After watching your rv reviews, I bought aktiv 1.0. My whole family thought I was crazy. After 3 weeks, I have used it to live at work instead of driving long distance home every day and have used it for an overnight stay at campground. Wife now loves the practical aktiv. My 14yr old son however told me he never wants me to pick him up from school with aktiv...he would rather walk home :(

Also important is the much easier parking as the Activ is 1.5 feet shorter enabling it to get into regular parking anywhere .

Length of bed is important. The Travato's bed isn't as wide but is 77 inches compared to the Activ 72 inches. I'm a little over 6'1" inch which makes trying to sleep in the Activ very cramped. Also my wife likes the larger bathroom over the Activ. I enjoy your comparisons, but like you say it is personal preference and that is why I just bought a 59 G last week and am loving it. Thanks for all your great videos. Gregg

Good review. Very much agree that Aktiv wins on many options. But you forgot few things that can be dealbreakers to buyers. Aktiv does not have outside shower - feature that everyone wants. Aktiv also does not run water lines inside the coach, so has to be winterized even at sniff of frost. Travato can sustain night in high 20s without needing to drop water and blow the lines. Big feature for people who spend time in the mountains. And then you have to decide - do you want bigger bed and east to west sleeping on Aktiv or bigger bathroom, bigger refrigerator and more useable lounge on Travato? Remember that Travato also easily converts lounge into another full bed - not in Aktiv. It’s really a draw once you properly account for all these Activ drawbacks. Finally insurance. While it’s great that Aktiv has 6 years of warranty, the dealership network is underdeveloped compared to Winnebago. Roadtrek dealers may not accept Hymer Aktiv for repairs if they don’t sell them. So if you live by the Hymer dealership you may be fine, otherwise prepare to make road trip just to fix that faucet in year 2 or 3.

That 6 year warranty gets my vote every time Neil. Great comparison .

Another great review Neil. Not as good as mine, (I included bacon, dogs and insanely hot desert scenery) but you hit most of the key points. The cassette vs. black tank debate will go down as one of the greatest in history (cassettes are best:), Travato bed is longer but narrower, Aktiv is classier and more inviting with better tech, the lack of rear 3-pt should be illegal - but people do need to get into each of the vans and make their lists of pros and cons based on how they intend to travel. Thanks again, and hope to see you on the road.

I really like your videos. I disagree with you about the "clutter" of the multiple system controls. I prefer individual controls to the single point of failure that a joined display would have, and I think it looks cool.

Nice review, Neil. I agree with most of your points, but my main concerns with the Hymer are the cassette toilet, and Hymer's terrible reputation for lousy build quality. A six year warranty doesn't do you much good if the van is in the shop all the time. The 59G's bed is a deal breaker for me. A good night's sleep is more important than the size of the bath, imo. I guess I stick with my plans for a PW.

I also have to agree with you that, considering everything, the Aktiv is a better buy. Still, I am seriously torn between the two. I was an Aktiv 1.0/2.0 fan as soon as they came out, but I can't get over that tiny bathroom in the Aktiv plus the way the shower head is positioned, you can't raise it over your head. It might sort of work for me because I'm 5' 2", but my husband is 6' tall and would lose his mind in there trying to maneuver about. I really like the large bathroom in the 59G. I'm all for "frankensteining them!

Thanks again Neil for the time you spend doing this. Nice to again be able to think about this comparison. I continue to be attracted to designs like these that offer some utility with good access through the back and are small enough to be used as a multi-purpose second vehicle. The Paseo, Crossfit, and Revel are all kind of in that category. I was excited by each of these as they were introduced. My mind shut out the negatives. But then those deal breakers work their way to the surface and here I sit, thinking I should go join the design team for one of these companies. The Wonder RTB currently has my attention and may get me to compromise on size. But I want to see a Safari Condo Flex first.

I’ve never understood why people are critical of small bathrooms in a class B. Realistically how much time in a day do you spend in a bathroom? 30 minutes? I’d much rather have a larger bed. $30,000 for the Pure 3? Wow I had no idea it was that expensive, you could buy a nice car for that kind of money or better yet upgrade to a Pleasure Way! I really like the Aktiv I think you get good bang for your buck. Saw one recently with the eco trek for $80,000.....not bad.

A good review as usual. :) I personally won't consider cassette toilet for many reasons. Also, although Travato lithium package commands $30k premium, I believe it's a superior product over Roadtrek version. As you mentioned, I would like to see a Frankenstein version of the two - overall layout of the Activ (I guess 2.0), proper black tank toilet and Winnebago's 56v lithium system.

Nicely done yet again Neal! The solar power/auto start feature is a huge compelling argument for the Aktiv.. the one drawback for me though is the cassette toilet.. just not quite what I would prefer. I hope Winnebago can step up their game and get the auto-start and lithium battery without the 30K upgrade.. I can almost live with the smaller bed area. Thanks for doing this!

Thanks for the review Neil. Wouldn’t the Travato 59G/K - L be a better comparison to the Aktiv? One of the big draws of a Class B is the ability to take it to places a larger sized RV can not go. This means more reliance on off-grid boon-docking. The Travato L class is now equipped with lithium batteries, as is the Hymer. Would love to see you compare those two models. Thanks for your insightful videos.

I know it’s a small thing, but I hate that the Aktiv has the sink faucet in between the sink and burners. If they swapped the positions of the burners and the sink and then moved the faucet to the back corner (near the bed) or if they just moved the faucet to the left corner of the sink, there would be more useable counter space.

Three things that might be significant differences for some people: If you eat a lot of veggies the Aktiv refrigerator is too small for more than a couple days of camping at most. The Travato is good for much longer. The black tank vs casette toilet aspect. The need for dump stations is a factor in planning trips. Some people may either dislike casette toilets or find the lifting they require when full to be a problem. The Travato bed has a spring system that provides cushioning and air circulation.

In our search we have never seen the Aktiv . We will check around our area and locate one. Thanks again for another awesome review.

I love these comparisons...love the 360s too. Keep up the good work!

Very good comparison, but you didn't address the headroom issue. The Aktiv has 2" less interior height than the Travato, according to the brochures. I'm nearly 6'4", and the Travato, at 6'3", would grant me barely enough clearance to avoid minor scalp wounds. Cutting 2" from that would find me routinely regaining consciousness on the floor after attempting to cook or use the bathroom. Sure, I'd fit in a Paseo, but it lacks the front office/bonus bed that these two rigs have.

Great Review! How about comparing the 59K or 59KL with the Hymer Activ twin bed offering.... Oh wait! they don't have one. :-/ Guess it's the 59K for us.

I like the Aktiv 1.0 still, but wonder if you have changed your mind considering the Hymer insolvency? The warranty term seemed to be a big selling point.

The side by side comparison is a great idea. I too prefer the Aktiv. Better layout and better use of space.

I would love to see some comparisons of things like miles per gallon, OCCC, solar capacity (including solar-ready for adding portable solar and extra roof space for adding permanent panels)-it would be great to be able to compare all the off-grid capabilities! These could include comparison within a brand (Pleasureway to Pleasureway) as well as across different manufacturers. Another comparison I would like to see is storage-how many total cf of storage each has. I wish manufacturer brochures included info like this!

The bathroom differences means the Travato wins for me, as a solo woman. But that’s why there are so many different RVs. 😊👍🏻

The 2018 Winnebago 59G has less weight and more payload. Much better wall insulation. Integrated bike rack and roof rack with ladder. Better bath with black tank. Larger compressor fridge. It’s an all weather coach! More storage. Larger aisle in galley .Active is tight in galley and second row seat is narrow. The GL option blows away the Active 2.0 with 800 lithium for the same sales price after discounts. 2018 59G and GL is superior to the Active.

Just starting to look for a B and really enjoy your comparison videos. The problem with the bed on the Activ Is the 72” length. Wayyy too short for my 6’2” husband! I keep coming back to the Travato G (in preference to the K partly because of the separation so I can sleep up front and let him toss & turn in the back, but also because of the big fridge - I hate little fridges down on the floor.) There is an Activ for sale in San Jose (we’re in Walnut Creek) and your video helped me decide not to make the drive to go look at it. Also concerned about Hymer and the bankruptcy/warranty. Thanks!

Agree with most of your points. But you should say the Aktiv sleeps 2 shorter people comfortably, length does matter. You also kind of skipped the fact that the Travato bathroom is twice as big, another factor for those of larger dimensions. Also, the longer 2.0 does nothing for the galley, just a more square bed and additional storage. I agree the Aktiv is a better overall design, but the overall quality is so poor and the lithium battery system is so poorly designed, I still would hesitate on a purchase. Both are rather claustrophobic, which is why I'm taking a serious look at the 59K. Different animal, but a much more spacious feel.

Great review Neal, one thing you didn't mention is the Activ is a cassette type toilet, that is very common in Europe and has some advantages but it's kind of a negative in the US.

Thank you for adding the warranties about these two. I'm looking at both, the warranty is great on the Hymer, where Winnebago is lacking, but on the 2019 models the Travato is now an all season coach. Plus I don't like the Cassette toilet in the Hymer. So I've been weighing the pro's and con's on both and think for me the Travato 2019GL which can be purchased for $78,000.00 with all the add on's.. lithium batteries, front window, driver & passenger window shades, ALL SEASON coach are a great value! I want to travel in all seasons. I'm assuming these are the 2018's your reviewing?? Thank you for sharing and adding warranty info.

Great video as usual, Tks Neil and see you next time.

Neil the real comparison would be between the cassette toilet system Aktiv and the regular black tank system of the Travato. I'm ready to buy in a month, and presently my choice is Travato GL. The Pure 3 system is very attractive.

I really liked your decision to compare two similar vans. I will travel alone, so some family vans are just not appropriate. This was a good set for me.

Wow you have got the camera views spot on. I am going to to look at the Aktiv and maybe trade our SS Agile in. Thanks!

Imagine in the future, i hope someone think the of hybrid aktiv 2.0 loft and travato 59GL . That you be awesome in class b industry. Thanks for the review btw.

I agree on most points but at 6' 3" that 59G bed is long enough and the Activ is not long enough.

Good comparison review, I'm currently in an Aktiv 1.0 at Arches National Park. I do think that if you are going to mention the amount of space the Travato bathroom takes up you have to mention, and show, the small size of the Aktiv's. Especially how difficult it would be for some to get around the Travato's sink if they are larger (no I had no problem)! Oh, and I really do like the Aktiv's flip-up sink! Strangely I've flipped on the cassette toilet after having used one for over a week now. At least for a single rider, they are fine for a week or so and are easily dumped in many places along with the standard dump station. Having ridden in both I agree about the jump seats and lighting but the TV didn't bother me since I watch most of my videos on my 15" laptop and I never turned the TV on.

You fail to mention the sliding screens on the Aktiv. You have to snap on the screens on the travato. And the Aktiv screens are better at keeping bugs out.

Neil, have you considered doing a review of Coach House? They’re in Nokomis, FL. Family business, manufacturer and sales. Most intriguing: one piece fiberglass “house.” They also sell on Sprinter chassis. Warranty: 3 years. On the other coast, for you, but reputed to be quality outfit. Would love to see comparison to Pleasure Way. Continued success!

Thx tough to do these kind of reviews as you will have strong feelings for both make, models. I found it informative and non biased Thx

Neil, if you ever have the chance I would enjoy hearing your review of a Coach House RV class B or B+. Thank you for all the great information and all the time you put into putting the videos together.

To tell the truth, I've had no problem with my extended length Roadtrek Zion.... same length as the 2.0. YES it sticks out a bit in parking lots. But I've had no complaints or problems with the extra length. ALSO..whenever I have a chance I park it on the street, whenever possible, and walk into the store. That way no one can slam their door up against my van and cause damage. And I've used porta potti's in the past and have no problem with emptying them. I would prefer a cassette toilet just because I would not have to look for a drop site (and pay 10$, like a do now) quite so often.

Check out my new playlist for more head to head comparisons: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/admYm8Shmr-deZs.html Here's my original review of the Aktiv: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eLOjZtBk2s6Ug5c.html And here's my review of the Travato 59g: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/otRjp6uSmp7DiHU.html

Hi Neil, great job as always on your reviews. You did not mention about the cabinet construction. Are they screwed or stapled together? Also what bout the cabinet locks? Thanks

The Active may have more 3-point seat belts, but that doesn't make it suitable for a family as it only has sleeping space for two. The Travato has beds for four.

Just found your channel and love it. Great info!!

You forgot to point out that the Activ has a cassette toilet.

Thanks for the great review. Aktiv certainly is superior to the Travato. The warranty especially is so much better. Winnebago should be ashamed

That cassette toilet is a killer for us, but so is the small bed of the 59G. No winner here.

No! No! NO! to anything with a cassette toilet! That and a wet bathroom as well! Who wants to have to wipe down the toilet after a shower for the next person to use?? Gross!! Hey Dean!! Give me the new Leisure Travel Van Unity twin bed with the bike garage !

Do you recommend buying a Hymer even though they're not sold in the US anymore? Is there any way to get parts?

Just curious, why not compare the Aktiv 2.0? That is the same length as the Travato🖒Another great review. I really like the 2.0😉 I just don't understand why or how Travato has a 1 year warranty on something that going to cost $80,000.00+ That's insane👎👎👎 Aktiv hands down🖒🖒🖒

You do know that the Activ table in the front does expand? It has arms under it.

I know this video is a year old, but I’m curious since Hymer going out of business, do you still have a warranty?

Any chance of you reviewing the Tiffin Wayfarer B+? We have one on order and would love to hear your thoughts. Your reviews are the absolute best!

What I'd like to know is the weight limit of those beds are. The Travato brochure highlights the Frolie (sp?) but nada about weight limits.

PS: Should you be able to make it to the Southeast, Mercedes’ new plant in SC should be opening any day. It’s from there (I think) that the new Sprinters will come. Chance for an interview?

Travato does have a lithium upgrade and a pretty substantial one too. They just call it the 59 GL.

Hey, would you still go w an aktiv today? I found a good 2019 used one but I never see them anymore but price point is great

Would be nice to see Aktiv 2.0 vs Travato 59GL.

I believe Hymer went out of business so the travato would be the long-term winner for parts and service.

Great job with your presentation...

I'll take the bigger bathroom over the bigger bed any day. Also I'd tear out all the seatbelts other than the driver's belt to make sure no leeches try to scam a ride from me. The warranty isn't a big issue because I'd void the warranty by modifying either one to suit my purposes better. The main difference for me would be marine toilet verses cassette toilet.

Is it possible to improve the lighting in a van without major work?

Nice job, Neil,

Welp, now that Hymer North America is out of business, that 6 year warranty doesn't mean much. Time to update the winner.

To summarise Large people go for the W. Talented smart people go for the H.

TheActiv is only available with the dodge chassis. Also gas not diesel. Is the a true vas or is it a “b plus”

Can TVs be used as a monitor to connect to phones or laptops?

Any recommendations for a class B that has a driver's seat that accommodates someone 5'10" or taller? Having trouble finding one that allows me to sit back and tilt back enough to be comfortable for long drives. The Dodge chassis seems to just have very short seats and the discomfort is made worse by design that puts the seat back up against something too close to back. Thought/advice appreciated.

Where can I buy this active 1.0 I called a dealer they told me it’s only sold in Germany? Also this warrantee that you mentioned is it still available now when the whole road trek hymer situation

Except now Hymer is out of business and they screwed all of the Aktiv buyers.

Is the Hymer Activ 1.0 still available in 2020???? In Canada????

Thanks for the review. We we're going to seriously consider the Travato but now I'm not so sure. One question. Is the Aktiv considered four season? I'm also waiting to see what Coachman is going to announce with their Crosffit at the dealers show next month. I like the Ford Transit and am hoping they'll offer a lithium package.

Thanks

Good video. Does the Travato offer better all season capability since all the water and lines are interior and heated tanks are standard (i think)? Great point about the price variance if you opt for the travato lithium version.

I sure would like to see an in-depth review of the Hymer ACTIV Loft Edition. Besides the loft, I wonder how the 'basement' airconditioner will perform. Neil - how difficult is it for the dealerships to allow you to take the reviewed campervans for a test drive? Hope you are enjoying the holiday with daughter.

hi neil, did you ever review sportsmobile sprinter 4x4 144? I want ascent but they do not make ascent 4x4 .

wonder if and when Hymer will sell some of their larger motorhome in the USA. I like the idea of German engineering.

Hey Neil would you be willing and able to review the coachman crossfit ? thanks

Patty Walker look on Lichtsinn website

Fantastic review and I agree the Hymer is a far superior coach. I know the Promaster is the most popular platform for campervans in Europe by far but I'm not a fan. I wish Hymer would start building the Activ on the MB Sprinter chasse instead. Its called the Grand Canyon over there. Hopefully US builders are watching your videos and taking notes. Europe is far ahead of the US in the RV building field in terms of form and function. They better hope more European makers don't jump the pond and start selling here or they will be hurting for business like the US automobile industry. Remember Detroit anyone? Thanks for this video!

I test drove a Activ today.. Checking it out, I went to open the back slider and the cheap plastic handle broke off. If that is any indication of the quality, no thank you. I moved on~

Do you if the Aktiv has a twin bed configuration available?

Travato is more comfortable for a taller person. But still not enough. How about you do a comparison with taller people?

How is the Zion .

Neil, what happened to so many of the videos?

What are the approximate prices of each?

Now that Hymer has imploded, does the Aktiv still win?

Winnebago front lounge is a disaster. Poorly laid out, miserable, uncomfortable seats, no head rest , and as you State the placement of the tv makes it useless

59GL

Thanks Neil just out of interest what are the prices of both vans

lighting is a cheap fix

👍👍👍

First😀

:)

Thanks