If your overlanding needs have outgrown a campervan but don’t require a full-blown RV, Winnebago’s Ekko series may be the Goldilocks solution you need. Longer and wider than an extended-length Sprinter or ProMaster-based campervan, yet smaller than a small Class C RV, the two AWD Ekko rigs are able to at least wander off the pavement and down a dusty dirt or gravel road – or maybe farther with some appropriate tire and suspension options.
Built on a Ford Transit or an 18-inch longer Sprinter platform, the boxy, somewhat industrial-looking Ekko Transit’s power comes from Ford’s 310hp 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 working through a 10-speed Selectshift transmission with drive modes that include “slippery” and “mud/ruts” as options along with the usual performance and economy options. A big 31-gallon fuel tank adds welcome range, and Adaptive Cruise Control, lane-keeping, pre-collision braking, and other nannies keep things moving safely. A Cummins Onan QG 2,500-Watt LP gas generator is included, as is a 320-amp-hour Lithionics lithium-ion battery with Bluetooth control. The battery can be doubled up as an option, but you lose the generator in that case.
Once on site, settle in. The Ekko will carry 50 gallons of fresh water and 51 gallons of grey, includes a Bluetooth-controlled motorized regular awning and a batwing awning, a 450-watt solar array powering up the battery pack, a trick Euro-style “swivel” bathroom that includes a spacious shower, big 5.3 cubic foot fridge/freezer in the kitchen, microwave convection oven, instant hot water, queen bed that can split into two beds, copious storage areas inside and out, and a full-width rear pass-through section over seven feet wide that easily accommodates two full-size bikes securely – and it’s heated.
READ MORE: Score Great Deals on QuietKat E-Bikes
Go with the 2.0-liter turbodiesel “23B” Ekko Sprinter chassis, and the extra foot and half of space splits the shower from the toilet and re-arranges the kitchen. The Sprinter version also includes a single small slideout that expands the kitchen. In both versions, there’s heat (via a Truma VarioHeat unit) plus a super-quiet 13.5K BTU AC and a 2,000-Watt 120-Volt inverter in addition to the usual 12-Volt and USB power points.
There’s even a spot for a 24-inch HDTV and soundbar above the driver’s area in both models, so don’t forget that Starlink option. Tables and shelves swivel and flip up into place, and there is LED accent lighting throughout. There are options for an exterior slide-out kitchen, and if you want to bring your boat or a camper trailer for friends, trailer brake controls are standard, as are typical shore connections. Standard seating holds four adults.
Big option to consider: The Ekko can come with a pop-top (top photo) that allows five people to sleep in comfort, plus room for furry friends. All that space and all those features sound like they’re going to be expensive, but the Ekko starts at only $208,000 for the Transit version and $236,000 for the larger Sprinter, or about the same as a well-equipped camper van. Contact Winnebago for more information.
