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This is my primary vehicle, “GONZO” a 2018 Winnebago Travato! More specific, a Ram ProMaster 3500 High Roof Extended Cargo Van, 280-hp, 3.6L V6 gas engine, 6-speed automatic 62TE transmission converted by Winnebago to be a CONDO ON WHEELS! I never thought I would own an RV but after a lot of research and a visit to an RV show I decided to get one. It's the only big purchase I have ever made where it feels like life gets better the longer I own it... NO REGRETS! The freedom to pack up the van and take off anywhere has been very rewarding. GONZO is fun to drive, not HUGE like a Class A or Class C motor-home, so it can park in most parking spaces. GONZO is pretty quick for its size, awesome open layout and design, great for traveling and working remote. Not for everyone, but definitely works for me. 

If you are thinking of purchasing or have questions about a Travato check out the Facebook Group, Travato Owners and Wannabees which is a great resource with happy Travato owners sharing experiences and advice from everything like buying, maintaining, and upgrading a Travato.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."  - Saint Augustine

My World Book feels like it is getting filled with pages. Camping in Canada and USA's National Parks like Banff, Jasper, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Zion. Also, State and Regional Parks throughout California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. Each park with it's own unique qualities mixed with wildlife, oceans, lakes, streams, waterfalls, trails, beautiful plants and animals living in harmony. Cruising along both Pacific (State Route 1 / SR 1) and Atlantic coasts watching sunrises in the East and sunsets in the West. Driving white-knuckled and my heart racing on the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, a vehicle "roller coaster" in Big Sur between Carmel & San Simeon, and driving on/below miles of water along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel in Virginia. Visiting awesome places like Montreal, Toronto, Virginia Beach, Charleston, Savannah, Miami, Florida Keys, Las Vegas, Dallas, Phoenix, San Diego. Dodging Deer and Elk crossing the roads in Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming all along the Rocky Mountains. Living the #VANLIFE whether a Walmart, Love's, or Pilot Flying J parking lot. Overnight at a rest stop, beside a lake or beach, RV Campground, Forest Service land, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) areas, WMA's (Wildlife Management Areas) and county or city parks, wherever.

Check out my social media for photos, videos, and updates of where I go next.

I test drove a minivan (not enough room), thought about a travel trailer (connecting/disconnecting and all that, nope) or buying and converting a Promaster Van on my own (hmmm?) After research, I decided to go with the Travato. Winnebago has been in the RV Industry since 1958 and I don't really have the time and/or patience to sit and fabricate and learn by trial and error how to drill holes into sheet metal of a brand new Promaster chassis, or making some uneven bed with two-by-fours and plywood. Competitor models were either priced lower (Hymer) with crappy build quality, or built with the same features and priced way too high (Airstream). There are custom solutions out there as well, that will build out your Van how you like, but I was not going to sit on a waiting list for 6 months to a year or more. I had the itch to get traveling immediately!

The Travato is "ready to go" with kitchenette, bathroom, a decent entertainment system, nice use of interior space, plenty of storage. It comes with a warranty so things like my broken awning, leaky toilet, and bubbled up grill were covered and replaced, and besides those items, GONZO has been great! I have the "K" version of the Travato, open layout, with twin beds on each side. Check out the brochure for more details.