Winnebago Ekko 1st Gen

The Ekko is Winnebago's compact Class C motorhome, built for off-grid travel rather than campground hookups. Unlike the van-bodied Revel, the Ekko has a molded coach body with a cab-over section, which classifies it as a Class C, but it is sized and aimed at the same adventure-travel buyer.

Winnebago sells the Ekko on two chassis. The 22A uses the all-wheel-drive Ford Transit with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6; the 23B uses the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Both are around 23 feet long, longer than a Class B van like the Revel, and the extra length buys a separate rear bedroom area, more storage, and a wet bath without the constant furniture conversion a smaller van requires.

The Ekko is built around a large off-grid electrical system. Every floorplan carries a 320 amp-hour Lithionics lithium battery with a battery-heating system, fed by 455 watts of roof solar. Fresh water capacity is 50 gallons with a 51-gallon gray tank, both large for the vehicle's footprint, which extends the time the Ekko can sit unplugged. A rear gear garage with exterior access carries bikes and outdoor equipment.

The Ekko competes with the off-road Class B vans, the Revel among them, and with other compact Class C coaches. Its argument is space. It offers more living and storage room than a Class B van of similar capability, in a body still short and maneuverable enough for trailheads and Forest Service roads, with the same large battery and water capacity that lets it stay out well beyond the reach of hookups.