Dealer Finds Market for Used Rialta Motorhomes

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April 27, 2009 by Bob Ashley 4 Comments

Rialta Heaven Inc., a small outfit in the northern Indiana community of Milford, is marketing used Winnebago Rialta Class C motorhomes, last built by the Forest City, Iowa, manufacturer in 2005, on a limited national basis as “Earth Friendly RVs” because of their high fuel mileage and wind-cutting aerodynamics. rialta-sales-lot

“Over the last two years, we’ve sold about 200 of them,” said Karen Rowland, co-owner and sales manager. “We find them all over the country”

Built on the 7,275-pound GVWR Volkswagen extended Eurovan cutaway chassis with a 6-cylinder Volkswagen gas engine that in the later years of production were rated at 201-hp, the sleek, low-profile Rialta today would be considered a “B-plus” style motorhome due to the lack of a cabover compartment. Typically, 22-foot Rialtas get 18-21 mpg, Rowland said.

Winnebago built about 8,000 Rialtas from 1994 to 2005; Volkswagen quit building the chassis in 2003.

Like others in the RV industry, however, Rialta Heaven, located in a former used-car lot on Ind. 15, has experienced a downturn since late last year. ”This time last year, we were selling half-a-dozen a month,” Rowland said. ”Since September, times have been tough.”

Depending on mileage — usually with fewer than 50,000 miles on the odometer — prices typically range from $22,000 to $50,000. Currently, the company has five Rialta’s and a Winnebago Vista, a true Class C built on the Eurovan chassis with a cabover sleeping compartment.

2-rialtas

“Rialtas are very popular,” Rowland said. “Once people get to know them, they find the Rialta is small and easy to drive. And they are totally self-contained — bigger than a van but smaller than a bus.”

Comments

4 Responses to “Dealer Finds Market for Used Rialta Motorhomes”

Peter Watkins on May 2nd, 2009 2:07 pm

I own a 1996 Rialta with less than 96,000 original miles. New tires, stainless steel coated exhaust, Cab Air, Fibreglass Skylight, major tune up all VW parts. Show room condition, would like to sell.

Great unit 23 mi. per gal.
Ross Jernigan on November 14th, 2009 6:48 am

What price range were you thinking for that beast? Also, you didn’t identify the model. Could you tell me what model you are offering for sale:Thanks.
Hal Kennedy on March 3rd, 2010 12:03 pm

Looking to buy a Rialta to travel in soon to be retirement. Would like a unit under 20K. Live in central NY.
Joan Robertson on March 10th, 2010 6:54 pm

I would like to buy a Rialto for under 20,000. Live in North Carolina.