Hello from Az 😊 Owen and Lynn Great video!!! 👍😊 Hubby and I just purchased our first van (Thor motor coach 18M) about two weeks ago we are so excited🤗 we are getting to know it alttle bit better ...each day! learning alot 😊 we chose this van ..we believe it is good for our needs ..and we are happy!!! 😁Thank you to you both ..we have learned alot from your video's ! You guys are awsome ..and so it maggie 🐕 Have a beautiful bless day ! 💛
Congratulations on your purchase. Everyone’s need are different and I’m glad you found what will work for you. Happy and Safe travels. Maybe we’ll see you on the road.
We are looking to replace our 2001 Roadtrek 190. We cannot find a new Class B with twin beds and a night stand with drawers. Our Roadtrek also has a storage are behind the rear doors where our two golf bags just fit. This also is another thing we cannot find. We are sold on the Ford Transit as we prefer gas to Diesel and do not wand to spend $20K more for the Sprinter which has limited dealers for service. Finally, we want all solar and battery power with no propane. Does your generator run on gas? While we love the maneuverability of the Class B, it looks like we will have to step up to the B+ to get the features we prefer.
We have a lot of the same wants… and feel the same about not wanting to loose the maneuverability but it is hard to find the perfect RV. So you compromise. The generator runs on gas from the van’s tank. Thanks for sharing.
Hey there! We recently stumbled upon your channel, and we're enjoying it. While I understand this isn't a financial channel, I'm curious about how you achieve that level of freedom and how much it costs to maintain that lifestyle every month. Hopefully, I'm not out of line. Thank you for sharing all this content; I really appreciate it.
We are both retired hence the freedom. We do live on a budget and make traveling fit into that budget. The money we make from RUclips helps with traveling expenses. We like documenting our travels partly to be able to look back on them one day, sharing them on RUclips is a way for us to do that and if it helps anyone else along the way then that is a bonus. We are very blessed and grateful! Thanks so much for watching.
Nice rig, I've seen one on the road recently, OK maybe this is a stupid question for seasoned rv'ers but where does the poop go with no black water tank?
Nicely done video!! Good to see some of the bad along with the good! Suspect you may miss on occasion the clearance of the Sprinter, but for most uses you would be fine. We are considering one of these likely with the two battery option. We have 400 amps of lithium now and can easily go three full days without power; more if good solar so 600 plus would be all we would ever need (note we almost never use AC).
I didn't comment the first time I watched, but I had to say how great this episode was. So I had to watch it twice to leave you some encouragement. (and I try never to leave one of your vids in the middle for your analytics) Peace & Prayers,
If that’s not the sweetest thing we’ve been told?!!!! Thank you. I’m not sure the algorithm would be upset if you watched again to just leave a comment though. We do that all the time, especially when we’re watching from our TV app. But the smile from you saying that is priceless! Thank you!
The B box (? Advanced RV) is similar dimension a alot more expensive. I think the Ekko is a great product and design. I would like a monochromatic look. I hope incinerating toilets become more affordable and efficient (electrically) Get rid of the black tank
Sorry but for $200k good enough isn't good enough. From the videos you don't really go off road and that ekko will get destroyed if you take it on anything more than a gravel road
Love these. Such a great idea, but at $188K they're out of reach for many of us. Hopefully in the years to come prices will come back down to something reasonable. Looking forward to where you take this!
@VAN TREKKING lifestyle If they were over-priced you would not keep voluntarily buying them. They just cost more than you want to spend, which is not the same thing .
The bottom line is you have to buy what makes sense for your lifestyle and budget. The Ekko seems to fit perfect for your travel style. We have had our 22 Travato 59K for a little over 3 months and 7,000 miles now. It is comfortable, we love the roomy twin beds and it gets fantastic mileage for an RV. We were torn between the Travato and the Revel but in the end the Travato met more of our needs.
You are so right. And we loved our Travato and the twin beds. Very morning starts out with me asking Lynn, you awake over there Lucy? (From old TV show). 👍👍😂
Taking the browns to the super bowl always makes the 12 year old in me laugh. I love the EKKO the only thing that stops us is the price. Thank you for bringing us this video. Happy tails and safe travels.
We have an Ekko also, for over a year now. We purchased folding ebikes and they fit great in the garage and we still have enough room for everything else.
An ever decreasing value vehicle…never seen a camper vehicle gain value…to stay in the woods. I wonder how much each night stay really costs when everything is accounted for including loss of vehicle value. Many places don’t permit campers over ten years old. 120 months is about the real life of these campers. So, $500 to $1000 a month, plus maint, etc… then how much will it really be used? In most cases it is cheaper to fly, rent a car, and stay in a nice hotel or cabin.
That Guy has a point. We've never kept one for 10 years but it's true they depreciate like crazy. Maybe we've just been lucky so far. We've lost our butts on a few but mostly came out to a cost of 7-10k for 2 years of use as an average.
I'm not sure we even said why we didn't want a diesel. But there really are many reasons. Mostly they have to do with the increased expensive maintenance and the fact that we have had some issues with DEF in the past.
Great video and I’m so glad you guys are enjoying the Ekko! (Spell check keeps changing Ekko to Elmo 😂). When you were choosing your “nimble comfort”, were there other options/brands that you considered? I would love to know your #2 and #3 choices that didn’t quite make the cut.
Hey, Elmo might be a good name for our Ekko. We’ve had our eye on the Ekko for a while, but never really seriously looking to buy something else. We knew we wanted something bigger than a B class but smaller than a C class, and the Ekko is about the only RV out there right now that fit that bill. So when we saw this one for sell we just jumped in with both feet.
Great analysis. Now that our three kids are grown and have moved to the NW, NE & SE away from our SW home our 2,600sqft house sits unused except for occasional holidays; and now that we got our Jeep kitted out as a camper we’re not even home on the weekends. Renting out our home to a niece & her husband giving us the ability to still park an Ekko in our side yard between trips around the country to our kid’s homes while flat towing our Jeep to explore while we’re out there seems like an interesting concept. No compromise like the Revel. True off road with the Jeep and a comfortable “motel room” when used as a Base Camp at one of the kid’s homes. Plus our existing house gets safely used and even with a “family” discount on the rent the payment & insurance on the Ekko gets covered. P.S. This also allows us to stage camping trips from a Base Camp in all four corners of US while not disrupting the ebb & flow of our kids family life as we would retire to the Ekko in the evenings. A win/win as we are not yet sure we want to sell our full size home and downsize.
Comfort is key to happy travels, I suppose depending on what your comfort levels are. Use to be in the early days of “campers” it was cool to be off the ground in an enclosed, warm environment. I remember those basic campers, and it was a good time. No tv, no microwave, no lithium, and sometimes no bathroom. How did we ever survive? With good memories and good campfires! Nowadays, the expectations are different, the rigs so much nicer, and the M.S.R.P. rising which leads us back to...Comfort and Convenience. We expect it, we want it, and are determined to find it. Yep, comfort seems to be the in thing in the RV world, and it sure makes the days spent on the road so much nicer. Loving my Class C 24B, it’s my comfort mobile. Safe travels and belly rubs for the Princess. 🐕❤️🚗🇺🇸
Great comment. I think we have all changed since our first days of camping and you are right it’s all about comfort these days especially if you are traveling for longer periods of time. Thanks for sharing.
So glad your enjoying and are happy with the ekko. We like the size and layouts but I'm not willing to pay close to 200k for one because of the Ford Transit platform. I don't see these lasting 75K miles before your dropping serious money into the engine and drive trains. Lot of money for the rv when the chassis sells for roughly 40k.
Great video and I’m glad you love you Ekko! Glad you bought something that has a lot more room in it. Glad the Ekko makes you happy. I love the Ekko myself. I think it’s cute. Love the bat awning myself. That’s outdoor kitchen is pretty nice too! Love that it gives you a frig. Very nice Rv. I think this Ekko fits you both very well. Have a great week and weekend. See you on down the road.
I would have liked to hear about all the factory recalls. The price paid is ridiculous then have all the design issues. That's my draw back from buying one.
We may try to make a video about all the recalls… but most of ours were fixed before our purchase. But we did take it to the factory and had the remaining recalls fixed, which was a good experience.
Good morning, sweet friends! What a great video. Thanks so much for the honest review about the pros and cons. Y'all did such a great job with the technical aspects of the video, too. I loved how you started this one! I'm glad you are enjoying it and finding things like the outside kitchen that are just an added plus for you. I can't wait to see where you go next. I hope you have a great week! Much love from SC, Jane ❤🙏🐾
Folks I really enjoyed your video! I full time in a truck based class c way back before it was cool. I learned so much. While i had pop up sliding and hard side sleeper caps each rv had its advantages and disadvantages. One thing I despised on a dual rear wheel camper is getting rocks jammed between the rims during mild off road travels. Ugh! Other than that our Scerro Scotty on a Ram diesel chassis was light years ahead of other products. Your camper seems to be the same. I will subscribe and hope to learn as much from you as I did from the fit rv gang. Safe travels Rich
This is the video I have been waiting for. As a first-time RV buyer, it helps confirm my pick for EKKO over Travato and LTV. Thanks, Owen, Lynn and Maggie 😃
Of all the "vans" we've had (if you count the Ekko as a van) I'd say it is the best. It rides like a minivan on the highway, it has much, much more torque and pep and it has safety features that really work and work well without freaking you out every time they engage. We love it so far!
It fits a lot of things we are looking for. But it does have some issues, but all RV’s do and we do have the first generation, so hopefully they have fixed most of the issues.
All Very good and helpful points! Comfort is my #1 deciding factor in wanting to switch from my adventure van to something more comfortable. Making your list of pros and cons is so important.
That pro and cons list is different for everyone… since we’ve done the adventure van we were also looking for something more comfortable and this fits us well in that we will still be able to go off road, somewhat.
I knew the EKKO would end up a bit more suited to your lifestyle. I don't like the short MB units in any form factor from any builder. Those rigs are for young folk who adventure here and there. They don't seem to be great for long trips. I'ts just my opinion and I'm glad to see that you both are happy now. Winnebago could have done much better with the first year EKKO. I think they just rushed it into the market and would deal with warranty claims as they come. I don't like that mindset from a manufacturer. It causes so much hassle on the customer side. They also blew it on the new Travato G and GL. That thing is a train wreck of bad updates and ideas. They really need to go back to the original floor plan.
We agree that the Ekko does fit our travel style more. I’m sure the Ekko was rushed out as many new models are, which is a shame. Thanks for sharing your comment.
Nope…too big. I just downsized from a vehicle very close to the EKKO to a Sprinter..but I don’t have a dog, do not want to watch TV, and like the ability to drive it as a daily driver…nimble “enough” really doesn’t make me want to use in a more versatile manner like the Sprinter. To each their own ! Thanks for the review and your opinion! 🤙🏼
My first Winne was a 1979 Dodge Van, no bath, but a small kitchen. I was 170 lbs then, now I’m not, so today it’s a 40’ 4-slide Monaco that I live in. So, I’m contemplating two RVs?????
This is a fantastic honest review! I am nowhere near ready to buy an RV but I was looking at both Rebel and Exko. Leaning towards the latter. You forgot to mention that this is really a good looking RV, especially compared to other brands with the same design. Good color choices also. Sure not as important but it helps.
Have you had more issues parking and sleeping outside of campgrounds with the Ekko versus the smaller Revel? One of the biggest draws of a van is ninja-camping. Does this larger and much more obvious RV prevent you from doing so? Is it more difficult to legally sleep for free in random places?
We haven’t had any issue so far. We do use IOverlander to look for spots and most of the time we fit just fine. I don’t think we would be able to camp on the street like we did in Valdez Alaska in the Travato.
Not sure yet. They are expensive but hold their value really well. So we won't know how much it cost us until we actually sell it and subtract that number from the purchase price. So far for the last 2 we've come really close to getting to use each one for 2 years for free.
So glad you like the EKKO. That’s what is most important - that YOU like it. Enjoy and don’t forget to take us along for the ride. Safe travels & stay well!
You are so correct. Everyone is different and the Ekko just so happens to fit the way we want to travel right now. That doesn’t mean it want change in the future and it doesn’t mean if’s for everyone. We appreciate your comment.
We will be doing a video on that shortly. In the short we feel it’s just easier all the way around. But we will go into more detail in the video. Thanks for asking and providing us with a good idea on a video.
All very classy but I think nothing beats the home made to suit yourselves . These posh campers look nice and I amsure they are comfortable , but for the cost of them you could travel a long way and have just as much fun in your custom built, and, you wouldn't mind the scratch or dent you are bound to get as you travel.
I love the Ekko, now I really want one. So I will wait 2023. And hope all the Kinks are worked out. Thank you so much for sharing be safe and happy travels.
Hello from Canada 🇨🇦 our plan is only for in 5 years retirement but we have an eye on the ekko. Hopefully by then improvement will have been made or used will have been fixed.
That's really amazing you feel the same....I actually own a 22 travato 59gl and love mine it's not a class b I would give up for anything on the market...except a ekko I been looking at them myself. It's a very tempting thought to have a ekko it looks perfect and I like it being little more cold temperature resistant.
Maggie’s eye is mostly better. I guess something was in it and she kept scratching it hence the blue blow up collar. We did get her some eye cream from the vet which helped it heal. Thanks for your comment.
We learned that with a Revel we really loved being able to empty the cassette toilet, just about anywhere as we travel. So we did not have to look for dump stations nearly as often. And for us that was more convenient than having to empty less frequently.
We've had a few issues with DEF in the past. And higher fuel/maintenance/repair costs, at least in our area. And when we travel to remote places diesel gets to be much more scarce.
Stumbled across your channel a few days ago and have enjoyed watching. Ton's in common as we are from NC, my wife and the dog travel together and we have a Revel. We have had our Revel for just under two years and it has been awesome. We have seen and done so much more than we could ever have even imaged. 24 National parks, epic hikes and biking. Most our trips have been under a week because we still work. But when we travel over 5 days the Revel becomes too small. We also, like you, found out (mostly my wife) that serious overland isn't our thing. Thus, I have researched our options and the EKKO is one of them. So to my few question. 1) Does it have more or less rattles than the Revel? I have spent hours chasing rattles and have ours in great shape now. 2) After several months of use are you still happy with the choices or have you seen others? Thank you in advance.
Sounds like the Revel has worked great for you… and we felt the same way that traveling in it for long periods of time was hard. We have been on a 3 month trip travel around in Florida in the Ekko and we are loving all the extra room and the storage we have. So I think we would both say we made a good choice. We loved the Revel but we are way more comfortable in the Ekko. As for the rattles, I’m not sure it’s worse than the Revel but like with any drivable RV you have to figure out and fix those rattles. I hope this helps, if you have other specific questions plus feel free to ask.
The EKKO is a possibility for me, but as a single traveler I wonder if it is just too big. Lots if wasted space. May just go back down to a B in my plans not sure I want a black tank. I like the Revel but don't want a diesel chassis.
You might be right about it being a lot of space for a single traveler. I think it would also depend on what kind of traveling you are going to do and what kind of toys you want to take with you. Good luck deciding. Let us know if we can help.
I’ve always had a class A, traveling with kids, all the toys, and now I live in it. However, it has been very restrictive as to where I could go. Now that I travel alone, I might just have to have two RV’s (wonder if I can tow an EKKO to Florida for the winter). What a wonderful problem to contemplate.
Excellent information. We’ve been on the fence about a purchase, but now think the time is right. Were you comfortable at night during the summer heatwave? Also, would it be possible to add a bike rack for 2 bikes? We want to travel with windsurf gear, stand up paddles and e-bikes.
They didn't really mention this in the video but one thing about the ekko is it can handle really cold temperatures better then pretty much any class b out there.
It is bigger than anything we’ve had in awhile, especially the cargo area. We were just hoping we could store our bikes inside. It may be we just want to take to much stuff.
Already referred to this on the Ekko site, thanks for posting. Where did you get that griddle top? I checked your store but didn't see it. Thanks again.
Did you have to drop your Ekko off for a while to get the shower issue fixed? Did you have any trouble with the Truma heating? Some of the 2022's had a lot of trouble w error codes from what I've seen.
The shower issue was fixed when we purchased it, but I think the previous owners said the Ekko stayed at the shop for awhile getting all the recalls done. We have not had any issue Truma, thankfully.
From memory, i think the Revel is around $120k and this unit is around $180k. So I'm going to assume this couple doesn't have to worry about money. But golly-- I just bought a brand new 17' tow trailer for $21,600 with a slide that makes the bedroom huge, a separate toilet and shower, and a full size rv fridge. And I'm pretty sure it would go all the places this does. Just sayin. And yes, the ekkos are cool, my neighbor has one. but the cost....holy shmoly.
Hey Dennis! We didn't pay that much thankfully! And we knocked around the idea of a pull behind trailer and a truck. But when it comes down to it the vans hold their value so good these days it's hard to not go that route. And we are just lazy I guess. We love the convenience of the van... enough to put up with her limitations. The great thing is you are getting out there and we're super happy about that. So many just stay home and hope to one day do this. Good for you for getting out and living your dream your way! Hope we park next to you one day soon and if it's too far out you can give us a tow. 😂
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle of course, we all help each other, thats a no brainer. I don't know if i'll ever get super far back in the back country, but its nice to know that the trailer won't be a reason not to do so. Maybe my neighbor didn't pay that much either-- I surely hope not. He's already had to replace a few components on his, but thats....every RV. My cheap new trailer is mostly in good shape, but after taking my first shower and noticing water in the bathroom i discovered they'd installed the retractable shower curtain frame wrong, and left a huge hole underneath it--- they are just moving too fast IMO when they build these things. But hey, if that's all i have to re-do right, I'm doing Okay. see you out there.
We are having the same talks about more space . Pros and cans of moving to a little bigger rig. We are headed to Fla at Xmas for 3 months so we will get to shop around. See you down the road someday Have a safe trip
Thanks for the thorough review. Been thinking about switching to an EKKO from our Transit 148" med roof build. Reasons are very similar to your upgrade reasoning. The EKKO is very difficult to get right now but hopefully will be more plentiful come next spring/summer. Newly subscribed and excited to follow along on your future journeys!
Hello from Az 😊 Owen and Lynn
Great video!!! 👍😊 Hubby and I just purchased our first van (Thor motor coach 18M)
about two weeks ago we are so excited🤗 we are getting to know it alttle bit better ...each day! learning alot 😊 we chose this van ..we believe it is good for our needs ..and we are happy!!! 😁Thank you to you both ..we have learned alot from your video's ! You guys are awsome ..and so it maggie 🐕
Have a beautiful bless day ! 💛
Congratulations on your purchase. Everyone’s need are different and I’m glad you found what will work for you. Happy and Safe travels. Maybe we’ll see you on the road.
Great video. I wish Winnebago could increase their production of the Ekko and Travato
Thanks, we appreciate you watching.
We are looking to replace our 2001 Roadtrek 190. We cannot find a new Class B with twin beds and a night stand with drawers. Our Roadtrek also has a storage are behind the rear doors where our two golf bags just fit. This also is another thing we cannot find. We are sold on the Ford Transit as we prefer gas to Diesel and do not wand to spend $20K more for the Sprinter which has limited dealers for service. Finally, we want all solar and battery power with no propane. Does your generator run on gas? While we love the maneuverability of the Class B, it looks like we will have to step up to the B+ to get the features we prefer.
We have a lot of the same wants… and feel the same about not wanting to loose the maneuverability but it is hard to find the perfect RV. So you compromise. The generator runs on gas from the van’s tank. Thanks for sharing.
I love all the boxes the Ekko checks!! thanks for sharing
We do too. It really does fit our needs for the way we want to travel.
Hey there! We recently stumbled upon your channel, and we're enjoying it. While I understand this isn't a financial channel, I'm curious about how you achieve that level of freedom and how much it costs to maintain that lifestyle every month. Hopefully, I'm not out of line. Thank you for sharing all this content; I really appreciate it.
We are both retired hence the freedom. We do live on a budget and make traveling fit into that budget. The money we make from RUclips helps with traveling expenses. We like documenting our travels partly to be able to look back on them one day, sharing them on RUclips is a way for us to do that and if it helps anyone else along the way then that is a bonus. We are very blessed and grateful! Thanks so much for watching.
That's awesome thank you for sharing 🙏
Nice rig, I've seen one on the road recently, OK maybe this is a stupid question for seasoned rv'ers but where does the poop go with no black water tank?
We have a cassette toilet.
Nicely done video!! Good to see some of the bad along with the good! Suspect you may miss on occasion the clearance of the Sprinter, but for most uses you would be fine. We are considering one of these likely with the two battery option. We have 400 amps of lithium now and can easily go three full days without power; more if good solar so 600 plus would be all we would ever need (note we almost never use AC).
We do wish we had more clearance and will probably look into doing some kind of lift.
I didn't comment the first time I watched, but I had to say how great this episode was. So I had to watch it twice to leave you some encouragement. (and I try never to leave one of your vids in the middle for your analytics) Peace & Prayers,
If that’s not the sweetest thing we’ve been told?!!!! Thank you. I’m not sure the algorithm would be upset if you watched again to just leave a comment though. We do that all the time, especially when we’re watching from our TV app. But the smile from you saying that is priceless! Thank you!
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle 🤗Love you guys!
Comparing Lynn's smile on this purchase versus the Revel, says it all.
That is such a great observation and so true.
Cheers from Arizona. Great vid. Thank you.
Cheers to you my friend. Thanks for watching.
I think you just sold a thousand units! And you’re making John jealous. Gosh, if we could only get our chassis!!!
I guess we are singing it’s praises, but we are loving all this extra space. Good luck on getting your chassis.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle ⁹⁹
Love it. Hoping you have protection, stay safe.
Thank you.
The B box (? Advanced RV) is similar dimension a alot more expensive. I think the Ekko is a great product and design. I would like a monochromatic look. I hope incinerating toilets become more affordable and efficient (electrically) Get rid of the black tank
Totally agree. B-Box has some really cool innovations on it though!
What do you guys get for fuel economy on the highway?
Not good, between 12 to 15.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle 15 would be great, I’m getting 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 with my 23’ F-450 23’ Sunseeker
What’s the mpg
No great, around 12.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle thanks
Expensive for the size.
👍
Sorry but for $200k good enough isn't good enough. From the videos you don't really go off road and that ekko will get destroyed if you take it on anything more than a gravel road
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
He totally left her behind but took the dog…well ain’t that a…
It was the other way around. Lynn spent time with high school girlfriends and the two of us had to find something to do.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle I was just teasing anyway ;)
@@AlignmentCoaching 👍
A lot of issues mean ! poor quality and way over priced
👍
Love these. Such a great idea, but at $188K they're out of reach for many of us. Hopefully in the years to come prices will come back down to something reasonable. Looking forward to where you take this!
You are right they are way over priced.
Definitely on my short list but, agreed, not at the current pricing. Nothing but time here. 😊
Buy used they fall drastically in value.
@VAN TREKKING lifestyle If they were over-priced you would not keep voluntarily buying them. They just cost more than you want to spend, which is not the same thing .
@@IJUSTWANNAFLYDJIDRONES71 great idea!
The blank spots in-between your edits are insanely annoying. Other wise good video. But $200k for a camper van is about $100k to much.
👍
The bottom line is you have to buy what makes sense for your lifestyle and budget. The Ekko seems to fit perfect for your travel style. We have had our 22 Travato 59K for a little over 3 months and 7,000 miles now. It is comfortable, we love the roomy twin beds and it gets fantastic mileage for an RV. We were torn between the Travato and the Revel but in the end the Travato met more of our needs.
You are so right. And we loved our Travato and the twin beds. Very morning starts out with me asking Lynn, you awake over there Lucy? (From old TV show). 👍👍😂
Taking the browns to the super bowl always makes the 12 year old in me laugh. I love the EKKO the only thing that stops us is the price. Thank you for bringing us this video. Happy tails and safe travels.
Glad Owen can make you laugh. The price is a hard pill to swallow.
What does it cost? Is it the same as a leisure travel van
@@breezyplace about the same. Maybe a little less.
@@breezyplace$250,000 in Washington /Oregon. Absolutely unreal. More than a house.
I think it was a great and informed the video I live in Brevard, North Carolina and I’m thinking about going this way myself. Thank you very much.
We have an Ekko also, for over a year now. We purchased folding ebikes and they fit great in the garage and we still have enough room for everything else.
What kind of bikes do you have?
Lectric brand, XPLite
Hi guys. One more question why you guys decided to change from Diesel to Gas? What was the main reason?
More space was the main reason.
An ever decreasing value vehicle…never seen a camper vehicle gain value…to stay in the woods.
I wonder how much each night stay really costs when everything is accounted for including loss of vehicle value.
Many places don’t permit campers over ten years old. 120 months is about the real life of these campers. So, $500 to $1000 a month, plus maint, etc… then how much will it really be used? In most cases it is cheaper to fly, rent a car, and stay in a nice hotel or cabin.
That Guy has a point. We've never kept one for 10 years but it's true they depreciate like crazy. Maybe we've just been lucky so far. We've lost our butts on a few but mostly came out to a cost of 7-10k for 2 years of use as an average.
Glad your Ekko is working out for you three! The cutest part of the video was Maggie looking out the window while you were filming! Great video!
Maggie is adorable… with her big blue collar.
I might have missed here somewhere why you didn’t want another diesel. Could you tell us again?
I'm not sure we even said why we didn't want a diesel. But there really are many reasons. Mostly they have to do with the increased expensive maintenance and the fact that we have had some issues with DEF in the past.
Hello My name is David Muller from Milton NSW mate in Sydney Australia Mate I
Hello David, so glad you are watching from so far away.
Great video and I’m so glad you guys are enjoying the Ekko! (Spell check keeps changing Ekko to Elmo 😂). When you were choosing your “nimble comfort”, were there other options/brands that you considered? I would love to know your #2 and #3 choices that didn’t quite make the cut.
Hey, Elmo might be a good name for our Ekko. We’ve had our eye on the Ekko for a while, but never really seriously looking to buy something else. We knew we wanted something bigger than a B class but smaller than a C class, and the Ekko is about the only RV out there right now that fit that bill. So when we saw this one for sell we just jumped in with both feet.
TV???? Toys and equipment?? You're truly not retired yet. :-)
You may be right.
Love your RV choice especially the out door kitchen, 4 wd capabilities, driving comfort like a big car .
Love the paint design but for the price they can do better than a cassette toliet. Ill just get a Cross trail thank you.
Great analysis. Now that our three kids are grown and have moved to the NW, NE & SE away from our SW home our 2,600sqft house sits unused except for occasional holidays; and now that we got our Jeep kitted out as a camper we’re not even home on the weekends. Renting out our home to a niece & her husband giving us the ability to still park an Ekko in our side yard between trips around the country to our kid’s homes while flat towing our Jeep to explore while we’re out there seems like an interesting concept. No compromise like the Revel. True off road with the Jeep and a comfortable “motel room” when used as a Base Camp at one of the kid’s homes. Plus our existing house gets safely used and even with a “family” discount on the rent the payment & insurance on the Ekko gets covered. P.S. This also allows us to stage camping trips from a Base Camp in all four corners of US while not disrupting the ebb & flow of our kids family life as we would retire to the Ekko in the evenings. A win/win as we are not yet sure we want to sell our full size home and downsize.
This is exactly what my wife and I are thinking , as we don’t want to sell just yet . Great bit of info thanks guys
Thanks so much for sharing. Sounds like you have a great plan.
"Taking the Browns to the Super Bowl." Oh my gosh. That's hilarious. I'm stealing that line for sure! :-) Great video! Thank you!
That is one of Owen’s favorite lines and you are more than welcome to use it any time.
Comfort is key to happy travels, I suppose depending on what your comfort levels are. Use to be in the early days of “campers” it was cool to be off the ground in an enclosed, warm environment. I remember those basic campers, and it was a good time. No tv, no microwave, no lithium, and sometimes no bathroom. How did we ever survive? With good memories and good campfires! Nowadays, the expectations are different, the rigs so much nicer, and the M.S.R.P. rising which leads us back to...Comfort and Convenience. We expect it, we want it, and are determined to find it. Yep, comfort seems to be the in thing in the RV world, and it sure makes the days spent on the road so much nicer. Loving my Class C 24B, it’s my comfort mobile. Safe travels and belly rubs for the Princess. 🐕❤️🚗🇺🇸
Great comment. I think we have all changed since our first days of camping and you are right it’s all about comfort these days especially if you are traveling for longer periods of time. Thanks for sharing.
I'm concerned about which chassis to go with, the Transit or Sprinter. Has your Transit been trouble free, or ??
Taking the browns to the superbowl 😅
Glad we could make you smile.
So glad your enjoying and are happy with the ekko. We like the size and layouts but I'm not willing to pay close to 200k for one because of the Ford Transit platform. I don't see these lasting 75K miles before your dropping serious money into the engine and drive trains. Lot of money for the rv when the chassis sells for roughly 40k.
We appreciate you input and sharing your thoughts.
As a retired Navy Vet, I found the information here very useful!😏🇺🇸👍🏾
Thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the to watching.
Nice unit😊
Great video and I’m glad you love you Ekko! Glad you bought something that has a lot more room in it. Glad the Ekko makes you happy. I love the Ekko myself. I think it’s cute. Love the bat awning myself. That’s outdoor kitchen is pretty nice too! Love that it gives you a frig. Very nice Rv. I think this Ekko fits you both very well. Have a great week and weekend. See you on down the road.
We also think the Ekko fits our travel needs. Thanks for your positive comment.
Wish you would've stated issues fixed under warranty!
I think we did. Everything that was wrong was repaired under warranty.
I would have liked to hear about all the factory recalls. The price paid is ridiculous then have all the design issues. That's my draw back from buying one.
We may try to make a video about all the recalls… but most of ours were fixed before our purchase. But we did take it to the factory and had the remaining recalls fixed, which was a good experience.
wwowowow thanks! i think about revel and ekko !!!! yes i will buy ekko thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good morning, sweet friends! What a great video. Thanks so much for the honest review about the pros and cons. Y'all did such a great job with the technical aspects of the video, too. I loved how you started this one! I'm glad you are enjoying it and finding things like the outside kitchen that are just an added plus for you. I can't wait to see where you go next. I hope you have a great week! Much love from SC, Jane ❤🙏🐾
Thank you so much my sweet friend for your comment. Your encouraging words always mean so much.
Folks I really enjoyed your video! I full time in a truck based class c way back before it was cool. I learned so much. While i had pop up sliding and hard side sleeper caps each rv had its advantages and disadvantages. One thing I despised on a dual rear wheel camper is getting rocks jammed between the rims during mild off road travels. Ugh! Other than that our Scerro Scotty on a Ram diesel chassis was light years ahead of other products. Your camper seems to be the same. I will subscribe and hope to learn as much from you as I did from the fit rv gang.
Safe travels
Rich
Thanks so much for subscribing. Sounds like you could teach us a thing or two. I will say there is a leaning curve with each RV we have.
This is the video I have been waiting for. As a first-time RV buyer, it helps confirm my pick for EKKO over Travato and LTV. Thanks, Owen, Lynn and Maggie 😃
You are so welcome and thank you for watching.
Can you comment on what the ‘driving effort’ and ‘ride quality’ is like compared to the travago?
Of all the "vans" we've had (if you count the Ekko as a van) I'd say it is the best. It rides like a minivan on the highway, it has much, much more torque and pep and it has safety features that really work and work well without freaking you out every time they engage. We love it so far!
I think I just found my next RV
It fits a lot of things we are looking for. But it does have some issues, but all RV’s do and we do have the first generation, so hopefully they have fixed most of the issues.
I absolutely love full time rving and I hope that I can start going out to other places after school gets out
Why did you get rid of the Travato?
At the time we wanted to do more off road and we thought we needed a 4x4. The Travato was our first van and we loved it.
All Very good and helpful points! Comfort is my #1 deciding factor in wanting to switch from my adventure van to something more comfortable. Making your list of pros and cons is so important.
That pro and cons list is different for everyone… since we’ve done the adventure van we were also looking for something more comfortable and this fits us well in that we will still be able to go off road, somewhat.
I knew the EKKO would end up a bit more suited to your lifestyle. I don't like the short MB units in any form factor from any builder. Those rigs are for young folk who adventure here and there. They don't seem to be great for long trips. I'ts just my opinion and I'm glad to see that you both are happy now. Winnebago could have done much better with the first year EKKO. I think they just rushed it into the market and would deal with warranty claims as they come. I don't like that mindset from a manufacturer. It causes so much hassle on the customer side. They also blew it on the new Travato G and GL. That thing is a train wreck of bad updates and ideas. They really need to go back to the original floor plan.
We agree that the Ekko does fit our travel style more. I’m sure the Ekko was rushed out as many new models are, which is a shame. Thanks for sharing your comment.
Nope…too big. I just downsized from a vehicle very close to the EKKO to a Sprinter..but I don’t have a dog, do not want to watch TV, and like the ability to drive it as a daily driver…nimble “enough” really doesn’t make me want to use in a more versatile manner like the Sprinter. To each their own ! Thanks for the review and your opinion! 🤙🏼
We agree it is not as convenient of a daily driver as the Sprinter. Thanks for watching.
My first Winne was a 1979 Dodge Van, no bath, but a small kitchen. I was 170 lbs then, now I’m not, so today it’s a 40’ 4-slide Monaco that I live in. So, I’m contemplating two RVs?????
It does make sense to have something smaller to travel around in while you live in your 40’,
Clark Anna Allen Matthew Davis Scott
This is a fantastic honest review! I am nowhere near ready to buy an RV but I was looking at both Rebel and Exko. Leaning towards the latter. You forgot to mention that this is really a good looking RV, especially compared to other brands with the same design. Good color choices also. Sure not as important but it helps.
Glad it was helpful!
nice, looking camper van. thank, you both for you're video. Happy, camping. Random vanners east coast virginia. 2%
Thanks, we appreciate you watching.
Cannot believe someone would pay $180k+ for a Motor Coach with only a 5 gallon black tank, one has to believe people are literally unstable.
😊
Have you had more issues parking and sleeping outside of campgrounds with the Ekko versus the smaller Revel? One of the biggest draws of a van is ninja-camping. Does this larger and much more obvious RV prevent you from doing so? Is it more difficult to legally sleep for free in random places?
We haven’t had any issue so far. We do use IOverlander to look for spots and most of the time we fit just fine. I don’t think we would be able to camp on the street like we did in Valdez Alaska in the Travato.
My cousin is the service manager at midwest rv in st louis. On highway 55.
Thanks for the information.
Aren't those things grossly over priced ?
Not sure yet. They are expensive but hold their value really well. So we won't know how much it cost us until we actually sell it and subtract that number from the purchase price. So far for the last 2 we've come really close to getting to use each one for 2 years for free.
Yes.
So glad you like the EKKO. That’s what is most important - that YOU like it. Enjoy and don’t forget to take us along for the ride. Safe travels & stay well!
You are so correct. Everyone is different and the Ekko just so happens to fit the way we want to travel right now. That doesn’t mean it want change in the future and it doesn’t mean if’s for everyone. We appreciate your comment.
Hi there! I would like to conduct a paid interview with you and your Winnebago experience. Let me know if you interested! Thank you!!
Reach out to us at the email address listed in the description of videos
You mentioned not liking having a black tank. Do you have a video about that? I can't find it. Why don't you like black tanks and prefer cassettes?
We will be doing a video on that shortly. In the short we feel it’s just easier all the way around. But we will go into more detail in the video. Thanks for asking and providing us with a good idea on a video.
All very classy but I think nothing beats the home made to suit yourselves . These posh campers look nice and I amsure they are comfortable , but for the cost of them you could travel a long way and have just as much fun in your custom built, and, you wouldn't mind the scratch or dent you are bound to get as you travel.
I totally agree that custom builds are great in being able to get exactly what you want and need. Thanks for sharing.
Great review on the Ekko. Nice illustrations and very well presented. It’s my number one pick if we don’t build our own. 💕
Your comment is much appreciated.
I love the Ekko, now I really want one. So I will wait 2023. And hope all the Kinks are worked out. Thank you so much for sharing be safe and happy travels.
I think waiting is smart.
Hello from Canada 🇨🇦 our plan is only for in 5 years retirement but we have an eye on the ekko. Hopefully by then improvement will have been made or used will have been fixed.
I’m sure there will a lot of improvements in 5 years and I’m sure there might be more RV’s like this one to choose from.
. .
I appreciated your honesty and taking time to video!
That's really amazing you feel the same....I actually own a 22 travato 59gl and love mine it's not a class b I would give up for anything on the market...except a ekko I been looking at them myself. It's a very tempting thought to have a ekko it looks perfect and I like it being little more cold temperature resistant.
We just got back from a 3 month trip and Ekko is still working out great for us. We loved having all the extra room/storage.
Nice review of the Ekko.
Hope Maggie's eye issue gets resolved.
Your subscribers in Milan
🇮🇹...🇮🇹...🇮🇹...🇮🇹
Maggie’s eye is mostly better. I guess something was in it and she kept scratching it hence the blue blow up collar. We did get her some eye cream from the vet which helped it heal. Thanks for your comment.
Why did you guys not want a black tank? w/ a 5 gal cassette toilet that's a lot of trips to a campground toilet to empty into a public toilet.
We learned that with a Revel we really loved being able to empty the cassette toilet, just about anywhere as we travel. So we did not have to look for dump stations nearly as often. And for us that was more convenient than having to empty less frequently.
Thanks for sharing! We’ve been dreaming of the Ekko’s benefits over our short Sprinter RV Pleasure-Way Ascent.
We know the feeling 😆.
188k no way , I would pay 88 k no more
Why didn’t you want diesel?
We've had a few issues with DEF in the past. And higher fuel/maintenance/repair costs, at least in our area. And when we travel to remote places diesel gets to be much more scarce.
I've also had DEF issues. A faulty sensor put our van into limp mode. It's an expensive vehicle component over time.
Fans gastric video, I have very similar thoughts between the two. Wish I had the outdoor kitchen.
I would have never thought we would enjoy the outdoor kitchen so much. We were actually thinking about removing it. So glad we didn’t
I clicked subscribe when you said "taking the Browns to the Super bowl.".
Thanks for subscribing.
Stumbled across your channel a few days ago and have enjoyed watching. Ton's in common as we are from NC, my wife and the dog travel together and we have a Revel. We have had our Revel for just under two years and it has been awesome. We have seen and done so much more than we could ever have even imaged. 24 National parks, epic hikes and biking. Most our trips have been under a week because we still work. But when we travel over 5 days the Revel becomes too small. We also, like you, found out (mostly my wife) that serious overland isn't our thing. Thus, I have researched our options and the EKKO is one of them. So to my few question. 1) Does it have more or less rattles than the Revel? I have spent hours chasing rattles and have ours in great shape now. 2) After several months of use are you still happy with the choices or have you seen others? Thank you in advance.
Sounds like the Revel has worked great for you… and we felt the same way that traveling in it for long periods of time was hard. We have been on a 3 month trip travel around in Florida in the Ekko and we are loving all the extra room and the storage we have. So I think we would both say we made a good choice. We loved the Revel but we are way more comfortable in the Ekko. As for the rattles, I’m not sure it’s worse than the Revel but like with any drivable RV you have to figure out and fix those rattles. I hope this helps, if you have other specific questions plus feel free to ask.
You better hope those problems don’t persist quality is not something to skip over.
So far so good.
The EKKO is a possibility for me, but as a single traveler I wonder if it is just too big. Lots if wasted space. May just go back down to a B in my plans not sure I want a black tank. I like the Revel but don't want a diesel chassis.
You might be right about it being a lot of space for a single traveler. I think it would also depend on what kind of traveling you are going to do and what kind of toys you want to take with you. Good luck deciding. Let us know if we can help.
I’ve always had a class A, traveling with kids, all the toys, and now I live in it. However, it has been very restrictive as to where I could go. Now that I travel alone, I might just have to have two RV’s (wonder if I can tow an EKKO to Florida for the winter). What a wonderful problem to contemplate.
That is a good problem to contemplate. Good luck.
Thank you so much for your video...we have been looking for something like this for years. We are waiting till spring,and will be buying a Ekko.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent information. We’ve been on the fence about a purchase, but now think the time is right. Were you comfortable at night during the summer heatwave? Also, would it be possible to add a bike rack for 2 bikes? We want to travel with windsurf gear, stand up paddles and e-bikes.
We carry a bike rack on the back and put our paddle boards on the inside.
They didn't really mention this in the video but one thing about the ekko is it can handle really cold temperatures better then pretty much any class b out there.
That was a pretty important fact we left out. Thanks for the reminder.
$188k 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for helping the newbies like us!
I've been considering one but like you. The cargo seems too small
It is bigger than anything we’ve had in awhile, especially the cargo area. We were just hoping we could store our bikes inside. It may be we just want to take to much stuff.
Hello, I'm just curious why do you choose gas over diesel
Mainly because they didn’t have diesel at the time. We were just looking for something with more room.
Already referred to this on the Ekko site, thanks for posting. Where did you get that griddle top? I checked your store but didn't see it. Thanks again.
The got the griddle top at Walmart in the camping section.
Not sure if it was mentioned (I promise I did my best to follow along) but how is the gas cost/mileage comparison between Revel and Ekko?
We did answer that in this weeks Wednesday’s Q&A. The mileage is worse in the Ekko but the cost is less, if that makes sense. Thanks for the question.
Thank you for sharing this with me and it was interesting and informative!! As Always BS & BK & BC !!!!
You are so welcome and thank you for always being with us.
Awesome review, thanks!🎉❤
Did you have to drop your Ekko off for a while to get the shower issue fixed? Did you have any trouble with the Truma heating? Some of the 2022's had a lot of trouble w error codes from what I've seen.
No we took it to the factory to be repaired. Here's the video:ruclips.net/video/jnrUq1auWPc/видео.html
The shower issue was fixed when we purchased it, but I think the previous owners said the Ekko stayed at the shop for awhile getting all the recalls done. We have not had any issue Truma, thankfully.
From memory, i think the Revel is around $120k and this unit is around $180k. So I'm going to assume this couple doesn't have to worry about money. But golly-- I just bought a brand new 17' tow trailer for $21,600 with a slide that makes the bedroom huge, a separate toilet and shower, and a full size rv fridge. And I'm pretty sure it would go all the places this does. Just sayin. And yes, the ekkos are cool, my neighbor has one. but the cost....holy shmoly.
Hey Dennis! We didn't pay that much thankfully! And we knocked around the idea of a pull behind trailer and a truck. But when it comes down to it the vans hold their value so good these days it's hard to not go that route. And we are just lazy I guess. We love the convenience of the van... enough to put up with her limitations. The great thing is you are getting out there and we're super happy about that. So many just stay home and hope to one day do this. Good for you for getting out and living your dream your way! Hope we park next to you one day soon and if it's too far out you can give us a tow. 😂
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle of course, we all help each other, thats a no brainer. I don't know if i'll ever get super far back in the back country, but its nice to know that the trailer won't be a reason not to do so. Maybe my neighbor didn't pay that much either-- I surely hope not. He's already had to replace a few components on his, but thats....every RV. My cheap new trailer is mostly in good shape, but after taking my first shower and noticing water in the bathroom i discovered they'd installed the retractable shower curtain frame wrong, and left a huge hole underneath it--- they are just moving too fast IMO when they build these things. But hey, if that's all i have to re-do right, I'm doing Okay. see you out there.
We are having the same talks about more space . Pros and cans of moving to a little bigger rig. We are headed to Fla at Xmas for 3 months so we will get to shop around. See you down the road someday Have a safe trip
Everyone has their own pros and cons and the Tampa RV show is a great place to find something that will mark off most of list. Good luck.
I NOSE you are right.
Thanks for the thorough review. Been thinking about switching to an EKKO from our Transit 148" med roof build. Reasons are very similar to your upgrade reasoning. The EKKO is very difficult to get right now but hopefully will be more plentiful come next spring/summer. Newly subscribed and excited to follow along on your future journeys!
I think you are right in that the Ekko’s available should be more realizable in the future. Thanks so much for subscribing.