Recreational vehicles are red hot these days, and RV builders are cranking out new models as fast as possible to keep up with extreme demand. The latest model to hit the highway is the Winnebago EKKO, based on the Ford Transit, which the company says combines the efficiency of a camper van with the extra capacity of a Class C coach and the enhanced capability of all-wheel-drive to create a brand new kind of RV.
The result is a reasonably-sized recreational vehicle that contains a ton of space and amenities within that smaller footprint. The Winnebago EKKO even has a heated pass-through gear garage designed to store things like bicycles, inflatable kayaks, and other adventurous vessels. On the inside, there’s plenty of living space as well, with a large living room, ample sleeping areas, and a full kitchen.
The Winnebago EKKO is built on the Ford Transit chassis and is powered by Ford’s 3.5L EcoBoost V6 producing 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. With a large 31-gallon fuel tank onboard, it provides ample range, and it’s packed with standard safety technology including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-Keeping System, Pre-Collision Braking, Driver Alert, and the Winnebago-added Blind Spot Monitoring system.
What really separates the EKKO from other, similar RVs is the fact that it’s self-sustainable and ready to go off the grid. Three roof-mounted solar panels crank out 455 watts of power, a second alternator is dedicated to charging the batteries while driving, while standard lithium-ion batteries handle everything else. A large 50-gallon freshwater tank is perfect for extended stays, too.
All the tanks and water lines are positioned above the floor inside the coach body, so owners won’t have to worry about them freezing during winter excursions. And the inside itself is quite flexible, with dinette seating that utilizes three-point seat belts in case extra friends or family want to come along for the ride.
Overall, the Winnebago EKKO is a nice hybrid of sorts, providing solid off-road capability and many of the things overlanders are looking for with a reasonably-sized RV that can still hang out in regular old campgrounds if the owner so desires.
We’ll have more cool conversions like this to share soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Transit news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
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