Winnebago Travato Van Upgrade: 2020.5 GL vs 2016 G - Was it Worth It?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Late last year we upgraded to a 2020.5 Winnebago Travato 259GL from our 2016 Travato 59G. We had previously shared all of our complaints with the 2016 and have been asked if the upgrade addressed what we saw as design flaws.
In this video, we share our impressions after 3 months of owning our 2020.5 and having had many camping trips.
From the electrical system, quieter AC, fridge/freezer, blinds, windows, running boards, shades and more.
For the full blog post that goes along with this video (with links to many products mentioned):
www.technomadi...
Products mentioned (Amazon affiliates):
Kenwood Excelon Car Play Unit: amzn.to/3oiUvMV
Sumo Springs: amzn.to/34944n7
Oxygenics Shower Head: amzn.to/3kGT2Pl
TV Swing Arm: amzn.to/351MnXZ
24" Visio 1080p TV: amzn.to/3sDIoLX
Luci Solar Light: amzn.to/31GFqt5
VanMade Shades: www.vanmade.com/
Opening song:
'Straight Up' by Shakiban - shakiban.bandc...
Camera Gear Used:
iPhone 11 Pro Max
Shure MV88 Microphone: amzn.to/2Qys3I6
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We're Cherie & Chris and we've been full time technomads since 2006. We are owned by Kiki (meow).
We have a fleet of nomadic vessels that we split our time between - a 1961 GM 4106 vintage bus, a 1999 Bayliner 4788 motor yacht and a 2016 Travato 59G van conversion. You'll find RV, van and boat life content here, as we feel inspired to share - sometimes topical, sometimes travelogues, sometimes just hanging out.
We love sharing a slice of our life with others, and also blog at www.technomadia..., Facebook and Instagram. We use the name 'Technomadia' in all those places. Come join the adventure however you choose!
Income generation is NOT a goal of ours under the 'Technomadia' brand - we do this for fun. While not an expectation, sharing the love back sure keep us inspired to keep sharing. Ways you can say thanks here: www.technomadia... (but honestly, leaving comments is awesome!)
Our full time 'job' is running the Mobile Internet Resource Center, where we track and educate RVers and cruisers on their options for keeping connected. Come join us at www.MobileInter... for news, guides, reviews and courses. We also have a dedicated TH-cam channel / mobileinternetresource... you can subscribe to. Through member funding, we can give away a lot of free content - and our members get even more.
© Technomadia 2020
For entertainment purposes only. See our website for a full disclaimer.
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Wonderful video on the van. I started watching when you purchased your boat, but enjoy your content and glad you are able to get some RV time in. Cheers.
Your videos helped me decide on my 2017 G
Thanks for the update!!
I’m upgrading to have lithium run all but the a/c
Super quiet AC (if you don’t upgrade soon), consider the Houghton and have Advanced RV in Ohio install it. Seriously sooooo quiet. We have a 2018K and had it installed 2 years ago. I can sit on the bed and whisper to husband in front seat and he can hear me. It’s totally worth it, first for the quietness, secondly for the efficiency, and third, which you may think is really worth it in FL, is it has a mode for dehumidifying. Also, Advanced RV does an amazing job with the install, which starts with careful removal and repair of any rust that may appear under the original AC unit (which ours had). Then they install the Houghton and use a layer between the unit and van roof which cuts any noise caused by vibration. Then they seal it really well, and do a water test when it’s dry. It takes a full day to install but they have 3 hookup spots in the parking lot. Granted, it’s not quiet with trains running all night but we had the original AC unit to drown them out the night before install, LOL. You arrive the afternoon or evening before then park overnight and pull in when they are ready to take you in the morning. They have great waiting areas and we even got treated to lunch. Nice people. Now if we can just get out and use the darn thing!,!
We've heard great things about the Houghton. It may be a future upgrade for us, but for now.. we're happy with an improvement.
Great feedback on the GL. Thank you for all you do for the RV/boating community! You really have the best of all the travel mode worlds! I envy that variety and flexibility!
👍 great video AND info, I am newbie that wanted A NEW W.HORIZON class A 40 but never pulled trigger and discontinued, now I have to buy used eventually 😀
Great video so glad you love the van. Jeff , hope to see you on the road.
Very informative video, as usual. I have a 2018 Roadtrek Zion, on a Ram Promaster 3500 chassis, with similar lithium & solar setup. Interesting to see the similarities and differences. The main diffs I notice are A) your bed is smaller (I’d have a hard time with my mate in that bed!. I have 2 twin beds or 1 king); B) seems like I have more storage; but C) you have that fabulous dinette table salon area. I am a member of your tech service (*excellent* BTW!) and so really appreciate your wiring port to the roof. What a great idea. Thanks again for the tour.
Thanks for the thorough review.
I have a 2020 thor sequence which we are overall happy with for a much lower base and negotiated price point, and have done many DIY upgrades, but will be making more as time goes on.
And seeing what similar products and other owners do is helpful.
Really great info, guys!! Looking at the Travatos now. Really hope i can find the G model with a flex bed, for me, my 2 pooches, and the occasional guest :) yay!!
Great job as usual! Gee, I want a 2020.5 Travato. Thoughtful analysis.
Sounds like the new(er) Travato is working on great for you. We’ve got a View and really love it. Thanks for your posts!
I'm curious what kind of fuel costs you have. Are mostly short distances with longer stays or are you covering a lot of miles on your trips? Is the View a diesel?
@@dreamingrightnow1174 yes- , it’s a Mercedes turbo diesel. We get 14-16 mpg through normal driving (wind can have a big impact as well as cruising speed). We get 11-12mpg flat towing our Jeep Wrangler...
@@uncleheide That's a lot of rig to get that kind of mileage imo.. I get 21 mpg driving my kia soul to the grocery store.. And there's no shower, lol.
I almost bought this exact model and color before the pandemic. Then I ran into the Embassy RV class B motorhome and was surprised to switch from the Travato. I think the new 2021 Travato GL is not going to last but maybe one model year based on the horrible new shower design and the salon reconfiguration that you spoke about.
FYI - it is the 2022 model year that has the major redesign. The 2021 model year is the last with the classic G layout.
Love the new van it's just to pricey for me now. Happy trails and stay safe. Hi Kiki 🐈.
Agree on the blue. Thanks for the review.
I kinda like the propane cooktop. My ideal residential stove has an electric oven but a gas range. Easier to simmer and boil or low boil. Ya have more control in cooking. But I agree that kitchen faucet sucks. I love the large bathroom. I really like this van. I like the lighter interior decor too.
Induction cooking gives you even more control and responsiveness... we're spoiled by it.
If you want mood lighting turn on the blue lights behind the bed. 😉
We keep the rear screen installed, so those lights are out of reach. We actually forget they are there.
I'm enjoying your review of your Travato.
Do you think it's possible for van makers to build a long range electric or electric with gas like the Prius?
The electric Transit is coming out with about 100 mile range.
In time I expect electric RVs will be practical. But the trade offs are too substantial for the time being.
Easy to add a reversing switch to the Fantastic fan. You might have already added that mod.
Easy enough to add - but a bummer they bothered to remove it.
Kiki!!! I miss you!!!
Good luck with the new Trivato. I really like that magnetic screen door and would like to retrofit something like that on MARETINE at the gates....
Do you have a plan for starting the big circle or is that a later objective? Glad you are happy with the revised coach. Sounds like a fine alternative to the family car. :)
We're 4 years into our loop... just doing it slow.
On the lights...if you hold the light button pad it will dim. This is how my dimming lights work but it’s older van.
Not on this van it doesn't... most are on/off.
Wow you guys packed the info in. I've been meaning to catch up with you all and then you popped into to my feed, lol. I'm wondering if it would be jus as easy to have a portable monitor that could be used in various spots through out the rig, instead of the wall mount? Even an iPad on a stand? Anyway, I'd be interested to know if you use the current setup much.
We do move an iPad around .. but for what we do, we need a full screen/computer at times for our work.
Did I miss what bicycles you have chosen? Last I remember you were sort of crowd sourcing ideas. (Also, the vanmade website you flashed in the video is actually vanmadegear. The former domain is for sale at almost $5K, lol.)
We actually just got them in.. we went with the e-Joes Epik Swans. Been posting on IG and FB about them, and will try to get around to a video when we can.
@@Technomadia Thank you! (I don't have facebook.)
@@Technomadia what type of bike rack do you have? any issue with having 2 bikes 50lbs each on the hitch?
Great video around the changes from the model years, we are getting ready to pick up a 2022 59K. I reviewed the internet video you had from April 2020. Any changes you would make to your rig from the video. I am trying to setup our rig so I can work remote, basically need internet for email and teams, I rarely use video. Thanks
We keep our internet setup updated at: www.technomadia.com/internet. And we cover the topic in far more depth over that www.rvmobileinternet.com
Why does it have .5? Is this referring to the year 2020?
It was a mid-year model release.
Could you find a switch that would reverse the polarity to the fan, so you could reverse the motor direction?
Almost certainly hackable - the fan I bet is the same as the dual direction model, just with the switch removed.
Just got mine. ❤️ your blue color. Im not a techie so when I went to order the Kenwood it said it eliminated some functions of the Ram. ??? What does this mean?
Don't recall it eliminating any features.. in fact it enabled more (like the TPMS display).
Is there a version of a "two feet wider" body? so there would be a little more space in the Galey and bed area?
Don't know.. a wider body wasn't on our list, as we need to be able to park in marina parking lots.
What size tv is on your new tv mount. I got the mount and was wondering if a monitor or smart tv would be best.
Ours is 24" for camping trips, but we also sometimes mount our 27" 5K computer monitor for longer trips so we can work remotely better.
Magnetic tape for the screens?
I am actually contemplating magnetic rods in the screen and a steel strip glued down across the rim of the entry.
@@Technomadia that makes good sense I’ve used magnetic tape to act as a closure between two screens to good effect, not sure how cat proof that would be. The magnetic rods seem stronger.
👍👍👍
When are you going to do the great loop? How far have you gone in many years?
We are “slow loopers” (aka sloopers) and are in no rush to finish.
Thansk for sharing. Like #133
Ll