Winnebago Just Made A Dirtbag Dream Van

Built on the Ford Transit chassis, Winnebago just unveiled a motorhome made with the ‘van life’ crowd in mind.

Your buddy may have converted an old Ford Econoline with a bed and blown insulation in the walls. But for the apex van-living experience many people look to production models.

Winnebago adds to the burgeoning space with its Paseo, announced this week and available in November. It comes with a kitchen, bathroom, generators, and optional solar power on the roof.

Mini Motorhome: Winnebago Paseo

But you pay big for this off-grid machine. The starting price tag is about $115,000. That’s the cost of a lot of Ford Econolines for the upgrade. Even a Ford Transit starts at just $31,610 MSRP.

But you likely won’t get an electric-powered patio awning with a DIY van. The Paseo ships standard with features most often found on its larger motorhome cousins.

This includes exterior speakers and an optional bike rack and roof rack, not to mention cabinets that employ “aluminum extrusions and LED accent lighting” for a refined look inside.

It has a TV. In front is the bathroom with a fold-down sink above the toilet. The dinette area is at the rear door, and it sits on a raised platform with storage underneath.

You move cushions around and convert the table area to a bed at night. Open the double doors on the back for a breeze.

One possible problem for the sport-centric traveler: All the built-in creature comforts reduce useable space for storage. Those hauling lots of gear might be better served with a custom build.

Paseo: Built On Ford Transit

Under the hood is a 3.5 liter, Ecoboost V6 Gasoline Engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The driver gets voice-activated technology and a color touchscreen for navigation on the open road.

Holding tanks, a compressor-driven refrigerator, a generator, and two “house batteries” make it more motorhome than VW bus.

Look to Winnebago and the Paseo if you need a mini motorhome or a readymade vehicle granting entry into the #vanlife.