My new 59K!

[wincrasher]

I did a write up of my initial thoughts and some of the mods I've done so far.

Wincrasher's Travels: My New Van! - 2016 Winnebago Travato 59K

[mumkin]

Great intro to your rig. Lots to like... now if they only had the extra alternator instead of the Onan.

Can you give me the link to those bolsters? Amazon you say?

[ClassB4Me]

Excellent 1st post. That was a very comprehensive post given the short time you have had the latest Travato. The stealthy nature of your RV will be a plus for those urban excursions. A couple of questions:

• Would you consider using the underfloor storage for 'hiding' laptops and electronics when away from the RV?
• Is not having a spare a concern? Do you have a plan B if you had a flat?
• I read that many thought the beds were too high to use them as a couch (even with a backrest). What's your take?

Congrats... I expect this will be a major site post over the coming months. Looks like a great vehicle to take to Asheville for a weekend trip to Biltmore.

[booster]

You said that the solar controller gives the total amp hours to the batteries. Does it have a shunt to measure battery in/out (so it could also be used as a battery monitor) or are the actually talking about total amp hours generated by the solar setup, which some of could have gone directly to the loads?

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by mumkin

Great intro to your rig. Lots to like... now if they only had the extra alternator instead of the Onan.

Can you give me the link to those bolsters? Amazon you say?

Here you go - they aren't exactly cheap, but neither is a good seamstress. They did come ready to go (cover mounted over foam, wrapped in clear plastic). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...rch_detailpage

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by ClassB4Me

Excellent 1st post. That was a very comprehensive post given the short time you have had the latest Travato. The stealthy nature of your RV will be a plus for those urban excursions. A couple of questions:

• Would you consider using the underfloor storage for 'hiding' laptops and electronics when away from the RV?
• Is not having a spare a concern? Do you have a plan B if you had a flat?
• I read that many thought the beds were too high to use them as a couch (even with a backrest). What's your take?

Congrats... I expect this will be a major site post over the coming months. Looks like a great vehicle to take to Asheville for a weekend trip to Biltmore.

Thanks!

I thought that would be a good place, but when you walk in the coach, it's fairly obvious that it's a storage compartment. So would a thief open it up? You could mount a shallow safe in there that could hold a small laptop, some cash and a pistol I suppose. But there are other places to mount a small safe - like under the bed, or on the bulkhead wall in that wet storage space in the back of the van. But there are good hiding places for valuables too - you could take out the bottom kitchen drawer and store items under there, or remove the plumbing service access panel and put things in there.

Not concerned about not having a spare. I've had 2 flats in 34 years of driving, one in a car, one on a RV. I always carry a good roadside service plan.

I think the bed height is fine. I rarely sit with my feet on the floor - I either prop them up on a coffee table (in this case the other bed), or I sit crosswise with my feet on the sofa. I thought these bolsters would work because of the sloped back - think that is key - but to have flat filler cushions so you can make a very large bed is problematic.

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by booster

You said that the solar controller gives the total amp hours to the batteries. Does it have a shunt to measure battery in/out (so it could also be used as a battery monitor) or are the actually talking about total amp hours generated by the solar setup, which some of could have gone directly to the loads?

I don't know if there is a shunt. Frankly I doubt it. I'm fairly certain it's only measuring the amperage from the solar array. The readings on the display are only "in". Nothing for "out".

[markopolo]

Nice write up! It is very useful seeing where and how stuff fits into the storage spaces.

[Arlo]

Ditto. Really enjoyed the tour!

[Davydd]

That's a nice B but it would never work for the two of us. If I were a single traveler I certainly would consider it.

As for the color, you chose very wisely Grasshopper. The dark grey metallic will prove to be much more stealth. People will leave you alone more. You can almost disappear in the landscape especially in the less green western states and at dusk and night. You'll be surprised at how well dirt doesn't show.

[Scottbaldassari]

Originally Posted by Davydd

.... You'll be surprised at how well dirt doesn't show.

Really? Thats interesting, I like that color best when clean, but I was steering away from it (and towards bright silver) because I saw one somewhere that looked really nasty just because of water spots... hmmm, maybe it was just really nasty water on that one.. I'll have to take another look..

[JKatfish]

We have the Granite as well, and you can see whitish water spots, but not a big deal. What you see is your hand and fingerprints show up when you touch a dusty part. Still, the Granite is a classy looking color and hides all the cutouts on the better than a lighter color, so there are trade offs.

[mlts22]

If you look at the black fittings, the other colors offered make the fittings (such as the Truma exhaust port) stick out like a sore thumb. The dark charcoal color does a lot to hide those and make it look like just a van... which can mean the difference between a vagabond pounding on the window to bum change at 2 AM versus an uninterrupted nights sleep.

[wincrasher]

My dealer had a K in Granite with the standard black bumper covers. It didn't look half bad, as the black goes really well with the Granite paint color. I was really tempted just to get that one (instant gratification) but after thinking about it, decided to bite the bullet and get the upgrade paint package. If you were going for an off-road look - knobby tires, lift kit, nerf bars, etc, you could go with the black bumper covers and have a really tough look.

[mumkin]

My previous rig was granite and while it looked so classy... it did show dust and water spots... and dusty water spots... badly. It is why I went with silver for my 170. If you don't mind washing it now and again, it is fine. I'm lazy...

Thanks for the wedge link. I had purchased just the foam for my previous rig since I needed a smaller size. I used a large flannel pillowcase and pinned it to size. It wasn't as fancy as yours with piping and all, but $43 for just a cover is... yikes. I used them at each end rather than across the whole back since I preferred to lounge on the sofa(bed). Those look great in your rig though.

[ClassB4Me]

Wincrasher...

What is inside that teardrop trailer (2014 Little Guy T@G Max)? Do you still use it?

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by ClassB4Me

Wincrasher...

What is inside that teardrop trailer (2014 Little Guy T@G Max)? Do you still use it?

Looks exactly like this except there is a hot tub.

I haven't used it much this year - cancelled several rallies. Most likely going to sell it.

[stanw909]

Boy.I wish they still had that tan/gold color.That would be my choice.

[bobojay]

Originally Posted by stanw909

Boy.I wish they still had that tan/gold color.That would be my choice.

Ditto here too

[wincrasher]

Maybe it's just considered old/out of fashion right now. I do see that Roadtrek provides the Zion in a similar color.

My dealer told me that they are only going to inventory the granite color going forward. All their recent sales have been this color. The red one is languishing on the lot and they have a bunch of silvers that they can't move.

I'd like to see this van offered in a bright white. It would look sharp with all white fittings.