First Time Rver Looking For the Right One

[Jack Parker]

Hello folks, I'm Jack. I'm about to retire a few years early and have been researching for this moment for the last five years. I'm planning to buy an RV so I can kill three birds with one very expensive, not-so-durable stone. First, to have a place to live while I take a few months to explore the areas of the country that I'm considering settling down in. Second, for the many extended road trips I have planned in the future! And third, to get a taste of full-time RV/Van Life; something that's interested me for the last 30 years!

Choosing an RV has been easy - and difficult. I knew I didn't want to tow anything or have a big ol' Class A. A full-sized Class C is great, but I don't want slides or the overhead bunk that extends over the windshield. I like keeping life simple and I'm content in smaller spaces. It'll just be me and a dog (or cat). A custom built, Class B, high roof, extended length Ford Transit van would be 99% perfect, but I couldn't find the kind of builder to suit my style. Well, not in the U.S. anyway. The UK has plenty, but I'm not in the UK!

That leaves the B+, which narrowed down the pickin's to the Navion and the EKKO. The Navion has the perfect layout... except that it's a diesel, and that's a deal-breaker for me. That fact also ruled out the Winnebago EKKO 24B, though I like the extra living space. That basically leaves me with the EKKO 22A! That's alright by me because, in years past, it was the first RV that really caught my interest.

I'm a first-time RVer, so I'm here to learn. I warn you, I ask a lot of questions! But, I also do a lot of research. I live so simply that most folks ask me if I'm Amish! (I got rid of my TV permanently in the 90's and have never had a microwave, dishwasher, video games, etc., After they invented indoor plumbing and A/C, I was content.) But, there's a difference between reading articles and watching influencer videos, and getting advice and recommendations from real life Rvers, like yourselves. I don't do social media (another Amish trait?) so I can't join the highly recommended EKKO forum groups on Facebook. Instead, I chose to join one forum. After reading through several of them, I reckoned this one suited me best. Lots of kind, helpful folks and I appreciated the forum rules.

This is likely more of an intro than most folks care for. I apologize for that. But, if you happen to see my questions around the forums and are kind enough to reply, I thank you.

 

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Jack-
Winnebago offered the Fuse on the Ford transit chassis for 2016-2019. Here's a link to a Winnebago Fuse product Web page and here's a link to a Fuse brochure page.

As far as I know, all Fuses have a Ford diesel engine. If you're dead-set against a diesel, well, there you are. But, if you're dead set against a Mercedes/Sprinter diesel, the Fuse would still work for you.

There are three floor plans:
23A Two twin beds
23F Corner full short bed
23T Slide queen short bed

The "dry bath" in the Fuse is a nice feature for a Class B+.

 

[Morich]

HEAH! A man that thinks before he leaps? I'm good with that idea and I do really find we make fewer major mistakes if we think what we are about to do!
I might point out some things l find about the RV world. One is that Winnebago has been doing it a very long time and one reason we find so many of them on the road is that the company does seem to try to help keep them repaired! Not perfect but they try!

So they p[ut a lot of info online to help sort things from buying to repair, but it cuts the chase if we know where to look!
Winn home page for links to lots of other info from new to very old RV that have on the road:

Home - Winnebago

www.winnebago.com

Under the "owners" tab for lots of links.
If you are shopping used and not older than the 2010 models, don't fail to look in on the interactive parts catalog as it can give lots of detail, almost like being in, under and through the real RV.
It has a learning curve, so lots of "play" with how to move around is needed to get good at using it but I feel it is worth it when shopping for several reasons.
I find it really worthwhile to know BEFORE I go deal with sales!
Sales booklets can show nice pictures but they never show where the waste tank sets!
I used to live in cold country and got used to dealing with freezing, so I use the drawings to judge where water lines are most likely to freeze when they are in the outside wall, etc.

Just as a personal note on how I shop RV? I have stopped buying new as a way to let the first owners deal with those "new RV" problems. Let them set at the dealer for a month while they get around to fixing things under warranty! Well kept, low milage, two to ten years old are my sweet spot!

Best of luck in the whole trek and keep in mind that you are helping us as much as we help you. Forums are no fun if we just keep talking to the same folks.

But when those questions do come up, please let us know which RV you mean as there are way to many and they are all different in small ways!

 

[Jack Parker]

Jack-
Winnebago offered the Fuse on the Ford transit chassis for 2016-2019. Here's a link to a Winnebago Fuse product Web page and here's a link to a Fuse brochure page.

As far as I know, all Fuses have a Ford diesel engine. If you're dead-set against a diesel, well, there you are. But, if you're dead set against a Mercedes/Sprinter diesel, the Fuse would still work for you.

There are three floor plans:
23A Two twin beds
23F Corner full short bed
23T Slide queen short bed

The "dry bath" in the Fuse is a nice feature for a Class B+.

View attachment 1335512

I'm going to check that out right now, thank you for the suggestion and the resource link!

 

[Jack Parker]

HEAH! A man that thinks before he leaps? I'm good with that idea and I do really find we make fewer major mistakes if we think what we are about to do!
I might point out some things l find about the RV world. One is that Winnebago has been doing it a very long time and one reason we find so many of them on the road is that the company does seem to try to help keep them repaired! Not perfect but they try!

So they p[ut a lot of info online to help sort things from buying to repair, but it cuts the chase if we know where to look!
Winn home page for links to lots of other info from new to very old RV that have on the road:

Home - Winnebago

www.winnebago.com

Under the "owners" tab for lots of links.
If you are shopping used and not older than the 2010 models, don't fail to look in on the interactive parts catalog as it can give lots of detail, almost like being in, under and through the real RV.
It has a learning curve, so lots of "play" with how to move around is needed to get good at using it but I feel it is worth it when shopping for several reasons.
I find it really worthwhile to know BEFORE I go deal with sales!
Sales booklets can show nice pictures but they never show where the waste tank sets!
I used to live in cold country and got used to dealing with freezing, so I use the drawings to judge where water lines are most likely to freeze when they are in the outside wall, etc.

Just as a personal note on how I shop RV? I have stopped buying new as a way to let the first owners deal with those "new RV" problems. Let them set at the dealer for a month while they get around to fixing things under warranty! Well kept, low milage, two to ten years old are my sweet spot!

Best of luck in the whole trek and keep in mind that you are helping us as much as we help you. Forums are no fun if we just keep talking to the same folks.

But when those questions do come up, please let us know which RV you mean as there are way to many and they are all different in small ways!

Posts like this are exactly why I chose to join this forum. I couldn't be more grateful.

 

[Pointyears]

Jack-
Winnebago offered the Fuse on the Ford transit chassis for 2016-2019. Here's a link to a Winnebago Fuse product Web page and here's a link to a Fuse brochure page.

As far as I know, all Fuses have a Ford diesel engine. If you're dead-set against a diesel, well, there you are. But, if you're dead set against a Mercedes/Sprinter diesel, the Fuse would still work for you.

There are three floor plans:
23A Two twin beds
23F Corner full short bed
23T Slide queen short bed

The "dry bath" in the Fuse is a nice feature for a Class B+.

View attachment 1335512

I had no idea that a diesel Transit was a thing or that WBGO ever used Transits. I thought it was all M-B all the way. Live and learn.

 

[Ginnybax]

Whatever you decide to buy, whether it is new or used, do yourself a favor and get it inspected by an independent RV inspector!

 

[fanrgs]

I have been retired for 15 years. We bought a 22' travel trailer a year after I retired and took it on a number of long trips, including Alaska. When my wife decided she wanted a better kitchen and a private bedroom, we bought a fifth wheel. But she wasn't comfortable driving either tow vehicle with the trailer hitched up. After 2 years of online research, attending RV shows, and visiting dealers, we bought a small motorhome.

Our 2020 Navion 24V is a pleasure to drive and has plenty of power (and gears) to handle the mountains of Colorado, where we live. My wife loves loves our 12v fridge, induction cooktop, and convection-micro. I love our solar panels, Li batteries, inverter, and Truma tankless WH. And I have added more rooftop and portable solar panels and an MPPT controller. So, we can dry camp and boondock without the need to use the generator (1 hour of generator run-time at a campsite in four years of MH travel). Since we summer camp at altitude, travel elsewhere in spring and fall, and snowbird south of I-10 in winter, we rarely have need of air conditioning.

BTW, the overcab bed in the View-Navion twins is an option. There are many used and new Views and Navions for sale without that "protrusion" sticking out. But, if the OP is dead set against a diesel, there is another option besides an EKKO. The Coachmen Cross Trail is a Class B+/C on a Ford Transit with a floorplan somewhat similar to our Navion 24V, with twin beds convertible to a king. However, it has a split bath, with the shower across the hallway from the toilet and sink.

Whatever he decides, Good Luck to the OP!

 

[fanrgs]

OP, take a look at this link: Winnebago View, no overcab bed. Still a Sprinter diesel, but no big protrusion over the cab. However, it does have two slides, so ?

And at a Winnebago Ram Promaster van-based Class B+ called a "Trend" at this link: Winnebago Trend. This one has front-wheel drive and a non-turbo, gas V-6 engine, so need to ever replace an expensive turbo. And, with FWD, no drive shaft or rear differential to interfere with cargo space and ride height. I haven't had a Promaster van, but they apparently ride and drive more like a car than a stiff-suspension truck.