Believe it or not, I bought a new van!

[Viperml]

Edit. My error. I thought wincrasher traded in his Oliver trailer.

[stanw909]

The new TT is for cold(all) weather. Go to the open discussion fi rum where he reports on it extensively. He has a very, very comprehensive YouTube video as well.

[wincrasher]

Yes, the Oliver is for my work lodgings. I have projects in cold weather places. Previously, I had a large 5th wheel trailer for that purpose that was nearly impossible to keep warm. The Oliver solves that problem nicely!

For all my vacationing and adventuring, I have the B-van. There's no better way to travel!

[AK49er]

I also vote for a video on your new van, as stanw said, your Oliver video was excellent.

[Fastpaddler1]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

I pulled the trigger on a new Travato 59G. Here's a pic of it:


Why would I buy another one you ask? Because it's an excellent van, of course!

I sat and thought long and hard about what I wanted out of a van, and I kept coming back to what I already had. The 59K has some cool features, but it comes up short on some of my must haves. Also, the diesel didn't do it for me. You'd end up being woefully short on LP capacity, and the sample van had the check engine light on - not a good sign. The better mileage may wash the difference in fuel cost, but not the $5700 option price for the engine.

So here were my hot buttons:
Large refrigerator
Table for dining and playing cards
Rear area open for storage/cargo

More storage
Wet bath with no interior woodwork
Painted body panels
18-20 mpg
Option for better bike rack
Quality construction

What I didn't get, which I wanted, was a second battery and solar. I'm exploring having the dealer add these items. The small improvements throughout the van - the tweaks they've made from owner feedback - really make the van more desirable. At least to me anyways.

I also considered a Roadtrek for the engine alternator, but I don't really care for the layout nor the particle board cabinetry. I also considered the Lexor, and talked with the Pleasureway rep about it. They are waiting on Dodge to provide vans with the rotating seats (turns out the rotating mechanism is an aftermarket part that Winnebago and Roadtrek use) and plan to have painted fenders on 2016 models. Just didn't care for the layout, or the $15k higher price tag.

I also considered a Sprinter. The Era 170x was pretty nice, and I could get a good deal on it (~$94k), but ultimately, I don't want a van that big.

The options on this van were the Fiamma roof rack & bike rack, the paint scheme, the shiny cabinetry and the screen doors. Ended up out the door in the low 70's. Actually I'm out the door with a check for $8k, as I traded my old van and a 5th wheel trailer for it and got cash back, but that is a long story.

Well, I studied your choice and I agree with you. It has all one needs and without high and higher costs of Sprinters nowadays without much extra benefit. Well done and Congratulations.
AL

[bobojay]

I'd like to see a detailed video of what's underneath the van and inside the cabinets, also where everything is.....

[wincrasher]

OK. Maybe this weekend I'll have a chance to shoot a review. I have a wide-angle lens I want to use, so that should do well underneath and inside tight spaces.

[eurovanman]

Wincrasher,

What is the difference between your new Travato 59g and your "old" Travato 59g. Also, does anyone know what the g and the k stand for?

JP
1995 Eurovan Camper

[eurovanman]

Another question, Do you know why the 59g has an all electric water heater and the 59k has the truma combo heater? Also what is your ground clearance, is it much lower than a sprinter, the battery underneath exposed scares me.

[gerrym51]

the lowest thing on a promaster is usually the Onan generator. if nothing else is lower than that it seems ok to me

[wincrasher]

The 59G has the electric water heater because of the layout. There are rules about how close an ignition source can be from the fuel fill on the van. In the 59k, the placement is far enough away to have a LP device.

I suspect on future models of the 59G, they will swap out the furnace unit for a Truma unit like in the 59K. Then the electric water heater would go away and free up that space below the dinette seat. But that is only speculation.

The electric unit does work very well. It gets scalding hot in about 20 mins and stays warm for hours. The couple that full timed in their 59G would only run it about 10 mins to get tepid, and then take their showers at full hot. I may try that technique - it seems to make some sense if you are boondocking.

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

the lowest thing on a promaster is usually the Onan generator. if nothing else is lower than that it seems ok to me

It is about 1/4" lower than the rear axle. Mostly that is the skid plate/housing. Nothing on the van is lower than that.

It's still 6 1/2" above the roadway. You could increase that a bit with a lift kit if you wanted to outfit a Promaster to go on rough roads.

[eurovanman]

Originally Posted by eurovanman

Wincrasher,

What is the difference between your new Travato 59g and your "old" Travato 59g. Also, does anyone know what the g and the k stand for?

JP
1995 Eurovan Camper

[wincrasher]

Well, I picked up my new van today. Everything was ready to go on time, all the paperwork in order etc. No repairs necessary or adjustments needed.

The grease monkeys in the service bay told me they can these vans "racoons" because of the black stripe.

I suppose I can see that.

The bike rack is tremendous. It does not fold down to the ground for easy loading. You have to lift your bike up and put it in the rack. The good side of that is there is still room for the Stowaway2 articulating box. It seems to hold the bike solidly, and you can still open the doors with a bike on it.


For the time being though, I'm going to try this Stanley roll-away toolbox. It holds all my outside stuff. The cubby's below the drawers - one is deeper than my old van, plus there is another - will hold some loose items I would keep in the Stowaway. We'll see how this goes - I may end up going back to using it. But I can also now use the trailer hitch - that would be nice to tow a golf cart down to the beach when I go in July.


There is still room for my Oru folding kayak in the area forward of the Stanley box.

[gerrym51]

Wincrasher- i agree with another poster-I want to be you-or Tom Brady. not sure which one-lol

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

Wincrasher- i agree with another poster-I want to be you-or Tom Brady. not sure which one-lol

Let's see - adored by millions, smoking hot wife and a couple hundred mill in the bank. I'd rather be Tom.

[eurovanman]

How do you feel about the painted black plastic trim? Coming from a densely populated city I know that painted bumpers are just an extra cost. I would much prefer black plastic. Walking down the street in San Francisco you see 8/10 painted bumpers are extremely damaged due to cars parallel parking.

[wincrasher]

Big cities like SF or DC, people just don't care about other people's cars and skin the hell out of their bumper covers. Thankfully, I don't live in such a place and have to park on the street. When I'm traveling, I make sure I park where that kind of thing won't happen.

My old van had the black plastic bumpers/fender. I like the look of the painted ones better.

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Well, I picked up my new van today. Everything was ready to go on time, all the paperwork in order etc. No repairs necessary or adjustments needed.

The grease monkeys in the service bay told me they can these vans "racoons" because of the black stripe.

I suppose I can see that.

The bike rack is tremendous. It does not fold down to the ground for easy loading. You have to lift your bike up and put it in the rack. The good side of that is there is still room for the Stowaway2 articulating box. It seems to hold the bike solidly, and you can still open the doors with a bike on it.

Wincrasher, congratulations on your very new W-Travato! It sure looks nice with the silver full paint (without the ugly ProMaster badging and decorative swooshes) and the Fiamma bike and kayak rack. I guess it is the original silver paint on the van, with the bumper and side mouldings matched? Very nice outdoorsy-tech look.

About the Kayak rack, do you know what is the weight ratings for the unit? Could you consider having a 21' tandem sea kayak on only one side? (with, I guess, a least 3 brackets). What is the maximum weight allowed on the roof of a extended 3500 ProMaster? As you can read in the 59k thread I am considering outfitting my ProMaster van with a roof or "side-of-van" sturdy kayak rack. Is the Fiamma rack sturdy enough for a long kayak? Also, is the ladder and bike rack only clipped to the door or they have screws in the bottom of the door panel? It seems like the left clip at the bottom of the ladder is aligned with the door hinge. No problems with the clip compromising the door gasket tightness?

Your nice Travato on my FB post for the quest of the perfect rack solution
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 992&type=1


My already crowded roof

[wincrasher]

I don't know what the weight ratings are. I'm out of town this week. The ratings may be stamped somewhere on the rack or in the manuals, I don't know.

The items mounted to the door appear to be screwed thru. There are plastic covers over the screws.

I'd think that a boat less than 100 lbs would be OK. I'd be more concerned with the length and being able to securely tie it down.

I've yet to walk on the van roof. I have a fear of it denting under my 200 lbs. But it should be able to take it you would think. There are no markings for where it is safe or not to walk, so I guess all of it is at your own risk.