The Best (and Worst) of Hybrid Travel Trailers | Things to Consider When Purchasing a Hybrid Camper 

We LOVE our hybrid to death, but that still doesn't mean there aren't things that could be a bit of a pain. Let us know what the favorite and most-hated parts of your hybrid are - or - what you're worried about if you're deciding whether to take the plunge!

Bunk condensation; as a wooden boat builder I can help with that. You need airflow under your mattress while you are in it. Some kind of slatting to keep your mattress from resting on the solid platform directly. You could glue a series of 1x2's a(flat side down) about 2" apart to the bed platform. With a decent mattress you won't feel them at all. Run them front to back so when you raise it they are verticle. This way any moisture left will drop out. You will still be generating the moisture (it comes from you) but with that air space, it doesn't get trapped by the mattress and has a chance to evaporate. It will also keep your mattress from mold buildup if you are stationary for a long time. You probably don't worry about that too much as you take your mattress up every time you pack up. But look at the other bunks too. Good luck!

I love camping, and the only reason I'm looking at trailers, is that my wife and I are getting on, and we can no longer handle dealing with ground sleeping and steadily decreasing bladders. If I wanted to 'camp' in a luxury apartment, I would buy a bloody timeshare!!! A tent-trailer, or at the very outside, a hybrid is what we will buy. Camping requires set-up, it's part of the experience. Taking time to prep a site, pitch the tent, and set-up the table shelter, that first fire!!! That is what camping is about, not microwaves, DVD's and Island kitchens....If people whine that it takes ten minutes, or even an hour to set their campsite up, then they should stay in a Super 8, eat pancakes at Denny's, and sit in the Casino when it's a beautiful day outside. And they shouldn't snivel about their tots, twins, tweens, or twits...kids are kids, they're resilient...when we were kids in the 70's, we disappeared into the wilds of northern BC once the boler was set-up, and my Scout tent erected, we ran through the trees, rode our bikes, and didn't spend four days eating garbage and drinking juice boxes or playing Nintendo indoors!!! We drank lake water and hit each other with sticks!!!

We've been tent camping for years, and are about to buy a camper. The hybrid makes sense for us ( toilet, shower, liveable space, fixed beds, & weight ) are key issues that this camper seems to cover easily. Can't wait to show it to our camping buddies. Great video. Just liked & subscribed. Best wishes from GA.

We just got a hybrid and are so exited! Looking forward to watching your travels.

Great video! I think we consider the size of the camper being 22' when shut, but 28' with the beds down to be a great pro as well. This will allow us to get into smaller National Forest campgrounds, which we love! Also makes it easier to tow. I do think the pro of the interior space vs a tradition trailer the same length is a great selling point as well. We don't have one or even two beds taking up any of the living area. A regular trailer this length would be extremely cramped!

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. We are in the process right now of figuring out what we want to do next. We are tired of setting up a tent and want to move to something like this. Really thinking about a pop-up camper but this video really has us thinking about the hybrid. I think what you touched on about still being able to hear nature is a big thing for us. Thanks again!

Nice review of the Pros and Cons. I was definitely aware of the cooling challenge. The noise factor is a new one to me but like you, we tend to enjoy nature sounds! Thanks for sharing

When we had a pop up I clipped reflecting sheets across the top of the canvass using clamps to hold them around the top, reflecting heat away in hot summer and it made a huge difference!

thank you very much for sold I'm getting a love the way you guys describe the in-and-out and the pros and cons about the trailer

In 1976 I was 11 and my parents and us 4 siblings went on a roadtrip to California from Ontario, Canada. We had a '73 Pontiac Priessene with a 400ci V8 and a hardtop tent trailer. No bathroom ot a/c in the trailer. We got used to it. We did have a propane fridge, stove and heater and a sink. Our worst enemy was rainstorms, but at the same time the spund of rain on the vanvas put us to sleep. Thks for your video on pros and cons. Happy camping!

Thank you for the video. i found it was a big help. Cheers!

I'm so happy to have found this video! We do a lot of volunteer disaster relief in the south after hurricanes and flodding and such, but now we don't want to rely on staying with people for their safety and ours, better safe then sorry. So have wanted a trailer of some sort but have so physical things that make tents and ground sleeping not a thing. But, we also can't come close to a full deal rv, especially having been out of work basically this whole time, but still wanting to help when we can. So my husband came across what we were told is a great deal for a 2007 forest shamrock 17 I think its called. It has a little oven, sink, microwave, full bathroom and the ends pop out to sleep, and it's in good condition. So I came on here to look up fun little inexpensive ways to make it cute or my style or just fun things and learn about the ins & outs...but the first one I clicked on absolutely hated theirs and are extremely against them. I get that everyone has their own experiences in them too....but it literally made me throw up because the deal was done last night so is what it is. So to see someone also enjoy theirs is nice. I'm hoping if you did one on an update of liking it that its still good otherwise I'll start crying again. It was a great deal for what it is, but as tight as we are it'll be a bummer if it's just not a good thing...so...guess we'll see. It happened fast cuz of the price so hadn't known much about this type. So, hopefully I can find some inexpensive fixes for some of the issues. Thanks so much for sharing this!!

Thank you so much. That answered all our questions.

Four years later, this was very helpful to us. Thanks.

Awesome job on this video guys!

I just stumbled upon your channel and love this video. My wife and I bought our first hybrid last year. I grew up camping with my family when I was younger. We always did tent and then later a pop up. When I proposed the idea of camping to my wife, and looked at pop ups, the first thing she noticed was the lack of a bathroom. We also have 2 girls and that compounded the problem for those trips in the middle of the night, so a hybrid was the answer. We bought a gently used one and have needed to do a few things along the way. The biggest was new tires, which we did this year, so I won't have to worry about a blow out. When we we're able to get away last year, the entire family had a blast. The girls were sad when we closed it up and covered it for the winter. We live in the northeast so I wanted to protect it as much as possible. You were right, winterizing is a concern, which I did when I prepped it for the winter, and with the extra time we now have, I have uncovered it and started opening it up. I am a bit nervous to see if I winterized it correctly. Hopefully no leaks. We have a couple places booked already, but no telling if we will be able to go as of yet. Our first trip is in late May. We will see. I just subscribed to your channel and look forward to catching up on your other videos. (Since I now have time) Stay safe!

What I appreciate most about our hybrid is the interior room. We started with a pop-up. Later years we bought a travel trailer. By then it was just my husband, me and two dogs. Now, my daughter, her hubby and my grandson are along, and we a hybrid. Tons more interior floor space. It actually sets up faster than a pop up due to the way the bunks fold down. And of course, much lighter to tow

As someone who has been tent camping with family for the past 20+ years I personally don't think any of the negatives are an issue at all. It's damn luxurious in comparison. A/C? Wow what a luxury, we don't have that when it's 110 plus outside. I was thinking a pop-up would be a great upgrade but these look pretty nice, thanks for sharing! I have an Expedition so towing something like this should be a breeze.

Great video! We have a smaller version of your trailer and agree with everything you shared.

Thank you! We live In BC and get a ton of rain..good things to consider :)

We Love our fun Hybrid...even after 3 years of hard use. Great video!

Go for it - enjoy!

Great video. I'm considering a hybrid. I had a pop up in the past and loved it, but looking at hybrids for the convenience.

Love the video! We have had a pop up and a hard side. We are moving to the hybrid. The box length for getting into tight spots especially on BLM land but most of all the connections to the outdoors. We missed the feeling that we had with the pop up, open the screens and let the trailer breath!

Thank you for putting this together. We are looking to upgrade from our pop-up to something self contained (in California) with a bathroom. We are limited on tow capacity and space to store a trailer, so a hybrid seems like the perfect option.

We have done a lot of tent camping, and love the outdoor feel that the hybrid offers. I must say that we started our camping adventures in a 36 foot motorhome and it was pretty miserable. One pro to consider is the ability to detach the hybrid from the tow vehicle so you can go explore the local area without really sacrificing the functional space of a motorhome. It is a great balance. Even better when you consider how easy it is to tow a 24 foot trailer.

We have had our Starcraft Antigua Hybrid since 2005 and love it. It's been taken out camping over 100 times. The condensation issue on the bottom of the mattress puzzles me. We occasionally get condensation on the inside of the tent in the morning, but nothing opening a window cant't fix. All our camping is at the beach year round in Southern California and the open nature of the our Hybrid gives an open feel allowing the sea breeze through the trailer.

We have always used damp rid packets and buckets and no longer have the condensation problem.

Great video and cute family!

When we do wood siding we use something called Slicker for air flow. That probably would help with airflow under your mattress.

thanks for sharing!

I just bought me my very first hybrid a couple months ago, i am Super excited to take it out this summer. I love your guises rig by the way, you guys did great! I read some of your comments below, and a subscriber had mentioned there’s no perfect mechanism especially in travel trailers, and he is 100% correct on that. Back to having moisture underneath your mattresses, the only solution I could help you with that is you might want to make sure to you have your canvases velcroed down tight and well. it never hurts to do a second inspection inside and out. That might just be it! Anyways, great video very informative and happy and safe camping travels to you and your family. 😁

We have a Jayco Jayfeather 16xrb and absolutely love it. We get the size of a 23 ft camper with a 16 ft package. We are making some modifications to the tent sections to improve the cooling factor and have had great success. (we live in hot louisiana so it’s a big issue with cooling the camper down, but we got it down pat now)

Hi thanks for the video! My family and I were possibly looking into a hybrid, specifically the RockWood Roo 233s. Thank you for pointing out all the pros and cons. Helps with the decision making on a hybrid or full hardwall trailer.

The stock mattress’s in the Jayco X19H are garbage storage is minimal. However it’s just my brother and myself using for hunting it’s waaay better then tenting. So when one of us are gone I do the half turtle which helps keep heat in. Half the hunting season we camp off the grid. In much colder temperatures we park it in the RV park and have heaters plugged in which makes it warm and comfy. We both have Ram 1500 with the Pentastar V6 and it pulls the trailer and atv in the back of the box with ease. Been an amazing set up for just the two of us

I put reflective bubblepack over the ends. Bought at Lowes. Keeps them from getting cooked in the sun. Use long bungy cord to hold in place.

Really great job .. with the bonus of see a beutyful people's and family . Bravi : I'm buying a hybrid Rookwood roo tomorrow,wish we'll . Rai .

We haven't upgraded the mattresses, but we still pull them out each time to make sure there isn't a risk of mold

Binge watching videos that I didn't even realized I missed because I am missing my drinking buddy :( Hope all is well y'all

Condensation builds up on the windows of our hard wall trailer when it gets cold out, we try to move air through the trailer. I liked the hybird trailer we used to have but it was hard to walk by someone while they were cooking and had to climb over the dinnette to get into bed.

I bought 48 inch wide Reflectix from Lowe's. Perfect width for going under the mattresses, over the flip out door (I have the same camper). For me this eliminated all condensation under the mattresses and will help insulate your bunk ends even more. I also do the PUGS and Reflectix in the windows.

Wow. Didn't think about condensation. I live in NM and the winds here can be extreme and unrelenting, so I was looking for a video like this one to give me some insight. I think I'd better pass by these hybrid trailers. Thanks so much for this awesome vid. Just a note of constructive criticism, keep the background music down low.

Congrats! Always an up side!🤭❤

Thank you... I'm getting our first Hybrid (Jayco 23B KIWI) and this video is great. For moisture..have you ever purchased the DampRid boxes? They are not expensive and they pull moisture out of the air. I use them in my hunting camper that stays closed and unused for months at a time

For condensation, try the froley bed springs that create an air gap.

Try laminate underlay for the condensation. Comes on a roll and cut to fit. It will also help insulate it. That's what it's made for, stop moisture under laminate flooring. Just a thought.

I use the Den-Dry mattress underlay. Bit expensive but keeps the moisture off the hybrid trailer mattress!

We use something called hyper vent to control condensation under the bunks on our hybrid I think it works well got it from a boat store but they do have a web site

I would like to see what the space is like inside with one or both beds pulled in.

TYVEK will solve your Condensation issue. You can buy a roll a your local box store. Cut it to size and put it under the mattress. The under side of the tyvek will take all the moisture, then you can just lay it outside to dry off and your mattress will be dry. When the tyvek is new it’s super crinkly and loud. Run it in the washer a couple of time and it will soften it up and still keep the protection.

We have the same trailer, love it but the shower is almost useless! Great video.

Thanks

We are upgrading from a pop up for the exact same reason. When we first bought a pop up we had a one year old. We loved how convenient it was compared to tenting. Four summers later we have three kids, four and under. As much as we still love our pop up, we don't like the hassle in setting up (especially the pop up door) or not having a bathroom. This was a great video in which you explained the pros and cons very well. I was still on the fence of our big purchase but you put me a little more at ease :)

Something you could do if you are in a campground with noise is use a white noise machine! That will drown out some noise if you need it to.

Excellent review. Please keep the music volume low as it’s way too loud then the regular audio

Did you get the condensation issue fixed? We have the 12v plugin light/fans and leave the fans on overnight and it has really helped with the condensation for us we don’t really have the issue any longer (we have the x23b as well) an additional con we have found is the 24 gal gray water tank. We would love to have a larger gray tank. It’s just one more thing to have to dump or have a dump cart.

Pop up Gizmos for condensation and heat retention!

As a former TENT TRAILER owner, I wish people would call them that. Not pop up! LOVE LOVE LOVE our hybrid but wish it had more storage. Also, just a side note: you don't have to buy one this big. Get something more sized for your needs instead of what the dealers want to sell you. Ours is 18 feet. Our tent trailer was 18 feet fully extended, and only 9 feet folded up. It's not such a huge shock that way and few people really need or want all this extra crap they want you to have.

We have a hybrid and the only thing we struggle with is making the bed....I like sheets and blankets. I’d like to see a video of how you make the beds.

Have the same exact 💯 1

Setting up camp in the rain and wind is what it's all about

I have mixed opinions about cannibalizing a side tent from a pop-up camper but it does reduce weight and doesn't come with the constant issues of a slide-out wall.

Hi, thank you for the video! Where did you get the bunkend sun reflectors? Thanks!

Great video. Thanks.

Great video, I already have a hybrid like you an up grade from a pop-up. I am always looking for tricks,to upgrade, never thought of reflectix and I live in Alaska. But what is PUGS?

You said your getting water under the bed because of condensation? I had this happen to me and I thought maybe because I didn’t undo the canvas the right way.

Where did you get the foil covers for the tip outs? We are thinking about Gizmos but your idea might be cheaper and as good. About moisture under mattress...you can buy the foam jig saw mats and cover the hard surface to wick away moisture. My niece did this with her hybrid. My wife and I just got one rubber mat...we will see if that works. If it does, we will buy another rubber mat.

You mentioned about the moisture under the mattress. I read a lot and tried it and 100 percent wool blankets work. The moisture doesn't go to mattress and the blanket absorbs it.

Great information I am looking into buying a hybrid.Don’t wanna drive or purchase a $80,000 F250 to pull around a heavy,large travel trailer .how bad are the mattresses they look awfully flat and thin?

We used to have a pop up as well lol

why have they not made matresses that simply stay attached to the fold up portion? Seems like an easy fix to solve the hassle of storing the mattresses.

Saw at you at Sunset Seekers. Hybrid trailers are a good choice, for weight and room. I like them and would think about buying one. We have some videos you would like check us out

My pop up camper has vinyl on one side of the bed

I need something that can be pulled by a minivan.., any suggestions?

Thanks for making this video! I don't think a hybrid would be a good fit for us😟. Does it move much after setup? What I mean is; like walking to the bathroom or hopping over people in the bunks translate to movement of the camper disturbing other sleepers?

Are you all still shut down by Covid restrictions? Do you plan to start up again or just stopped altogether? Hope you all are doing well.

Moisture for beds use rubber sheets under your regular sheets

Portable dehumidifier may reduce moisture.

The mattresses have to be taken out each time you close up?? Oh my... really?? (please say no)

You call that a setup?? That is a breeze compared to our pop up!

Do the hard shell walls have insulation in them? If so is it fiberglass or foam?

Try Damprid for the condensation

love that shirt! great video too, thanks!

LEt's talk about the volume of the music in your cut scenes...

Damp Rid for moisture issues

were you in a metal band in high school?

This is 2022 are you guys doing anything different?

What about attracting bears?

How are the fold out sides supported?

He put a bugger on you!

ohhh my goodness, I thought u went from a pop up to a hybrid? if u had a pop up all those cons were the norm with a pop up, nothing one can't deal with

Don't forget about bears!!!!!! Those end beds offer no protection from them!!!!!

They all seem to have floors after 5 years old.

lose the music

Killer noises? Lions, tigers, bears? Serial killers?

Best is dual axle hybrid. I repeat do not buy 17 foot single axle hybrids

Please really that's nothing u that lazy 😢😢 wow that was hard