Why the Winnebago EKKO Was the Perfect Choice for Our First RV

Why the Winnebago EKKO Was the Perfect Choice for Our First RV
Top features that make this an ideal home on wheels for adventurers.

By: Tanya & Dave Virnelli

Hi, we are Tanya and Dave. We have been living in our Winnebago EKKO, with our two kitties (Brady and Bailey), for more than two years now, and we share our adventures on our YouTube Channel “LetsTurnItUpWorld."

When it comes to embarking on unforgettable RV camping adventures, having the best rig for your camping style can make all the difference in the world. In this blog post, we will take you through our decision-making process for purchasing our very first RV, which we named Desert Snow, and why we still believe our Winnebago EKKO is the perfect rolling home for us.

While we had enjoyed RV camping for years – taking trips to many beautiful locations such as Alaska, Iceland, and Northern Arizona – we had always just rented our rigs and never actually owned one ourselves.

Narrowing Down Our RV Choice

When the pandemic hit back in 2020, as with many other people, our thinking changed and we started dreaming about getting out of the cities and exploring more of what this great country has to offer, but this time in our own home on wheels. 

We knew we did not want a big motorhome for a number of reasons but primarily because we wanted the flexibility to easily head off into remote areas and boondock. As a result, we ruled out large Class As and Fifth Wheels quickly, instead focusing on Class Bs and potentially small Class Cs.

The time was the fall of 2020, just before Winnebago announced the all-new Winnebago EKKO. Without the Winnebago EKKO to consider, we ended up narrowing our focus to Class B Sprinter vans. Sprinter vans had many of the things that we were looking for, including their small size and off-road capabilities, as well as their smartly designed and efficient, yet comfortable, living areas. Two potential camper vans we were seriously considering included the Winnebago Era and the Winnebago Boldt, two excellent Class B options.

But then, everything changed for us when Winnebago announced the Winnebago EKKO. As a type of cross-over between a Class B and a Class C, or as some refer to it as a Class B+, the Winnebago EKKO offered us some significant advantages over the Class Bs given our RV camping style. 

Why We Love the Winnebago EKKO

One of the most significant advantages of the Winnebago EKKO for us was its true four-season capabilities. To put it quite simply, Desert Snow is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. The Winnebago EKKO is equipped with thick, insulated walls to keep us protected from the elements in both extreme cold and heat. In addition, all the tanks and water lines are located behind the insulated walls in heated compartments. 

We love to winter camp and one of the drawbacks of the Sprinter vans was going to be the need to winterize the rig before camping in extreme cold temperatures. The ability to live in cold winter temperatures and still have all of our water running was a huge advantage of the Winnebago EKKO. 

As an example, we have taken Desert Snow down to temperatures of -9°F without any of our water lines or tanks freezing. The ability to take a hot shower in our RV after a cold day of enjoying winter activities is a huge plus.

The thick insulation provides similar advantages in the summer months. It helps keep us cool in hot desert environments and reduces the strain on our A/C unit. One of the challenges we have found in other rigs that we have tried is the quick change in temperature inside once the A/C turns off in the summer or the heat turns off in the winter.

We have found that our Winnebago EKKO, with its thick insulated walls, maintains its temperature much better than any of the other rigs we have tried. This creates a very cozy living environment.

Desert Snow’s powerful Ford EcoBoost engine has been a pleasure to drive and, combined with its advanced AWD system, has allowed us to go off-road and explore remote destinations both in summer and in winter. 

One of our favorite overlanding adventures was a caravan with several friends who also are Winnebago EKKO owners. We explored remote destinations in Utah, traversing several washes, and we were very impressed with the performance of Desert Snow. (We have a recap of this adventure and more on our YouTube channel!)

And speaking of the wonderful community of Winnebago EKKO owners, we cannot say enough great things about it. As first time RV buyers, we had no idea how strong the bond among fellow RV owners can be. We have made so many great new friends with whom we share similar passions to explore. We wouldn’t trade our new family of Winnebago EKKO friends for anything.

We have to also talk about storage in our Winnebago EKKO. As with almost everyone living in a van or small RV, storage was a real concern for us as well, but Desert Snow’s large rear heated garage space has been a game changer for us. When we first moved into our Winnebago EKKO, we stored our electric bikes, chairs, tables, grill, satellite equipment, as well as almost every other essential item for us in the garage space. 

The added fact that the large garage space is also heated just puts a cherry on top of it for us, especially for when we head off on winter snow camping adventures, which we do a lot! We actually use the garage space to dry our clothes off during the winter months after a day of fun in the snow.

We are so happy that we made the decision to make a Winnebago EKKO our first RV. As early adopters, it has been an incredible experience growing with the community of Winnebago EKKO owners and also building relationships with the broader Winnebago family. Desert Snow is our home and we are looking forward to what new amazing adventures it will help bring us in 2024.