Winnebago Travato Van Upgrade: 2020.5 GL vs 2016 G - Was it Worth It?

[@michaelmoore9139]

Thanks so much for the thorough walk through! We are hoping to pick up our brand used 2020.5 this weekend, and really excited to see all the features we would have missed out on with an older model. We were hoping to get a 2024 with the new chassis, but like you all, the older front lounge is why we fell in love with the floor plan. My wife and I just started working from the road and enjoying adVANtures in an 18 foot ProMaster. The Travato is going to feel like a mansion! 😁

[@Technomadia]

Enjoy.. so exciting! We still have ours and absolutely continue to love it!

[@michaelmoore9139]

@@Technomadia quick question, what is your recommendation for a WiFi booster (hopefully not installed on the roof)? We are working from the road full time starting in 2 weeks. We used to use the Weingaurd on our old Thor very successful when we didn’t want to or couldn’t use our Starlink.

[@davidhagler6157]

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.

[@cathysupp9493]

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

[@jeffy7012]

Great video so glad you love the van. Jeff , hope to see you on the road.

[@nwester4232]

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!

[@petermerl2418]

👍 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 😀

[@anngenewa]

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.

[@vanderlustforever7134]

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.

[@SlowTransitTimes]

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!!

[@marthamanigross]

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!,!

[@Technomadia]

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.

[@rfleming7883]

Great job as usual! Gee, I want a 2020.5 Travato. Thoughtful analysis.

[@spellmadam2947]

Agree on the blue. Thanks for the review.

[@uncleheide]

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!

[@dreamingrightnow1174]

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?

[@uncleheide]

@@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...

[@dreamingrightnow1174]

@@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.

[@277kne]

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.

[@Technomadia]

In time I expect electric RVs will be practical. But the trade offs are too substantial for the time being.

[@clintstinytrailerconversio5560]

Easy to add a reversing switch to the Fantastic fan. You might have already added that mod.

[@Technomadia]

Easy enough to add - but a bummer they bothered to remove it.

[@richardsweat4967]

Kiki!!! I miss you!!!

[@lorirugato6463]

Love the new van it's just to pricey for me now. Happy trails and stay safe. Hi Kiki 🐈.

[@ffavaff]

If you want mood lighting turn on the blue lights behind the bed. 😉

[@Technomadia]

We keep the rear screen installed, so those lights are out of reach. We actually forget they are there.

[@dreamingrightnow1174]

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.

[@Technomadia]

We do move an iPad around .. but for what we do, we need a full screen/computer at times for our work.

[@Van_Liberty]

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.

[@Technomadia]

FYI - it is the 2022 model year that has the major redesign. The 2021 model year is the last with the classic G layout.

[@dakotalisa3893]

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.

[@Technomadia]

Induction cooking gives you even more control and responsiveness... we're spoiled by it.

[@adventuresfromthevan8379]

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

[@Technomadia]

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

[@DestimoniumTremens]

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.)

[@Technomadia]

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.

[@DestimoniumTremens]

@@Technomadia Thank you! (I don't have facebook.)

[@tonagshead]

@@Technomadia what type of bike rack do you have? any issue with having 2 bikes 50lbs each on the hitch?

[@deborah4579]

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?

[@Technomadia]

Don't recall it eliminating any features.. in fact it enabled more (like the TPMS display).

[@patireland9408]

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. :)

[@Technomadia]

We're 4 years into our loop... just doing it slow.

[@stevekiemele995]

Could you find a switch that would reverse the polarity to the fan, so you could reverse the motor direction?

[@Technomadia]

Almost certainly hackable - the fan I bet is the same as the dual direction model, just with the switch removed.

[@georg2064]

Is there a version of a "two feet wider" body? so there would be a little more space in the Galey and bed area?

[@Technomadia]

Don't know.. a wider body wasn't on our list, as we need to be able to park in marina parking lots.

[@Travel.Documented]

Why does it have .5? Is this referring to the year 2020?

[@Technomadia]

It was a mid-year model release.

[@deborah4579]

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.

[@Technomadia]

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.

[@kennethzielinski6233]

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....

[@chrisw4144]

Magnetic tape for the screens?

[@Technomadia]

I am actually contemplating magnetic rods in the screen and a steel strip glued down across the rim of the entry.

[@chrisw4144]

@@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.

[@gumshoe5365]

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.

[@Technomadia]

Not on this van it doesn't... most are on/off.

[@tomirwin4819]

👍👍👍

[@jb6249]

When are you going to do the great loop? How far have you gone in many years?

[@Technomadia]

We are “slow loopers” (aka sloopers) and are in no rush to finish.

[@DennisWintjes2]

Thansk for sharing. Like #133

[@drew.geiger4881]

Ll