Fit RV gives detail review of Travato 59K

[wincrasher]

Some interesting details revealed:

[youtube:2qenkl9z]ya1GjCHXGjg[/youtube:2qenkl9z]

[stanw909]

Really nice video and very informative.

[markopolo]

That is a good video We get to see a lot of the stuff that we've discussed here like the under bed storage, two batteries & Truma. Easy stand-up shower.

[wincrasher]

Did you pick up that they said the refrigerator is 4.3 cu ft? I don't think that is correct. I think it's a 3.4 cu ft.

[gerrym51]

Nice

[GeorgeB]

The 59k is finally unveiled in this nice video. What's interesting is that Winnebago went shopping to equip the ProMaster with quality euro-equipement: Froli bed springs, Truma heating, Fiamma awning, roof and bike rack. The spacious layout will appeal to couples who like to sleep on separate beds (and eat on separate tables!) but it unfortunately doesn't change much to the very low interior design standards of Winnebago.

I liked the detailled inspection of the underside of the vehicle showing the tanks and batteries. I was also curious to see how the Fiamma awning and rack fits the ProMaster. I have a "long shot" project of attaching a 21' tandem sea kayak to my already crowded roof.
Got to have ambitious projects!

My FB album on the Roof rack
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 992&type=3

My project to attach a 21' kayak on the driver side of the roof on my 21' ProMaster. Looked at the possibility of having a custom built side mounted rack so that the kayak doesn't protrude over the solar panels.

[meagain]

windcrasher - do we know which fridge that is? It's said to be pretty deep. Deeper than normal so IDK? James is a pretty detail oriented guy and I'd be inclined to think 4.3 might be accurate? Either way, the small fridge is would be a big tradeoff for me personally. At least the bathroom seems a decent place to put a cooler.

I really like this and am envisioning it outside with light flooding in vs. the dark factory. Wish WGO would add the tech in it to their other rigs. Love the plug for a portable solar system.

[meagain]

Yep - it's 4.3 cu ft fridge.

[stanw909]

GeorgeB. Could you please explain your statement of Winnebago's "Low design standards ". I love the design of the 59k. If you are speaking of quality of build or materials then you may have a point.

[wincrasher]

FWIW, all the cabinets are provided by an Italian supplier (same in the 59G) and are not made in house. W builds the kitchen cabinet, bulkheads and the bed bases.

[Davydd]

The Fit RV pair own a Sprinter with a very similar floor plan as the 59K. James and Stefany have been looking for sometime for a replacement. I don't know how serious they are about that. James has repeatedly mentioned in all his reviews that he was looking for a winter usable B and a B he can put his bike inside. The 59K comes close if willing to store a bike in the aisle as the Roadtrek Zion proposes. Somehow I don't think that would satisfy them. They will be at the Advanced RV Fest in May. I'll be curious as to how they lean and, of course, how serious.

[wincrasher]

He has posted a few times about the deisel promaster. I think that is his preference.

I'd say it's a toss up whether the G or the K would be their preference. The G would be better for thier biking. The K would suit the cold weather travels better.

Where would you cold-weather bike (I assume racing)? That seems an odd combo to me.

[booster]

Lots of fat tire riding on the mountain bike trails up here in Minnesota, all winter. Fat tire racing a lot of places, including downhill at the ski slopes. Fun to watch, lot of videos on Utube.

[stanw909]

Windcrasher. I was not impuning the build quality of the Travatos. I think they learned their lessons from the early ERA's and the one Travato I was able to see up close had no issues that I could see. I used the wrong wording because build quality and materials are subjective.Advanced RV uses expensive materials,Travatos are very cost effective. The only problem that I could find was sawdust . I guess the vacuum was busted the day that particular rig rolled of the assembly line but if the 59k's DESIGN is what I want then I have my own vacuum cleaner. I am counting down the days when my local dealer finally gets a 59k. I am truly amazed at how quickly Winnebago took to heart the criticism of the original 59g and rectified many issues within one model year. Ultimately , I am interested in how someone could make such a negative statement about Winnebagos design limitations when I think the opposite.

[Davydd]

Originally Posted by booster

Lots of fat tire riding on the mountain bike trails up here in Minnesota, all winter. Fat tire racing a lot of places, including downhill at the ski slopes. Fun to watch, lot of videos on Utube.

Biking is big in Minnesota. I think people get the impression winters kill biking, but the bike trail systems in the Twin Cities are unparalleled in quality and numbers for a metro area. Excelsior Brewing Co. in my town is big on biking and especially fat tire biking. They promote it like crazy. When I was managing an architectural group in downtown Minneapolis I had two guys who bike commuted all year round.

As for James and Stefany, James has the biking interest. I think they only carry his bike. Combining biking and winter camping is not necessarily a mutual combined desire. It is just two main interests. Actually, Advanced RV might be the only B converter that could produce an all-season RV and store two bikes inside out of the way at this time. I don't know if they could satisfy having a dry bath as they currently have in their "Das Bus" they mention. The 59K comes closest.

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by stanw909

Windcrasher. I was not impuning the build quality of the Travatos. I think they learned their lessons from the early ERA's and the one Travato I was able to see up close had no issues that I could see. I used the wrong wording because build quality and materials are subjective.Advanced RV uses expensive materials,Travatos are very cost effective. The only problem that I could find was sawdust . I guess the vacuum was busted the day that particular rig rolled of the assembly line but if the 59k's DESIGN is what I want then I have my own vacuum cleaner. I am counting down the days when my local dealer finally gets a 59k. I am truly amazed at how quickly Winnebago took to heart the criticism of the original 59g and rectified many issues within one model year. Ultimately , I am interested in how someone could make such a negative statement about Winnebagos design limitations when I think the opposite.

No worries, I understand what you are saying. To me, quality is how well something holds up with use. Some may not like the finishes chosen, or the layout, but those are not quality issues. But everything comes at a price, as we all know.

As far as the sawdust goes, I consider that a dealer issue. They obviously weren't very thorough on the cleanup or PDI. It was a busy weekend there - they delivered a long list of RV's that weekend.

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by stanw909

GeorgeB. Could you please explain your statement of Winnebago's "Low design standards ". I love the design of the 59k. If you are speaking of quality of build or materials then you may have a point.

Yes stanw909 I am talking about the general fit and finish of the Winnebago vehicles, not the layout. They unfortunately don't have high standards in any of their vehicles. I've seen the Travato 59G and the BRAVE at an RV show and unfortunately it's to the level of the general poor quality of the North american RV industry. And it's not always better in Europe (I've seen awful vehicles there), but at least you get a better fit and finish. Just look at the Hymercar Grand Canyon. http://hymer-usa.com on a shorter ProMaster. OK, you get a cassette toilet, but that's what they use across the pond, and I hope it gets changed soon .

Examples:
The storage space above the cab, with bulging beige vinyl, accented with lighting!


The layout is spacious but why couldn't they offer at least a decent table in a 100K$ coach. Eating on a 12" slide-out butcher's block that doesn't even have a stopper!


The fresh water inlet under the bed!


The back bathroom is also welcomed, but would need a better curtain system than a snap on method. Where do you leave the curtain to dry? Do you fold it every time?


Apart from these important design flaws I think the layout is very interesting if you like separate beds. It is very spacious. The basic equipment is also finally evolving with Truma heating. A lot better than prehistoric loud propane heaters. I don't know about the capacity of the tanks, but it seems to be a bit short because of the space left at the back under the van with the Gen.

[wincrasher]

The fresh water inlet under the bed is a secondary, gravity fill inlet. The primary fill is pressurized on the exterior of the van.

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

The fresh water inlet under the bed is a secondary, gravity fill inlet. The primary fill is pressurized on the exterior of the van.

Thanks for the info wincrasher. Still, look at the cut-out for accessing this secondary inlet. It could have been done more carefully and in a more practical area. Like Mies van der Rohe was saying: God is in the details

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Thanks for the info wincrasher. Still, look at the cut-out for accessing this secondary inlet. It couldn't have been done better and in a more practical area. Like Mies van der Rohe was saying: God is in the details

I agree - it ain't pretty.