Many features perform double duty in this compact, Ford Transit-based, all-wheel-drive motorhome, designed for year-round use.
By Robbin Gould, Editor
Winnebago product designers had several goals in mind when they set out to create a new motorhome model: Combine the compact size and maneuverability of a Type B with the increased space afforded by a Type C. Equip it with the range-expanding capabilities of all-wheel drive. Construct it for all-season use.
From drawing boards, discussions, and computer designs came the Ekko, first released in the fall of 2020. At this writing, the 2022 Ekko is now available and is offered in one floor plan, the 22A.
The Ekko’s rear gear garage.
The Ekko 22A is built on the Ford Transit chassis with all-wheel drive, powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost gasoline engine coupled with a 10-speed automatic overdrive transmission. Ford boosts the safety quotient by incorporating adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, driver alert, and precollision assist with automatic emergency braking. Winnebago has added blind spot monitoring, among other safety enhancements. The chassis includes four-wheel antilock disc brakes and a tire-pressure monitoring system, with Winnebago adding stylized performance wheels. The trailer hitch is rated to tow 5,000 pounds and comes with a seven-pin connector.
The 22A measures 23 feet long and 86.5 inches wide — just 5 inches wider than many Type B motorhomes — which may appeal to new RVers and others who desire easy handling. The all-wheel-drive platform helps the coach traverse snow-covered roads, navigate through mud, and handle other challenges on and off the beaten path.
Construction
The Ekko features Winnebago’s SuperStructure construction. This includes a framework of extruded aluminum with precision-laser-cut joints. Thermo-Panel sidewalls are composed of fiberglass, high-density block foam insulation, and aluminum and are designed to reduce weight and add strength. Interlocking joints connect the floor, sidewalls, and roof; steel substructures embedded into the sidewalls secure cabinets and appliances. A fiberglass roof tops the coach.
Because the Ekko is intended for use in multiple climates, its insulation properties received added attention. The one-piece, molded fiberglass front cap includes all-season batt insulation, which also dampens sound. The roof incorporates 3-inch foam insulation and has an insulation R-value of 14.7. Insulation values of the floor and walls are 6.6 and 7.6, respectively. Several exterior compartments are insulated and heated.
A 13-foot patio awning comes standard on the Ekko; a 270-degree “batwing” awning that wraps around the street side to the rear is optional.
Dual-pane acrylic windows also help to maintain a comfortable interior temperature. The sturdy entry door is the same thickness as the sidewalls. To prevent freezing, tanks and water lines reside inside the motorhome, above the floor.
Exterior
The Ekko’s sloped front cab creates an aerodynamic look. Windows and compartment doors are supersized. Two exterior décor choices are offered, both available with or without graphics.
All leading edges consist of powder-coated aluminum, which helps to protect the coach from rocks, tree limbs, and other protrusions while underway.
One storage compartment of note is the “gear garage” in the rear, a pass-through bay that extends across the entire width of the unit. It can be accessed from either side and via a sizable door on the rear wall that swings upward; this door eliminates the wrestling involved when stowing and retrieving bicycles, inflatable kayaks, and other bulky items. An L-track cargo tie-down system and modular side panels address various storage needs. This compartment also includes 12-volt/120-volt outlets, a light with a dedicated switch, and a removable floor liner.
Atop the roof, three solar panels pump out a combined 455 watts, augmenting the Ekko’s 320-amp lithium-ion house battery (with the option to add a second 320-amp lithium-ion battery). If an optional pop-top roof is installed, one 220-watt solar panel is supplied.
Swiveling cockpit seats can be joined by a flip-up dinette table and an adjustable counter extension.
An optional outdoor kitchen can be added to an Ekko equipped with the conventional roof. It includes a 12-volt cooler-style refrigerator/freezer, a quick-connect faucet that provides hot and cold water, a two-burner cooktop, a collapsible sink basin, and a flip-up counter. When it’s time to grill, RV chefs can access the propane quick connect nearby.
The Ekko comes with a 13-foot power patio awning with LED lighting and Bluetooth control capability. An optional 270-degree “batwing” awning can be added; it extends along the street-side wall and wraps around the corner to the rear. This awning shields the gear garage — convenient for loading cargo while it’s raining, for instance.
An optional storage rack can be added to the conventional roof as well.
Interior
The Ekko comes in a choice of two interior décors; one, Boho, includes a pop of red. Easy-to-clean vinyl flooring runs throughout, along with 120-volt and 12-volt outlets and USB charging ports; LED lighting; and additional accent lights.
In the dry/wet bath, a swiveling wall reveals the shower.
The automotive-style cab area contains a host of driver-friendly features. An 8-inch multifunction touch screen allows operation of the radio, navigation controls, rear camera, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps, among other features. Pilot and copilot seats include armrests, fixed lumbar support, and three-point seatbelts. They recline, slide, and swivel to face the rear when in camp. And when the temperature plummets outside, an insulated curtain that comes with the motorhome can be snapped into place to close off this area and conserve interior heat for the living areas; it also keeps these areas cooler in summerlike weather.
The cab seats are supplied with seat cushions that increase their height to match the two forward-facing passenger chairs in the lounge area. The latter chairs also are equipped with three-point seatbelts, and, for those traveling with little ones, both include a pair of anchors for securing car seats. A flip-up dinette table rests vertically against the wall for use with these chairs when desired.
The lounge/cab area provides access to the optional pop-top roof mentioned earlier. Ascend a ladder to this sleeping area for two, which includes side windows. With the pop-top installed, the Ekko sleeps four.
More workspace is provided for the curbside galley via a swiveling, adjustable counter extension that sets up in front of the entry door. The extension also can be used as a table or a workstation in conjunction with the front passenger seat. Galley appliances include a two-burner propane cooktop with flip-up cover; a 5.3-cubic-foot, 12-volt, compressor-driven refrigerator/freezer; and a microwave oven. Next to the cooktop, a single-basin stainless-steel sink comes with a countertop insert. The small pantry across the aisle contains adjustable shelves.
Drawers and hanging racks are under both beds.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature in the Ekko is its “dry/wet” bath. The area improves upon the wet bath arrangement typically found in Type B and some smaller Type C motorhomes. It comes with a 5-gallon cassette toilet, which swivels away from the vanity to create more room when using the sink. But where is the shower? Grab the wall behind the sink and swing it to the right; this reveals a full-height shower with an Oxygenic shower-head. A shower curtain keeps the sink and toilet dry.
Another feature that serves double duty is Winnebago’s Flex Bed system. Twin beds in the rear are separated by cushioned sections that stack against the rear wall and function as a table or nightstand. The cushions fill in between the twins to transform them into one 60-inch-by-80-inch coach-wide bed. Drawers pull out from under the twin beds; additional spots are revealed when the twin mattresses are lifted up — including small hanging racks.
Air-conditioning is provided by a ducted, 13,500-Btu unit. Truma VarioHeat, a compact furnace, is said to supply quick, quiet heating. The Ekko also includes Truma’s AquaGo, which provides continuous hot water.
The manufacturer’s base suggested retail price of the Winnebago Ekko 22A is $171,845. Its innovative features and clever use of space should interest RVers looking for an all-season Type C motorhome.
SPECIFICATIONS | WINNEBAGO EKKO
MANUFACTURER
Winnebago, P.O. Box 152, Forest City, IA 50436; (641) 585-3535; www.winnebago.com
MODEL
Ekko
FLOOR PLAN
22A
CHASSIS
Ford Transit with all-wheel drive
ENGINE
Ford EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6; 310 horsepower at 5,000 rpm; 400 pound-feet torque
TRANSMISSION
Ford SelectShift 10-speed with overdrive
AXLE RATIO
3.73 to 1
TIRES
205/75R16C
WHEELBASE
156 inches
BRAKES
4-wheel antilock disc
SUSPENSION
front — independent MacPherson strut; rear — leaf springs
SHOCK ABSORBERS
heavy-duty gas
STEERING
electric power steering (EPS)
ALTERNATOR
170 amps; dedicated second alternator for coach batteries
BATTERIES
chassis — dual AGM, 70 amp-hours each; house — (1) 320-amp lithium-ion with Bluetooth control package and battery pack heating system, standard; (1) additional 320-amp-hour lithium-ion, optional
ELECTRICAL SERVICE
30 amps
AUXILIARY GENERATOR
2,800-watt Cummins Onan QG 2800i; gasoline-powered
INVERTER
2,000-watt pure sine wave with 80-amp charger
SOLAR
(2) 170-watt, (1) 115-watt solar panels/battery chargers, standard; (1) 220-watt with optional pop-top roof
EXTERIOR LENGTH
23 feet
EXTERIOR WIDTH
86.5 inches
EXTERIOR HEIGHT
10 feet 6 inches
INTERIOR HEIGHT
6 feet 8 inches
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)
11,000 pounds
GROSS AXLEWEIGHT RATING (GAWR)
front — 4,630 pounds; rear — 7,275 pounds
GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)
15,000 pounds
OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (OCCC)
varies depending on features selected
FRESH WATER CAPACITY
50 gallons
HOLDING TANK CAPACITIES
gray water — 51 gallons; black water — 5 gallons (cassette toilet)
FUEL CAPACITY
31 gallons
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
gasoline
PROPANE CAPACITY
40 pounds
WATER HEATER
Truma AquaGo; continuous
HEATING SYSTEM
Truma VarioHeat
AIR CONDITIONING
(1) 13,500-Btu, ducted
REFRIGERATOR
5.3-cubic-foot, 12-volt, compressor-driven refrigerator/freezer
TOILET
5-gallon cassette
WARRANTY
coach — 12 months/15,000 miles, limited; structural — 36 months/36,000 miles, limited; chassis — 36 months/36,000 miles, Ford bumper-to-bumper
BASE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
$171,845