Which is right for you? It depends on your physical dimensions and how much cash you’re willing to part with.
I now own three Winnebago Class B vehicles. Let me rephrase. I own one of them, and Bank of America owns the other two.
I have my reasons for “owning” three Class Bs, (short version is that I rent the two Travatos). In this post, I thought my perspective might help those trying to decide whether to go Travato 59K or 59G, or to make a move to the Boldt. I hope this helps.
Boldt 70KL. If you’re 6’4” or taller and plan on driving distances, the Boldt 70KL is a no-brainer among these three Winnebago models. Why? The driving compartment. The 70KL, with its 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, has far more legroom than either of the Travatos.
So if driving and being comfortable is important for you tall folks, look at making the leap to the Boldt.
If you’re tall and not full-timing or driving long distances, you may be happy with the Travato, although for me, driving the Travatos requires some contortion and pain. But again, this is only because I am tall.
The passenger side bed of the Boldt 7OKL, like the Travato 59K, provides the extra length of tall folks. That said, the Boldt’s bed is 4 inches narrower than the Travato’s. Configuring the 70KL’s bed into one large bed, while accomplishing a larger sleeping area, is easy but results in an odd configuration. It serves the purpose, but it just doesn’t look like a bed. That said, we’ve managed to make it work for us, and having two four-inch bolsters gives us some flexibility. For example, we can add one bolster to the driver’s side bed, making it four inches wider, and leaving room in the aisle to get to the back bathroom. Or we can use both bolsters to assemble one large bed.
Boldt 70KL pros when compared to the Travato 59K:
- The Boldt’s driving compartment provides much more legroom than does either Travato.
- The Boldt’s driver’s seat and passenger seat spin all the way around with room to get feet underneath. The Travato 59G is similar in this regard but does not provide as much legroom as the Boldt 70KL.
- The Boldt 70KL’s back closet is a plus that helps us eliminate clutter.
- The Boldt has four-season insulation, which mitigates sound and boosts the efficiency of climate control.
- The Boldt has larger black and grey water capacities.
Boldt 70KL cons when compared to the Travato 59K
- The Boldt 70KL is functionally 8 inches narrower than the Travato
- The Boldt’s diesel is more expensive to operate and, arguably, to maintain. Driving mountainous roads with the Travato following behind the Boldt, the Travato averaged 15 miles per gallon; the Boldt averaged 18.2 mile per gallon. Diesel, of course, is pricier than gas. As for maintenance, we’ll see – our first service comes at 20,000 miles. The Ram ProMaster is relatively inexpensive and easy to service.
- The Boldt 70KL costs quite a bit more than the Travato, but when compared to a lithium-equipped Travato, the Boldt becomes more competitive.
Travato 59K & 59G. If you’re under 6’4” or right at 6’4” and don’t plan on driving long distances, the Travato is a great choice. I was surprised, in fact, that I could fit in the bed of the 59G. It was a tight squeeze, but Tamera and I managed to fit comfortably.
Both Travatos feel roomier than the Boldt, and that’s because they are, at least in width. The Travato 59K’s interior is 6’ wide from the two walls that protrude the most (beside the beds) and 6’5” from the insets below the bedside windows. The Travato measures 13’5” from the back of the passenger seat to the rear exterior door.
The Boldt is 5’8” across from its narrowest point at bedside and 6’ across from the bedside window insets. The Boldt measures 14’9” from the back of the seats to the exterior back door, so you gain more than a foot in length.
The Boldt’s four-season insulation is a trade off. With the Travato you get the additional width but without the four-season insulation.
So that’s the numbers. What’s the feeling? We prefer the beds in the Travato but we appreciate the added insulation in the Boldt. Worth the trade off? Hard to say.
I sleep well on the narrower bed in the Boldt. Tamera adds four inches to her bed by pulling out the bed support and using one bolster. We much prefer the ease of the bed assembly in the Boldt when compared to the 59K.
The 59G’s challenge is that it sits 38 inches above the floor. Tamera has a to get a running start – or a boost – to climb up into the bed. Also, the 59G has only one small side window, so its bed is cave-like for Tamera, who feels claustrophobic. I do not. If you are claustrophobic, the one window at the back bed is something to consider. Of course the back doors can be opened, but only if it’s not raining, and if you feel safe sleeping with only a thin mosquito netting between you and the world.
Having the extra length in the Boldt helps with two things. First, there is a closet that is absent in the Travato. Second, it is significant that the Boldt’s seats can be rotated all the way around with room for legs and feet on both sides, as mentioned.
We looked at the Boldt 70BL, but I could not comfortably fit into the bathroom, which ruled it out for us. That said, we do enjoy the Travato 59G. Its bathroom, at 28” by 51”, is larger than the Boldt 70BL, at 24” by 35”. The Boldt 70KL, however, has a 32” by 45” bathroom. The Travato 59K’s bathroom is 25” x 43”.
There are many more pros and cons, I’m sure. I just hope this helps those who are struggling with the decision of which Class B is for them. Really, it could all boil down to your height – and of course, how much you’re willing to spend, or in my case, how much you’re willing to let Bank of America spend.