RV review: 2023 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108DS FLX
The RV industry is seeing that boondocking and off-grid camping are really growth areas for all of us as campgrounds become more and more full. I’ve talked about Keystone’s Solar Flex package endlessly but now I want to look at Winnebago’s 2023 Micro Minnie FLX line, specifically the 2108DS.
FLX is Flex
Winnebago has taken a solid selling model and “plussed” it, as Walt Disney used to say. The new FLX series incorporates a number of features that are significant game changers when it comes to off-grid usability.
The company’s goal is to be able to extend the time someone spends off grid to five days. So how did they do? Simply put - they almost nailed it.
Table of Contents
Advanced features
While many smaller travel trailers seem to source the most low-end features that’s not true here. In fact Winnebago is using a number of components from Truma that are really exciting.
There’s the Truma Vario heating system which is quite efficient as well as the Truma AquaGo hot water system that is, effectively, a tankless water heating system. You could easily blow through your entire tank of water and have it all be hot. But that would be silly. But doable.
The FLX also features 380 watts of solar on the roof via two 190-watt solar panels feeding 320 watts of lithium batteries. There’s a 3,000 watt Xantrex inverter so, essentially, you can run anything.
Including the air conditioner.
AC on batteries
One of the goals of so, so many RVers is to be able to run their rattle trap Coleman Mach air conditioners on batteries but they’re approaching the problem from the wrong side. Rather than trying to keep adding resources to feed these antiquated contraptions so many of us have on the roof, a smarter solution would be to simply employ an AC system that’s actually efficient and modern.
Enter the German-engineered Truma Aventa air conditioner. The Aventa is extremely quiet and very efficient air conditioner. Based on specs on the Truma site that unit consumes just 4.2 amps in cooling mode. That is literally less than one-third the power consumption of a Coleman Mach 13,500 BTU air conditioner.
This isn’t such a revolutionary concept, though. Anyone who has installed a modern AC unit in their homes such as a mini split know that there are ways to cool a space very efficiently.
The Aventa is also very quiet, again like a modern home AC unit, and is even low-profile.
You operate the AC and heating system from a single control panel which also operates the water heating system.
Other stuff
The rest of the trailer is pretty straightforward but well thought through. There’s a three-burner propane cook top and a convection microwave but no oven, per se, but you can run the microwave off the batteries as well. The fridge is a Dometic 12 volt DC model.
While this is a relatively compact trailer at just 22’ 7” long and seven feet wide, Winnebago gets the most out of the interior by incorporating a single slide room and a Murphy bed system.
That slide room can be outfitted with a dinette or a jackknife sofa with a portable table.
This means you get a surprisingly large bathroom that covers the entire back of the trailer and makes for a very usable space. As Matt Foxcroft of Matt’s RV Reviews would say, this has a prime pooping position.
One catch
While Winnebago says that their goal was five days off the grid before having to come in I will take umbrage with that in one area, the fresh water tank. My own trailer carries 54 gallons of fresh water and we can go four-five days with this, but the 30 gallon gray tank would be full after 3-4 days of two Navy showers a day (one for me, one for Peggy). That’s one shower per traveler per day and I travel with my wife.
This does have a Shower Miser system whereby the water that you’re using while waiting for hot water to reach the shower is actually diverted back into the fresh water tank, which is a brilliant feature that Rockwood and Flagstaff have been using for years. But I don’t know if that would compensate for two more days of showering.
What would do this is to plumb the system so you flush the toilet with gray water. This would take some additional plumbing and a second water pump. I do intend to do this on a cargo trailer I’m building. I’ll let you all know how effectively, or not, this works.
It’s ain’t easy being green
One thing to know, this package isn’t cheap. The difference between the standard Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108DS and the one with the FLX package is $18,890 on the MSRP.
I can already anticipate the comments. “I can throw a couple of lithium batteries on my RV for $1500.” Yes you can.
But you don’t get that Truma AC unit, nor do you get the 3,000 watt Xantrex inverter nor the total integration of all these systems. And, one more big thing. It’s all installed, working and covered under Winnebago’s warranty.
Also, talking to a few RV companies about future product this price is about in line with other systems, many of which are far less capable.
We have an article on upcoming generator bans and how you can still RV
In summary
Winnebago was the first company I’ve seen to make a truly off-grid trailer that lives up to the promise. Why do I write that? I’m friends with Robert Morales (Traveling Robert) who has one of these and has been testing it for some time. He has been very happy with it and he spends a great deal of time on the road including lots of boondocking.
I think Winnebago’s approach to the problems Boondockers have, by employing more energy efficient components, means they can get by with less expensive battery systems and still deliver the experience we off-grid campers are looking for.
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