After many years in a tent, the wife and I are looking to upgrade to hybrid. Have been looking at Kodiak Express 172E, Jayco 16XRB, and Starcraft Launch 16RB.We'd love to get any feedback on these (or other Hybrids we should be looking at).

You are stepping a natural progression in your camping style that many of us have been through, going from tent to Pop-up / or / hybrid, to travel trailer / or / fifth wheel, to motor home.For many of us, it was initially hard leaving the "tent" feeling, so a pop-up or hybrid was a good alternative. They both afford the luxury of having a solid bed, getting off the ground, and still be surrounded by a "tent".However ... depending upon where you live, how you camp, and WHEN you like to camp, pop-up's and hybrids may NOT be all that good. Pop-up's and Hybrids still have tenting (soft) material that can (and is) a real pain to work with ... The biggest "pain" is having to close up the camper when the ends are wet. They can be wet from rain, or wet from dew. It doesn't matter, water is still water. And closing up a camper that has water is a "mold" just waiting to happen. So, that often means waiting for the sun to get up and hot enough to dry everything off before packing up, or having the ability to open the camper up once home so it can dry out. I think those who are most happy with both Pop-up's and Hybrids are those who can open them up at home and leave them open. If you cannot do this at home, because of where you live (like in a home-owners-association), or in a city zoned No RV's! Then you absolutely do not want a hybrid! You are destined to get caught in the rain sometime.Another thing to consider about hybrids. If you plan on early Spring, late Fall, or even winter camp, you're going to find those tent ends VERY cold, and you'll be burning through a lot of propane and / or electricity for space heaters to just keep warm. You will loose a lot of heat (and air conditioning) through those soft sides. On the other hand ... there are those who seem to really enjoy their hybrids. The biggest factor is they can have a shorter box to tow, and when opened up, creates more space. However, if you need to just park for an over night, while traveling, you'll have to unhook the tow vehicle, move it, then lower the tent ends. But then, you may never stop for just an over night. Still.... something to consider? You don't know how your camping style will change a year from now once you've started experiencing it.I may sound like doom-and-gloom, but coming from experience, may I suggest you skip right over the hybrid and go directly to a conventional travel trailer, for all the reasons I stated above. Your life will be much more simple!

Dutchman speaks with much camping wisdom.

You don't have to unhook if you choose not to. You can always "turtle" and then leave the next morning without disconnecting. Also, you can buy pop-up gizmo's to reduce both temperatures and light. As far as weather one or two electric heaters will keep the rig nice and warm. We have camped in all weather, including snow, but be prepared to keep snow limited on the tent ends. As far as brands, everyone has the picks. The best thing to do is find one that will fit your needs, both now and a few years ahead. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

We've owned 3 Jayco trailers we purchased new. A '93 1208 pop-up, an '03 Kiwi 17a hybrid, and our current X20E hybrid. All have been solid trailers. No major issues. The only issues were little things like misaligned door locks, a strip or door molding not glued down all the way, loose screws on the microwave bracket, stuff like that. What's going to be most important for you is floor plan and your dealer. As said above a hybrid is not for everyone, but also speaking from experience, having owned 2 hybrids over the past 13 years and still own, we can't say we're ready to be cooped up in a box just yet. We've been sleeping under some sort of tenting since 1985. We're in our middle 50s. You can't compare pop-ups to hybrids. Different animals, it's an apples to oranges comparison. We had a pop-up for 10 years before buying our first hybrid in '03. Night and day difference. We don't miss the work and hassle of a pop-up at all. Closing up wet is big problem with pop-ups, in fact we got mold in ours even after I was pretty sure it was dried out. Never completely got rid of the stains. Speaking of packing wet, our hybrids and others brands I've seen are vinyl covered canvas. They don't/can't get soaked. If they are wet when packing, they get dried with a towel. If it's raining, they get opened at home and toweled off. Not once have we gotten mold or mildew. If you live in HOA or in a no-RV zoned city, you've got far more issues than just drying the ends off. I'm honestly not sure we would have ever bought any trailer if I would have had to store somewhere else. The cost alone would have made me question it. Heating/cooling has never been an issue. Even in 28 degree weather, or in 100 degree heat in the NV desert. My wife now likes a heating blanket to supplement the heat, but it's due to a medical condition. Some folks use PUGs to cover the bunk ends but I personally think that would be little gain for a lot of extra work. Those that use them love them. We've done many over nighters without disconnecting. If our daughter was traveling with us I simply dropped the back bed and we slept on the dinette. Otherwise we didn't open anything and slept on the dinette.

Whether or not you can open your hybrid while hitched has to do with the length of the bed when open and the length of your hitch. We have a Jayco 17Z. We have a weight distribution hitch which lengthened the truck portion of the hitch by about a foot and we can open the front bunk while hitched. We even have just barely enough room to open the tail gate on the truck with the bunk open. Having said that, I understand that just adding a hitch extension is mondo dangerous so you don't want to do that.When we're overnighting in a rest area or truck stop we stay hitched and open only the front bunk. When overnighting in campgrounds we stay hitched but open both bunks. When overnighting by myself I often just sleep on the couch, but I'm short and fit on the junior bed.

Newbie -- Considering Hybrid Purchase | Good Sam Community

magnusfide
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2016
DutchmenSport wrote:

I may sound like doom-and-gloom, but coming from experience, may I suggest you skip right over the hybrid and go directly to a conventional travel trailer, for all the reasons I stated above. Your life will be much more simple!

DutchmenSport covered it well and I second everything. While the OP has already made his purchase, I'll offer the following suggestions for others who may be reading this thread and making purchase decisions.

Another option if you want an easy to tow alternative is the tear-drop or modified tear-drop trailer. Here are some examples:
The American Teardrop
The T@B

You can even go with a foldable without the canvas and with a shower/toilet option.
The Aliner
JimNH
Explorer
Dec 15, 2016
we have a KZ 16RBT which is "cheap and cheerful" I guess...the Jayco would be an upgrade in my opinion...but we love it and it does everything we need, plus is small enough to park when not being used. They even make a 14RBT (I couldn't find one near me though), which would have suited us fine. If you tow a long way, I would probably go with the Jayco just to get the double axle (safer, tracks better, easier to back up, etc.). ours was a year old when we bought it (trade in from someone who wanted bigger) and we only paid about $10K. It is very easy to two with our Toyota Tacoma, which was key.
bikendan
Explorer
Nov 30, 2016
drenjoey wrote:
Sorry I'm going out of the subject discussed here but I have to say:

I'm in two forums (Forest River and this one).....and I much prefer RV net.
Most people in the hybrid forum all own an hybrid, and your question will be answered accordingly.
In Forest River Forum, they're all over the place. You have a question about your hybrid and someone with a motorhome will answer it, even though it won't resolve an hybrid problem.....it's very frustrating at time

Love this Forum
Dre

Dre, same thing does happen here, just not as often.:R
poppin_fresh
Explorer
Nov 30, 2016
I owned a well cared for, small, used hybrid for three years. At the time it was what I could afford and tow safely. My small family of four enjoyed every trip with it!

I have since upgraded my TV and moved up to a travel trailer, but if having to choose between camping in a hybrid, or not camping at all...give me a hybrid any day!
drenjoey
Explorer
Nov 29, 2016
Sorry I'm going out of the subject discussed here but I have to say:

I'm in two forums (Forest River and this one).....and I much prefer RV net.
Most people in the hybrid forum all own an hybrid, and your question will be answered accordingly.
In Forest River Forum, they're all over the place. You have a question about your hybrid and someone with a motorhome will answer it, even though it won't resolve an hybrid problem.....it's very frustrating at time

Love this Forum
Dre
Sharopete
Explorer
Nov 29, 2016
Love Chuck's comment. Perhaps not as balanced as some. It reads like the line from the beer commercial "those that like it, like it a lot." On the other hand, some of the comments came from those who found they really disliked hybrids. Ultimately, its a personal decision very much based on what you like/works for you.
I sold my hybrid and purchased a large 5th wheel. It is a wonderful trailer, but it is not camping and is really best for two people. It is a luxury home on wheels, 40', 4 slides and requires a correspondingly large tow vehicle. I want to make camping memories with my grandkids and if I mange to sell the fiver, I will probably return to a hybrid. Quite likely another Jayco 23B. All the essentials, but still sleeping under canvas, at least preserving the illusion of camping. :-)
drenjoey
Explorer
Nov 28, 2016
Chuck_S wrote:
Travel trailers are claustrophobic closed boxes even with the few windows open. Popups and hybrids are open air campers with the beds under tentage. This is both the major "Pro" and "Con" depending on each individual. We don't consider a travel trailer to be camping, it's still sleeping indoors. :)

-- Chuck

Love the way you summarize things Chuck :
The Travel trailers are CON, the popups and hybrids are PROS.......and I do agree with you!
Dre
ricks99
Explorer
Nov 28, 2016
Well.. DW and I and our 2 dogs (I'm the OP) just returned from our maiden voyage in our Kodiak 172e. We made several rookie mistakes, but no huge disasters! Now we'll be winterizing our little hybrid and making lists of all the things we'll need before we head out in the Spring!

Thank for all the help and advice!
Chuck_S
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
Travel trailers are claustrophobic closed boxes even with the few windows open. Popups and hybrids are open air campers with the beds under tentage. This is both the major "Pro" and "Con" depending on each individual. We don't consider a travel trailer to be camping, it's still sleeping indoors. :)

-- Chuck
ppine
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2016
After owning many different RVs, I like hybrids. They are light and fast, allow for that tent feel, good air circulation and are roomy. I think of the Tahoe 17 as a transformer. It can be used with both ends out, one end out or turtled. I have several different tables for it. I have a small sheet of plywood stored under the cushions that slides out and makes a bunk in the dinette for when I travel solo. They are fun.

The downside is that they are hotter and colder than a trailer. PUGs help a lot, and insulation can be put in the windows. I boondock camp mostly and rarely use heaters unless it is below freezing. I have a Buddy Heater, but moslty just make coffee and breakfast and let the stove take the chill off. Road noise or noisy neighbors are much more of a problem with canvas sides. Seclusion is worth finding. Bring ear plugs for RV parks and parking lots.

When it is hot shade is your friend and so is insulation on the canvas ends.

I am doing some experimenting this fall and winter sleeping out in the back yard next to 1 million acres of BLM land. The coyotes are my little brothers.