Ouch, $42K is a lot of money for this unit. I’d probably spend another $20K and get the Airstream Bambi 19CB. Most Airstreams still retain 90% of their value after 10 years.
$20 grand...? For all of this? Nooo... Something basic, yes. But this unit has a lot of whistles & bells for a little lightweight camper. Esp considering there's no slide-out - some people really dislike them.
I usually don’t like the factory-made RVs, but this one was pretty impressive. I love the fact that, even though it’s a micro, you could still fit up to 5 people in there comfortably! Great jingle at the end of video too!😁
Have always loved the BH floor plans with the big cargo door. For us, the lower bunk gets removed for carrying both of our mountain bikes. The upper bunk becomes a large storage shelf. Very much appreciate no slide out. The more simple the better. I don't like more moving parts, more weight, and more leaks. This looks like what I've been looking for.
I have this Trailer(2022), and I love this thing! Love the new upgrades on the 2023 like the on demand hot water, and the smaller ladder. Believe it or not I tow this trailer with a 2011 Nissan Fontier it tows perfectly (with WDH, Sway bar, and Break Controller of course)! Loaded up with all my stuff, and about a 1/3 tank fresh water it came out to 4500 lbs on a CAT scale giving you a fairly light tounge weight. If i was to take it farther, or full time. I would recomend a 1/2 ton TV. This thing is crazy light! 55 gallons fresh water, 190 solar. It's a boondocking powerehouse! It's a small house on a off road chassis.The bathroom was the main reason we got it. It's super comortable. One thing I do recomend is adding a flip up counter top. It gives you just the right amount of counter space. If there was one down side. It's the lack of camp side windows, but we spend most of our time under the awning fishing, and playing music through the outdoor speakers. I take this thing pretty much anywhere I want. It's a Great Trailer!!! 👍
@@macbook802 You can feel it. It is a mid sized truck. But it's not crazy. If you tow it with a half ton you probably bearly feel it. This is probably the limit for my Frontier though. It just falls under the payload, and towing numbers. We should all be towing patiently anyway right?
I have customers that use this unit through the winter months and stay quite toasty. R-values can be a bit misleading in RVs since windows will have a lesser R-value than portions of the wall structure and so on. I've found Jayco's design (both in terms of insulation and heating systems) does an admirable job of keeping the user comfortable. Thanks for watching
Love camping. But the biggest thing I have had issues with in campers no matter what type is leaking at the Seams and seam corners and roof separation. You would think that after decades of manufacturing alp types of campers that a engineers would of fixed those issues.
I like the layout but there is only 2 of us and I would prefer to dump the bunk beds and have a slightly larger bathroom and extra sitting or storage space in that area. Seems silly how they always want to add more sleeping instead of keeping it simple for 2 people .
Understood. That's why Jayco offers 4 different flooplans in the Micro line. The 173MRB has a spacious bathroom, very much a couples camper. Thanks for watching
These are so dangerous. People try and pull these behind trucks and jeeps that are too small with a single axles trailer...amd tbe price is laughable. My 2019 35 foot triple slide out cost the same as this for double the size.
$42,000 for a micro single axle?! Buy used. There is no justification pay that for something this small. Nothing looses value faster than a rv trailer.
It is STUNNING how well laid out this unit is - and the use of space / creature comfort provision is genius - I could live in that quite comfortably if things got really sketchy...nice to know it's possible !!
Blackseries HQ17 should copy this floor plan. I don’t want to pay much more but only get a wet bath…….Or Jayco should come up with their own true off road trailer.
As someone with a 2022, there's only two differences here that I would love, and you didn't cover one... The built-in blinds on the door! So much better than the frosted glass window, especially given the lack of camp side windows. The other really nice upgrade is that ladder to the top bunk. Might have to look and see if I can add something like that on mine. The other changes are pretty minor, IMHO. I do still think that the kitchen is a bit weird. I'd give up the microwave in exchange for an oven, and I think think the combo of a three burner cooktop and no oven is just odd. Nobody is gonna use three burners in this thing. None of that is a show stopper, but is is just odd. The other thing I'd love for Jayco to include is a camp side QD water hose. That would make it a lot easier to cook outside, even if it was just cold water. For others looking at this camper, I'd suggest getting a second solar panel if you don't want a generator. The single panel doesn't really keep up with all the needs of the camper including the 12volt fridge.
Get the Highland Ridge 17BH, which is essentially the same trailer, and you get a convection microwave. It also has a two-burner stove, so you actually have some counter space. And it has the propane/120 volt absorption refrigerator, which is much better suited for boondocking. 12 volt compressor refrigerators are better suited for campsites that have 30 amp power.
@@AlaskaErik You can get the 120/propane fridge in the Jayco, but my experience with propane absorption fridges turns me off. The 12 volt fridge is fine for boondocking as long as you prepare for it. You can also get a convection microwave in the jayco, but mine didn't come with one. Don't really use it anyway.
@@everettchris1 You can upgrade the power system by switching to a bank of lithium ion batteries and adding solar panels, but that would cost thousands. I've heard of a number of 12 volt fridge owners lamenting how their batteries get drained. I've been using absorption refrigerators for years now and have never had any problems. They sip the tiniest amount of propane and my Highland Ridge 17BH (same thing as the Jayco 17BH) can easily handle the current draw of the refrigerator electronics with the 190 watt solar panel and wet cell battery that came with it. I would never be able to boondock with a 12 volt fridge without a serious solar panel/lithium ion battery upgrade or running a generator most of the day.
@@AlaskaErik You don't need a battery upgrade to run the fridge. It's just that the one panel can't really keep up. My experience with absorption fridges is very different than yours. I'm glad they have worked for you. Of course, being in Alaska might change the calculus here.
@@AlaskaErik I’d like to hear more about gas/electric refrigerator vs 12 volt. Will the gas/electric also run on 12 volt (battery) or do I need shore power? The dual panels option (overlander 2) I believe give you a 1800 watt inverter. What does it power? I’m assuming a few outlets. Thanks for any insight.
The RV industry responds to demand. Historically, folks have preferred plumbed toilets w/ a black tank. I can appreciate the advantages of a cassette toilet thought! Thanks for watching
Ditch the microwave, will use that for storage, popcorn is better on stove top. Does that controller blink all the time? That would suck when sleeping.
Yeah I don't get the TVs and microwaves they put in these things. Even living in a small trailer full time I've never used the microwave yet. That would require a freezer full of frozen food. It just does't make sense. Storage is a lot more useful. And who needs an old fashioned TV when everyone has laptops.
I feel sorry for someone who spends 42k on this and a year down the road it’s falling apart. Look at how the tv is wired up. Let that be your reality. If you can’t get that right I wouldn’t trust anything about it.
Another thing I noticed is the '23 is a few hundred pounds lighter and this allows more to be stored/towed inside. Anyone have insight on where the weight reductions came from? seemed like a pretty decent amount of weight shaved off that isn't evident where it came from.
They are starting to get to a quality point I might actually purchase one. Appliances and walls are much better. I would ditch the bunks and make the bathroom bigger and add a closet with removable shelves for more storage.
I’m not paying these prices, people have lost their minds to go along with this madness . The shortages were all orchestrated to create these problems, I refuse to play along.
A 2023 JAYCO JAY FEATHER MICRO 171BH that sleeps 5 with a shower and a commenter below said retails for $42k. Pretty impressive. ROUGH MATH: $200 a night in a hotel for 5 people divided into $42k means it pays for itself in 210 nights of use (less than a year).
Thanks for the thorough overview. Very Versatile. But izzit ModernFarmhouse if there’s no shiplap? I’d trade the bunks for a fire exit-laundry +storage room, w/bike wall mounts +a door to secure pets. Can kayaks or bikes fit in the pass-through? What about Insulation, Fire Safety and Personal Security?
Happy to go over all of those questions if you'd like to come out or give us a call. As the name implies, it's a micro unit so storage is at a premium but having reviewed a number of different small off-road capable trailers, the Feather Micros are versatile little units.
well i can see that they have really let the quality go on those ladders! That one was buckling under your weight and originally they had a much higher weight limit and were strong. so that is a terrible ladder for you, you need one that is stronger and doesn't bow with you just putting your hands on it!
Be great if floor plan essentially flipped and back gate comes down like utility w bed that goes up and down. Would own the market instantly… so many of us have e-bikes, regular bikes, small motorcycle, or kayak / little John boat. And silver anything but white :)
Nice overview of this model. Really well thought out floor plan and still sleeps 5.. I have a Tacoma so cannot get too large or heavy. Robert below says he tows it with his Frontier so should be no problem.
41 seconds in and the first thing mentioned is storage. What on Earth is with this obsession with storage? There are so many things to talk about, yet all these RV reviewers seem to think we are primarily concerned with storage.
It is pretty small with lots of innovative ideas. I like the ladders and the storage. It looks nice for weekends out. I think it would be nice for families with young children. I really like it. Thanks for the video and have a wonderful day.
What's the weight limit on the ladder? I like everything about this trailer except the bunk area. I would remove the bunks and turn it into an office. The manufacturer should offer that option.
Uhhh, I would ditch the bunk beds, either put a small table or build in a table top for a desktop computer against the back of the unit & a office chair & change the curtain to a full length or a small door to cancel any noise if the TV was also on in the main camper. That would be my computer media room, that's the answer for the bunk bed room.
CAN YOU SHOW VIDEO OF THE ROOF SOLAR HOW MANY WATTS, HOW MANY MORE SOLAR UNITS WOULD IT HOLD,? AND MOST IMPORTANT WHAT KEEPS THE SOLAR UNITS SECURE ON ROOF ? WINDS HERE GET 80 MPH MADE SPAGHETTI OUT IF MY SUV ROOF UD AFF PHOTO BUT NO WAY HERE..
We'll try to do more vids featuring the roof, solar, etc. The panels are secured through the roof into the trusses. These units are subjected to 80 mph winds just about every time you take them out, when you figure in the wind speed. We have not found there to be an issue with the units staying fully secured on the roof.
I like it better than the Coleman and the Mallard! Lots of nice options. I need to know how long they finance these travel trailers for ! Thanks for the great video.
That has to be the best mini because has a sink in bathroom 3 burner stove and a full fridge and bunks wow awesome travel trailer many don’t have sinks to wash in bath area and freezers are really tiny and definitely don’t have bunks like this one
I wish these guys would talk about the ideas these trailers have and how the trailer are made. What's inside the walls? Are these stick build or aluminum built?
I try to discuss construction on some videos but try to not to repeat myself. It's a challenge to balance but I'll keep that in mind. Thx for commenting. This model has a welded aluminum frame with Azdel fiberglass walls. -Mike
I like to see the one with the slide Mike. Good video. What’s the difference in the Overland Solar packages? What do they power? Will they power the refrigerator, what outlets, etc…. Can you select overland one package and add the inverter later or is better to have it built with one?
The Overlander II option increases your solar to 400W and gets you an 1800W inverter. With the 12v fridge, this option would keep the fridge happy for extended periods of time and also give you some outlets with 110v of power. -Mike
this is the perfect trailer. We can tow this with our 2022 Honda Ridgline. We are looking at the 2022 171BH. just concerned about the 110/propane fridge. Do you know how hard it would be to swap that out for a newer 12v fridge? Great video review by the way:)
Agreed it would! While we can't order a unit from the factory sans bunks, I've heard of some folks making mods after purchase. The good news is that there are non-bunk models in the Micro family that do have a closet. Thanks for watching.
They shouldn't call this micro. Micro should be 17 foot and under. 20 foot is medium sized. You probably don't want to pull this with all the small SUVs that have a 4,000 - 5000 lbs towing capacity so this is too big for a half the vehicles out there.
hey mike i got a big question for ya...it doesnt look like it has a bumper on this micro...where do u put the sewer hoses and also the rhino portable tank when u go to campgrounds that have dump stations...the portable tank has a bumper mount
Great question. The stinky-slinky storage tube is hiding behind the jacks which you can partially see at 12:11. I failed to point it out. Thanks for asking about it. -Mike
What's your idea for storing rhino 28 gal portable tank for campgrounds that have only dump stations makes it nice to have it with u so u don't have to attach to ur trailer every time your black or grey tank gets full....can u do it on the brush guard u think.... it weighs 37 pounds
