Top Reasons RV Owners Chose the Winnebago Travato

Top Reasons RV Owners Chose the Winnebago Travato
Five RVers share why they picked their Travato camper van.

By: Morgan Field

Hi, I’m Morgan Field, and I travel in my 2019 Winnebago Travato 59K with my pup-pilot, Teddy. After sharing 11 reasons why I chose my Travato 59K, I became curious about why other owners chose theirs.

So, I connected with five Travato owners to hear how their lifestyles shaped their choices and what they love most about their van. Some have owned both the K and G floorplans, some have upgraded to newer Travato models, and others have discovered how features like lithium power impact the way they travel.

From the pros and tradeoffs of different floorplans to the features that matter most once you’re actually on the road, here’s why these owners chose their Travatos …

When a Different Floorplan Fits Better

After five years and 100,000 miles in a 2018 Travato 59K, Viki Anderson knew she loved Class B travel—and the Travato. When she was ready for something new, she chose the 59G.

As a solo traveler, Viki realized the K’s two permanent beds devoted space to something she didn’t need. The G gives her a larger bed at night and, during the day, a dinette where she can paint, watch TV, kick up her feet, or comfortably invite friends inside for dinner and cards.

She loves how the G creates distinct spaces: a cozy bedroom, a dedicated wet bath that’s always ready for a shower, and a living area that feels open and spacious when she removes the front window shades.

The larger refrigerator and freezer are another bonus, but one feature expanded her possibilities even more: belted passenger seating means she can safely bring her three grandchildren along. On a recent adventure, they rented a yurt for additional sleeping and space while using the Travato for transportation, cooking, and the bathroom.

Viki does miss some of the K’s easily accessible storage, particularly beneath the passenger-side bed, so she added an exterior L-Box to compensate.

After 100,000 miles, she considered other Class Bs, but the Travato community helped keep her with Winnebago. Through owner groups, rallies, troubleshooting support and the Winnie B’s community, she’s made what she calls lifelong friends.

For Viki, changing floorplans wasn’t about needing more room. It was about allocating that room differently.

A Basecamp for the Outdoors

Mike and Karen Friday, creators of the Friday’s Forever YouTube channel, did extensive research before choosing their 2023 Travato 59G. They specifically wanted Winnebago for its reputation, while the G gave these mountain-loving campers a compact home base for spending as much time outside as possible.

One of their favorite features is the large storage area beneath the rear bed, which holds the outdoor gear that fuels their adventures. The permanent bed is always ready for a nap, the larger refrigerator and freezer keep them stocked, and the dinette provides somewhere to eat or work when weather drives them inside. Otherwise, they’d rather eat at a campground picnic table or relax outside beneath the awning.

For their primarily weekend-oriented travels, they particularly appreciate the simplicity of a Class B. Their Travato fits in their driveway, handles the mountain roads they love, offers the fuel efficiency they wanted from an RV, and lets them pull into camp, plug in, and immediately start enjoying themselves.

Built for Wandering

Kevin and Mariann Puckett have always been travelers who love an adventure. They once explored by motorcycle while pulling a pop-up camper, and they later roamed by SUV while staying in hotels along the way. But their 2023 Travato 59K changed not just what they traveled in, but how they traveled. With their transportation, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom all in one nimble package, they discovered they could stop almost anywhere—and became true wanderers.

The K’s twin beds were a major selling point. Neither person has to climb over the other for a nighttime bathroom trip, each has a dedicated place to sleep or lounge during the day, and the open center aisle makes the van feel spacious. The swiveling cab seats provide another place to hang out or eat, and they appreciate the open kitchen and additional workspace provided by the side table.

They’ve also found creative ways to use the K’s rear bath. By opening the back doors and adding an outdoor shower curtain, they can shower outside when they want to—a quick rinse that also keeps water out of the gray tank and extends the time between dumps. After showering inside, opening the rear doors helps air out the space.

Now, they might choose a Winnie B’s meetup or van event as their eventual destination, then wander toward it in roughly 100-mile increments. They’ve even added more than 1,000 miles to a journey simply because they wanted to keep exploring.

The Travato changed events for them, too. Instead of attending for a day and heading home, they can camp onsite, retreat to their van for lunch or a nap, and head back out refreshed.

Kevin and Mariann have always loved the adventure of travel. Their Travato gave them the freedom to discover something different: sometimes there doesn’t need to be a destination at all. For them, wandering isn’t something that happens on the way to the adventure. Wandering is the adventure.

Taking Home Wherever the Road Leads

When Shelagh Ranalli found herself entering a new chapter as an empty nester, she sold her home, downsized her belongings, and serendipitously found a 2019 Travato 59KL that could take her wherever she wanted to go next.

Today, she lives in her Travato full time with her two dogs, spending winters in Mexico, summers in Canada, and roaming across North America in between.

The KL’s lithium system is central to making that lifestyle possible. She can stay off-grid while powering the necessities of everyday life, including keeping the van temperature-controlled when needed for her dogs. That freedom allows her to beach boondock in Mexico, stay without hookups, and change destinations without planning her travels around shore power.

Inside, abundant windows and natural light help the KL feel spacious, while six overhead cabinets, deep kitchen drawers, over-cab storage, space beneath the driver’s-side bed, an armoire and deep bathroom drawers provide the storage she needs for full-time living.

She doesn’t miss the house—or all the belongings she released with it. Her Travato holds what she needs while giving her the freedom to follow wherever the road leads next.

When the Journey Matters as Much as the Destination

Gordon Curtin offers another perspective on both floorplan and model choice: He’s owned a G and a K, separated by more than a decade of Travato evolution.

Gordon spends six months each year snowbirding in the Florida Keys, then returns to his Michigan home, where his Travato is ready for impromptu adventures and bike rides whenever the spirit strikes.

His first was a used 2014 Travato 59G, which became his snowbird home each winter. When it was time to upgrade, he chose a 2026 Travato 59K.

He said his K’s open layout and light interior make his newer van feel particularly spacious. He uses one twin bed for sleeping and the other like a couch, where he can easily sit down and put his feet up. He said he does not miss the effort of crawling into the rear bed in the G. Up front, the swiveling driver’s seat and pull-out table give him an easy place to eat or work on his laptop.

Moving to a newer Travato also brought features Gordon especially appreciates on his long drives between Michigan and Florida, including adaptive cruise control and collision-avoidance technology. He also loves the improved interior and exterior lighting, the upgraded awning with its responsive wind sensor, and the gasoline-powered Truma heating system—which means goodbye to the “propane anxiety” he used to feel when unexpected cold spells rolled in. For Gordon, these seemingly small upgrades make a noticeable difference in how comfortably and confidently he travels.

Gordon’s sisters travel in Class A and Class C RVs, so he sees firsthand what larger rigs offer. He appreciates their additional living space once everyone is parked, but he prefers what the smaller Travato gives him on the move.

“I enjoy the trip from Michigan to Florida just as much as I enjoy being there,” he says.

He could buy a Florida home, but RV snowbirding offers something else he values: community. Winters in the Keys bring campground gatherings, organized bike rides, activities with neighbors and friendships renewed each year—all while everyone can retreat to a home of their own at the end of the day.

For Gordon, the Travato provides enough space to comfortably snowbird for six months while remaining nimble enough that getting there is half the fun.

Finding the Winnebago Travato That Fits Your Life

If you are considering a Travato, you can check out the floorplans online, but there’s nothing quite like stepping inside one—or spending time with the people already traveling in them. 

Explore Travatos in person at a local Winnebago dealer, RV shows, or other events where Winnebago is exhibiting. Experience van life gatherings like Peace Love & Vans and VanFest, and connect with the Travato community through groups like Travato Owners and Wannabees and Winnie B’s.

Wherever the road takes you, wishing you happy travels!
-Morgan Field (Follow along on Instagram @themorganfield or on Facebook.)