Video Review of Winnebago Travato 59G

Great attention to detail.I knew you wouldn't disappoint. Thanks.

wincrasher65 wrote:
I posted a rather long review of my new 2015 Winnebago Travato 59G. You may want to skip thru some parts that don't interest you.

http://wincrasher.blogspot.com/2015/04/new-2015-winnebago-travato-59g.html

Great review of your Campervan, much , much better than those "PR" type reviews
The equivalent here is the AVIDA Escape and it is much in need of an update, I think the next Caravsn and Camping show on next week, has a group of vehicles from AVIDA that have been renewed
AVIDA Escape Video

Lot of good ideas in that one. Like the drawers available outside and the fold-out table.

Excellent video with a lot of information that is very helpful to me, a perspective buyer of the 59G.

Just a couple follow-up questions.

(1) Battery and Generator Position - How serious should one be concerned with the low clearance of the battery and generator, including the potential of getting them damaged? Furthermore, how difficulty would it be for doing some routine maintenance work on them yourself, particularly with the battery? A specific question that I have about the battery is whether it is easy to connect a trickle charge cable to the battery terminals during winter storage time without removing the battery. Also, how difficult it is to remove the battery in case you really have to without using a high bay?

(2) The Need for Pumping out the Grey Tank - This is something that's not normally required by most other RVs and an additional piece of part to worry about. Do you think that this will stay with the 59G for a long time due to its particular floor plan or whether it likely that WB might eliminate this problem on the 2016 model of the 59G?

(3) Any words on when the 2016 59G will become available? What some of the things that you would like to see improved on the third year model, such as switching to the new hot water heating system as that of the 59K?

Thanks again for your great postings relating to the Winnebago Travato 59G and 59K.

The battery is 7 inches off the ground. It's AGM, so there really is no maintenance. The RV has a smart type charger/converter built in, so if you leave the rig plugged in, it will float the battery. I suppose, if you wanted to you could add a pigtail on the battery terminals to use a battery tender or some type device. Just a matter of crawling under the van and unbolting, and bolting it back together. Not a hard project at all.

The generator is low. It would be tough to do generator maintenance without putting it on a lift or using some stout ramps. Ideally one of those quick lube places with the trench in the center of the floor would be the place to go. Someone who's actually do it themselves may want to chime in here.

I'm not concerned with the low clearance under the van. It's still much higher than most cars. I just think you need to go around any debris you may encounter in the road instead of trying to run over it or straddle it with the tires. You may end up getting something stuck under there on the axle. But then again, it's certainly higher than my Honda Accord, and I've never hit anything or got anything wedged under it.

The pump out is due to the layout and the shower being on the floor with no p-trap. I think any future models will also have this "feature" unless they can delete the generator and place the grey tank behind the rear axle. Not likely any time soon.

Most B-vans actually have a macerator pump and small diameter hose on the black tank. To me, that sounds like more of a worry of a disgusting mess than a pump on the grey system.

I believe now if you order a new van from the factory it will be a 2016 model. Someone said there are additional colors, but haven't said there were any new features. One way to find out is to ask your local dealer to get you a build/order sheet.

Top of my list for things I'd like to see is the Truma system and a second battery. Think both of those are do-able.

Great video review. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

There is 6" of ground clearance to the generator and it seems to hang below the rear axle. Just for comparison, this is almost exactly the same ground clearance as my wife's 2 door Honda Accord (5.8"). My mid-size SUV has 7 1/2" ground clearance (and even then it is not a generator that would hit first). You definitely can't take this van on many of the Forest Service Roads I travel on out west.

I would also be concerned about having my batteries exposed to the elements under the van. How does this work in rain, snow and mud? One rainy day on a dirt road and you would have a mess in those exposed battery slots.

This seems like a van built for blacktop roads which is fine for people that never leave the main highways. There are a lot of interesting places though that this van wouldn't see. I love the floorpan though.

jrobe wrote:
I would also be concerned about having my batteries exposed to the elements under the van. How does this work in rain, snow and mud? One rainy day on a dirt road and you would have a mess in those exposed battery slots.

This seems like a van built for blacktop roads which is fine for people that never leave the main highways. There are a lot of interesting places though that this van wouldn't see. I love the floor plan though.

Exposed battery slots? What's that? These are AGM batteries that WGO installs. They are sealed top, not serviceable. Only thing sticking out of them is the small posts with the bolt holes for the cables.
On the WGO Sprinter class B's, the coach batteries are right behind the rear wheels on both sides. Granted Sprinters have splash guards on the rears, but there is still a lot of water spray gets back there. Never been an issue for us or anyone else, (5 of them), that we know with the same setup.
Like has been said, 6 1/2 or 7" clearance back there is higher than most cars out there

Do AGM battery terminals have issues with corrosion that need tending and terminal cleaning or tightening? I never once saw the AGM chassis battery in my 2010 Sprinter in four years of ownership.

Davydd wrote:
Do AGM battery terminals have issues with corrosion that need tending and terminal cleaning or tightening? I never once saw the AGM chassis battery in my 2010 Sprinter in four years of ownership.

I've never seen a hint of corrosion with AGM.

Thanks. A lot of great information in that video.