Finally saw the Winnebago Travato
I finally got to see the Winnebago Travato yesterday at the Des Moines RV show. I found it very interesting and I personally think they have a homerun for a very specific market. Interestingly, and in line with what seems to be their marketing strategy, this vehicle is supposed to be on display at the Chicago Auto Show this weekend through next. We are headed into that show next weekend so it will be interesting to see it and listen to reaction in that type of an environment.
After spending some time with it, I don't really consider it an RV for an RV user. It seems like you'd go to the Winnebago Trend if that was your need.
To me, this vehicle is an awesome new incarnation of the high-end SUV and/or even the minivan. I think soccer moms, parents with kids involved in lots of all-day sports/dance competitions, etc, and families that travel long distances would fall in love with this vehicle. Of course it has all of the typical RV features including kitchen, bath and bed, but more importantly the storage was fantastic. With the bed folded up against the wall it was almost like a small cargo van back there. You could pile suitcases, athletic equipment, etc., and it wouldn't impede the access from the driver's seat, through the galley and into the bathroom. Even with the bed down, since it is just a suspended board with a mattress on top, there is more than a car trunk amount of space in the back below the bed.
Would I camp in this? Nope. Would I spend a night in it along the road some time? Maybe. Everything is there to do that if you wanted to. But if I was in the market for a Cadillac Escalade, a decked out Tahoe or Suburban or any of the high-end SUV's by Infinity, Lexus or even the Toyota Land Cruiser, I personally would spend a LOT of time looking at the Winnebago Travato instead. I was intrigued.
After spending some time with it, I don't really consider it an RV for an RV user. It seems like you'd go to the Winnebago Trend if that was your need.
To me, this vehicle is an awesome new incarnation of the high-end SUV and/or even the minivan. I think soccer moms, parents with kids involved in lots of all-day sports/dance competitions, etc, and families that travel long distances would fall in love with this vehicle. Of course it has all of the typical RV features including kitchen, bath and bed, but more importantly the storage was fantastic. With the bed folded up against the wall it was almost like a small cargo van back there. You could pile suitcases, athletic equipment, etc., and it wouldn't impede the access from the driver's seat, through the galley and into the bathroom. Even with the bed down, since it is just a suspended board with a mattress on top, there is more than a car trunk amount of space in the back below the bed.
Would I camp in this? Nope. Would I spend a night in it along the road some time? Maybe. Everything is there to do that if you wanted to. But if I was in the market for a Cadillac Escalade, a decked out Tahoe or Suburban or any of the high-end SUV's by Infinity, Lexus or even the Toyota Land Cruiser, I personally would spend a LOT of time looking at the Winnebago Travato instead. I was intrigued.
