i would say light offroading. The kind of offroading you can do with a class C /B motorhome that you lift and get some extra clerance. So logging road and forestery road of BC and alberta and rocky or sandy beaches etc. The transit platform is still limited in what it can do...and i dont think making it a super single make it more capable. But i definitly dont have the capability of offroading like the vehicle you have in your picture!
Winnebago EKKO
- Thread starter michaeldorian
- Start date
i would say light offroading. The kind of offroading you can do with a class C /B motorhome that you lift and get some extra clerance. So logging road and forestery road of BC and alberta and rocky or sandy beaches etc. The transit platform is still limited in what it can do...and i dont think making it a super single make it more capable. But i definitly dont have the capability of offroading like the vehicle you have in your picture!
waveslider
Outdoorsman
OK that makes sense, Thanks. So your dually has spent more/most time on gravel roads, which for the record ours has too. The "offroad" capability of our truck is a sort-of 'last mile' utility that allows us to press on over rough, rocky or extremely uneven terrain to cover the last bit and escape crowds or reach a specific campsite - and was just wondering if you were taking a dually in such places.
yes, i think we all have different view on what is offroad. in the context of this thread and talking about the EKKO and where you can take it, you can do some light offroad but it remain a house on wheel that was designed for paved road mostly. clearance is limited. Having 2 or 4 wheel at the back dosnt change where you can go.
charlieaarons
Explorer
The British have a useful definition: there’s “made roads”, which means paved and dirt/gravel made or improved with equipment like a grader or bulldozer.
And then there’s “unmade roads”: sandy tracks, “two-tracks”, beaches, etc.
A California example of made roads might be the Waucoba road out of Independence, turning right into Saline Valley and again ascending back up to Hwy 190. Doesn’t matter if it’s washboard, it gets a grader at least once a year and definitely doesn’t require 4wd or high ground clearance or traction diffs.
On the other hand the side road to the hot springs and most especially after the hot springs ascending to Steele Pass and Eureka Valley is an unmade road.
And then there’s “unmade roads”: sandy tracks, “two-tracks”, beaches, etc.
A California example of made roads might be the Waucoba road out of Independence, turning right into Saline Valley and again ascending back up to Hwy 190. Doesn’t matter if it’s washboard, it gets a grader at least once a year and definitely doesn’t require 4wd or high ground clearance or traction diffs.
On the other hand the side road to the hot springs and most especially after the hot springs ascending to Steele Pass and Eureka Valley is an unmade road.
pugslyyy
Expedition Vehicle Engineer Guy
I like to say that our expedition campers are "rough road" vehicles, not "off road" vehicles. They are too big, too heavy, and too expensive to take rock crawling, mudding, etc., but do great down basic forest service roads, washes, etc. Whether they can do Steele Pass depends on the condition of the wash down into Saline and the confidence of the driver - Dedeckera Canyon wouldn't be a problem, nor Goler Wash/Butte Valley/Warm Springs in SW Death Valley.
I'm a great believer in having front and rear air/electronic lockers in these big vehicles. It allows you a much more controlled transit of obstacles and tricky sections - most of the time you can idle your way through with only a little throttle input v. having to "send it" to overcome cross-axle low traction situations.
I'm a great believer in having front and rear air/electronic lockers in these big vehicles. It allows you a much more controlled transit of obstacles and tricky sections - most of the time you can idle your way through with only a little throttle input v. having to "send it" to overcome cross-axle low traction situations.
charlieaarons
Explorer
It all depends on the vehicle and the driver. But if it’s only good for “made” dirt roads, it’s not an offroad vehicle.
I suppose my vehicle is at the far end of that spectrum. A vehicle with not much ground clearance, small tires (single or dual), no lockers, not any low gearing is at the other end.
I suppose my vehicle is at the far end of that spectrum. A vehicle with not much ground clearance, small tires (single or dual), no lockers, not any low gearing is at the other end.
Photomike
White Turtle Adventures & Photography
A word of warning. Before my current vehicle I had a class C which was a lot like the EKKO. I LOVED all the features. It was like a second home with EVERYTHING, no roughing it there.
The issue was the width.
First trip out on a paved road I head a weird sound. As I was trying to figure out the noise my son started laughing and said our right side mirror was hitting tree branches. I checked where I was on the road and my left wheels were just about on the center line. I moved over till the noise stopped and I was over the center line. My mirrors were a LONG way over the line and would hit any oncoming vehicle. I drove like that for a while till I came upon a cyclist and I had to pull even more into the other lane to clear him. I tried it on a number of other roads and it was just too wide on the body and especially with the mirrors, I never felt comfortable with it.
In the back country I got squeezed a few times with the mirrors in. The body could not navigate down the narrower roads and kept scraping objects. Wheel base was the same as my TCer, Van, etc, but the body width so low down was the issue. Even with a lift you would still be too wide for many trails unless you lifted it 2 feet or more.
The last straw was going to a local park one day to take some pictures, it was cold so I took the C with the heat on. Going down one of the roads I got stuck when I meant another vehicle coming in the other direction. I was taking up a lane and some of the other with the body and a lot when you considered the mirrors and I could not pull over enough for us to pass.
I measured the heck out of that unit and it was the same width as my truck camper but the truck camper's width was up higher so the mirrors were narrower and I had more clearance lower down in the width.
If you are looking at narrower roads consider this.
Yes, width can be an issue on larger motorhomes. However the Ekko house is about the same width as the Transit chassis and its got the regular mirrors, not the extended ones traditional class Cs have. Overall width is 1.5" wider than a Revel on a Sprinter chassis which goes pretty much everywhere.
I know these aren't really offroad, but here is another option for those looking at the Winnebago Ekko. This is a Coachmen RV Cross Trail 20XG Transit AWD. It has an "Extreme" option with a 2" lift and more lithium batteries. I think you can get 640 AH of batteries. They are quite a bit cheaper than the Ekko. Still has propane heat and stove. One nice thing for me is the size of the garage, 54" x full width 88"? or so. The bed is on an electric lift so you can stop it at whatever height you want for sleeping. It would be easy to get at least 2 road bikes and 2 29" mountain bikes in there with plenty of other room. Cargo cap is over 2,000 pounds per the video.
coachmenrv.com
The video is a bit obnoxious, but gives a decent overview of the rig.
Cross Trail 20XG Class C Motorhomes by Coachmen RV
Cross Trail Class C Motorhomes Introducing the eco-friendly Cross Trail. The Cross Trail's size and capabilities give you nearly endless possibilities. Take your adventure where most motorhomes cannot. With unrivaled exterior storage, you can outfit your Cross Trail with the gear and equipment...
coachmenrv.com
The video is a bit obnoxious, but gives a decent overview of the rig.
Last edited:
If you are looking for a better built version of the Ekko checkout https://AEONrv.com
New kid on the block! AWD Transit with composite camper AEONrv
expeditionportal.com
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
New kid on the block! AWD Transit with composite camper AEONrv
New kid on the block! AWD Transit with composite camper AEONrv
You can see it this weekend at Expo! https://www.motor1.com/news/529371/aeonrv-debut-overland-expo-west/?fbclid=IwAR0SOU7TBSRT324ANCAuVJOGMUvg5AlyKWGpWzZcxoGf52aTy3pNsytpZZQ
expeditionportal.com
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree on the quality, but the storage space on the Coachmen Cross Trail is amazing. And, the Cross Trail will be $60,000 or so less. You get what you pay for (sometimes anyhow). Not sure how quickly you can get the Cross Trail, but probably quicker than the AeonRV.If you are looking for a better built version of the Ekko checkout https://AEONrv.com
New kid on the block! AWD Transit with composite camper AEONrv
New kid on the block! AWD Transit with composite camper AEONrv
You can see it this weekend at Expo! https://www.motor1.com/news/529371/aeonrv-debut-overland-expo-west/?fbclid=IwAR0SOU7TBSRT324ANCAuVJOGMUvg5AlyKWGpWzZcxoGf52aTy3pNsytpZZQ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
rruff
Explorer
And the storage space is paltry compared to the typical class A motorhome...
The rear overhang and lack of breakover clearance (check out the door!) on the Coachman disqualifies it for anything remotely challenging offroad. That is a much bigger liability than 2wd for the places I go. The Aeon is more capable in that regard. And it fills a niche between normal van builds and Nimble, Earthcruiser, Truckhouse, etc.
I agree about the quality and ground clearance, but I don't see many Class A's with this much storage. And, FWIW the Cross Trail "Extreme" does have a 2" lift.And the storage space is paltry compared to the typical class A motorhome...
The rear overhang and lack of breakover clearance (check out the door!) on the Coachman disqualifies it for anything remotely challenging offroad. That is a much bigger liability than 2wd for the places I go. The Aeon is more capable in that regard. And it fills a niche between normal van builds and Nimble, Earthcruiser, Truckhouse, etc.
