Newbie -- Considering Hybrid Purchase

[ricks99]

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).

[drenjoey]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[DonNH]

We have a Starcraft 15FD (1 bunk). Like you, it is just the two of us and a dog.
This has worked well for us. The first year we pulled it with a V6 RAV4. Had enough power, but though it was within the tow rating it didn' feel like the Rav was structurally up to the task for the long run. Now pull with the Tacoma.
If we had a larger tow vehicle I would probably prefer a non-hybrid with a more accessible bed (have to crawl over the wife to get in/out whether we're in the tent or turtled and using the dinette.)
Still like having a small trailer for ease of positioning and feeling like we're really camping. Often find that we're arriving at sites when the weather is wet, which means we stay turtled until it gets better. Have PUGS which help with keeping it warmer or cooler and should help with longevity of the tent.

[bikendan]

ricks99 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the comments. We've narrowed it down to three models:
- Kodiak 172E
- Startcraft Launch 16RB
- KZ Sportsmen Classic 18RBT

For us, the positives of having 2 queen beds without sacrificing any floorspace and being able to still have the "camping experience" of canvas outweigh any of the perceived negatives y'all have mentioned.

Once we make a decision, I'll be sure to post and let everyone know.

Thanks again!

Starcraft has the best rep and i think they have a 2 year warranty, vs the 1 year warranty of the other two.

[ricks99]

Thanks everyone for the comments. We've narrowed it down to three models:
- Kodiak 172E
- Startcraft Launch 16RB
- KZ Sportsmen Classic 18RBT

For us, the positives of having 2 queen beds without sacrificing any floorspace and being able to still have the "camping experience" of canvas outweigh any of the perceived negatives y'all have mentioned.

Once we make a decision, I'll be sure to post and let everyone know.

Thanks again!

[aftermath]

Listen to what Dutchman said. It was a very honest summary.

I went from tent, to popup, to hybrid and now finally a TT. We started in the tent with two young children but the rain and confining space took us to our popup. We camped in this for 17 years and loved the extra space and the ability to ride out the storms. Once the girls left we wanted a fridge and a bathroom so we got a 21ft Starcraft hybrid. Man, there was a lot of space inside. We were in our late 50s by now and were looking into traveling after retirement. We tried the travel thing with the hybrid and it was not easy. So, we moved up (?) again to a trailer.

I said all of this just to let you know that you should focus on how you camp, when you camp, where you camp and what your camping plans are going to be. I loved our hybrid but here are some things I found to be true. You HAVE to dry it out. Ours had vinyl/rubber tops on the bed ends but the sides were not. Putting it away wet will cause big issues. I live on the dry eastern side of Washington so it was not hard to manage this because we almost always camped during the summer months.

Pulling into camp and setting up a hybrid is not difficult but it does take some time. We made a 5 day trip and had to set up and tear down every day. It got a little old. Also, while on the road, accessing the trailer was not easy. Now we can just park and have full use of the trailer and it doesn't matter if it is raining. This was never an issue for us when we were young. It is now.

[SoundGuy]

ricks99 wrote:
It is just me and my wife (and a dog), so I don't really think we need/want anything bigger than 15-18' range. Our TV is a Dodge Ram 1500, so weight isn't really the deciding factor -- I simply don't think we need a 25+ TT

Having made the mistake of going from a popup to a hybrid myself before moving on to a travel trailer I'd suggest there's only one good reason for going with a hybrid and therefore having to put up with all the negatives such a trailer involves - you want the conveniences of a travel trailer but love, love, love sleeping under tenting. If that's not the case - forget it and go straight to a travel trailer. There are plenty of shorter TTs, my own Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS being an example - offers pretty well everything any adult couple could need in an easy to tow camper that can be parked on pretty well any campsite. The box itself is 18' 6", overall length coupler to bumper is 22' 6" ... and current models feature a full length queen bed, not a short RV queen. Pics are in my gallery below. 🙂

[PAThwacker]

Single axle pups get blown around on highway are a pleasure to handle with a 7600lb suburban. I remember getting blown all over the road with a 5800lb trailblazer. Getting jostled with full height trailer and sub no issues. Man handle tt on snow Controlled sliding of trailer 1st gear crawling. Good times!

[Dernhelm]

ricks99 wrote:


It is just me and my wife (and a dog), so I don't really think we need/want anything bigger than 15-18' range.

We love the fact that the beds in the hybrid don't eat up any floorspace.

If we leave everything folded up and "turtle" there shouldn't be an issue with heating the TT in the winter, right?

We have the 17Z which is about 18' and with the 2 queen size beds it's an excellent size for DH, me and 2 big dogs. Fits in all the state parks, easy to back.

No beds in the floorspace is EXACTLY why we bought a hybrid. No other trailer gives you 2 queen size beds in only 18'.

We usually heat the trailer with a Black & Decker heater that measures about 12 x 9" and pulls 1500W. We generally make sure we have electricity when it's going to be cold. That little heater keeps us plenty warm when we're turtled - in fact we have to turn it down. Even in snow, when not turtled it does an excellent job keeping us warm. We prefer NOT to use the propane heater because you do get a ton of condensation in the bunk ends. If we have to use the propane heater I prefer to be turtled.

Never had a problem having only one axle and it's cheaper on toll roads. We also get better mileage because of the lighter weight.

[drenjoey]

Oasisbob wrote:
3. easily broken into though we have yet to have this happen.

Any camper is easy to break in, and almost all of them have the same keys for exterior compartments!

[Oasisbob]

We have had a love/hate hybrid relationship for nearly 14 years. We needed four beds and room that could be towed with our mini van. Our HTT tips scales at 3,490 loaded with full tank and ready to camp. Three negatives. 1. absolutely has to be dried out when you get home. 2. Noisey neighbors? Not much you can do about it. 3. easily broken into though we have yet to have this happen. 3 positives. 1. best space to weight ratio. 2. Nice to sleep out like a tent but with a trailer attached. 3. Lots of room