Category: Buying

By Tony Barthel
Podcaster, Content Creator, StressLess Camper

The Chinook Maverick SS is a new RV offering from a familiar name that’s making a statement for the brand and vehicle type. This independent RV company has persevered through ups and downs in the market since they were founded in 1938, and today they offer something truly unique. RV Trader is giving you an exclusive look at what the 2024 edition of this top model has for RV enthusiasts.

The Maverick SS is a Class C RV based on the Ford Transit cutaway chassis outfitted with all-wheel-drive. It’s also one of the few RVs that has achieved a gold rating in Truma’s climate testing chamber. 

Hot and Cold Camping Champion

In an earlier conversation with Jeff Butler, the CEO of Chinook, he stated, “We wanted to achieve the four season gold standard by Truma. We’re the only manufacturer to achieve that standard.” Butler added, “It’s a big deal for us, and we work hard to achieve that.” 

The Truma test sets a pretty grueling standard. First, you put the motorhome into a cold chamber with all the doors and windows open to “cold soak” it. Once the whole thing gets to -15°C (-5°F), they then close the doors and windows and turn on the heater in the rig, while it remains in the cold chamber. 

To qualify for gold status a camper has to get up to 20°C (68°F) in 4 hours, but the Maverick did so in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Impressively, its heater kept going and going. 

There are a lot of people who ask me for a vehicle recommendation to camp in cold weather for winter RVing. The combination of all-wheel-drive and the ability to recover from extreme temperatures definitely puts this rig on the list. In fact, there’s even a compartment where the water connections are heated and insulated. 

Build Quality 

This rig really stands out when you consider the materials that were used to build it. Of course, it starts with the steel frame of the Transit cutaway, but Chinook then adds a steel cage structure in the back. From there, the walls of the RV are sheets of aluminum rather than fiberglass, which is only used on the roof.

Aside from the different exterior, the cabinetry, including its cabinet doors, are all cut from a single piece of wood. All the joints on the cabinets are dovetail joints, and the material is genuine plywood.

Another thing to note in this rig are the walls, which are a padded vinyl material. This is a nice, soft material that also absorbs sound and helps with insulation. It’s up on the ceiling, too. Maverick’s Truma Combi dual-purpose water heater and furnace also helped earn its hot/cold rating. Everything considered, it’s a great, compact unit. 

Unique Layout 

One of the most unique aspects of this rig is the overall layout. While the majority of motorized and towable RVs have a campside entry, this one has a back door instead. This is where you’ll find a single-piece flip-over step for easy access. You’ll also find a flip-down door that provides access to a shallow cabinet, but can serve as a table should you want to bring the induction cooktop outdoors.

RV Meal Prep

The portable induction cooktop is the only stovetop in this rig, which is another great feature for campers. It makes cooking easier and cleaner, especially when venting air in your RV. And if you feel like whipping up a quick meal, you’ll also find a microwave. Another nice accent, the stainless steel sheets on the back and side of the cooktop encircle the large kitchen sink on the other side of this coach.

Refrigeration comes from a three-way gas absorption refrigerator, which is a rare sight of late. Furthermore, this fancy reefer has doors that open toward the front and back so you can access it easily from either side. 

Bathroom

The bathroom is essentially a two-part situation with a campside shower. The toilet and sink are behind a proper door on the opposite side of the rig. 

Sleeping Arrangements

Some refer to this RV type as a B+, while others call it a Class C. It gets the B+ categorization because there is no provision for sleeping over the van cab. The main space features a couch roadside and a tiny dinette campside. You can also get this model as the “DS,” which would be a double sofa where there’s a couch on both sides. 

With the Maverick, you can fold the sofa flat, which creates a larger bed that could fit two. If you want more surface area, you can push down the dinette table to make enough room for a twin-sized bed. If you find this troublesome, check out these great solutions to make RV beds easy to use.

Entertainment

There’s a TV and entertainment area over the cab of this rig, if you feel like relaxing. It’s a nice addition when you’re camping out and staying inside during a rainy day.

Boondocking and Travel Access

This RV has no slide, and while that may be a disadvantage in some RVs, this model is spacious enough inside that it’s not really a drawback. While it comes with electric cooking appliances, there is a 4,000-watt gas generator on board, too. They also have a 3,000-watt inverter with solar on the roof, and four AGM batteries. Overall, this RV is well suited for boondocking. 

Final Thoughts

I like this RV quite a bit! The floorplan is very usable for two people and the build quality is great. Chinook has taken advantage of its solid reputation and signature styling cues, like the rear-slanted trapezoidal side windows. There are also three rather large (for a Class B) storage bays on the outside and a surprising amount of cabinet and closet space inside. 

Considering that there are plenty of Class B RVs in the same general price league as this unit, I wouldn’t hesitate to get the Chinook instead. You have much of the same drivability and maneuverability in this rig, but far more storage space both inside and out. There’s also a usable bathroom and shower, along with a good seating area. 

No matter what type of RV you’re after, we have what you’re looking for. See our nationwide selection of new and used recreational vehicles online at RVTrader.com.

This is an honest look at RVs from RV industry insider Tony Barthel, where you learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A RVs, Class C RVs, and Class B RVs, as well as some interesting class-breaking RVs. Tony also writes for StressLessCamping.com.

By Tony Barthel
Podcaster, Content Creator, StressLess Camper

RV Trader is taking a closer look at some of the newest models arriving on the market in 2024, and there’s plenty to be excited about with innovative designs, new features, and more! This next RV review is for the Global Expedition Vehicles Patagonia. As I drove around RV Open House, where the RV industry shares the latest and greatest with dealers, the Patagonia model was something that stood out. This RV seems perfectly prepared for the kind of adventure that you can find in movies, and it’s certainly unlike anything else at the show. So, what’s all the noise about?

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What is the Global Expedition Vehicles Patagonia?

Global Expedition Vehicles is a company that specializes in extreme overlanding RVs for those who have a serious lust for adventure and are working with a bigger budget. The company makes a variety of overlanding RVs that are much more than just a solar package or simple vehicle. The Patagonia is a custom-made RV that allows each shopper the ability to customize features and components in their specialized build. 

The model that was at the Open House actually belongs to a company owner that uses it for their personal adventures and was based on a Kenworth cab-over chassis. Yep, that Kenworth. They don’t mess around. 

The process to produce an RV for Global Express Vehicles involves learning more about what a specific customer wants and needs. They ask questions about their RVing experience, where they want to go, and what they want to accomplish with the vehicle. They want to know if one’s anticipated adventure is domestic or around the globe.

From there, they start the design process. No good house is built on a weak foundation, so the company modifies the underpinnings of the truck so that it’s capable of off-road challenges. Part of this modification includes a front axle system designed by Global Expedition Vehicles so that the whole rig is incredibly capable off-road. 

What’s Inside

The company’s RVs tend to follow a common floor plan so they can work within the structure and build of a model. This means a bed across the rear of the vehicle, kitchen on the roadside, and dining on the campside. 

The bed is a raised affair, so there’s plenty of storage underneath. While the vehicles are all spacious, they’re not as large as many other types of RVs, so you can still travel and fit within somewhat narrow spaces.

These rigs also feature a wet bath, which includes a shower and a toilet in the same room. The toilets are also typically cartridge-style, which can be more convenient. Interiors can be almost as stark or lavish as you desire. The owner’s model I walked around featured tile floors and nice upholstery. This is the advantage of each unit being the customized vision of each specific customer. 

Another nice thing is that the company makes the body portion of the RV “float” so that bumps and shakes on the road don’t transition as much as you’d think to the body of the rig. That’s how you can get something with tile floors that’s also very capable off-road. 

More Capability

These are some of the most versatile vehicles coming to the market, in my opinion. For example, the one I saw had 200 gallons of diesel fuel on board, along with a 6,500-watt diesel generator. The interior featured all electric appliances, including a Vitrifrigo 12-volt, drawer-style refrigerator, and cooking was done with an induction cooktop. There was also a microwave and air fryer, which a number of RV companies are beginning to put into their rigs.

The company uses Mastervolt battery and inverter systems, which come from the marine industry and are among the best available. They were pioneers in adapting these marine systems to RVs, and now a number of RV brands have started implementing them. 

Winches, giant tires, brush guards, traction assist boards, and so many other things can also be incorporated into a build. 

Something new with this RV that I haven’t seen with other vehicles yet is a storage garage where you can keep your dirt bike. This is a design feature that makes sense for extreme weather or off-road conditions, where you can drop your dirt bike off and scout out an area first before you take your RV on a secluded trail or try to boondock.

The dirt bike is on a tray, and there’s a hoist to get it up and into the cargo bay, which is under the bed in the back of an enclosed compartment. That same hoist is how you’d raise and lower the spare tire for this rig.

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Final Takeaways

As you might expect, these are expensive RVs. They start around $750,000 and can get closer to the $1 million mark. You can also spend that much on a Class A diesel pusher, but those are not necessarily meant to be taken off-road. The Global Expedition Vehicles Patagonia can prove to be a good choice for those who want to simultaneously enjoy luxury and embark on a serious adventure.

When you’re ready to shop for your next vehicle, check out a nationwide selection on the RV Trader marketplace at RVTrader.com.

This is an honest look at RVs from RV industry insider Tony Barthel, where you learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A RVs, Class C RVs, and Class B RVs, as well as some interesting class-breaking RVs. Tony also writes for StressLessCamping.com.