I AM NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL an impulsive person. I usually have a five-year plan sketched out at any moment. However, when I fell in love with the Winnebago Travato 59K camper van, I threw my usual cautious nature to the wind and bought a used van in a relatively short timeframe.
Like any good road trip, the journey was as important as the destination. It involved plenty of speed bumps and unexpected detours in the form of shopping, financing, worry, and titling before we arrived at our destination. Would I come to regret this impulsive choice, or would it open up new roadways of adventure?
Key Takeaways
- The Transition: After years of owning a large travel trailer, an empty-nester couple switched to a used Winnebago Travato 59K camper van to gain “nimbleness” and ease of travel for their upcoming retirement.
- The Buying Process: Purchasing from a private seller saved money but introduced logistical hurdles, including complex financing, out-of-state title transfers, and the stress of selling their previous rig independently.
- The Outcome: Despite the smaller living space and a steep learning curve with new technical systems, the couple found that the van’s easy setup and driving flexibility far outweighed the loss of square footage.
From 0 to 60: The Camper Van Dream Begins
As a freelance writer and travel trailer owner, I’ve written dozens of articles for Camping World, exploring models ranging from tiny trailers to behemoth fifth wheels. While these naturally drew comparisons in my mind to the 30-foot travel trailer parked in my driveway, I never fell hard for a model I was writing about. That is, until my research for a piece about travel trailers with twin beds overlapped with a post about the best camper vans, leading me to the Winnebago Travato 59K.
My husband and I had recently become empty nesters. Our journeys in our wonderful Jayco 244BHS bunkhouse would no longer include the young adult sons who had left home to pursue college and careers. While the Jayco had served us well for six years, we desired something more nimble for the next stage of our travels. Enter the dreamy Winnebago 59K, with a pair of beds, a wet bath, a well-outfitted kitchen, and everything else we needed for comfortable travel.
I would like to say our decision involved careful consideration of many other comparable models and factors. But it truly was love at first sight for the Travato 59K. However, as with any good love affair, the long-term commitment gave us pause. We had a sturdy, reliable Toyota Tundra as our tow vehicle, and the Jayco travel trailer we had purchased new had been equally good to us.
Would the Dodge Ram be as reliable? Would a used van become a money pit? Would we be happy with an entirely different mode of travel?
Finding the Road Ahead for the Van Buying Process
Despite our reservations, we began to explore the feasibility. We soon realized that camper vans are more difficult to buy than travel trailers. The dealer stock is much more limited, especially for used models (at least, this was true in our home region). Even buying a used Winnebago 59K was a stretch for our budget, so we knew a new model wasn’t in the cards. While used vans were available, finding the sweet spot between location, price, condition, miles, and age was tricky.
In general, the used RV market is normalizing after the roller coaster caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wholesale pre-owned prices are tapering, which could mean lower costs for shoppers looking for used RVs. However, used RVs are still expected to hold their value, especially Class B vans, giving buyers like me more assurance that resale values won’t depreciate immediately.
My research efforts began in March, knowing that seasonality can affect pricing, and we were on the tail end of the offseason. Searching on dealership websites, Facebook Marketplace, and other online marketplaces eventually led us to a 2022 Winnebago 59K being sold by private sellers a couple of hours away.
One day trip and a test drive on a beautiful early spring day confirmed it: this love affair was meant to be. We learned about the features, stretched out on the beds, and pretended to shower in the tiny wet bath. Our imagination jumped to drives on the Pacific Coast Highway and through the backroads of Vermont (in autumn, of course). We didn’t even take a night to think about it, as we shook the sellers’ hands and told them we were sold!
Caution Signs Appear on Our Journey to Buying a Camper Van
As with many road trips, there are unexpected detours before the grand vistas. For many people, the price tag of a camper van is the most obvious hurdle to purchasing one, and we were no different.
We figured out that the monthly payment for our used Winnebago Travato 59K would be similar to what we were currently paying on our truck and travel trailer, so the monthly expense would be manageable (and we were lucky to find a great deal on a daily driver for my husband that required no loan).
We knew we would be in debt for longer, however, which was a serious consideration as we retire from our combined six decades in public education soon. We didn’t want the cost of the RV to diminish from our ability to actually vacation in it, so throughout this whole process, we kept an eye on the dollar signs and our financial picture to ensure this was a reasonable investment for us.
Buying from a dealer would have made financing easier, as finding a loan for a used RV from a private seller is more complicated. Instead of walking into a dealership with a dream and walking out with a van, our dream had to simmer through several weeks of research, loan applications, approval, fund disbursement, communication, and lots of trust between the sellers and us, all of which was stressful.
Buying a used van without a warranty added another layer of worry. Despite writing many articles recommending an independent RV inspection, we skipped this step. The sellers had pointed out a few necessary repairs, and the savings from buying used from a private seller meant we had room to invest in repairs without being underwater on value. A risk? Certainly. But a calculated one based on trust. We were getting the van’s history from buyers who had lived full-time in it, along with a paper trail.
Deciding to buy from a private seller also meant we were on our own to sell our truck and travel trailer, which required a lot of research, patience, and another dose of stress. We also considered consigning our trailer with Camping World if we had any trouble with a self-sale. However, within a month, we were able to find buyers for both.
Handling this process ourselves meant we had more money to put as a down payment toward the van. Plus, we got to hand over our beloved travel trailer directly to a new family just starting their RVing dreams. Our Jayco’s bunks would now belong to young kids instead of our young men.
Eventually, we had the loan and the keys in hand for our camper van, but then we had to handle a title transfer process that involved extra quirks since the vehicle crossed state lines. Finally, we checked all of the boxes and became the proper owners of our dream 2022 Winnebago 59K.
Speed Bumps After the Camper Van Purchase
Soon enough, we set out on our first camper van adventures. Did it live up to the hype we had created in our own minds? Mostly! While I wasn’t comfortable towing our travel trailer, I get a smile on my face whenever I hop behind the wheel of our camper van. We immediately added many personal touches, including twinkling fairy lights, colorful bohemian bedding, and an adorable toaster (honestly, I didn’t realize toasters could be adorable, but this one is).
By the time we purchased the camper van, we had been RVing for 10 years, but we were still in for a new experience. We had never had a solar power setup, a gas generator, a Truma Combi® heating system, a convection oven, a wetbath, or a Dodge Ram before. The bag with the owner’s manuals is intimidating, with its hefty weight and seemingly endless amount of dense information.
Even with one season of van camping under our belt, we still have a lot to learn. We joined the Travato Owners and Wannabees Facebook group, where we get the best tips and information from a hive mind created by thousands of experienced owners. We’ve also been thankful for YouTube, where we found extensive walkthroughs of our rig, as buying from a private seller meant we didn’t get a helpful tour from a dealership.
We have experienced a few unexpected problems along the way, from an intractable seatbelt to some weird electrical glitches (which are apparently somewhat common). We’ve worked to make the beds more comfortable, decided that using the wet bath shower should be reserved for times when nice comfort stations aren’t available, and traded out some old camping gear for items that helped us maximize space, since we had at least 15 fewer feet of storage.
From the Driveway to the Roadways
Our summer travels took us across Kansas and Colorado. Our nimble van gave us the freedom to take detours off the interstate to see new sights. We crossed the mountain passes with confidence. And, we never once missed the hairy experience of navigating tight gas station parking lots with a trailer in tow. Plus, we could share the task of driving. Despite the speed bumps along the way, are we happy with our switch from a travel trailer to a camper van? Absolutely.
While we wondered whether we would miss the additional living space from the travel trailer, we mostly have not. The smart layout that first attracted me to the Winnebago 59K has lived up to my imagination. It truly has everything we need and nothing we don’t. While we would love a pair of plush recliners, we wouldn’t give up the freedom of the smaller rig for the additional creature comforts.
Despite its size, our small van is impressively functional. I’m able to do my freelance writing and schoolwork as an online teacher from the front seats, one of which rotates around to face a small pop-up table. The micro kitchen has been sufficient for the types of meals we generally prepare while camping, especially when combined with an exterior griddle. And, the overhead storage can handle all of our hobby gear, including watercolor paint supplies, fly fishing rods, and helmets for the e-bikes we stow on the rear rack.
Images by Camping World
One of our biggest concerns when switching from a tow vehicle and trailer to a van was whether or not we would miss having a separate camper and vehicle. So far, this has been less of an issue than we imagined, though it does require additional planning. We make sure to arrive at our campsite with all of our groceries and handle the simple but necessary steps required to leave the campsite each time we embark.
Our Camper Van Opens New Pathways
The simplicity of van life has made weekend trips much easier. We can toss our clothes and some groceries into our van and take off after work on Friday without having to hook up a trailer. Arriving after dark is no longer a concern since there is so little involved with parking our nimble little van. Setting up camp simply involves filling our water tank and plugging in the electricity—and that’s it! No leveling, no unhooking, no stabilizer jacks. More than anything, I’m happy with the new opportunities our camper van can open up.
As someone who prefers to have electricity, I am now more open to off-grid camping since we can use solar and generator power, in addition to the traditional electric hookups. As we gain more comfort and experience with the benefits and limitations of our capabilities, we hope to venture off the beaten path onto public lands and Harvest Hosts sites.
That ability to find free or cheap campsites will be especially important once we retire in 2027, as our long-term plans include some epic journeys to New England, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest. Our Winnebago 59K fits perfectly into that vision for our future due to the ease of travel. We just have to keep in mind that while we can go practically everywhere, we can’t pack everything. Still, the road ahead now feels much more open.
Are You Considering a Used RV Purchase?
Having bought both new and used motorhomes and travel trailers, here are some tips we learned from the process:
- Buying a new or used RV from a dealership is often the quickest way to buy and usually offers on-the-spot financing, warranty options, and the ability to trade in your former rig.
- Buying a used RV from a private seller may save you some money, but you will need to do more work to coordinate the financing and titling.
- Check around for the best terms and rates. While credit unions traditionally offer the best deals, we found better terms for a motorhome purchase through an online lender. Sometimes, the dealership can get the best rates. Research can pay off.
- According to data from RV Business, pricing for used RVs varies seasonally. You can find the best prices during the winter months, with values heating up along with the spring temperatures. When we found our Class B camper van in early March, I knew we needed to make a quick decision as more buyers would soon be searching.
- Though I didn’t follow my own advice, getting an independent RV inspection for a used RV can save money in the long run by identifying existing/potential problems.
Enjoy these additional used RV buying resources:
- Top Tips for Your Used RV Purchase
- Good Used Motorhomes to Consider
- What To Look for When Buying a Used RV
What questions do you have about buying a used camper van, or any other type of RV? Let us know in the comments below!
