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.

Enjoying a campervan rental on vacation.

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. 

Comments

Comments on this post are moderated, so they will not appear instantly. All relevant questions and helpful notes are welcome! If you have a service inquiry or question related to your RV, please reach out to the customer care team directly using the phone numbers or contact form on this page .

User commented on January 12, 2024 2:53 AM
Tanya and Dave are two amazing people I love their adventures with the Winnebago Ekko a.k.a. Desert snow I discovered their channel a little over a year ago I was hooked I love their Winnebago Ekko desert snow and the kitties Brady and Bailey turn it up world videos never cease to amaze me. The Contant is amazing and they pick the right choice with their Winnebago Ekko. I am so proud to be a turn it up world fam❤️🌎
User commented on January 12, 2024 3:39 AM
Tanya and Dave, this is a great explanation of why you purchased the EKKO. It makes us pause and really think about what we are looking for and what our purpose is for purchasing as well. We continue to go between a B+ and and A, and have decided to rent for a while to test both types. We are clear we eventually want a Super C if we decide to go full-time. We will work on our pros and cons list and look at the end goal. We know that winter camping in not something that comes to the forefront, so we will start there. Again, thank you for giving us insight into how you made your decision. This will help others as well.
User commented on January 12, 2024 4:02 AM
These two are great. Because of Tanya and Dave presenting the Ekko in real time my family is planning a late spring trip (rental)
User commented on January 12, 2024 10:22 PM
If I was to ever trade in my 5th wheel I would definitely look into the Ekko, just based off of the you tube videos of Tonya and Dave. The fact they full-time in their EKKO is a grat testimony to the quality
User commented on January 12, 2024 10:37 PM
Great article! I love the Ekko so much I'm seriously thinking about getting one for my vacations, and it's all because Tanya and Dave have been so thorough when sharing their experiences with Desert Snow. I've been watching their channel for some time now, and I'm so happy they got Desert Snow back on the road.
User commented on January 13, 2024 2:02 AM
Excellent Article Tanya and Dave. You are both great representatives of Winnebago EKKO. Your Rig is so homey, and your adventures are so much fun. Thanks for sharing.
User commented on January 13, 2024 6:20 PM
I love following Tanya and Dave’s adventures in their Echo. Although it may be a bit on the smaller side for me they really seem to make it work. We own a 5th wheel and looking forward to being semi full time in a few years. If we weee ever to size down, it would be something that we would seriously consider
User commented on January 18, 2024 11:58 PM
Because of Tanya and Dave- if I were to trade in our 5th wheel, the Echo is definitely something I would consider
User commented on January 21, 2024 7:48 PM
Hey BOSTON!!!! You guys look great!!!
User commented on January 22, 2024 4:10 PM
How much & what sizes are the Ekko? We now have a winnebago 2022 voyager
User commented on February 8, 2024 8:15 PM
The EKKO Transit is 23' and starts at $207,707. The EKKO Sprinter is 24'6'' and starts at $235,738. You can learn more about each at this link (scroll to bottom to compare each model): https://www.winnebago.com/ekko
User commented on January 23, 2024 4:31 AM
Wow that was a great article T & D!
User commented on January 23, 2024 11:12 AM
Thank you, for helping me to think realistically about the necessities of insulation, size, and the weight of what I need to carry. This information was delivered with a kindness that I need to think better and to make sound decisions. Once again; thank you.
User commented on January 26, 2024 1:06 PM
I loved hearing about your thought process for choosing Desert Snow! You guys are such great ambassadors for the RV life which I hope to join one day. TIUW❤️
User commented on May 28, 2024 9:59 PM
Love this article! Very informative and helpful.