Sometimes less can mean more, and according to inside sources, don’t be fooled by the smaller length of the 2008 Trek, because this motorhome has luxury to spare.
“With Trek you get all the items of a diesel coach in a gas coach,” said Safari National Sales Manager Shannon Thatcher. “Hardwood cabinets, full-body paint, upgraded furniture and carpet, as well as all the great construction features Monaco Coach Corporation has to offer.”
Comparing a gas coach that ranges in size from 28 to 29 feet to the highlines is pretty gutsy, but then again, the Trek has proven it has plenty of staying power, so I was happy for the opportunity to test its mettle.
The cockpit of the 2008 Trek is perfect for long or short trips with six-way power Flexsteel™ leatherette seats, carpeted floormats and easy-to-reach cup holders. The dash sports an attractive bronze color instrument panel along with clearly labeled and easy-to-access control buttons. The radio comes with a built-in CD player and Sirius® Ready compatibility. An adjustable rear camera system with audio comes standard, but you can opt to upgrade that feature with a three-camera system.
New this year is an LCD stereo flat-screen television in the cockpit overhead with home theater surround sound and a sub-woofer. You have some room to wiggle when it comes to furnishing the 2008 Trek. Choices include a number of sofa-bed variations, barrel rocker chairs, and also a computer table with a Euro recliner chair. The floorplan I toured contained a roadside fabric Magic-Bed sofa and across the room were two rocker barrel chairs with a flip-up cocktail table. Altogether this provided plenty of room for guests to gather as well as allowing for extra sleeping space.
Multi-use is the key to keeping Trek spacious as well as compact, and installing a queen-sized bed on an electric powered lift (Electro-Majic™) in the living area is one way to make such an efficient use of the space.
“The drop-down bed sleeps two, allowing you to transform the living room into a bedroom,” Thatcher said.
The Electro-Majic bed is easy to operate with a wall switch, and once lowered, reveals a power fan located in the ceiling above the bed and reading lights. Day/night shades and the curtain at the front windshield offer ample privacy, but if you choose, there’s also the option of having a headboard and footboard installed.
All cabinets are hardwood and available in Newport Cherry or Champagne Select, both decorated with attractive antique brass hardware. Also new this year is laminate wood grain flooring in the kitchen and bathroom, but if you’d prefer, you can opt to replace that with ceramic tile that would cover the space from the living area to the bathroom.
Space in the galley is usually considered prime real estate when you’re out on the road and Trek buyers will be pleasantly surprised by the large amount of solid surface counter space, in addition to at least as many, if not more, cupboards and drawers than are generally found in longer RV floorplans. The Trek galley also includes a stainless steel sink with a pull out faucet, decorative mirror backsplash and a dinette table with two extra chairs. The raised panel refrigerator comes standard in eight cubic feet, but that can be upgraded with the optional 10 cubic feet model if you prefer. The galley also comes with a microwave/convection oven and three-burner stovetop as a standard feature, and offers a three-burner range with an oven as an option.
At the rear of the Trek is a bathroom more spacious than you would expect to find in an RV of any size. Three wardrobes include interior lighting and multiple drawers. The large sink comes with plenty of space underneath for storage and a large mirror above the sink hides a built-in medicine cabinet. Multiple towel bars and a large shower come standard, and a bathtub is available as an option in all floorplans.
New this year is an LCD stereo flat-screen television in the cockpit overhead with home theater surround sound and a sub-woofer.
Electrical availability is another area where the Trek can hold its own when stacked up against the competition. The standard package offers 30 amps, but according to Thatcher, many buyers are choosing to upgrade to an optional 50-amp package with the Energy Management System and 2000-watt inverter, “to maximize their use of campground hookups, especially when running the air conditioner,” Thatcher said.
An Onan® 4.0 Kw gas generator also comes standard, but if you plan to spend much time dry camping or tailgating at football games, you may want to upgrade that system to the Onan Gold 5.5 Kw generator with an aluminized exhaust tip.
Managing all the power is easy to do with the monitor panel located conveniently above the entry door, a slideout battery tray, 145-amp alternator, battery maintainer, battery boost, and an hour meter on the generator to help you keep track of when it’s time to change the oil and filter.
Water management in the ’08 Trek is upgraded this year with a re-designed central filtration system.
“The system provides one central water flow location with an easy to change filter,” Thatcher explained.
The water heater, designed to run on gas or electric, comes standard with a six-gallon capacity, but can be upgraded to ten gallons. Holding tank capacity is 60 gallons fresh water and 40 gallons each in the gray and black tanks, separate storage for the sewer hose and an electrically powered black tank dumping system.
“It’s called Sani-Con,” Thatcher explained. “People are preferring this system as a cleaner and easier way to dump the tanks.”
When it comes to body construction, the 2008 Trek also measures up to the rest of the fleet. Steel cage cockpit construction, alumaframe superstructure, one-piece fiberglass roof, one-piece windshield and new deluxe full-body paint colors. The metal fuel door with a lock, power heated remote mirrors, low profile LED lights, a 5,000-pound hitch receiver and aluminum wheels all come standard. Some upgrades you can add include a rear ladder, full-length mudflap and an exterior radio system. The storage bays are newly designed this year in gray rotocast, which according to Thatcher are popular with buyers for their improved aesthetics.
The 2008 Trek is built on a Workhorse chassis and is powered by an 8.1L V8 gasoline engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Fuel capacity is 75 gallons. The engine cover is one piece, there is an under-hood utility light installed and access points to the dipsticks and filters are designed for easy maintenance.
When it comes to driving a motorhome, I’m usually content to stick with the wide open highways, but as Thatcher explained, the
At the rear of the Trek is a bathroom more spacious than you would expect
to find in an RV
of any size.
ease of piloting the Trek is one big reason why so many people have made this model their motorhome of choice. Not only is Trek less intimidating for those of us who are apprehensive about our navigational skills, but veteran RV drivers can also appreciate its maneuverability.
“It’s so easy to get in and out of parking lots you can leave the tow car at home,” Thatcher said.
He is right. The 2008 Trek stands side by side with the rest of the fleet when it comes to comfort and style. Add to that its drivability and a starting price that is far lower than what you would normally expect to pay for a luxury RV, and you’ll find the 2008 Trek meets all your motorhoming needs.
Shelly Curtin is a Pacific Northwest-based writer. She has contributed numerous features for Safari Adventures, from product reviews to RV lifestyle topics. |
