bumper limited warranty seems justified.

About quality control, factoring in affordability and time to produce a trouble free product there must be a fine line to walk in between how much money is paid for labor and how much money can be saved on the part of the consumer.

I see some hurried labor practices in my coach however if every little process were QC'ed and inspected the price of the coach would no doubt be on the order of 25% to 35% more reflected in the MSRP.

Having a great dealer that can do an "excellent" PDI would be something that I would appreciate. When my RV left the dealership and if it was documented that all the systems and the interior of the coach are up to specifications, this would be all that I would want to ask for.

DriVer, I know this is an old post but I just got around to reading it.

There are many QA and QC engineers that would disagree with you. Good quality and craftsmanship usually pays better over cost cutting for manufacturing. The MSRP might go up as you suggested but not due to improved QC. A lot of companies (I'm not sure about Winnebago yet) look at QA and QC as an unwanted overhead not as an investment. Good QC will always increase margin.
Unfortunately, better dealer PDI is becoming a necessity and I think that is sad. PDI will decrease the dealers margin which will increase the actual price we pay for any product. There was one RV mfg that gave the dealerships a PDI allowance to look for mfg defects, now that is what I call stupid.

Next week we'll be visiting Winnebago Industries and I hope to have to good news to report about the upcoming 2006 model year if that information can be released.

I have heard that some very new concepts will be available in year 2006 including but not limited to floorplans and exterior appearance items.

I do know one thing, we'll be very pleased to see these new product releases come the fall.

Stay tuned to the RV Industry News for the latest developments as they become available.

Hey Driver--I would like to get any "inside" ifo you can get on the 2006. We finally sould our 2001 35U winnebago and now are looking fo a new RV We found a floor plan that we really want in the Monaco Kight plq. I tried to find something like it in the Winnebago but the 2005 had nothing close to it--I really want to stay with the Winnebago line so I am hoping they comeout with that type of floor plan---4 slides with the bedroom having loung chair and desk. Pls keep me posted.

DriVer,

Just got an 05 last Sept so I'm not looking to change but it will be interesting to see what new floorplans they come out with. IMHO a 4 slide with the bedroom of the 37B and the living area of the 38J would be a winner.

Bob