Hybrid Campers

[eyemaster]

We are looking at buying a hybrid camper. We went to the camper show today and looked at them. We are thinking of the Jayco 23B model.

Does anyone have any experience with this model?

Is there a different model that we should look at.

We are looking for one that has a slide out. We have 2 young girls and want to have room for them to take a friend along. We also want to be able to tow the camper with a 1/2 ton truck.

I am also considering a Shamrock, does anyone have any experience with them?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Saw that Jayco at the show today also and thought it was very well built. I also liked the Rockwood models. They looked very comparable quality & feature wise.

[Powerstroke]

I purchased a hybrid camper last spring. I did the exact same thing as you and spent the day at the show.

I liked the Jayco and the Shamrock too. The Jayco's haven't had the best rep in the hybrid field and the Shamrocks aren't stocked around here for some reason.

I would definitely check out the Rockwood Roo's. They were among the first in the hybrid game and they still make some of the best. When I was trying to decide, it was between the Roo, an Aerolite Cub and the Jayco.

I ended up going with the Roo 19. At the time I had an SUV so that's why we avoided the slide.

I personally think the ROo's are the best of the hybrids. Check out the Roo 23ss. I think that will be my next camper if we don't get a 5'r.

ANy questions or if you want to see mine, let me know.

[Ryan_V]

I'd consider a regular travel trailer as well. they are making them extremely light now. I've been in a hybrid, and now own a travel trailer. We looked hard at both options, and with the hybrid, in the end, you are still in a pop-up, where you will hear all the kids at the crack of dawn and late at night when they are outside playing, you'll also get boiled out when the sun hits the ends, whether or not your air is on, and you'll get condensation. I have a 30' trailer that weighs only 5000#'s (no slide though) and my tahoe pulls in very easily. I'm looking at a new 32' lightweight trailer with a big slide and quad bunks that only weighs 550#'s more than mine. Absolutely nothing wrong with hybrids, just pointing out the factors that led us away from them. Being completely enclosed is very nice, not necessary, but we like it that way. good luck with your purchase, you'll be happy with whatever you get!! the kids love camping!!

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Don't you get more ventilation in a hybrid? You can open up both ends.

[eyemaster]

We currently have a pop up camper, we are looking to upgrade for a couple of reasons...

1) we want more storage

2) we are tired of setting up and tearing down the pop up...most of this is packing and unpacking because of limited storage.

3) we want more room in the camper for the rainy days.

4) we want to pack the food in the camper with out having to set it up.

We don't mind (I actually prefer) the tent bunks. It is nice to hear the cickets and birds. Yes you do hear kids but most of the time we are in bed long after the kids go to bed and up before they get up. It is our free time.

[1lkstage]

We had a Jayco 23b for 5+ years. No problems with anything. The extra room from the slide is great. Ease of packing was always nice too, but we always found more stuff packed on the floor that needed to be dealt with once we got to the campground.(sheets, pillows, tents, coolers, etc) It just got to be to much set-up for us. We went with a Jayco fifth wheel so we could just push the "buttons".

[eyemaster]

I think it would be nice to have the 5th wheel also for the storage. But we would lose the pop out ends. I have a feeling we will have extra stuff on the floor also, but we will have more storage in the Hybrid than we have in the pop up. Now we have to take the food in the back of the truck, put all the stuff in the refrigerator. We have a 3 bin plastic tote that we put the rest of the food in, but we have to take that from the truck to the camper as well as the clothes etc.

How did you like the storage cabinets in the 23b? We really think that it would be a HUGE benefit. I didn't look at the outside storage compartments on the 23b....what did it have?

[wally-eye]

My brother is thinking about selling his hybrid. It's a Coyote by K-Z. I think it's a 2006. They just don't have the time to use it anymore. His kids are too involved in volleyball & softball. They really like it but only used it once last year. It has a slide out and 3 tip out beds.

[1lkstage]

You will have ALOT more storage overall then in a pop-up(have been there). The storage for the food, pots, pan and clothes is big enough for a good week of supplies. Bigger fridge and an accual freezer. Personely, we got a dorm fridge to put all the beer and pop in instead of using coolers and having to buy ice(refill as needed). We use the colapseable laundry bags for dirty and wet clothes, they can be easly put out of the way.

Outside storage was small compartments on each side up front, partally going thru and under the dinettes. Food and cloths storage inside was about 6' long(3 doors?)

We were very happy with our 23b. We just outgrew it in the other direction as we only have 1 kid left, so we went for ease and comfort. The Jayco quality speaks for itself over the Coyottee. The weight is more distributed over the wheels and is alot lighter on the tounge, which make it easier to pull down the road.(we used a 94 explorer the first year).

Biggest positive, you gain an accual bathroom and shower. I put a rinse sprayer in the black tank, just didn't seem to drain real good. I will also highly recommend the outside shower, do your dishes outside. Also great for that "need water quick", or rinsing the dirt off the kids "outside"! Outside cookstove? not recommended. Get the Barbaquee, great for the quick meals.(We hardly ever cooked anything inside) We did use the microwave!

Good luck shopping, you will be very happy. Sorry for rambling. Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Lonnie