Lots of you are going to point out we should have replaced the alternator before the trip so I thought I'd jump in here and fill you in on the status. If you have an Ekko then you know but most of our viewers do not have one so you wouldn't know. This issue has been around for well over a year now, with many reporting failures, enough so that Winnebago finally this summer issued a recall. But, the recall only stated they knew it was an issue and at the time of the recall did not have a known solution. That went on for months. In fact when we left for our trip they were still saying it's a recall but we have no solution. While we were on this trip they eventually started allowing us to make appointments and some were successful at doing a factory service walk-in to get it repaired. The "kit" and training for dealers was created long after that and many are just now doing their first recalls. So we had a choice... park the RV and not drive it, unplug the alternator and just stay in campgrounds on this trip... or... head out and hope it held up until for one last trip. That's what we chose and we almost made it. Our service work is scheduled now, but not until December 1st. It's a frustrating time to own an RV.

@g550guy

8 ай бұрын

Half way made it, I would say. Best of luck, frustrating for sure. Your Revel was a Winnebago too.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

@@g550guyOur last 4 RVs have been Winnebagos. The Revel was close to flawless, but it was also the 4th year they made it so the kinks weee worked out by the time we bought it. And yes, we miss the reliability of our Revel for sure.

@snowbirdlady7221

8 ай бұрын

I also own a Thor product which was a nightmare from day 1. Anyway, the fact that they are not repairing the recall tells me it's time for a Class Action Lawsuit. Good luck!

@jillcarlson2076

8 ай бұрын

Just so very happy you all are safe. Love, hugs and blessings for you all. 🥰💕🙏

@palomacortez7878

8 ай бұрын

You're not whining. You have every right to be frustrated.

You guys have made the best decision possible. This was a known issue and a company like Winnebago should have come up with a solution. Don’t second guess your decision. Kathy and I have been to the Viking Settlement a couple of times. It is nice but not worth the extra miles in your situation. It is remote. There is so much to see as you work back to the ferry. Enjoy the present!!!! Have fun!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your comment, it helps that knowing that someone agrees that we did the right thing.

You guys earned the right to wine! I am so sorry this happened to you. You lived our worst nightmare, which is to break down in the middle of nowhere. If you do need to spend a week in Iowa, you have a place to stay, with us! It would’ve taken more than one night’s good sleep to get me past whining. Take care, friends!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

You're right... we could have spent time with you two. Oh well... getting it done on the way to Florida this year.

You reserve the right to complain, not because stuff happened, but because the problem is a product of the inaction of others. Bless you both. It is my prayer that this not totally destroy your enjoyment and safety on this journey.❤❤❤

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thank you! No, we kept going and kept having the time of our lives in Newfoundland. It did change how we did a few things but nothing wrong with learning to adapt and being flexible. Thanks for always being there for us and supporting our journey the way you do! It means a lot to the 3 of us.

You two are so good hearted and always seem to make the best of a bad situation. Well done.

So sorry this happened to you but you are handling it well! I unplugged my the alternator on my EKKO 8,000 miles ago. No whine and importantly, no smoke as it freewheels. We are getting by nicely with the generator and a 50A DC to DC charger. Freedom Van Go is going to do Recall 174 in early Feb. Amazed that Lynn stopped at 2 rocks. There were so many beautiful ones to choose from!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We probably should have unplugged ours too, but we were told it would be ok to keep going until it stopped, we did not realize it would catch on fire. We have an appointment with Freedon Van Go also for the recall and to install a DC to DC charger. Thanks for your comment.

I guess I won't consider an EKKO since I travel alone and don't have any mechanical knowledge.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

As many problems that we have had we still love the Ekko, for the size, layout, the AWD and all the storage. Granted if we could find something comperable with better qualily we would be very interested. I totally understand that you need something reliable… Good luck!

Beautiful rocks for sure! All the best wishes sent your way for safe travels.

I’m proud of you both for continuing on with your trip, for going out in the rain and showing us your joy in life. I think anyone who owns a motorhome is destined to have issues at some point and the more systems we have the more options we have to break :-). Please keep doing what you do and we will continue to watch you. Someday hopefully we will meet you.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We totally agree, there are always issues with driving your home down the road, you have to roll with punches. So glad we had the generator to fall back on.

Glad you guys are safe. Really enjoy your videos and positive attitude.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much

so sorry you guys are going through this safe travels right , it sucks...at times stay positive and enjoy the rest of your trip 😢

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the supportive words of encouragement

So sorry this happened to you, and others. I just hope we can get our 174 done B4 we get stranded. Best of luck on the remainder of your trip!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

7 ай бұрын

Just be really careful and keep checking your charging. We are back home now and have an appointment the end of the month to get the recall done.

It looks scary, so glad you did not get hurt. The round rocks by the sea are amazing and so beautiful 💖 👍 and the arch is very nice.

I think it’s great that you share the good parts with the challenging parts. I didn’t think you were whining and I appreciate your candor since we all will eventually have to problem solve issues on the road. I assume that you are safely back home by now 👍💪

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Not everyone appreciates my candor though. But, we feel it needs to be said. Thanks for the support.

WOW! Thanks SO MUCH for sharing and you are not whining, as much as frustrated at a near fatal flaw, AND Wiinnebego in its denials! :( I had an older one, but sadly newer models seem to have gone downhill along with many other brands. ALL the BEST and Cheers from Left Coast! Safe travels and hope it gets fixed soon!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the nice words. Means a lot.

Y'all have earned the right to whine and any comments about Winnebago are probable kinder than I would be making. That being said I am glad you made the trip because like a wise person once told me If you don't go you won't know. Happy tails and safe travels.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

This video was a whine session for sure. Next week will be better.

We've been considering an ekko. You folks sharing your experience has been invaluable. Please keep up the fantastic work. Thank you!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Did we talk you out of getting an EKKO? We, along with others (especially 1st gen owners) have had many, many issues. But… believe it or not we still love our Ekko. Crazy huh?

@thomas6502

8 ай бұрын

​@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle nah, the jury is still out for me. But, more information is always better than less. (Also hoping each subsequent model year works out kinks from the previous one... baby steps to something like perfection hopefully.) Appreciate being along for the ride with y'all... through the screen. Thank you again for doing these videos and for being candid--it's a super power!

That looked so scary! Glad you three are okay! That was a cool rock!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

It was very scary, we both understood that the balmar could possibly stop working but did not realize it could possibly catch on fire.

Hang in there Owen and Lynn! I am enjoying following along your journey.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

I'm so sorry that defective alternator put a kink in your trip to Newfoundland, and very glad that nothing worse happened - because it certainly could have from what I'm reading. Lynn, you and I would need a mini bulldozer to haul our rock finds because I do the exact same thing - collect rocks from wherever the road takes me. Hope all of you are well & hugs for sweet Maggie.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Maggie appreciates the hugs and yes, Lynn could just keep collecting when we're out. She's gotten a lot better since we started traveling in vans though since there's limited space.

Hi Guys sorry to hear about your Rig but you took that very well loved the Rocks Stay safe great Vid

I’m so glad you all were ok from the Ekko being on fire. I would be saddened if something happened to you. I love you all! You are like family to me.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

You are a huge part of our traveling journal and journey for sure.

@sherriweber7105

8 ай бұрын

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle I love traveling with you both and Maggie. Love you all! 🤗😘❤️💜❤️

So sorry this happened to you guys.

I'm glad that she likes collecting stuff and collected you also! We thought that part was super cute 🥰

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

7 ай бұрын

I do like collecting things that are created by Mother Nature and Owen too.

Bummer when ya have such issues with your rig but, with alternatives to work with all is not lost. Stuff happens...gotta roll with the detours in life and figure out a plan. Happy tails and safe travels. 🚗👍

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

So very true. Just disappointing, but we do carry on.

Oooh, the sea arches are amazing! I have done the same as Lynn, falling in love with the rocks when they are wet. Sometimes when they dry you wonder what possessed you to carry them back.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

HAHA. Lynn had the same thing happen. Beautiful wet rocks and then plain dry rocks. Thinking of putting shellac or something on them to keep them looking that pretty.

Sorry to hear about the alternator / balmar issues! We were lucky and did a walk in appointment and got right in thankfully. But man is forest city desolate 😂 I’d see about getting a dc-dc charger prior to at least get you a charge while driving off the main alternator. We did that for months and it was a lifesaver. We need to connect at some point. We are headed back to home base in St Augustine, FL now, but hopefully will catch you on the road at some point!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

I hope we can connect one day. We’re getting our 174 completed in Jax late November along with DC to DC. Your home base is one of our favorite places.

So happy you three are safe. It sounds like you were able to move on and complete the trip. Glad it was just the alternator that gave up. You could try a walk-in at the factory, but I guess they told you it’s not guaranteed that they could do it? Strange. I opted for no generator in our 2023 EKKO. My hope is that with the new fix, we shouldn’t need it. Now I have every possible body part crossed…. I think that with any RV, there’s a little worry or concern that something might interrupt your trip. For us it was a simple flat tire on a short trip to Zion…

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Each year after gen 1 release gets better. They're not perfect yet but much better! Congrats~!

Wow, that's amazing! That's our white and green van. Wish we had met you. Sorry about your van troubles. We had lots of problems this trip too!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Wow! No way!!! Wish we'd met you guys too. Sorry to hear you had problems too.

Seems like the echo was working well until you said “Winnebago sucks”. 😂😂😂 sorry for the mishap but you handled it like you do all things. Your still putting a smile on my face like you said in the last video. What do they say? Tough times don’t last but tough people do! You guys will make it!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Tim.

Hey there Owen & Lynn. Great that you were able to make the best of your situation! BTW… I went online to look up arches provincial park and it says. Permanently closed. I wonder if that’s bc of the season? Be safe & all the best!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Might be because of season. There's nothing there... just a parking lot so maybe that's why.

What beautiful rocks! I could spend so much time hunting for rocks and shells!

Fogo, Twilingate, Mortons Harbour, all around the circle! Look up the song. :) Gros Morne has so much to see, I am sorry you didn't have time to visit it all. Gros Morne mountain one of the only places/mountains on earth made of the rock from the core of the earth. You can also find the trillobites int eh ocean that were the first life on earth. Newfoundland/ The Rock is something so different from everything and connected to the roots of everything we are.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

12 күн бұрын

Thank you for all the great information.

So sorry for your misfortune of the EKKO !! Please try your best to enjoy the rest of your special trip. As always BS & BK & BC !!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thank you! Will do!

Can’t wait to see what your next camper is!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We’re looking now for sure… but we’re also remodeling and changing up the EKKO so who knows. The problem is the entire industry is like this. We’ve seen lots of other major brands with peeling walls, slides that don’t work and other issues. Maybe they respond better than WB though. Keeping all options open now.

I think y’all need to watch the Lucille Ball movie (The Long Long Trailer)

Those rocks by the arches were pretty colors. That was funny when Owen was yelling in the arches trying echo in the arches. He’s so funny! 😂😂wow! Sad Winnebago can’t help you until Dec. I’m glad you didn’t let that damper your spirits. Can’t wait until next week. Have a great weekend and week.

@sherriweber7105

8 ай бұрын

Safe travels!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

It had a “broken echo”. 😂

@sherriweber7105

8 ай бұрын

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle That’s funny a broken echo! 😂😂 I like that one.

If you haven't seen the movie "The Long, Long Trailer", you need to watch it.

@jholcomb9532

8 ай бұрын

Great movie!

Sorry to see the failure. A temperature gun would be great to have to know if your belt is too hot. If you’re good on just the disconnected wire, I’d just roll with it…😊 Winnebago should be ordering Transits with the factory Ford second alternator in their fleet orders for battery coaches.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Great suggestion. Thanks for your input.

I have an EKKO on order. Some of the issues you have had are scary. Hope some of the kinks are out by the time I get mine. Lynn collecting rocks remind me of Lucille Ball in the Long Long Trailer movie!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We are going to find that movie and watch it soon. Many have suggested it. We have a 1st gen Ekkko… the one with the most problems. Yours should be better. I doubt it’s perfect but it should be close.

Those rocks were soo pretty! Bummer about the rain. With a two-year old RV, I don't blame you for whining about that alternator. I was definitely worried about fire. One thing to keep in mind with the Ford chassis.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

The rain didn't bother us too bad. Those rocks were really slippery though. Thanks for the support.

@rvtalltales9327

8 ай бұрын

I think Winnebago put that second alternator under the hood, not ford.

Wow yall handled that like pros. I am kinda shocked that Winnebago hasn't issued an emergency recall if that could possibly cause a fire. We're just getting started in out Van Trekking adventures in our Travato and breaking down in the boonies are in the back of my mind but - You'll never know - If you never go.........I thought the water pump going out on the trip we just returned from was a big deal. I do think we'll be looking into starlink!!! Happy Trails🦮🦮

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We knew it was possible that the alternator would go out on this trip, but we did not know it could possibly catch fire, that might have changed our minds. It’s never fun having issues on a trip, thank goodness we didn’t have to have it repaired, that would be a whole other story. Starlink was well worth the money on this trip.

Thanks for sharing your adventures we also hate RV issues. I was wondering how many miles are on your RV ? Thanks and safe travels.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

After the trip back home we have around 27k

So very sorry you have to deal with this. Totally unacceptable and you absolutely have a right to whine. We’re sitting on the couch whining right along with you! Safe travels!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We’re not alone for sure. We try not to whine too often but this one got us.

Beautiful Rocks - I like to imagine the paintbrush of our Creator at work! Collecting rocks - reminiscent of the Lucille Ball/Desi Arnez movie "The Long, Long Trailer" - a must see movie!!!

Oh no so sorry you broke down in the Ekko with Alternator issues. But glad after you had no cell signal you got out Star Link and it worked, so you can get a if of Grant. Glad he was able to help you.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Grant has been awesome with helping us how to handle several situations. Star Link was a life saver in this situation.

@sherriweber7105

8 ай бұрын

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle Thank goodness for Star Link!

"She loves to collect things. I love her though. She collected me." Awww!

Bummer. We had all five cylinders misfiring on the driver's side of our 99 Chinook on our Alaskan trip. We were blessed to have that issue happen as we were coming up the hill to Anchorage from Wassilla. Took a week to find a mechanic and get the part from San Diego. 6400 miles later we pulled into our driveway in San Bernardino.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Perseverance! Way to go!

If everyone takes a rock….take memories and photos, much lighter too! Safe travels.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

You're probably right. Sorry.

If you 3 are in FL right now, think I may have spotted you in a State Park a few mins. ago. Love following ya'll ❤️

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Not in Florida.... yet. 😂👍

@bwestney3

8 ай бұрын

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle Thanks cor your reply. Saw man driving lady in front seat and ebikes on back in Ecco. Go figure!

So glad y’all three are safe! We are waiting for the right moment to buy an EKKO, but after watching this and reading comments, we are so on the fence. I see that you think the 2024’s might have worked thru the major issues, but would you buy a 2024 EKKO knowing what you know and having had an EKKO? Or would you give up your garage storage and go back with a Revel? We love watching your journeys and hope to experience similar adventures sooner rather than later. Please give Maggie a treat from us! 😊❤

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

You know everything in each chapter of our lives makes us go back and wonder what we should have done differently. The Ekko chapter is no different for us. We wanted comfort without sacrificing the ability to camp by a cliff in a remote place and still have water, be able to cook, stay cool/warm and live just like we were at our home, with a few restrictions. It gives us that. Even though it's had problems, it still gives us that. So looking back and wondering what we should have done differently... maybe wait for the 2024's or 2025's. But that said, just look where it's taken us what we've seen and done with it. We do miss some of the things about the Revel, but even it had lots of Winnebago shortcuts and design for profit instead of reliability decisions. I wish there was an easy answer to give you... but, it all depends.... short answer, even with all her issues, we are glad we have the Ekko. Hope that helps.

@BillandJulia615

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for that thorough response. It gives us a lot to think about. We enjoy y’all’s channel immensely. 😊 Please keep doing what y’all are doing!!!

You aren't whinning your are disappointed and shame on the customer service your getting. I am glad you are safe. Dont' think I will be getting an Ekko. Safe travels from Austin, Texas

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Keepin' it weird Austin! Love that place! James McMurtry's stomping grounds. Yes, this has been frustrating for sure but when the Ekko is working it's the best we've found so far.

Set Belt load manager to level 6 or more and be sure the temp sensor is good. Seems the RV industry has no clue how to properly program a Balmar reg for LiFePO4…

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

17 күн бұрын

Thanks for the info.

No comments here about you should have replaced it before the trip. I just did the exact same thing with my second, second Balmar alternator on a Thor product. I made it back from the trip just fine and Mercedes is going to do the after market work again (one month left on my Thor warranty). The belt started making the same whining noise as the first time and the charge started to not be consistent. I took it to my dealer and they said that I need to wait until it fully breaks. I’ve been through this once already. I know how it ends (as do you and everyone else with this set up). So, frankly, what the heck. I could have been stranded on blm land with that direction had it started smoking. Thankfully I have a stellar Mercedes dealer who will do right by me before my next trip even though it’s not their part, not their problem. I wish the RV manufacturers would issue a recall with a fix. This is just going to keep happening to me every 17,000 miles.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We would have had the balmar replaced before our trip if the recall was available. We also thought really hard about canceling our trip but was told by a very reliable source that the only thing would happen was it would quite working and it was a good possibility that it would be fine for the entire trip. We had no idea it could catch on fire. Having the generator really helped out in this situation, if we didn’t have that we would have had to book campsites the rest of the time. There is a recall available now and we have an appointment the end of November to get it fixed. Good luck getting yours fixed… can’t believe you have to wait until it breaks… that is just added stress when you go on a trip especially if you boon dock.

Nice rock!!!! Juanita would have the van loaded with rocks! Go with your coquina rock!!! ❤️

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Haha!!! Yes you guys have seen her collect a coquina rock at the beginning of a trip. 😂

The longer I RV, the more I see this as normal. Not just the alternator but all the components and complexity of driving around in your house in general. We started our RV journey with a simple trailer and still had issues but they were smaller, cheaper and most I could handle myself. Now when I look at a really nice new unit, I wonder how stupid I would feel to have spent lots more money and still have problems (probably more problems, more expensive and more complex). The other thought I would leave is to make sure you have the financial resources to overcome these problems without totally disrupting your life.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Totally agree. I seems to have gotten worse since COVID for sure. Now it’s just inferior components pieced together quickly, inefficiently and poorly in most cases. Wise words.

@andrewhill1251

8 ай бұрын

I think calling it a house on wheels understates the complexity. It's more like a town on wheels. You've got electricity generation systems, water supply systems and sewage management systems as well as everything from a house and truck. RV's, especially class B's are kind of amazing.

@OwenPoteat

8 ай бұрын

@@andrewhill1251 That is a perfect analogy. Not just a house on wheels... a town. Thanks for the smile.

We'll be keeping our 2022 Revel. We have learned from you and others that if you're fortunate enough to get a dependable rig you should keep it and quit looking for greener pastures. Dependability trumps all other concerns when you are out in the wilderness. The 2023 Revels have the same second alternator issue. Our 2022 has the RoamRig upgrade and it's been very dependable but it was fairly expensive. Hate you are having to deal with all of this.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

There have been conversations around our house about whether the reliability of the Revel outweighs the better living space and storage of the Ekko any longer.

I have never seen such a beautiful array of colors as on those rocks at the arches! Lucille Ball collected rocks on her trip in “The Long, Long Trailer” movie.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Gotta watch that movie tonight! 😂

I'm glad you're safe. I'm curious to learn more. If it's a problem with the alternator brand or the way it was installed. Is the second alternator installed from the manufacturer or by Winnebago? I want to know the brand of that one to make sure I'll never buy a vehicle if it has it installed.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

The brand is Balmar, but it's not the brand. They have a great reputation in the marine industry. The problem is in how Winnebago installed it as well as the version of the alternator they chose to install.

Ours fried before our trip to BC. We limped along charging the battery if our generator. I totally can’t sympathize with that feeling of getting your wind knocked out of your sails.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

So sorry that happened to you too. We were really glad we had the generator as a backup, it allowed us to continue our trip.

Cheech and Chong’s excellent adventure. Now you’ve got me wondering about our new setup. What is up with these second alternators?

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We've learned it's not the alternators themselves... it's the installation and design behind how they're used and connected. In Winnebago's case it seems to be wiring and ground issues along with water issues from where they installed the controller... at least that's the jest of the issue. I'm sure they selected the cheapest, most cost effective variation of the alternator which has a bearing in how long it will last in a stressful situation. They also installed the cheapest, dumbest controller for the alternator too, which I'm sure has a bearing as well. George is one smart cookie and he'll design yours to be bullet proof. And if it's not I'm sure he won't say park it for a year while we figure it out. And... Dave's not here man! 😂

@hbjtf

8 ай бұрын

Open up, I’ve got the stuff!

Sad to hear of your alternator problem. I have a Beyond 22C that was an AGM battery and generator. I changed to 540 Ah of battleborn lithiums. Looking at the problems people have had, I did DC-DC chargers. I have two Victorn 30amp DC-DC chargers. Not as fast as a Balmar or the LI225 Lithium Battery Isolation Manager (Li-BIM). but 60 amp the way we travel works for us. Only when I stayed in one place have I had to use the generator and start the ford engine. This combimation will give me 75amp from the generator and 60 amps from the DC-DC chargers. This gives me 135amps so I am charged enough in an hour to keep camping.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We cheaped out on getting DC to DC thinking since we have generator we'd be good. Nope. Should have done it too. So late November we're getting that done when we get the recall work done.

You can't bring it off the island. You may have to smuggle out!!!!

Ekko’s are wonderful RV’s. I just had my Balmer moved.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We agree. The intended use is hard to beat. It matches our travel style to a T. But, the poor design and cheap parts along with the attitude of just park it for months while we try to figure out how we screwed up... well, that's hard to smile about for us.

Thanks for sharing this information. I currently have a 2019 Travato GL and I'm considering an Ekko. Curious to know what year your Ekko is? Seem like the first 2 years of any product have issues. Do you think that this is part of the problem?

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Hey Michael. Lots to love about a 59GL. Much better off-grid power. We have a 22 Ekko on a 21 Transit. There are still issues with 23 and I'm sure you've heard but not as many. Good luck with your decision.

@MichaelWellman1955

8 ай бұрын

You helped me make the decision not to buy an Ekko. Too much money for an RV that still has some serious problems

Hi guys. My wife was wondering where you got the dog cushion that Lynn uses when Maggie sits on her lap to look out the window?

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

It's actually an insert for putting in RV's MaxAir Fan for insulation. Ironically it doesn't work well for that purpose, but works great for Maggie though...

You guys have every right to whine a little. Out in the wilderness and almost have your RV go up in smoke and fire. Fortunately you have Starlink and know enough about DIY repairs which one needs with owning any RV. But you all will make the best of things and it made a great video.

Is the alternator from a company called Nations Alternator? We have one on our diy Sprinter and have had troubles with it.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

No it's a Balmar. We actually reached out to National and never heard back from them.

Is this a Winnebago problem or a Ford Transit problem? Sounds like a problem with a second alternator but I'm not totally sure from watching. The reason I ask is because we have a Ford Transit class B build scheduled for the end of this year. Smoke coming up from under your vehicle's hood is always a rational reason for stress. Despite the problems, you are always awesome to follow along with.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Not a Ford problem but could become a victim of the issue if not handled. It is the 2nd alternator that WB installed… the one they chose and the way they installed it.

Owen, what year is your EKKO? Mine is a 2023 Transit, 2023 EKKO that got all recalls done prior to delivery on May 29/2023. I have had a Renogy 60amp DC-DC charger installed by a local to me RV repair/parts place. If the Balmar alternator starts whining, I will immediately disconnect, although the regulator for the Balmar came installed in a partitioned lithium battery box , so failure of the alternator is less likely.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Yes, we have the Gen 1, 2022 E on a 2021 T. Hindsight being better than now we wish we'd waited out until at least the gen 2's or maybe even 2024s.

That stinks. Sorry that happened

We had an Ekko come in & had to pass. Now I’m kinda glad we had to. Seriously researching the Entegra Condor. They’ve been watching this for a few years & seem to be doing a lot of things that Ekko owners have had to do. No RV is going to be up to the standards they should but Winnebago really screwed the pooch on this one. Sorry, Maggie.

@sandybostian1188

8 ай бұрын

The Condor is new too. I'd wait a few years on all the knock-offs too. None of the manufacturers are good.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Maggie said she understands. 😂

The person on this trip with the sunniest disposition is. . . .Maggie! Even when there's smoke coming out of the engine, it's all good in Maggieland :o)

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Maggieland never changes unless we forget to get treats or food or take her for walks.

I wonder if alternator is misaligned? Cracked accessory bracket or bent? Five on my Chevy fell victim to a defective bracket before I knew the cause.😮

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Could be but since almost every Ekko built has the problem my guess is wrong part and bad installation.

I am so so so so so so sorry to hear of all the problems you are having... especially since some of these issues are putting you in danger. You keep saying you are whining, but you really aren't... you have been more than tolerant and kind in your videos and far more forgiving than I would ever have been (not to mention my wife who would have ripped someone a new one, I tell you what!). I know I've said it too many times before, and I'm not saying any one van is the best for everyone, but if you are of a mind, take a trip to Elkhart to Embassy and speak with Terry (make an appointment to see the whole place). They are building a Class B plus that I'm sure you will be amazed by. Tell them Rob from Roads of Life sent ya... they'll treat you right! (not because you said I sent you of course... they treat everyone right!). Be seeing you!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thank you Rob! Ext time we're close to Elkhart we'll do just that. 👍😂

Bummer! I was almost persuaded to buy and EKKO but no more! After watching videos of Pleasureway and Winnebago, I’m sure of Pleasureway! All the best for the rest of your journey and I hope you’ll return to NF in a more reliable rig. Thanks for a candid albeit discouraging video on the realities of EKKO travel.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Good to hear from you Bill. Ours is the 1st generation. By the time you buy one you are probably looking at getting one that is 2nd or 3rd. Those have less issues. Anything you buy these days is going to have issues. We’re frustrated with WB but believe it or not, still love our EKKO. She’s like a super model who cheats on you… she cheats, but she is still a super model so…

Wow … but you found a way to enjoy

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We always try to. A good night's sleep and we're on to the next day.

Grrrrr. I'm sorry that happened. It's like the electric bike mess. They knew it could happen, should have done the recall, and fix. Places are always happy to sell a product, but be careful consumers. Lucky you are handy, and knew what to do. What if you weren't, or it caught fire. Big headache That's a long time to wait for a fix, now that they have one. That cost you part of your trip. Live and learn. Sry. The arches were beautiful. 🙂👍

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Thanks. Grrrrrr is right. And you're right... if you were not handy and diligent in checking things, then things would get worse pretty quickly.

Man, you could've had a F O R D moment there.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Haha

Feel your pain.

Gee, I was hoping to hear the Raw Uncut No edited version of Owen’s realization trouble was brewing under the hood😉 Maybe time to trade….

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

😂. We knew trouble was brewing 3 months before we left for this trip. But there wasn't a fix available. Ironic that it became available after we made for that far into Canada. Not quite ready to trade yet though.

You're not whining, just venting. That's a shame that you're having so many issues with your RV. I hope the rest of the trip went smoother. We went from an Airstream Interstate to a Winnebago Solis Pocket. No issues yet with the Solis but a few on the Airstream which is one of the reasons we switched. There were so many things that could go wrong with the Airstream that were high tech. The Solis is very utilitarian and if it has issues we might be able to fix them. I guess you don't get what you pay for anymore. Thanks for the adventure.🚐

@sarahann530

8 ай бұрын

When were RVs problem free?

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

You definitely don't get what you pay for anymore. I'm saying the same things my grandfather said but then again RV's didn't have this technology in them then either. We love the tech and the capabilities. Just wish it was more reliable.

We had two Balmar regulators go bad on a coachmen ford transit. I had the Balmar replaced with a wakespeed regulator that was installed inside the coach. We are still dealing with screeching from the second alternator. Currently at coachmen getting it repaired. Not sure what the final solution will be. Good luck with your repair.

@kip5588

8 ай бұрын

When you said Coachman do you have the Beyond model if so what year? We're thinking about ordering a new Coachman beyond soon.

@jimlawrence6657

8 ай бұрын

@@kip5588 we have a 2021 coachmen beyond 22d li3. I understand the new models use a wakespeed regulator and a ford alternator for the second alternator.

@kip5588

8 ай бұрын

@@jimlawrence6657 we are going to be ordering 2024 Coachman li3 with the 1260 lithium batteries. Have you seen any degradation over the past couple years from your lithium batteries?

@jimlawrence6657

8 ай бұрын

@@kip5588 not that I can tell. We have 53k miles on the rig. We rarely plug in.

@jimlawrence6657

8 ай бұрын

@@kip5588 not that I can tell. We have 53k miles on the rig. We rarely plugged in

Winnebago will let you stay at their campground for free. They have a huge waiting area and for $1 you can get a left to downtown for dinner or lunch. They'll return your rig by 3pm. each day. Because of the seriousness of your rig, you'll get priority and should not wait more than 2 to 3 days initially for repair.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We've actually released a video on getting factory service. We called. At the time they could not guarantee they would be doing 174 recall as walk-in. Since, we've seen several that have been successful... many first week but others having to stay for 2 weeks to get it done. That's why Lynn said why would we want to stay there for 2 weeks. And the cost to drive over 2,000 miles for service. We got an appointment with someone we trust that's on the way as we travel in a month. Thanks for making sure we knew about this though.

exactly why I do not have a 2nd alternator in my van....lithium and can power them back up while plugged in or roughly a half an hour with the generator running.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We love our setup... when it's working reliably.

class b rv might option, ekkos are not cheap, customers deserve better.

It’s time to except your losses . I think he started out with the Travato, which one is the best. And I believe it could have taken you to all these places.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Maybe so... we are definitely in shopping mode again for sure. But no, the Travato did not have the ground clearance or AWD to get us to many of our better boondocking spots, especially in Newfoundland. Even it could have, Lynn would not be comfortable trying if we were not equipped to make it.

Much better when Starlink mounted on roof

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

Ай бұрын

We agree.

So when you were in the arches cave saying “hello”, the reverb wasn’t quite coming through. In others words, it sounded like a broken Ekko:)

@eleanormassaro5195

8 ай бұрын

Oh my goodness!😂

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

That... that... is the best comeback line yet! Thank you for the laugh. I sure wish I'd thought of that.

@kjlcycler

8 ай бұрын

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle you’re welcome to use it :) Hope it all works out!

For anyone looking to buy a Winnebago EKKO, all I can say is "caveat emptor."

@sarahann530

8 ай бұрын

Which RV would you buy ?

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

You know I agree with Sarah below... assuming we mean the same thing. The mistake I think we made was getting a 1st gen release of the Ekko. Probably should have waited until 2023 or 2024. It seems it's that way with every new groundbreaking RV release. We should know better. And too, what would you get. It's just as much the issue with the sub-par 3rd party components as anything and they all use just about the same components. We've met guys out recently with LTV's with slides not working. Thor's with wallpaper on wood to make it look like wood except the wallpaper is coming off. They all have issues to some extent. This one has had more than her share though.

Dang

Man, I hate this that it happened to you guys. Seems to me Winnebago knew this was a problem and wanted to stretch out the week off until they had more Ekkos with the issue before they spend the money on a fix. Not saying this is the case but more and more companies do that sort of thing and I’ll be really disappointed if I hear that Winnebago has taken this avenue. I’m glad you guys are OK. It sounds like you’ve had one problem to the next house has some other Ekko owners. It might be time for a trade-in.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We are now in "looking" mode for other options for sure. But that said, we love our Ekko when she's working perfectly. Lately that's not that often.

@sunnycharacter

8 ай бұрын

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle Well, it happens to us all eventually. I always think, if the designers and engineers that make these rigs built them like they were going to travel in one, standards might at least be upgraded somewhat! Lol

Hi guys ! Is Maggie a Border Terrier?

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Our vet thinks it is likely she is mostly Border Terrier but she says she’s 100% dog. 😂

I don’t know what it is about us women, we just love rocks. Especially when they are sparkly!

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Sparkly rocks. 👍

You're in Nfld. Folks will let you hang out in their shed for weeks. Have some moose stew, cod tongues, home brew, etc. You may be a long way from home, but you're not far from someone's home. There are much worst places you could be.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

We totally, completely agree. Nicest, most caring group of people we’ve never met.

Yes, Winnebago does indeed suck. My experience with them has showed a total lack of concern for the safety of their customers.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Many we've met along the way share the same sentiment. It's a shame.

how about the option of going to a campground every night?

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

That was also an option. A lot of campground were dry camping so it might have been harder to find one with hookups.

@smoreadventures

8 ай бұрын

​@VANTREKKINGlifestyle good to know. We'd like to make this trip one day.

I'm second guessing my thoughts of buying a Ekko..

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

7 ай бұрын

Hopefully the newer models have all the issues worked out.

Is that a Winnebago problem or Ford? I didn’t know Winnebago put that second alternator on or if they ordered it from Ford with it. If it’s Ford then you might have to pay out of pocket instead of warranty but at least it would be fixed. Man that Ekko used to be my dream RV…NO MORE!

@lasvegas313100

8 ай бұрын

There is a fix for the Balmer. The Ekko is a wonderful coach. I just had my Balmer moved. The bathroom pump also had a recall and had to be changed out. Wouldn’t give up my Ekko for anything.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

There was not a fix for the Balmar when we left for our trip. It only became available at the factory while we were in Nova Scotia. It is just within the last few weeks become available at dealers. And, yes we love how we get to use our Ekko too. We love where it takes us and the living we can do while there. But we are fed up with the lack of quality and time this coach has been out of commission waiting on fixes to bad designs at Winnebago. But that's just our experience for sure.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

It is installed in the spot Ford left for a 2nd A/C unit. Installed and designed by Winnebago so not a Ford issue. We wrestled with paying out of pocket for a fix, but the fix is not just the alternator. It's the version chosen and the implementation of the supporting pieces. So we chose to let Winnebago try to fix the issue under warranty and if it fails again we'll bite the bullet and have someone do the repair the right way.

Those are not rocks once you decide it’s yours. It’s an FLR.

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle

8 ай бұрын

Had to look that one up. Learn something new every day.