Need advice on purchase
Looking at this camper - would like to know what you all think... we are thinking we'll camp 3-4 times a year and two of those will be just down the road from us. Beginners for sure, but have experien...
Forum Discussion
Back in 2007, before we eventually purchased a new 2008 KZ Spree 240BH-LX triple bunk bed travel trailer, we too considered a rear glide model and would offer the following observations.
1) Around mid to late 2000s Jayco for a time switched to using TPO as a roof membrane instead of EPDM but later discovered the fleece backing of the particular version they were using was wicking in moisture and causing mold issues. If this particular model the OP is considering has this TPO roof membrane I'd avoid it for this reason alone.
2) While rear glide models were popular around the mid 2000s they've now fallen out of favour, with not many being manufactured these days. That in turn could make eventually reselling this trailer quite difficult as the market for those interested in a rear glide model is quite small these days.
3) Although most rear glide trailers eventually came with a "king" size rear bed ("king" being ~ 75" x 75") in which a couple would sleep with their feet facing into the trailer this Jayco 213 likely has a queen bed in which one would have to sleep laterally across the width of the bed, meaning that the person sleeping on the outside edge would have to climb over the other occupant in order to get out of bed. Annoying.
4) Headroom above the top front bunk is quite limited.
5) Rear glide trailers don't have a large front pass through cargo compartment as do most travel trailers with a front walk around queen bed. In fact, rear glide trailers offer very little cargo storage space ... yes, the lower front bed can be flipped up to create cargo storage space but that in turn means having to move the contents if you want to use that lower bed. Also annoying.
6) Typical of most rear glide trailers this Jayco 213 has no slide on the street side of the trailer, which in turn makes the interior feel awfully cramped.
7) In travel mode the rear glide bed blocks the dinette and sofa so mid day stops on the way to one's destination don't work well unless you're willing to pull out the rear glide.
8) Forum commentary from those that did own a rear glide trailer at that time indicated it was difficult to prevent cold air from penetrating up through that rear bed platform, making for an uncomfortable night's sleep. Lining the rear bed platform with Reflectix, just as I did with all the popups I owned, would help but won't stop any draft leaking past the bed seals.
JMO, but a conventional travel trailer with a couple of bunk beds would be a far better alternative for most.
1) Around mid to late 2000s Jayco for a time switched to using TPO as a roof membrane instead of EPDM but later discovered the fleece backing of the particular version they were using was wicking in moisture and causing mold issues. If this particular model the OP is considering has this TPO roof membrane I'd avoid it for this reason alone.
2) While rear glide models were popular around the mid 2000s they've now fallen out of favour, with not many being manufactured these days. That in turn could make eventually reselling this trailer quite difficult as the market for those interested in a rear glide model is quite small these days.
3) Although most rear glide trailers eventually came with a "king" size rear bed ("king" being ~ 75" x 75") in which a couple would sleep with their feet facing into the trailer this Jayco 213 likely has a queen bed in which one would have to sleep laterally across the width of the bed, meaning that the person sleeping on the outside edge would have to climb over the other occupant in order to get out of bed. Annoying.
4) Headroom above the top front bunk is quite limited.
5) Rear glide trailers don't have a large front pass through cargo compartment as do most travel trailers with a front walk around queen bed. In fact, rear glide trailers offer very little cargo storage space ... yes, the lower front bed can be flipped up to create cargo storage space but that in turn means having to move the contents if you want to use that lower bed. Also annoying.
6) Typical of most rear glide trailers this Jayco 213 has no slide on the street side of the trailer, which in turn makes the interior feel awfully cramped.
7) In travel mode the rear glide bed blocks the dinette and sofa so mid day stops on the way to one's destination don't work well unless you're willing to pull out the rear glide.
8) Forum commentary from those that did own a rear glide trailer at that time indicated it was difficult to prevent cold air from penetrating up through that rear bed platform, making for an uncomfortable night's sleep. Lining the rear bed platform with Reflectix, just as I did with all the popups I owned, would help but won't stop any draft leaking past the bed seals.
JMO, but a conventional travel trailer with a couple of bunk beds would be a far better alternative for most.
