Mike Up wrote:
We are looking at getting a Jayco Jay Flight 26BH but found that the Gulf Stream Ameri-lite campers with superslides are just as light or nearly as light as the Jayco.
So we compared the Ameri-lite 255BH and 259BH models and I couldn't even stand being in there.
I'm 6' even and the roof was scraping my hat. The brochure says 6'4" but I don't believe it, it felt more like 6'2". I have Claustrophobia and I couldn't wait to get out of this trailer. Also, even though they have a superslide, both models only offered a walkway about 1' wider. Definitely not worth the trouble of a slide.
Then we checked out the bunks. Our 19BH and the 26BH have double beds at 48" wide. These Ameri-lites bunk was much narrower maybe a twin or smaller. At areas without the slide, the width was narrower than the Jaycos. It's exterior width was only 7'6" wide where the Jayco was 8' wide.
The Ameri-lites also had no storage cabinets. They did have a shelf instead of a cabinet but that's of little use for our needs.
The Ameri-lite 259BH was 5200 lbs dry from the factory where the Jayco Jay Flight 26BH was 5050 lbs dry from the factory. Even so, the Jayco was much larger inside with a ceiling height of 6'9" and 1/2' in areas other the slide. Also had more storage cabinets and larger beds. Even the bunk mattresses on the Ameri-lite were flimsy looking to be 2" thick compared to 4" thick with the Jayco.
Also price wise, the Ameri-lite 259BH was about $1000 more expensive than the Jayco 26BH.
Now I'm not bashing the Amerilite as the size difference, other than the beds, didn't bother my step son or wife who are in the lower 5' range. And I realize this is a budget brand so they are going to cut corners so this isn't a surprise. I just wanted to point out some differences that can be overlooked when looking at a floorplan sheet.
As for your subject line, I hope NO ONE has ever bought a Trailer based on just the floor plan. That would be scary indeed!
Second, Ameri-lite is a budget brand, as mentioned previously, and IMO doesn't hold a candle to Jayco. I am sure there are many happy Ameri-lite owners as it fit their needs, but I would never choose one over a Jayco. Jayco is the winner for me hands down.
I would probably buy a lower end Jayco TT that was the same size as one of Ameri-Lites higher end models.
