RV Review : 2011 Keystone Raptor 26FS Toy Hauler Travel Trailer

This is an outstanding little Toy Hauler for weekend use!

Video RV review of the 2011 Keystone Raptor 26FS Toy Hauler Travel Trailer.

I love the toy haulers. I have kids stay with me quite often, so I need a bunkhouse - something more than electric stowaway beds, but for a couple, or singles, or a weekend only unit, the toy haulers are really hard to beat.

Some of the features that define this unit :

• A little BABY slideout only
• toy hauler compartment - obviously
• V-shaped front end for aerodynamics AND
• Queen bed in the V- the V really does create extra room
• 12 gallon hot water heater (cause you get dirty goin' 4 wheelin)
• 110 Gallon fresh water (cause you play hard in a toy hauler)
• Black tank flush 
• 4200+ pound carrying capacity

For those who prefer a link to the video : Video RV Review of the 2011 Keystone Raptor 26FS Toy Hauler Travel Trailer.

RV Review : 2011 ForestRiver XLR 23 FBV Toy Hauler Travel Trailer

Neat little RV Toy Hauler Travel Trailer  called the Forest River XLR 23 FBV.

Distinguishing features :

• V front end used for the bathroom - amazing how much space that extra little 'V' provides.
• No slides (helps with cost and weight dramatically)
• Toy Hauler
• Travel Trailer (not a fifth wheel)
• No bedroom (the beds are in the garage)
• 3,400 pound capacity
• 100 gallon fresh water
• black tank flush

For those who prefer a link to the video : 2011 Forest River XLR 23 FBV Toy Hauler Travel Trailer  RV Video Review

RV Review : 2011 Forest River Sierra 355QBQ

This is one of the most innovative RV's I've seen in a while. Superb value and affordable for the common man.

When you think of innovation, you always tend to hear about Jayco or Keystone, but doing the quick video review of the Forest River Sierra 355QBQ Fifth Wheel RV really gave me some surprises. There is quite a bit of innovative ideas in this unit.

Here are some of the distinguishing as well as unique features that define this unit :

• Four (4) Slideouts
• Bunkhouse
• Additional 1/2 bath
• Water filtration system ( I may leave this off in future overviews as this is cool, but most should be able to add this ).
• Black tank flush ( so important, I'll keep doing for awhile )
• Adjustable Electric Awning
• Outdoor Kitchen

For those who prefer a link to the video : Video review of the 2011 Forest River Sierra 355QBQ Fifth Wheel RV Recreational Vehicle.

RV Review : 2011 Aliner Scout Travel Trailer

The Aliner Scout. This is the first pop up I've ever video'd. Really makes me wished I had a wide angle lens! Its on the list so I'll have it soon.

The Aliner is a pop-up camper. One step up from a tent really. That is how Aliner markets it. This is like a towable, hard sided tent. Which I think is cool. Your car can tow it. Its easy to manage, and its way nicer than a tent in terms of sleeping accommodations and warmth and safety. You cannot live in an Aliner. But you can have a great time. One more benefit is that you can pack lots of camping gear in the pop-up while you're traveling.  We think it would be great fun to have a pop-up.




For those who would prefer a link : 2011 Aliner Scout RV towable camper

RV Review : 2011 Forest River Rpod 177 Travel Trailer

The itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dotted CAMPER from Forest River.


One of the neater and more recognizable RV's. This little camper is one of the cutest campers going.

Actually it is an Rpod 177 lightweight or hybrid trailers. Not quite a popup and not quite a travel trailer. The little rpod is quite amazing really. I believe the number would refer to square footage.

The big differentiator or key features for this trailer :

• lightweight - towable by a car
• small and easy to store
• large bed
• full complement of storage tanks.
• honestly - you could probably live in this if space wasn't a big concern. Big if.
• Black tank flush!

Amazing little things that I think are pretty amazing :

• dsi hot water heater
• air conditioning
• cook stove
• refrigerator
• full bathroom - well, you shower along with the toilet, but you can do everything you need to do in the RV which is very cool.
• furnace

For those who would prefer a video link : 2011 Forest River Rpod 177 Travel Trailer Camper

RV Review : 2011 Palomino Puma 27KFQ Travel Trailer

This little travel trailer gets my vote for one of the most unique travel trailers I've seen in a great while. In some ways, it looks sort of ordinary, but check out the some of the differentiators:

Unique or Differentiating Features :

• Bunkhouse
• Pull out / Slide out / Outdoor kitchen. This is like a "kitchen in a drawer" and what Puma has done is to tuck the kitchen into a slide - like the spice racks in many kitchens, but on a larger scale. You literally pull out an entire kitchen, sink, burners, oven, micro and refrigerator.
• A kitchen skylight is fairly unique.
• EZ lube axles - anything that reduces or simplifies life so you don't have to pack bearings sounds like a winner to me. I need to do an article on these EZ lube things from Forest River.
• Other than the rv outdoor kitchen, there are no slides on this unit. That helps keep it lighter and lower cost.
• I have to list this. Puma actually listed this as a feature : phone jacks.
• I also wonder - as nice as this outdoor kitchen is, maybe a camper manufacturer should consider eliminating the inside kitchen or greatly simplifying - maybe an inconvenience on inclimate days, but...

For those who want to see a link to a video : Palomino Puma  27KFQ Travel Trailer Video Review

RV Review : 2011 Palomino Sabre 31RETS Fifth Wheel

RV Video walkthru of the 2011 Palomino Sabre 31RETS Fifth Wheel.

Notable Features of Mr. Warren Buffets little RV purchase (Forest River) :

• Porcelain commode. Its a pretty nice (and heavy) feature for RV's. I like ours.
• Black tank flush
• Air Conditioner with Quick Cool Dump. Our Open Range has a Heat Pump Air 5 from Carrier I think and honestly its too darned slow. The quick cool is a pretty darned neat feature.
• Adjustable Electric Awning
• Super Lube Bearing system : I don't know exactly what this is, but I'm GUESSING that this might get you out of packing bearings all the time which is something worth making a bit easier.
• Water filtration system
• Several addable features are possible (air conditioners, fireplaces, bigger fridge, bigger hot water heater, and electric jacks - but these can be added to almost any fifth wheel).
• Probably the KEY features you should know about are :
• Rear Entertainment configuration
• Triple Slides
• Fifth wheel configuration

Here is the link to the video : 2011 Palomino Sabre 31RETS Fifth Wheel Video Review

RV Review : 2011 Airstream International 25FB travel trailer

These Airstreams are really neat Travel Trailers.

RV Video Walk Through Review of the 2011 Airstream International 25FB Travel Trailer.

In many ways, the Airstreams don't always have a great deal of features as they differentiate themselves on "design" and materials. Very hard to capture in words. I heard a quote recently that 70% of all Airstreams ever made are still on the road and usable today. I think that is a pretty incredible stat - if its true. Down in Austin, even if the trailer is old, they are being reclaimed and turned into little portable diners or restaurants.

Anyway, notable features for this Airstream :

• clean design interior and exterior
• light weight long lasting materials
• Solar panel pre-wired (sat & gen too, but that isn't that special)
• 
  

For those that would prefer a link over the embedded viewer : 2011 Airstream International 25FB Travel Trailer Video Review

RV Review : 2011 Airstream Sport 22fb travel trailer

Cute little Airstream Sport 22FB Travel Trailer.

There is no denying the Airstream classic clean lines and good looks. It has an appeal all of its own, like maybe Harley Davidson or Indian motorcycles. But this is still a bunch of money, probably about twice/per foot what you might get with another travel trailer of a similar length.

Key differentiators for this trailer :

• Its fairly light weight - see the specs - like 4000 pounds and less than 400 on the hitch.
• clean and classic design/decor 
• claims a 20% towing efficiency over more standard travel trailers (just repeating the claim - I have not substantiated)
• fully enclosed and sealed underbelly
• pre-wired for solar panels
• probeless tank monitors

For those that prefer a link to the embedded video viewer : 2011 Airstream Sport 22fb travel trailer camper

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Winnebago View 24J Class C

During the Austin RV Expo, one of the neater RV's there was the Winnebago View 24J Class C Motorhome. What I liked the most was how cool and modern it looked. I thought of it as a little Euro-apartment on wheels.

Notable, true differentiating features are :

• Diesel engine (I really cannot see owning a gas powered RV, do you?)
• Key activated slides (good idea - we accidentally press ours)
• Water filtration
• Electric Awning
• Diesel Generator
• True Level holding tank monitors

For those of you who prefer a link : Video of Winnebago View 24J Class C Motorhome

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Winnebago Vista 32K Class A Motorhome

This is one of those good 'first units' for a first motorhome. The Winnebago Vista 32K Class A Motorhome. I will say that RV's really don't look that stylish, but this unit truly does look like a brick on wheels.

Notable features :

• 32 feet 
• gasoline powered
• 2 electric slides
• bunkhouse
• improved holding tank (black tank, gray tank) sensors (thank the good Lord!)
• generator
• 6 gallon hot water heater - i would think for a class a, 10 ought to be the minimum.

A very utilitarian RV that makes good sense for your first class A. 

For those of you who like a straight link to the video : Winnebago Vista 32K Class A Motorhome

RV Video Walkthru : Jayco GreyHawk 31FS Class C Motorhome

For some reason, I've never video's a Motorhome. But there is no time like the present. No reason I picked this one over any other but the Jayco Greyhawk 31FS Class C Motorhome is a clean little Class C Motorhome. Remember a Class C is built on a truck frame and has a truck cab that may even be separate from the camper.

Notable features (or things that define this unit):

• Gasoline powered (which seems crazy as diesels have so much more power per gallon)
• Bunkhouse so that this makes a nice family vacation unit
• Outdoor grill
• Electronic Awning
• Onan Generator
• Black Tank Rinse
• Big refrigerator

For those of you interested in a true youtube link : Jayco Greyhawk 31FS Class Motorhome

RV Video Walkthru : Chalet DS116RB Truck Camper

RV Video walkthru review of the Chalet DS116RB Truck Camper. When I went to the Austin RV Expo in February 2011, this truck camper amazed me. I would say this is the most amazing part of the show for me.

For one thing, when I think of a camper for a pickup, I first think of a topper, which is inaccurate, but I can't help the wiring in my mind. Then I realize that there are nice truck campers. But I am still stuck with the notion that they are small and very limited.

Then I saw the DS (double slide) 116 (i assume is a square footage reference) RB (rear bathroom) truck camper.

This is really an engineering wonder and worth looking at for a camper for hunting or just something to go with your pickup for beach trips.

Notable features (for me at least) :

• a fully featured bathroom
• two slides.
• tv that swivels for bedroom or living room use
• a well designed concept for the over the roof bedroom (two entrances)
• kitchen island
• full complement of water handling (fresh, grey, black) including a black tank flush
• hot water heater 

Overall, this is a very neat camper. It really is big enough to live in for one person. Maybe two, but one for sure. I was very impressed.




For those who would prefer the link : Chalet DS116RB Truck Camper

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Jayco Jay Flight Swift 145RB Travel Trailer

RV Video walkthrough review of the 2011 Jayco Jay Flight Swift 145RB Travel Trailer.

Great little camper for hunting or weekend trips. Like a pop-up with vinyl sides except this is a completely enclosed camper. I was surprised to see that with this you have hot water heater, shower facilities, cooking facilities and even an awning.

I turned the camera on its side to give a better perspective of the unit.




For those of you who would prefer a link : Jayco Jay Flight Swift 145 RB Travel Trailer Video Walkthru

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Jayco JayFlight 29QBH Travel Trailer

RV Video Walkthrough of the Jayco JayFlight 29QBH Travel Trailer.

Neat little travel trailer that is sensible for family vacations as it has ample capacity for the kids. The abbreviation QBH I think would refer to the Queen Bed in front and the Bunk House in the back.

Notable features (but nowhere near all of them, just the really interesting ones) :

• Bunkhouse or Bunk House.
• Fold out sofa
• Really neat little travel seat in the dinette area
• bathroom skylight

For people who prefer the link here it is : Jayco Jayflight 29QBH Travel Trailer RV

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Jayco Eagle Super Light 31.5 RLTS

RV Video Review or Walkthrough of a 2011 Jayco Eagle Super Lite 31.5 RLTS Fifth Wheel (5th Wheel). I'm pretty sure the RLTS abbreviation means Rear Living Triple Slide. As usual, Jayco makes a great looking product that is finished on the inside and the out.

Noteworthy features (not all of them, just ones that set it apart or make it interesting):

• Electric RV Awning from Carefree (they seem to be cleaning up in the Awning market)
• Electric Front Jacks (this is nice)
• Outdoor Grill Preparations ( sounds like a tailgating beast )
• Black Tank Rinse (I won't buy another RV without this )
• I see you can get a hideabed option...
• Water purification option
• Large refrigerator option
• RV Fireplace - I really recommend this. You'll love it. I promise.

For those of you who like a link : 2011 Jayco Eagle Super Light 31.5 RLTS

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 235fb Travel Trailer

RV Video Review or Walkthrough of the 2011 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 235FB Travel Trailer.

In many ways this is a very functional travel trailer. Not necessarily flashy, but an overall very functional unit. One noteworthy thing is that you can open up the camper between the master bedroom and the rest of the camper making it seem very open. The rest of the features seem very standard on most units, you can go see the different features when you click on the above link. Another interesting feature is the addition of bench seating which would be handy.




For those of you who like the link instead of the embedded player : Starcraft Autumn Ridge 235fb Travel Trailer

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Silverback 31B2 Fifth Wheel

A no-talk walk thru of a very, very service-able fifth wheel called the Silverback 31B2. I get amused at Forest River (Mr. Buffets company) as they have a little bit of what I'd call "brand abuse". Forest River is the owner and manufacturer. Cedar Creek is the brand - as near as I can tell. Then Silverback seems like  sub brand within Cedar Creek. No way you can write it succinctly on a single line.

This RV looks very usable and I'll note here a few of the noteworthy features. My list is nowhere near complete, I'm just trying to get the things that are interesting...

• outside refrigerator
• bunk house - almost like a separate little apartment. 
• black tank rinse - I think will be standard soon and not so noteworthy, but for now I'm including it.
• really good ventilation fan - doesn't sound like much, but we LOVE our super fan.

If you prefer just a link - no talk walkthru of the 2011 Silverback 31B2 fifth wheel RV

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Jayco Eagle SuperLite 304BKS with Outdoor Kitchen

Good looking little RV travel trailer from Jayco called the 304BKS. One of the neat features about this travel trailer is that it is an RV with an outdoor kitchen. Those kitchens look great for hot summer days when you want the heat outdoors or days when everyone is outdoors having fun and you want to make sure no one is cooped up in a camper making dinner while missing out.

It has a number of features that are not really found on a smaller travel trailer and I'll list JUST A FEW here...

• RV outdoor kitchen
• Large Queen size bed
• Bunk house
• Super slide
• An actual tub in the shower
• RV electric awning

The rest of the features you can read about, but I thought these were at least noteworthy to get an idea of the unit.

I tried to keep the video right at a minute. To get the best perspective for an RV, I think you can get a better idea when I turn the camera sideways. What do you think?




For those of you who prefer a link : Jayco Eagle Super Lite 304BKS RV with outdoor kitchen

RV Video Walkthru : 2011 Jayco JayFeather Sport X17Z

When you hear the term "RV" you tend to think of Class A Motorhomes, Fifth Wheel trailers, or travel trailers. But there are other types like small camping trailers, pop-ups, or sometimes called ultra light RV's.

Jayco makes a really nice little trailer that could be pulled very easily with an F150 gas powered truck. It puts around 400 pounds on the hitch so I don't think you pull it with a car. But an SUV would do it too I think.

What amazes me is that this itty bitty trailer has some of the following features :

• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Range
• Private bath WITH shower!
• Front bedroom
• Rear bedroom (ok - room is a bit of a stretch)
• Sofa
• Dinette set
• Television ( TV )
• Awning
• Stereo system
• Awning
• Air conditioner

This is a pretty amazing little trailer. I made a small rv video review that last just 1 minute. It is very quick so use pause to halt the video and look around. Enjoy.