I am solo on a Jayco, about 2 months in now, with a tiny trailer (only washer-dryer and extra solar). Amazing on the road, been in hot and cold, everything works great, great storage everywhere, very solid build in comparison with some other similar motor homes, the Ford pulls!!! best choice i ever made!!
Thanks for pointing this out. The questions is: What do you prefer? We have a diesel heater in our Patriot and we prefer that because we always have plenty in the tanks before we go out, and sometimes refilling the propane tanks can be a hassle. In our case only the generator runs on the propane.
I researched the insulation (since I spend a lot of time on cold weather). Not as high of R-value as Ekko (& that’s something you can’t really fix after market).
The Jayco and Integra are the same unit. RV manufacturers give different names for the same rig for dealer region reasons. I'm surprised both were are the same dealership. If we could put the Ekko Mercedes seating in a Jayco/Integra Ford that would be amazing!
Yes, we were also shocked that the dealership had both the Jayco & Entegra, and we were expecting to see a lot more differences between the two units. Aside from exterior styling, they did appear identical. We also liked the floor plan in the Mercedes quite a lot, but didn't like that we would have to sacrifice the outdoor kitchen. We think the popularity of RV's this size, especially the off-road capable ones is going to increase in the coming years. We can't wait to see what new design ideas will appear next. Thanks for the comment.
It's not a bad idea, and we may eventually start doing more in-depth reviews of single units in our videos. It's a balancing act between providing too much info and too little. Rose thinks Dan just likes standing in all the showers, and laying on all the beds. Thanks for your comment.
Dan loved these models a bit more than Rose, although she was impressed with the amount of space in the relatively small footprint. Dan loves the versatility and ability to take them where other RVs dare not go.
Love the Sprinter EKKO. Always comes down to choices. Roomer yes, but is 2 ft longer. Higher clearance better for off-road, but a bit more sway for highway driving……then there’s the $$
I like all four but might have to pick the Mercedes, seems a little more comfortable. Thanks to the two of you for showing all the features and making it easy to understand. It’s amazing how they can get so much into these.
We agree that the Mercedes is much more comfortable than the other EKKO. We are not big fans of the side-by-side seats in the Ford EKKO even though we discovered that there is a way to separate them for travel. (The one seat is still very tight against the wall) The "dinettes" in the other two weren't bad considering the very limited amount of space they have to work with. We remain impressed at the ability of the engineers to squeeze so much functionality into such a small footprint. Thanks for your comment.
1st unit) Really love the outdoor cooker, cooler and storage, etc!👍👍👍also love the seperate beds each with their own storage, so awesome! I really live this unit!❤❤❤ And Loved the last one!❤
We agree with you on all these points, but we have to add the awesomeness of the rugged looks and design. Two thumbs up! They seem to have found the perfect blend of versatility and indoor living space.
You should call this the big, large huge channel. But how big, large, huge is it actually? Bed sizes? Refrigerator sizes? Shower sizes? Interior ceiling? It might be half fast or half assed.
It's this type of constructive criticism that helps us make the channel better. We agree that we do use some descriptors pretty liberally and we are working on it. Thanks.
The Fords are just under 23 feet long and the Mercedes is about 24 and a half feet. Sorry, to get all the specs out we only post them for a brief time. You can pause the video there to get them all. I hope that helps. Thanks for the question.
I would like to see some B+/mini C that is not under the Thor umbrella. It is crazy to think about paying upwards of 200k for the low quality of anything under Thor.
You're right about that. I have a B+ Tiffin and I can tell you that since Thor bought them out, their quality has been awful. The only good thing about Tiffin now is that their warranty service in Red Bay is second to none.
You make a good point, although diesels generally get better gas mileage, it is usually not enough to justify the cost gap. Last year we found some gas stations in Nevada where the gas and diesel prices were within a few cents of each other, but we think that is a very rare occurrence. Dan is with you on the Granite Ridge, it is the one he probably would have chosen as well. Happy Travels.
I saw a video about a chinook. There were a few things I didn’t like about it but what I did like it had its own room for the shower and across from it had its own sink and toilet! The Murphy bed I didn’t particularly like
You make a great point. We recommend that buyers try to imagine what it would be like to "live" in the space while hunting for the RV that is right for them. At the shows and dealerships we sometimes shut the door and pretend to go through certain tasks we do on an everyday basis to see how it all fits.
I like the second door for bug issues but not a fan of the overhead storage in the kitchen. Needs a bungee cord or 2 to keep stuff from falling out. Also, wont buy a diesel truck or promaster. I hate DEF and just a personal preference
We agree that some of these "shelves" look good in the showroom, but in actual use, they may be useless at keeping everything in place. We do have a diesel in the Patriot, and by most accounts they do have a reliability and resale advantage over gas motors. I guess we'll have to see if that is true over time. One additional thought on DEF: We filled the first time using a box of DEF we found at WalMart, but then we discovered it is much cheaper to fill at the truck stop at the pump. We were surprised at the massive price difference. Luckily, we don't have to refill very often, and when we do, it's usually only 3-4 gallons. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
I definitely don't like the Ekko. I'm torn between Entegra/Jayco and the Coachmen Cross Trail, which wasn't shown here. They both have items in the credit/debit columns.
We have become big fans of the lithium batteries coupled with large solar arrays. Paired with a "soft-start" air conditioner, they are a game changer. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for pointing that out. We're 100% sure that these portable cook tops are meant to be used on the counter or on the outdoor table. It is nice to have that option in these smaller Class C's. It's also nice to have the option to remove it entirely if you know you're not going to use it to conserve space. Thanks for the comment.
We've always wondered why the manufacturers insist on setting such a high MSRP when they know they are going to be discounting them substantially prior to sale. It's got to be something more than creating the illusion of a deal, doesn't it?
Only the Ekkos have proper seatbelted seats for a third passenger. That alone rules out the Jayco/Entegra (and Coachman) offerings for me. What the other companies *should* be doing is not trying to just copy Winnbeago, but innovate. A lot of people who buy an Ekko don't need or even really strongly want the offroad-adventure stuff. They are buying them because they are the best alternative to a van build at a comparable length. The original 22A Ekko (23") represents a massive increase in interior space and storage with only a small increase in width and only 8 inches of additional length over a comparable Transit van (22'2"). Jayco should be instead trying to replicate the types of motorhomes that sell like hotcakes in Europe. Innovative, sleek designs in a reasonable length. The reason Leisure Travel Vans are so sought after is because they are almost the only North American manufacturer even trying to emulate what is commonly available, for a lot less money no less, in Europe. The problem with LTVs is that they are too long. Look at the offerings from companies like Hymer and Adria and many others, many models coming in at 699cm (just under 23').
Wow, you make so many great points here. We totally agree about the popularity of the Ekko being largely due to increased space with only a small increase in footprint. The storage advantage is a huge factor as well. We would love to see some of the European designs here in the US and Canada. Even if the manufacturers don't find it practical to expand into the US market, American companies can still create a new design based upon some of the better European features. Thanks for your post.
It's funny you should say that. We were just watching a video about a You Tuber who made a cross-country Amtrak trip. We thought that shower looked familiar. Ha ha.
Yes they do, and it explains why the Condor and Granite Ridge are nearly identical. However, please keep in mind that Thor owns Tiffin, and the quality differences between those two brands couldn't be further apart. Only time will tell if that will continue. We were recently treated to an in-depth discussion on why so many manufacturers sell the same models under different names. We may be making a video on that topic in the future. Thanks for your comment.
We're not going to disagree with you on this, but we will say that we have noticed differences in quality levels between models even those owned by the same holding companies. For example; Tiffin is owned by Thor, but the construction quality could not be any more different. Thanks for your post.
@@timpfluger Obviously every RV is different, but we have noticed that the Jaycos we have seen appear to be built a bit better. We would definitely recommend you compare the two before making a purchase so you can make your own assessment.
The price is out outrageous…. I see a lot of manufacturers getting stuck with them…Not worth anywhere near that much… shame on you for pushing these products.….
Please keep in mind that price is relative. To some, the cost could be a perfectly reasonable expense. No one is giving these "specialty" units away. We disagree with your assertion that we are "pushing" anything. We try to give our honest opinions, and provide the most information we can about the individual RVs. That being said, we do appreciate your viewpoint. All honest opinions are welcome here.
Ok, here's a long one...let's get the industry naming convention on track everyone knows no such thing as a b+ so from here on I'm calling em mini C's! cause at least the C part is correct lol. Well now first one (jayco) comes out to $203,000 cad, that's $25,000 over what i paid for my 4x4, HO turbo diesel dually crew cab truck, n brand new truck camper. I got 25G for gas n a more powerful reliable vehicle. This is y these mini C's r so over priced imo. Winnebego's is $245G cad, now this is laughable!! I got $70G more for gas! Lol. Winnebego thinks they command a higher price tag but folks they r not more special, your paying more for a name that used to be top quality lol. N on a Mercedes chassis, a triple no thx. I would hate that woven flooring, any texture floor is not easy to clean like a smooth finish floor. N it has cheesy cabinet locks 🙄. 😂 now this is y i like u guys, That sinks cutting board cover! Price less!....n literally. Now this is what i mean about quality in a winnabago crappy locks n noticed the drawers were not even flush even when closed in both! If u ever see any overseas class B vans (like the German's) they all have the compact swing over shower wall stall, n wow they have many many versions of this too! I personally hate those fridges with dinky freezers i like separate freezer. Truck campers have seperate freezers! My crew cab back seat is my storage. Take out seats n i got lots of storage. My truck camper truely has more interior storage cabinetry than any one of these! And i have an onan gen too. The other winnabego $223G cad ugh! Now thats's $48G i have more for gas! Entegra is $205G cad, i got $30G more in gas to spend lol. Looks identical to the jayco at $203 cad. So would have to compare spec features on these two. Lastly, having to lift out 5 gal full of 💩, n tote it to a bathroom to empty when i still have to pull out the sewer hose, hook it up to empty the grey tank, a lot less effort to pull the black tanks lever first!! I at least have 18 gal black, by the time my 40 gal grey fills up im ready to empty both anyway! (Oh artic fox has bigger tanks than my northern lite). People looking to buy these mini C's u really got to imagine actually using a cassette toilet, n be willing to empty frequently. Not for me. So clearly a comparison between winnabego n jayco/entegra. Hands down jayco/entegra wins this round. Better price, light coloured drivers cab, (my truck has beige interior too, love the light colour!) retractable shower door, so not fighting with clingon curtain! Better cabinet locks, better drawers (nice n flush n straight! more storage (3 cabinets across bedroom back vs 2), window at the back too! Firmer cushions will last longer n not compact quickly. But now compare a truck n a truck camper! You can get all what these mini C's have, n thousands more $$ left over for travel!! (😂 feel like I'm trying to convert u guys to truck camping, no just pointing things out) This was fun! Loving your tours n natural discoveries 😂, don't change. 🍻
Wow, that was a long one! It is so funny you should mention truck campers, because our RV search began several years ago after watching a video of the Northern Lite 10-2. Dan really liked the idea of having a living space detachable from the "tow vehicle" without having to haul a trailer around the country. We really liked the full body fiberglass construction and all-season capabilities of the Northern Lite. Some of the best features of the truck campers we looked at, were the huge beds & large refrigerators. At the time, we moved away from the idea of a truck camper because we wanted to be able to access the rear while driving, In hindsight, this may not have been as much of an advantage as we thought at the time (Not having RVed before). The points you make regarding the advantages to the truck campers are right on track. We're not too sure why truck campers are not very common in the southern United States. Maybe it's because the lack of mountainous terrain and cold weather keep those concerns far from our minds. In Florida, even today you have to drive a significant distance to even find a dealership that carries truck campers unless you live near Tampa. That influenced our decision at the time as well. If you've seen our "Hunt for the perfect RV" video at the Florida RV Supershow, you will see that we were in shock at the amount of space in the Mammoth model. It had more than twice the living space of any of these "Mini Class C's." (We love the name, and hope you won't mind if we borrow it) We are hopeful that your comment will encourage potential RV buyers to at least consider truck campers as they have a lot to offer. As far as the comparisons in this video we completely agree with you about the refrigerator, cabinets, light upholstery, cassette toilet, firm cushions, flooring, shower door, and high price tags. You make many excellent points and we are so happy you took the time to make all these observations. Our intention with this video was to let anyone who is considering a Winnebago EKKO know that there are other options. Thank you so much for your post, your contribution is very educational & helpful.
@@halffasttravelers2702 in google, type in truck camper magazine. They post all truck campers for sale and where across the usa at dealers weekly. N all kinds of helpful info about how to select one etc. 😉. And not having access to the drivers seat really isn't a big deal and not worth the convenience at the mini c's price tags imo. I follow a gal named kimann chessa who lives in her cirrus truck camper fulltime on her own. She had a truck issue took off her camper n stayed in it at a casino parking lot for a few days while her truck was being fixed. Imagine if that was a mini C 😱. And well, she too doesn't find it a big deal not having driver access, pros n cons, it's what works best for u and at what price tag. But because those class C n B's r so overly priced, many have gone the truck camper route, better bang for the buck. 🍻
@@Rottingboards oh boy, this isn't a short easy answer....I bought a new ram dually 5 yrs ago, my first truck, because i was reading guys were saying ford engine harder to work on, so more labour costs, cause more had to come out of engine to fix anything, but mostly because and at the time, ram was the 'king of the pulls', had the most torque n horsepower for pulling. i wanted the best at the time to pull a 42ft fifth wheel up mountains without worry, n she did, but also ram had the best diesel engine and exhaust brake. If I were to start my research over again today 🤔 for sure it wouldn't be a ford with the CP4 fuel pump nightmare. Research how it's a nightmare of big bucks when it fails. I'm not sure if I would choose ram again, i would compare others. Why? Although i do love my truck, love the exhaust brake, n awesome power, i'm wondering if i should start a class action law suit against ram for their failure ABS module, a part i have been waiting for on back order since last September and a part they haven't even done a recall on, so 2G comes out of my pocket to fix! yes seriously! I hear ram is reengineering the part. But this long of a wait is beyond ridiculous, and because of that, yes i would definitely compare the other manufacturers. Being i already had my dually truck i kept it for my truck camper, I solo RV now, so no I wouldn't buy a dually again for a truck camper if I were starting all over, it's a bitch to get the camper on n off by myself because a dually u have a couple of inches on both sides, if u have a partner then fine, single wheel truck a lot easier to load n unload as a solo. So then yes, my camper would be smaller too if I didn't have a dually. But yes i would buy a 3500 size single wheel truck over say a 2500 engine because truck campers aren't light, payload higher on a 3500 vs a 2500. Think about mountains eh! Lol. I'm on my 4th rv now, I choose to buy new, the northern lite truck camper for many personal reasons. I'm not young anymore. Rv's are a lot of maintenance, so i picked one that will be the least work to look after. I choose a fibreglass camper because they don't have seams everywhere on every corner holding the walls together like artic fox, host, lance etc truck campers. They are built like a clam shell. More solid, only worry about the seals to the fixtures (roof vents, ac etc) Hate the Tpo, rubber roofs as they are higher maintenance, n tear easily. No slides -No slide motor to worry about n no rubber membranes to maintain clean n lube. Plus a slide, they r drafty in cold weather deployed. Resale value holds longer on fibreglass campers. I compared bigfoot to northern lite two yrs ago. Bigfoot was a big no, because i read a lot of comments of their very poor customer service, plus i found their website was a mess. They updated their websites floor plans n changed things around in the middle of my researching, it went from being bad to worse. If they r that careless about customer service n their website imagine how they care about building their campers 😱. Your decisions to buy a truck n camper has a lot to do with the weight of a camper the truck can carry safely, how much you want to pay, how much your willing to look after. Careful truck campers are a lot heavier than many realize, n what many manufacturers make u believe. Research to death google n utube. Saw a vid a guy bought an artic fox took it to the scales n was ticked how much heavier it was then it said. But fibreglass ones are lighter. If NL didn't exist I would have gone with the next best, artic fox. I wouldn't consider any Host camper (mammoth etc), because of their ridiculous price tag, n the sloppy builds - utubers have shown in brand new ones. Plus you'll need a beefy truck, a 4500 or 5500 to properly carry one. Wouldn't buy a lance either, way too many complaint's on lance anything when i was researching, plus their quality n build is nothing like they use to be. Now Poorly thought out designs, n terrible storage n so spacious cause no cupboards! 🤣. They r over priced too for what you get, artic fox far superior to lance imo. Yes I love my camper. It came with the dometic hotwater tank, big deal for me, means aluminum tank, no anode rod needed, N yes a lot less maintenance, suburban water heater have the anode rod n yes pain in the arse to look after. And my camper has a three way fridge, runs on battery, propane or shore power, having options is superior don't be fooled by the hipe of 12v only fridges. They r cheaper to make than absorption fridges. N Not unless u have a lot of solar n a lot of lithium amp hours would i want a 12V fridge right now. Also I had to have a built in generator, can't lift a 60 lb anymore, things to think about, and no way was i hauling a generator n hooking one up in the rain lol! So your choices of truck n camper will have a lot to do with what will work for u! 🍻
@@SpykersB Thanks for posting this reply. There is so much good information in here. You include the answers to so many questions that buyers don’t know they should be asking. We hope you continue to enjoy your TC for years to come.
I am solo on a Jayco, about 2 months in now, with a tiny trailer (only washer-dryer and extra solar). Amazing on the road, been in hot and cold, everything works great, great storage everywhere, very solid build in comparison with some other similar motor homes, the Ford pulls!!! best choice i ever made!!
That is awesome! Thanks for posting your experience. It assists others when they are trying to find the right RV for them.
The Jayco/Entegra (they are identical), has a totally different heating/hot water system. Uses gas from the vehicle tank, not propane.
Thanks for pointing this out. The questions is: What do you prefer? We have a diesel heater in our Patriot and we prefer that because we always have plenty in the tanks before we go out, and sometimes refilling the propane tanks can be a hassle. In our case only the generator runs on the propane.
I researched the insulation (since I spend a lot of time on cold weather). Not as high of R-value as Ekko (& that’s something you can’t really fix after market).
Wow, that is really interesting and good to know. Thanks for posting.
The Jayco and Integra are the same unit. RV manufacturers give different names for the same rig for dealer region reasons. I'm surprised both were are the same dealership. If we could put the Ekko Mercedes seating in a Jayco/Integra Ford that would be amazing!
Yes, we were also shocked that the dealership had both the Jayco & Entegra, and we were expecting to see a lot more differences between the two units. Aside from exterior styling, they did appear identical. We also liked the floor plan in the Mercedes quite a lot, but didn't like that we would have to sacrifice the outdoor kitchen. We think the popularity of RV's this size, especially the off-road capable ones is going to increase in the coming years. We can't wait to see what new design ideas will appear next. Thanks for the comment.
If there are no competing dealerships in the immediate area/city/town carrying the other line, they probably just sent excess inventory.
Highly recommend you use a tape measure to give us more accurate info on the bed measurements and shower height.
It's not a bad idea, and we may eventually start doing more in-depth reviews of single units in our videos. It's a balancing act between providing too much info and too little. Rose thinks Dan just likes standing in all the showers, and laying on all the beds. Thanks for your comment.
Layout of the Sprinter EKKO is much better, less cramped, and that dinette also transforms into a bed.
Dan loved these models a bit more than Rose, although she was impressed with the amount of space in the relatively small footprint. Dan loves the versatility and ability to take them where other RVs dare not go.
Love the Sprinter EKKO. Always comes down to choices. Roomer yes, but is 2 ft longer. Higher clearance better for off-road, but a bit more sway for highway driving……then there’s the $$
All of these are great points. Thanks for posting.
I like all four but might have to pick the Mercedes, seems a little more comfortable. Thanks to the two of you for showing all the features and making it easy to understand. It’s amazing how they can get so much into these.
We agree that the Mercedes is much more comfortable than the other EKKO. We are not big fans of the side-by-side seats in the Ford EKKO even though we discovered that there is a way to separate them for travel. (The one seat is still very tight against the wall) The "dinettes" in the other two weren't bad considering the very limited amount of space they have to work with. We remain impressed at the ability of the engineers to squeeze so much functionality into such a small footprint. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the review.
You are very welcome. We really enjoy discovering these RVs and sharing them with you folks. Happy Travels.
1st unit) Really love the outdoor cooker, cooler and storage, etc!👍👍👍also love the seperate beds each with their own storage, so awesome! I really live this unit!❤❤❤ And Loved the last one!❤
We agree with you on all these points, but we have to add the awesomeness of the rugged looks and design. Two thumbs up! They seem to have found the perfect blend of versatility and indoor living space.
@@halffasttravelers2702 Indeed, I agree!👌💯💯💯
You should call this the big, large huge channel. But how big, large, huge is it actually? Bed sizes? Refrigerator sizes? Shower sizes? Interior ceiling? It might be half fast or half assed.
It's this type of constructive criticism that helps us make the channel better. We agree that we do use some descriptors pretty liberally and we are working on it. Thanks.
What is the length of these vehicles?
The Fords are just under 23 feet long and the Mercedes is about 24 and a half feet. Sorry, to get all the specs out we only post them for a brief time. You can pause the video there to get them all. I hope that helps. Thanks for the question.
I would like to see some B+/mini C that is not under the Thor umbrella. It is crazy to think about paying upwards of 200k for the low quality of anything under Thor.
We have seen some good units from Renegade and Pleasure Way. We'll be doing some more reviews in the next few months.
You're right about that. I have a B+ Tiffin and I can tell you that since Thor bought them out, their quality has been awful. The only good thing about Tiffin now is that their warranty service in Red Bay is second to none.
Yes, the Tiffin Tech we dealt with during the converter issue was really good. So we're happy about that part at least.
For the price and considering how high diesel fuel is I’m going with the Jayco.
You make a good point, although diesels generally get better gas mileage, it is usually not enough to justify the cost gap. Last year we found some gas stations in Nevada where the gas and diesel prices were within a few cents of each other, but we think that is a very rare occurrence. Dan is with you on the Granite Ridge, it is the one he probably would have chosen as well. Happy Travels.
@@anthonylan2295 So many more places to get a Ford worked on compared to Mercedes.
I saw a video about a chinook. There were a few things I didn’t like about it but what I did like it had its own room for the shower and across from it had its own sink and toilet! The Murphy bed I didn’t particularly like
I prefer the L shape dinette because you don’t have a table mount in the walkway.
You make a great point. We recommend that buyers try to imagine what it would be like to "live" in the space while hunting for the RV that is right for them. At the shows and dealerships we sometimes shut the door and pretend to go through certain tasks we do on an everyday basis to see how it all fits.
you said the gen was a 28kw, but I know you meant 2.8kw. Also, the Jayco only carries 1 lp tank, rather than 2
Good catch, thanks for posting these corrections.
I like the second door for bug issues but not a fan of the overhead storage in the kitchen. Needs a bungee cord or 2 to keep stuff from falling out. Also, wont buy a diesel truck or promaster. I hate DEF and just a personal preference
We agree that some of these "shelves" look good in the showroom, but in actual use, they may be useless at keeping everything in place. We do have a diesel in the Patriot, and by most accounts they do have a reliability and resale advantage over gas motors. I guess we'll have to see if that is true over time. One additional thought on DEF: We filled the first time using a box of DEF we found at WalMart, but then we discovered it is much cheaper to fill at the truck stop at the pump. We were surprised at the massive price difference. Luckily, we don't have to refill very often, and when we do, it's usually only 3-4 gallons. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
I definitely don't like the Ekko. I'm torn between Entegra/Jayco and the Coachmen Cross Trail, which wasn't shown here. They both have items in the credit/debit columns.
One thing we do like about all of them is that large storage (garage) in the rear. It's a game changer for a small utility RV. Thanks for posting.
Lost me at wet bath and cassette toilet. And, is the refrigerator 12 v?
Yes, we definitely prefer a dry bath when we can get it. All these models have 5.3 cu ft. 12V refrigerators. Good question. Thanks.
@@halffasttravelers2702there is a freezer in those fridges
Sounds like Jayco has less lithium battery and smaller inverter and solar. If they could up the power I would buy the jayco.
We have become big fans of the lithium batteries coupled with large solar arrays. Paired with a "soft-start" air conditioner, they are a game changer. Thanks for the post.
Induction cooktop usually has a fan underneath, so using it in a drawer might be an issue.
Thanks for pointing that out. We're 100% sure that these portable cook tops are meant to be used on the counter or on the outdoor table. It is nice to have that option in these smaller Class C's. It's also nice to have the option to remove it entirely if you know you're not going to use it to conserve space. Thanks for the comment.
Is there a slide
Nope, none of these units have slides.
Very poor showing of the jayco - the Ekko on the Sprinter base is still a winner
Many people agree with you. The Ekko is hugely popular.
How many does it sleep ?
They all sleep 2, but the Winnebago has an optional "pop-top," and with that option it can sleep 4.
@@halffasttravelers2702 EKKO also offers an expensive inflatable mattress that can be positioned cross ways in the cab.
Is it 4 deaso
Sorry, we don't understand the question.
the ekko wetbath is smaller.
A good point.
MSRP over 200K , YGTBSM!
We've always wondered why the manufacturers insist on setting such a high MSRP when they know they are going to be discounting them substantially prior to sale. It's got to be something more than creating the illusion of a deal, doesn't it?
Only the Ekkos have proper seatbelted seats for a third passenger. That alone rules out the Jayco/Entegra (and Coachman) offerings for me. What the other companies *should* be doing is not trying to just copy Winnbeago, but innovate. A lot of people who buy an Ekko don't need or even really strongly want the offroad-adventure stuff. They are buying them because they are the best alternative to a van build at a comparable length.
The original 22A Ekko (23") represents a massive increase in interior space and storage with only a small increase in width and only 8 inches of additional length over a comparable Transit van (22'2"). Jayco should be instead trying to replicate the types of motorhomes that sell like hotcakes in Europe. Innovative, sleek designs in a reasonable length. The reason Leisure Travel Vans are so sought after is because they are almost the only North American manufacturer even trying to emulate what is commonly available, for a lot less money no less, in Europe. The problem with LTVs is that they are too long. Look at the offerings from companies like Hymer and Adria and many others, many models coming in at 699cm (just under 23').
Wow, you make so many great points here. We totally agree about the popularity of the Ekko being largely due to increased space with only a small increase in footprint. The storage advantage is a huge factor as well. We would love to see some of the European designs here in the US and Canada. Even if the manufacturers don't find it practical to expand into the US market, American companies can still create a new design based upon some of the better European features. Thanks for your post.
None are worth $150k. The big difference I wanted to see was the Kwh of LifePO4.
The good news is that the prices seem to be coming down a bit, or at least leveling off. It certainly is a lot of money though.
The camera never face where he is showing
Yeah, Dan does get ahead of the camera person (Rose) more than a few times. We're half fast, but we're working on it. Thanks for the comment.
Shower the same on trains
It's funny you should say that. We were just watching a video about a You Tuber who made a cross-country Amtrak trip. We thought that shower looked familiar. Ha ha.
They are cool, rich people toys, really, why so much money
The price is certainly a topic for scrutiny, but we will say that they pack a lot of technology in these RVs.
Jayco owns Entegra.
Yes they do, and it explains why the Condor and Granite Ridge are nearly identical. However, please keep in mind that Thor owns Tiffin, and the quality differences between those two brands couldn't be further apart. Only time will tell if that will continue. We were recently treated to an in-depth discussion on why so many manufacturers sell the same models under different names. We may be making a video on that topic in the future. Thanks for your comment.
Cooking close to the door way not good
Yes, we can see where that could pose a danger. Thanks for pointing that out.
In what way?
Jayco, owned by Thor, trash.
We're not going to disagree with you on this, but we will say that we have noticed differences in quality levels between models even those owned by the same holding companies. For example; Tiffin is owned by Thor, but the construction quality could not be any more different. Thanks for your post.
@@halffasttravelers2702 So this construction on the new Jayco seems better?
@@timpfluger Obviously every RV is different, but we have noticed that the Jaycos we have seen appear to be built a bit better. We would definitely recommend you compare the two before making a purchase so you can make your own assessment.
@@halffasttravelers2702 Thor purchased Tiffin not that long ago, give it some time and tiffin will be junk too
We hope so much that they will be able to maintain their higher quality standards. Only time will tell.
The price is out outrageous…. I see a lot of manufacturers getting stuck with them…Not worth anywhere near that much… shame on you for pushing these products.….
Please keep in mind that price is relative. To some, the cost could be a perfectly reasonable expense. No one is giving these "specialty" units away. We disagree with your assertion that we are "pushing" anything. We try to give our honest opinions, and provide the most information we can about the individual RVs. That being said, we do appreciate your viewpoint. All honest opinions are welcome here.
Outrageous…..says who? Price is market driven and only matters to the buyer. EKKO seems to be selling just fine.
Ok, here's a long one...let's get the industry naming convention on track everyone knows no such thing as a b+ so from here on I'm calling em mini C's! cause at least the C part is correct lol.
Well now first one (jayco) comes out to $203,000 cad, that's $25,000 over what i paid for my 4x4, HO turbo diesel dually crew cab truck, n brand new truck camper. I got 25G for gas n a more powerful reliable vehicle.
This is y these mini C's r so over priced imo.
Winnebego's is $245G cad, now this is laughable!! I got $70G more for gas! Lol.
Winnebego thinks they command a higher price tag but folks they r not more special, your paying more for a name that used to be top quality lol. N on a Mercedes chassis, a triple no thx. I would hate that woven flooring, any texture floor is not easy to clean like a smooth finish floor. N it has cheesy cabinet locks 🙄.
😂 now this is y i like u guys, That sinks cutting board cover! Price less!....n literally. Now this is what i mean about quality in a winnabago crappy locks n noticed the drawers were not even flush even when closed in both!
If u ever see any overseas class B vans (like the German's) they all have the compact swing over shower wall stall, n wow they have many many versions of this too!
I personally hate those fridges with dinky freezers i like separate freezer. Truck campers have seperate freezers!
My crew cab back seat is my storage. Take out seats n i got lots of storage.
My truck camper truely has more interior storage cabinetry than any one of these! And i have an onan gen too.
The other winnabego $223G cad ugh! Now thats's $48G i have more for gas!
Entegra is $205G cad, i got $30G more in gas to spend lol. Looks identical to the jayco at $203 cad. So would have to compare spec features on these two.
Lastly, having to lift out 5 gal full of 💩, n tote it to a bathroom to empty when i still have to pull out the sewer hose, hook it up to empty the grey tank, a lot less effort to pull the black tanks lever first!! I at least have 18 gal black, by the time my 40 gal grey fills up im ready to empty both anyway! (Oh artic fox has bigger tanks than my northern lite). People looking to buy these mini C's u really got to imagine actually using a cassette toilet, n be willing to empty frequently. Not for me.
So clearly a comparison between winnabego n jayco/entegra. Hands down jayco/entegra wins this round.
Better price, light coloured drivers cab, (my truck has beige interior too, love the light colour!) retractable shower door, so not fighting with clingon curtain! Better cabinet locks, better drawers (nice n flush n straight! more storage (3 cabinets across bedroom back vs 2), window at the back too! Firmer cushions will last longer n not compact quickly.
But now compare a truck n a truck camper! You can get all what these mini C's have, n thousands more $$ left over for travel!! (😂 feel like I'm trying to convert u guys to truck camping, no just pointing things out)
This was fun! Loving your tours n natural discoveries 😂, don't change. 🍻
Wow, that was a long one! It is so funny you should mention truck campers, because our RV search began several years ago after watching a video of the Northern Lite 10-2. Dan really liked the idea of having a living space detachable from the "tow vehicle" without having to haul a trailer around the country. We really liked the full body fiberglass construction and all-season capabilities of the Northern Lite. Some of the best features of the truck campers we looked at, were the huge beds & large refrigerators. At the time, we moved away from the idea of a truck camper because we wanted to be able to access the rear while driving, In hindsight, this may not have been as much of an advantage as we thought at the time (Not having RVed before). The points you make regarding the advantages to the truck campers are right on track. We're not too sure why truck campers are not very common in the southern United States. Maybe it's because the lack of mountainous terrain and cold weather keep those concerns far from our minds. In Florida, even today you have to drive a significant distance to even find a dealership that carries truck campers unless you live near Tampa. That influenced our decision at the time as well. If you've seen our "Hunt for the perfect RV" video at the Florida RV Supershow, you will see that we were in shock at the amount of space in the Mammoth model. It had more than twice the living space of any of these "Mini Class C's." (We love the name, and hope you won't mind if we borrow it) We are hopeful that your comment will encourage potential RV buyers to at least consider truck campers as they have a lot to offer.
As far as the comparisons in this video we completely agree with you about the refrigerator, cabinets, light upholstery, cassette toilet, firm cushions, flooring, shower door, and high price tags. You make many excellent points and we are so happy you took the time to make all these observations. Our intention with this video was to let anyone who is considering a Winnebago EKKO know that there are other options. Thank you so much for your post, your contribution is very educational & helpful.
@@halffasttravelers2702 in google, type in truck camper magazine. They post all truck campers for sale and where across the usa at dealers weekly. N all kinds of helpful info about how to select one etc. 😉. And not having access to the drivers seat really isn't a big deal and not worth the convenience at the mini c's price tags imo. I follow a gal named kimann chessa who lives in her cirrus truck camper fulltime on her own. She had a truck issue took off her camper n stayed in it at a casino parking lot for a few days while her truck was being fixed. Imagine if that was a mini C 😱. And well, she too doesn't find it a big deal not having driver access, pros n cons, it's what works best for u and at what price tag. But because those class C n B's r so overly priced, many have gone the truck camper route, better bang for the buck. 🍻
Spyker....What truck camper and truck do you prefer? Thanks for your knowledge and thoughts on everything.
@@Rottingboards oh boy, this isn't a short easy answer....I bought a new ram dually 5 yrs ago, my first truck, because i was reading guys were saying ford engine harder to work on, so more labour costs, cause more had to come out of engine to fix anything, but mostly because and at the time, ram was the 'king of the pulls', had the most torque n horsepower for pulling. i wanted the best at the time to pull a 42ft fifth wheel up mountains without worry, n she did, but also ram had the best diesel engine and exhaust brake. If I were to start my research over again today 🤔 for sure it wouldn't be a ford with the CP4 fuel pump nightmare. Research how it's a nightmare of big bucks when it fails. I'm not sure if I would choose ram again, i would compare others. Why? Although i do love my truck, love the exhaust brake, n awesome power, i'm wondering if i should start a class action law suit against ram for their failure ABS module, a part i have been waiting for on back order since last September and a part they haven't even done a recall on, so 2G comes out of my pocket to fix! yes seriously! I hear ram is reengineering the part. But this long of a wait is beyond ridiculous, and because of that, yes i would definitely compare the other manufacturers.
Being i already had my dually truck i kept it for my truck camper, I solo RV now, so no I wouldn't buy a dually again for a truck camper if I were starting all over, it's a bitch to get the camper on n off by myself because a dually u have a couple of inches on both sides, if u have a partner then fine, single wheel truck a lot easier to load n unload as a solo. So then yes, my camper would be smaller too if I didn't have a dually. But yes i would buy a 3500 size single wheel truck over say a 2500 engine because truck campers aren't light, payload higher on a 3500 vs a 2500. Think about mountains eh! Lol.
I'm on my 4th rv now, I choose to buy new, the northern lite truck camper for many personal reasons. I'm not young anymore. Rv's are a lot of maintenance, so i picked one that will be the least work to look after. I choose a fibreglass camper because they don't have seams everywhere on every corner holding the walls together like artic fox, host, lance etc truck campers. They are built like a clam shell. More solid, only worry about the seals to the fixtures (roof vents, ac etc) Hate the Tpo, rubber roofs as they are higher maintenance, n tear easily. No slides -No slide motor to worry about n no rubber membranes to maintain clean n lube. Plus a slide, they r drafty in cold weather deployed. Resale value holds longer on fibreglass campers.
I compared bigfoot to northern lite two yrs ago. Bigfoot was a big no, because i read a lot of comments of their very poor customer service, plus i found their website was a mess. They updated their websites floor plans n changed things around in the middle of my researching, it went from being bad to worse. If they r that careless about customer service n their website imagine how they care about building their campers 😱.
Your decisions to buy a truck n camper has a lot to do with the weight of a camper the truck can carry safely, how much you want to pay, how much your willing to look after. Careful truck campers are a lot heavier than many realize, n what many manufacturers make u believe. Research to death google n utube. Saw a vid a guy bought an artic fox took it to the scales n was ticked how much heavier it was then it said. But fibreglass ones are lighter. If NL didn't exist I would have gone with the next best, artic fox. I wouldn't consider any Host camper (mammoth etc), because of their ridiculous price tag, n the sloppy builds - utubers have shown in brand new ones. Plus you'll need a beefy truck, a 4500 or 5500 to properly carry one. Wouldn't buy a lance either, way too many complaint's on lance anything when i was researching, plus their quality n build is nothing like they use to be. Now Poorly thought out designs, n terrible storage n so spacious cause no cupboards! 🤣. They r over priced too for what you get, artic fox far superior to lance imo. Yes I love my camper. It came with the dometic hotwater tank, big deal for me, means aluminum tank, no anode rod needed, N yes a lot less maintenance, suburban water heater have the anode rod n yes pain in the arse to look after. And my camper has a three way fridge, runs on battery, propane or shore power, having options is superior don't be fooled by the hipe of 12v only fridges. They r cheaper to make than absorption fridges. N Not unless u have a lot of solar n a lot of lithium amp hours would i want a 12V fridge right now. Also I had to have a built in generator, can't lift a 60 lb anymore, things to think about, and no way was i hauling a generator n hooking one up in the rain lol! So your choices of truck n camper will have a lot to do with what will work for u! 🍻
@@SpykersB Thanks for posting this reply. There is so much good information in here. You include the answers to so many questions that buyers don’t know they should be asking. We hope you continue to enjoy your TC for years to come.