Our Current Rig - Red Tail Lodge Two

Since October 2022, we have been traveling the backroads in our Red Tail Lodge Two, a 2023 Winnebago EKKO, built on a 2022 Ford Transit cut-away chassis. We had an EKKO on order since January 2022, but got impatient and purchased a different EKKO in October 2022. The EKKO we purchased had a few different options than we had on order. It has the Tailgate Package (outdoor kitchen) and Entertainment Package that we did not want and it is missing the Batwing wrap around awning that we wanted. As we prepare for Season Five, we’ll probably make some changes to the rig, so stay tuned!

For details about why we switched rigs, see our introduction post of Red Tail Lodge Two along with the related video: Red Tail Lodge Two. For a direct comparison between our two rigs, there’s a post: Red Tail Lodge (VanDOit) Vs. Red Tail Lodge Two (EKKO) as well as a video: VanDOit vs. EKKO. There is also a post (Our EKKO Modifications) and a video (Our EKKO Modifications) about the modifications we have made. For how we organized our rig, look at our post (Our EKKO Organization) and our video (Our EKKO Organization). Also check out Our EKKO Organization post and corresponding video.

After our first year of travels, we reviewed the EKKO in our post One Year EKKO Review along with three related videos: One Year EKKO Review: Interior, One Year EKKO Review: Exterior, and One Year EKKO Review: Systems.

The Winnebago EKKO options of our Red Tail Lodge Two

  • Verdant II - No graphics

  • Veredis interior color scheme

  • Entertainment System

  • Tailgate Package (outdoor kitchen)

  • Additional lithium battery (for a total of 640 amp-hours)

  • Carefree Awning

  • Roof Rack

Winnebago EKKO features

  • AWD Ford Transit Chassis with the 3.5L EcoBoost and 31 gallon fuel tank

  • 455 Watts of solar panels on roof

  • second alternator to charge the batteries

  • 50 gallon fresh water tank

  • 51 gallon gray water tank

  • shower and 5 gallon cassette toilet

  • dinette seating for two adults with three-point seat belts

  • two twin beds

  • two burner propane stove

  • dual-pane acrylic windows with shades and screens

  • collapsible dinette table

  • vinyl flooring

  • ceiling fan

  • microwave

  • 5.3 cubic foot 12V refrigerator/freezer

  • adjustable table (Lagun style)

  • Heated gear garage

  • air conditioner

  • Truma VarioHeat furnace (propane)

  • 2,000 Watt inverter/charger

  • Truma AquaGo tankless water heater with recirculation pump (propane)

  • Cold water filter in the galley

Our EKKO Modifications

  • removed Tailgate package and replaced it with a shelf

  • removed Entertainment package and created an extra cubby storage space

  • installed weBoost cell signal amplifier

  • installed a Tire Pressure Monitoring System

  • bought Van Made Gear cab window shades and fan cover

  • installed clothes line

  • installed thermometer/hygrometer with three remote sensors

  • installed propane tank monitors

  • mounted two waste bins under bathroom sink

  • installed six motion detector lights in bathroom and exterior compartments

  • built system to secure our e-bikes in the gear garage

  • installed paper towel holder

  • installed three Everything Keepers

  • installed Super Slider under vehicle to store sewer hose

  • removed wardrobe closet rods and installed a shelf

  • removed one of the wardrobe doors (for easier access to laundry hamper)

  • built shelves for pantry, overhead dinette cabinet, cabinet under stove, and gear garage

  • installed a velcro strap to secure items on one of the pantry shelves

  • installed plastic bins on doors of cabinet under stove

  • added organizer to water compartment door

  • removed Molle panels from gear garage doors and added a stretch net

  • had ceramic tinting added to cab windows

  • built and installed a spice rack

  • added hooks for hanging a net bag for veggies

  • replaced two cushions in bedroom with soft-sided storage boxes

  • installed a decorative decal on rear of vehicle

  • installed metal screen across hole behind dinette bench seat

  • hung acrylic print picture in bedroom

  • replaced coach battery switch with one that will lock

  • installed screen door opener

Our Previous Rig - Red Tail Lodge

 The Backroad Buddies traveled the backroads from June 2019 through October 2022 with our original Red Tail Lodge - a VanDOit camper van. Why did we chose a VanDOit camper van? Simply put, it turned out to be the perfect fit for us. VanDOit's customized ordering allows us to pick and choose the options we want or need and allows us to add options later. In order to keep our initial costs down, our build order does not include all of our eventual Must-Haves, but we have added some from VanDOit since then and have also added some of our own solutions. VanDOit uses T-track along with a hydraulic bed lift which makes it easy to reconfigure, so we have been able to change and grow as we learned more about our needs and desires while we were on the road and as our needs changed. Red Tail Lodge is built on a 2018 Ford Transit, high top, long wheelbase (12-15) passenger van.

For more details about how we decided on a VanDOit camper van and how it will serve us on our adventures, check out our three part blog series on The Great Camper Van Debate: Part 1 - The Desire, Part 2 - The Conflict, Part 3 - The Resolution. Also check out our video of the VanDOit Factory Tour and the Red Tail Lodge Full Tour on our YouTube channel.

 For more information, check out our blog posts related to our van.

And our YouTube videos related to our van.

 Our Initial VanDOit Build Options

  • Dometic Roof air conditioner

  • MaxxFan deluxe ventilation system

  • Motorized 10 foot awning

  • Shore power hookup

  • 300 amp hour battery bank

  • 3 in 1 - 2000 Watt pure sine wave inverter charger control

  • 340 Watt off grid smart solar ( 2 x 170 Watt solar panels on roof plus solar controller)

  • Multiple rocker switch control panels (for lights and accessories)

  • Diamond plated commercial grade vinyl floor

  • Bed lift platform (hydraulic, height-adjustable queen size platform)

  • Customizable storage boxes made out of T-Track on both sides under bed platform

  • Gear slide (heavy duty sliding platform for easy access under the lofted bed)

  • Ceiling cargo rails (T-Track rails lining the ceiling)

  • Entertainment box (houses solar controls, power controls, switch controls, battery bank and inverter, and place for Blu-ray/DVD player/streaming device - doubles as steps to bed)

  • Ceiling, wall, and floor insulation plus northern climate package (extra layer of insulation to all surfaces)

  • Dometic CFX28 portable refrigerator

  • Front driver and passenger leather seats (passenger seat swivels)

  • Two removable two-person bench seats (configure as desired to seat 2, 4, or 6 occupants)

  • LED ceiling can lighting (8 white lights for bed platform and seating area)

  • Cargo lighting (additional white light for cargo area)

  • Red accent lighting (for mood lighting and low impact middle of the night use)

  • Queen-sized mattress

  • Roof rails for cargo boxes, kayaks, or other equipment

  • Slider and rear door screens (magnetic for door openings)

  • 6 gallon removable water tank with on demand pump, 15 ft coil hose and nozzle

  • 32" LED TV with mount and wiring

  • 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 Engine

  • High roof (6'-5"-ish ceiling height)

  • Tow/hitch package

  • Two thru-axle bike fork mounts

  • 30 inch hanging cabinet

  • On demand hot water with holding tank

  • 1 UP Swing Away Rack Arm (to be able to open rear doors while bike rack is still attached)

 Our Van Modifications

  • Made our own van shades and curtains

  • Made our own custom kitchen pod

  • Made a cutting board sink cover

  • Made a table top for a Lagun mount

  • Made a base to hold the Lagun mount

  • Installed an Espar heater

  • Installed a WeBoost cell signal enhancer

  • Built shelves above the Espar heater

  • Replaced the Ford Transit bench seat with a plywood bench and stadium seat

  • Modified the Lagun mount base

  • Built a wooden holder for our clothes hamper

  • Built a wooden holder for our spare fresh and gray water jerry cans

  • Added a pull rope for an emergency exit out the back

  • Installed a rubber mat over the floor in the main living area

  • Removed the TV

  • Installed a fairing

  • Added window tinting to driver and passenger door windows and eyebrow on windshield

  • Upgraded from AGM batteries to Lion lithium batteries

  • Installed a larger fridge, a 65-liter Isotherm

  • Built a wooden cabinet to house the new fridge along with a storage drawer

  • Bought window shades from VanDOit

  • Made bug screens for side and rear door openings