Some more Travato notes...

[mlts22]

Since dealers have Travatos out in person, there are some quirks about this van that don't pop up in other "B" vans:

1: The shower drain uses a sump pump, that you turn on when showing, turn off when the water is drained out of the pan. Sort of reminds me about the setup in the Winnebago Rialta.

2: The grey water has a macerator pump to move it to the dump port. One has to get all the sewage connectors in place, pull the grey valve, then go to the back of the van, open the right door, and then push the button until the macerator pump sound changes.

3: As discussed previously it has an electric water heater, so either shore power is needed or the generator needs to be on.

4: The A/C is not like the furnace -- you use the controls on the roof A/C directly, rather than a thermostat. It also has a heat strip, which is better than a heat pump in colder weather.

5: Winterization is easy, since you have access to the top of the FW tank. Empty things out, dump the pink stuff using a funnel through the top of the tank, run it through the pump and all fixtures, call it done. Same with sanitization. Pour bleach water in the tank, run it through, call it done.

6: The refer is a Dometic three-way, the 12 volt circuit only works while the engine is running, so I am willing to guess that it is a "best practice", before hitting the highways, one puts the refer on the 12vdc circuit.

7: The front-facing rear seats look like a tight fit.

Of course, the flip-up bed makes for an odd, but doable, way of travelling for distances longer than a day or two:

When on the road, flip the bed up, and store items that normally go outdoors (like a portable macerator pump, "real" sewage hose, portable EMS, regulator, etc.) in multiple wheeled chests that are locking, stacked up. When you hit the destination, pull the chests out and lock them somewhere nearby (tree, power pedestal, etc.) That will allow the bed to be flipped down. This can be a bit of work, but it is a way to pack more for a longer trip.

Of course, a swing away hitch mounted cargo carrier is a must for longer trips.

[RobertRyan]

mlts22 wrote:
In Europe, this isn't an issue... they just pop the cork and let the grey water dump in a trough. Their rigs do not have black water tanks, but cassettes that they yank out and dump in yet another trough or pit toilet. European campsites tend to be more primitive, so FHU is unheard of. At best there might be electricity available.

Do not know about that .Australian visitors to the US have complained about some very substandard RV Parks in the US. So how the European parks compare to the US do not know. We have cassette toilets, there is an aversion here to dump tanks on a RV.

[mlts22]

I myself am biding my time, and doing research. I wanted to have a "B" last April-May last year when I was about to get a Sportsmobile upfitted, but got nailed by ID theft of a large nature (thanks to a place I worked over 10-15 years ago and their lack of security), which took me a good chunk of a year + lawyer fees to get my credit record fixed, and the bill collector calls from banks I've never heard of stopped.

The units shown at the earlier shows were earlier prototypes. Winnebago had to do some workarounds in order to get functioning shower pans (due to the low van clearance) and to get the grey water dumping from the same outlet as the black.

In Europe, this isn't an issue... they just pop the cork and let the grey water dump in a trough. Their rigs do not have black water tanks, but cassettes that they yank out and dump in yet another trough or pit toilet. European campsites tend to be more primitive, so FHU is unheard of. At best there might be electricity available.

I thought long and hard about seeing if I could toss the 120 VAC heater... but from what I've seen, it is a no-can-do. Cutting through the van would mean cutting into a load bearing structure, which isn't good on a unibody van.

I think patience is the word here. I -could- deal with a Travato, but it just has so many quirks that if Winnebago is anywhere close to making a "version 1.1" floorplan, it is more than worth waiting for. (One shouldn't just keep waiting, as they will wait forever, but with a "version 1.0" motorhome, it is wise to see what improvements are done.)

Of course, if Winnebago made a gasser Transit based "B", that would solve a lot of the issues plaguing the Travato. I mentioned this before, but a high roof, 22 foot Transit would be a very useful "B", especially if a false floor is put in (so the tanks can be placed inside the van proper, or a real shower pan put in for proper drainage without relying on sump pumps and macerator pumps.) JMHO, I like the idea of a macerator pump, but just on the grey water might be needed for engineering, but it adds complexity.

Since I'm looking to buy a unit at least this year, if Winnebago doesn't have any "version 1.1" announcements or models, I might just buy a Trend. It is a foot fatter in width, foot higher in height, and two feet longer, but it has nowhere near the quirks the Travato has.

[bobojay5]

erip wrote:
bobojay:
i spoke to the sales department at great west right after the tampa show and they told me that the second floorplan without the 4 seats was going to be produced. However, they never did follow up with further information. For those of us looking forward to a promaster conversion, i think patience is going to be the word. I am drawn to the vehicle because of its width wise sleeping capability and width at the roof to make for better bathroom/shower capability and overall feeling or more room in a small space. I mostly dry camp/boondock and love the versatility of small vehicle, fully equipped. The Eko had potential but that company seems to have come and gone already

EKO turned out to be a "flash in the pan", not enough money, then say, just walk away from your customer kind of deal. They left people hanging after ordering units and paying.
Patience is the key word here. The Transit is coming along real quickly, and it'll be a big player too

[RobertRyan]

erip wrote:
It's a bit surprising to me that the promaster/ducato has been converted to b's in europe for years and they have done amazing jobs (see autocruise, rapido, and even winnebago in austrailia) and the first one out here in the U.S. is underwhelming.. I'll wait a year or two and hope other brands will jump into promaster conversion

I very much agree. What I have seen of the initial Winnebago effort was very underwhelming compared to AVIDA(Formerly Winnebago here) and Jayco(Not owned by Jayco US). I noticed their Class C version was very similar to the AVIDA version as far seat covering, colours go and the provision of a drop down bed.

[Fastpaddler]

erip wrote:
bobojay:
i spoke to the sales department at great west right after the tampa show and they told me that the second floorplan without the 4 seats was going to be produced. However, they never did follow up with further information. For those of us looking forward to a promaster conversion, i think patience is going to be the word. I am drawn to the vehicle because of its width wise sleeping capability and width at the roof to make for better bathroom/shower capability and overall feeling or more room in a small space. I mostly dry camp/boondock and love the versatility of small vehicle, fully equipped. The Eko had potential but that company seems to have come and gone already

I agree. I think GWV & PW too will get on the bandwagon and have a floorplan without the 4 seats allowing more space for wet bath etc. I think there is a market here and in the US.
AL

[erip]

bobojay:
i spoke to the sales department at great west right after the tampa show and they told me that the second floorplan without the 4 seats was going to be produced. However, they never did follow up with further information. For those of us looking forward to a promaster conversion, i think patience is going to be the word. I am drawn to the vehicle because of its width wise sleeping capability and width at the roof to make for better bathroom/shower capability and overall feeling or more room in a small space. I mostly dry camp/boondock and love the versatility of small vehicle, fully equipped. The Eko had potential but that company seems to have come and gone already

[bobojay5]

erip wrote:
MLTS
I agree with your assessments. I was all set to buy a travato, had financing lined up and then went to see it at the hershey show. Most peoples complaints sounded like "looking for a class A on a B platform,so i didn't pay attention. I liked the layout and the larger bathroom since i am a drycamper and rarely use hook ups.
The deal breaker for me was the HWH. I can't have a generator running for 20 minutes in a parking lot where i am attempting to be discreet, just to take my morning shower. The pump in the shower was the second dealbreaker since that just seems like a disaster waiting to happen. The fit and finish on the one at the hershey show was also very disappointing for winnebago.. shoddy window coverings , etc.
It's a bit surprising to me that the promaster/ducato has been converted to b's in europe for years and they have done amazing jobs (see autocruise, rapido, and even winnebago in austrailia) and the first one out here in the U.S. is underwhelming.. I'll wait a year or two and hope other brands will jump into promaster conversions. The extra width makes for lots of RV in a small space.
Great West is supposed to be bringing out a second floorplan in the new classic, anyone hearing of anyone else?

I'll guarantee you what you saw at Hershey was a very early, possibly a prototype unit. All the pictures I've seen people posting from these shows in January, the vans had steel wheels with wheel covers, (supposed to be aluminum). Also some of the outside add ons have been changed somewhat from the first few. I may be clear out in left field here though too.
Also, mlts22 and I have discussed the possibility of a tankless water heater install to replace the electric only. Would that be possible?

The Great West PM van supposedly is a 4 passenger unit. Is there a second floor plan coming already?

[erip]

MLTS
I agree with your assessments. I was all set to buy a travato, had financing lined up and then went to see it at the hershey show. Most peoples complaints sounded like "looking for a class A on a B platform,so i didn't pay attention. I liked the layout and the larger bathroom since i am a drycamper and rarely use hook ups.
The deal breaker for me was the HWH. I can't have a generator running for 20 minutes in a parking lot where i am attempting to be discreet, just to take my morning shower. The pump in the shower was the second dealbreaker since that just seems like a disaster waiting to happen. The fit and finish on the one at the hershey show was also very disappointing for winnebago.. shoddy window coverings , etc.
It's a bit surprising to me that the promaster/ducato has been converted to b's in europe for years and they have done amazing jobs (see autocruise, rapido, and even winnebago in austrailia) and the first one out here in the U.S. is underwhelming.. I'll wait a year or two and hope other brands will jump into promaster conversions. The extra width makes for lots of RV in a small space.
Great West is supposed to be bringing out a second floorplan in the new classic, anyone hearing of anyone else?

[Snowman9000]

Yes, full hook ups.

[retraite]

bobojay5 wrote:
FHU?

I think he means Full Hook Up.

Cheers.

[bobojay5]

FHU?

[stan909]

The bed is firm but better than any fold out couch I've experienced. Put a topper as most class B'ers use anyway and it would be very comfortable but a little narrow.Yes I did lay down on it ( much to my son's horror ) as I do with every RV I try out. Anyone who doesn't is foolish considering you will spend a quarter of your time in it.

[stan909]

What is a "FHU" buyer? I disagree with the way this vehicle will be used. The bed will only be raised when hauling things. While traveling it will probably be in lowered position with storaged things like chairs, patio mat,extra water,clothing,food,fire wood. Most of which will be in tubs that fit the situation.

[charles]

I don't know. I think for $7 or $8,000 more I would be all over the Pleasure-way Lexor. It looks like it will have a lot of rattles and squeaks with the beds snapped up, and the mattress appears to be only 3" thick. To each his own but I just can't see any value there.

Nick