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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 😃
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 ❤🙏🐾
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.
I too had a Revel, but after a year or so came to same conclusion of being too small and not comfortable for a couple. I sold it while resale was good and replaced with a ‘22 F150 Powerboost hybrid pickup and a 22 ft. Nash 17k OTG 4 season trailer. This checks our boxes and has a comfy full size queen bed, solar, generator, dual pane windows, good insulation and much better kitchen and bathroom. Camper shell on truck offers lots of storage.
You are right with the “for now”. It’s all about how you want to travel right now and right now we want a little more comfort without the size. Thanks for watching.
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.
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.
Glad to hear the EKKO is doing you proud! I have a questions... all about the generator: 1. Do you HAVE to use the generator for the A/C or do you have enough battery power to last for your needs? 2. How many hours are your needs for A/C without the generator? 3. What is the decibel level of your generator? We don't have a generator, but our A/C is a split system with condenser under the van. If you are right next to it, it's about 73dBA, but is about 5 dBA at about 12 feet (with an ambient noise level of around 52dBa. 4. Does the generator use the fuel from the van or does it have it's own fuel system? 5. What brand is the generator? Gee... that's a lot more questions than I thought! And I probably could think of more! Oh well... have a wonderful week and be seeing you!
Hey friend! 1. Do you HAVE to use the generator for the A/C or do you have enough battery power to last for your needs? No it will run on batteries too. 2. How many hours are your needs for A/C without the generator? depends... 75-80 degree weather it will keep it cool for 4-5 hours. At night 5-6 hours. 3. What is the decibel level of your generator? We don't have a generator, but our A/C is a split system with condenser under the van. If you are right next to it, it's about 73dBA, but is about 5 dBA at about 12 feet (with an ambient noise level of around 52dBa. Haven't measured but will soon. 4. Does the generator use the fuel from the van or does it have it's own fuel system? Gas from the tank with a won't let you run out limiter 5. What brand is the generator? Onan
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle Looks like your A/C is the same kind of design as ours, and about the same level of noise. Good to know! Thanks so much for the answers! I tend to ask too many! Be seeing you!
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
Cool. My girl and I bought an rv traveled around America for 8 months all off roaring staying off the beaten path. No camp grounds. Got home moved to sc. sold the rv to move here. And I miss it sooooo much. I’m looking for a van like you guys have. Just cost too much. I’m so sad. I wanna get back on the road so bad. Happy for you guys.
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.
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!
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).
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.
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.
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.
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'm honestly surprised so many people are against cassette toilets. You can dump in a bathroom toilet and dump station. You also don't have to connect a slinky and put it away.
We totally agree! In fact we plan to do a video soon that talks about the reasons you might want to consider a cassette toilet instead of a black tank. Both have advantages over the other in some ways but like you we prefer our cassette toilet
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?????
Great video! I'm glad I found your channel. We've had a Travato and our current van is a Boldt. Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about that gear garage and dinning/work area (we have the K floor plan, so twin beds), and extra interior space of the Ekko. But not enough to change over. Anyways, I'll just live vicariously through videos like y'all's whenever I get that itch. Safe travels and thanks for the vid!
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!
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! 🤙🏼
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.
Excellent video. My wife and I are definitely in the "comfort" stage of life when it comes to travel and life in general! :) I think the Ekko is the sweet spot for us too. Just curious... I know many of the pros and cons of diesel but was wondering what your reasons were for having a gas engine as a requirement.
It's good to reach the comfort stage in life... comfort beats cool every time for us. Diesel engines are an acquired taste. More expensive to service and maintain and much fewer places to get that work done, especially the Mercedes Sprinter. We found that out when we had it. It does have much more low end torque though and the fuel mileage was better. But other than that we just missed the simplicity of gas engines and being able to get them repaired almost anywhere as we traveled.Doesn't mean our next RV won't be a diesel though. It might... it's just one of the factors for us.
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 UA-cam helps with traveling expenses. We like documenting our travels partly to be able to look back on them one day, sharing them on UA-cam 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.
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.
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.
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?
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
It's a good coach. We are thinking of the new Vista NP edition since we are still working summers managing campgrounds for the USFS in Colorado yet want the LIFEPO4 battery option with solar, etc. It seems every 2 years our needs shift some, but you got it dialed in for now!!! -David & Sheila Knapp.
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.
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.
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.
Thank you as I am waiting as this is what I want. How much ceiling space in that garage left. You may be able to hack a rack there to hang the bikes or rack the paddles or other storage. Just a thought.
We may be able to do that for sure. But we learned having something on the ceiling makes it much harder to get the bikes in. What we may experiment with is creating a false floor for the bikes and the being able to store things under it.
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.
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!
Can you elaborate on what kind of issue you had with the RV when you bought it? Were they mechanical, electrical or structural. Have you heard of other buyers having similar issues? And of course, you had to rent a hotel while the repairs were being done. That's the part I don't like about motorhomes, you have to leave your whole house in a shop, not knowing if anybody is going through your drawers.
I think we covered most of it in the video of that adventure. But a few big things... the window shades malfunctioned, issues with the Balmar charging system and a failure with the blind spot warning system. A few other minor things were repaired that we didn't even request.
Your list is very similar to ours and that’s why the EKKO is at the top of our short list right now. I’m curious, though, why don’t you want a black tank?
We will answer that in the next Q&A. But the short answer is 1) you have to empty black tank more often than grey tank, 2) allows us to empty anywhere even if no dump station around and 3) it allows us to use our toilet on the final leg of any trip and just empty it at home and 3.2) Less to carry with you and less that can go wrong.
Hey ya'll we watch you all as much as possible. We even watch the reruns of the places you love to camp. Me and my husband Jerry really like to camp at santee state park in the cypress campground. It is by the water. I just love to sit outside and watch the water. It is great. We wi be there this week from Wednesday-SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 2ND - THE 6TH. LEAVING ON MONDAY THE 7TH OF THIS COMING WEEK. IM TALKING 2022. We would love for you all to visit us. We are at campsite 45.
Interesting, I’ve had three different Camper set ups, and each time I’ve gotten a little bit smaller. So it’s very interesting to hear somebody who’s getting or going the other way. Although I don’t travel & live in my vehicle, which might make quite a bit of difference in how you perceive things. 🖖
I guess we have went both ways… really down sized with the Travato and went even smaller with the Revel, which was a little to small for us on longer trip, now we just want something a little more comfortable. I do like being smaller though.
Another great video Lynn and Owen! I love your new rig, this one and the Travato are my favorite, I enjoy watching you drive it. I noticed Maggie has a blue pillow cone around her neck, hope she is okay. She seems perky as ever in the passenger seat, so I'm sure she is, take care, Patty.
Thank you Patty. We thought some of you would notice Maggie to go to inflatable con around her neck. She keeps scratching one of her eyes so we had to put this on to keep her from doing that.
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.
DEF system is one of the main things. Adds fit he cost and it's just so finicky. High cost of fuel and maintenance is another. And on trips like Alaska it's a little harder to find diesel in remote places. There is a longer life benefit for sure but we usually don't keep RVs long enough for that to outweigh the downsides.
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.
"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.
Love your RV choice especially the out door kitchen, 4 wd capabilities, driving comfort like a big car .
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
The best comments ever. Thank you both.
Thanks for helping the newbies like us!
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.
Boy, I'm super excited to see where you go and how your new rig performs.
We appreciate you following along.
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.
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 appreciated your honesty and taking time to video!
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 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.
Great video. I wish Winnebago could increase their production of the Ekko and Travato
Thanks, we appreciate you watching.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
This has been on my list. Good to see a review of one actually being used! Thanks!
You're very welcome. Let us know if you have any questions about it. And we will be glad to answer it in one of our Q&A's.
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!
I absolutely love full time rving and I hope that I can start going out to other places after school gets out
As a retired Navy Vet, I found the information here very useful!😏🇺🇸👍🏾
Thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the to watching.
I too had a Revel, but after a year or so came to same conclusion of being too small and not comfortable for a couple. I sold it while resale was good and replaced with a ‘22 F150 Powerboost hybrid pickup and a 22 ft. Nash 17k OTG 4 season trailer. This checks our boxes and has a comfy full size queen bed, solar, generator, dual pane windows, good insulation and much better kitchen and bathroom. Camper shell on truck offers lots of storage.
Sounds like you have it figured out. Thanks for sharing.
there are heaps of them on the used market now.
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.
Looks like yall found the perfect RV.....for now!!! Happy Trails 🐕
You are right with the “for now”. It’s all about how you want to travel right now and right now we want a little more comfort without the size. Thanks for watching.
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.
. .
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.
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.
Thanks for sharing! We’ve been dreaming of the Ekko’s benefits over our short Sprinter RV Pleasure-Way Ascent.
We know the feeling 😆.
Glad to hear the EKKO is doing you proud!
I have a questions... all about the generator:
1. Do you HAVE to use the generator for the A/C or do you have enough battery power to last for your needs?
2. How many hours are your needs for A/C without the generator?
3. What is the decibel level of your generator? We don't have a generator, but our A/C is a split system with condenser under the van. If you are right next to it, it's about 73dBA, but is about 5 dBA at about 12 feet (with an ambient noise level of around 52dBa.
4. Does the generator use the fuel from the van or does it have it's own fuel system?
5. What brand is the generator?
Gee... that's a lot more questions than I thought! And I probably could think of more!
Oh well... have a wonderful week and be seeing you!
Hey friend!
1. Do you HAVE to use the generator for the A/C or do you have enough battery power to last for your needs? No it will run on batteries too.
2. How many hours are your needs for A/C without the generator? depends... 75-80 degree weather it will keep it cool for 4-5 hours. At night 5-6 hours.
3. What is the decibel level of your generator? We don't have a generator, but our A/C is a split system with condenser under the van. If you are right next to it, it's about 73dBA, but is about 5 dBA at about 12 feet (with an ambient noise level of around 52dBa. Haven't measured but will soon.
4. Does the generator use the fuel from the van or does it have it's own fuel system? Gas from the tank with a won't let you run out limiter
5. What brand is the generator? Onan
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle Looks like your A/C is the same kind of design as ours, and about the same level of noise. Good to know! Thanks so much for the answers! I tend to ask too many! Be seeing you!
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 just picked up my Storyteller MODE LT. I was really considering this Ekko. The Volta system is what really sold me.
I bet! You have enough power to light up an entire campground almost! Love those guys and their product! Top quality for sure!
Do you still like your Storyteller?
Cool. My girl and I bought an rv traveled around America for 8 months all off roaring staying off the beaten path. No camp grounds. Got home moved to sc. sold the rv to move here. And I miss it sooooo much. I’m looking for a van like you guys have. Just cost too much. I’m so sad. I wanna get back on the road so bad. Happy for you guys.
Thank you Russell! Maybe get a cargo version of a good chassis and build one out gradually. We actually may do that one of these days too.
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.
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.
You guys are wonderful! Thanks for this video, you've made me think twice about the EKKO.
Thank you so much. We appreciate your comment.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Awesome review, thanks!🎉❤
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.
Nice review! Quick release pedals designed for folding bikes makes the bikes easier to stack closer together.
Good tip! Our Rad's already have holdup pedals on them.
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'm honestly surprised so many people are against cassette toilets. You can dump in a bathroom toilet and dump station. You also don't have to connect a slinky and put it away.
We totally agree! In fact we plan to do a video soon that talks about the reasons you might want to consider a cassette toilet instead of a black tank. Both have advantages over the other in some ways but like you we prefer our cassette toilet
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’,
Great video! I'm glad I found your channel. We've had a Travato and our current van is a Boldt. Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about that gear garage and dinning/work area (we have the K floor plan, so twin beds), and extra interior space of the Ekko. But not enough to change over. Anyways, I'll just live vicariously through videos like y'all's whenever I get that itch. Safe travels and thanks for the vid!
The Boldt is an awesome rig… there is so much to love in both.
Love it. Hoping you have protection, stay safe.
Thank you.
“ the Browns to the Super Bowl” - we are cracking up! Another great video, y’all. 🎃
Gotta go. Might as well be happy about it 😂😂
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.
Cheers from Arizona. Great vid. Thank you.
Cheers to you my friend. Thanks for watching.
That’s real life. Glad for your guys!
Thanks for watching.
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.
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.
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.
Excellent video. My wife and I are definitely in the "comfort" stage of life when it comes to travel and life in general! :) I think the Ekko is the sweet spot for us too. Just curious... I know many of the pros and cons of diesel but was wondering what your reasons were for having a gas engine as a requirement.
It's good to reach the comfort stage in life... comfort beats cool every time for us. Diesel engines are an acquired taste. More expensive to service and maintain and much fewer places to get that work done, especially the Mercedes Sprinter. We found that out when we had it. It does have much more low end torque though and the fuel mileage was better. But other than that we just missed the simplicity of gas engines and being able to get them repaired almost anywhere as we traveled.Doesn't mean our next RV won't be a diesel though. It might... it's just one of the factors for us.
Love the paint design but for the price they can do better than a cassette toliet. Ill just get a Cross trail thank you.
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 UA-cam helps with traveling expenses. We like documenting our travels partly to be able to look back on them one day, sharing them on UA-cam 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 🙏
I clicked subscribe when you said "taking the Browns to the Super bowl.".
Thanks for subscribing.
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.
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.
Looks like a great option for me and my wife to buy for our long trips going to dog shows instead of wasting money on a hotel room.
It would be a good option. Thanks for watching.
Awesome review
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.
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.
Just wish the front seating area was more useful, had a small recliner, etc.. Also you didn't mention your mpg?
great analysis
Comparing Lynn's smile on this purchase versus the Revel, says it all.
That is such a great observation and so true.
Excellent review😊
Thanks
Maggie was ready to travel!!!
She’s always ready to travel. She loves it.
You better hope those problems don’t persist quality is not something to skip over.
So far so good.
wwowowow thanks! i think about revel and ekko !!!! yes i will buy ekko thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!
It's a good coach. We are thinking of the new Vista NP edition since we are still working summers managing campgrounds for the USFS in Colorado yet want the LIFEPO4 battery option with solar, etc. It seems every 2 years our needs shift some, but you got it dialed in for now!!! -David & Sheila Knapp.
We also find our needs shifting every couple of years. The Vista looks really nice. Good luck. Thanks for the comment.
I'm concerned about which chassis to go with, the Transit or Sprinter. Has your Transit been trouble free, or ??
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.
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.
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.
Thank you as I am waiting as this is what I want. How much ceiling space in that garage left. You may be able to hack a rack there to hang the bikes or rack the paddles or other storage. Just a thought.
We may be able to do that for sure. But we learned having something on the ceiling makes it much harder to get the bikes in. What we may experiment with is creating a false floor for the bikes and the being able to store things under it.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle Now that sounds cool and being able to access it that way sounds much easier.
Nice unit😊
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.
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 am glad you bought it also.
The revel screamed yuppie too me 🤢
We are not yuppie’s for sure. We appreciate you watching.
Really enjoying your channel.
Thank you so much. We appreciate you watching.
Can you elaborate on what kind of issue you had with the RV when you bought it? Were they mechanical, electrical or structural. Have you heard of other buyers having similar issues? And of course, you had to rent a hotel while the repairs were being done. That's the part I don't like about motorhomes, you have to leave your whole house in a shop, not knowing if anybody is going through your drawers.
I think we covered most of it in the video of that adventure. But a few big things... the window shades malfunctioned, issues with the Balmar charging system and a failure with the blind spot warning system. A few other minor things were repaired that we didn't even request.
Great vid ,I am looking up the echo now thanks
Thanks, we appreciate you watching.
Your list is very similar to ours and that’s why the EKKO is at the top of our short list right now.
I’m curious, though, why don’t you want a black tank?
I wonder that too. If you have to dump gray, why is black an issue?
We will answer that in the next Q&A. But the short answer is 1) you have to empty black tank more often than grey tank, 2) allows us to empty anywhere even if no dump station around and 3) it allows us to use our toilet on the final leg of any trip and just empty it at home and 3.2) Less to carry with you and less that can go wrong.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle All valid reasons (and I figured you had them 😉).
Hey ya'll we watch you all as much as possible. We even watch the reruns of the places you love to camp. Me and my husband Jerry really like to camp at santee state park in the cypress campground. It is by the water. I just love to sit outside and watch the water. It is great. We wi be there this week from Wednesday-SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 2ND - THE 6TH. LEAVING ON MONDAY THE 7TH OF THIS COMING WEEK. IM TALKING 2022. We would love for you all to visit us. We are at campsite 45.
I wish we could join you. But we're actually heading the opposite direction. Maybe next time?
Interesting, I’ve had three different Camper set ups, and each time I’ve gotten a little bit smaller. So it’s very interesting to hear somebody who’s getting or going the other way.
Although I don’t travel & live in my vehicle, which might make quite a bit of difference in how you perceive things. 🖖
I guess we have went both ways… really down sized with the Travato and went even smaller with the Revel, which was a little to small for us on longer trip, now we just want something a little more comfortable. I do like being smaller though.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle
Believe me, I understand comfort, it’s just hard to get into certain places with a bigger rig! There’s always trade-offs. 🖖
Another great video Lynn and Owen! I love your new rig, this one and the Travato are my favorite, I enjoy watching you drive it. I noticed Maggie has a blue pillow cone around her neck, hope she is okay. She seems perky as ever in the passenger seat, so I'm sure she is, take care, Patty.
Thank you Patty. We thought some of you would notice Maggie to go to inflatable con around her neck. She keeps scratching one of her eyes so we had to put this on to keep her from doing that.
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.
Which vehicle do you find less tiring and more comfortable overall?
We will answer that in today’s Q&A. But we both agree the EKKO is more comfortable overall.
What don’t you like about diesel?
DEF system is one of the main things. Adds fit he cost and it's just so finicky. High cost of fuel and maintenance is another. And on trips like Alaska it's a little harder to find diesel in remote places. There is a longer life benefit for sure but we usually don't keep RVs long enough for that to outweigh the downsides.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle good points sir
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:ua-cam.com/video/jnrUq1auWPc/v-deo.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.