If you have a family, it’s common — and awesome — to want to share the RV experience together. But it’s also common for families to have a smaller tow vehicle, such as an SUV. And there are not that many great RV choices with these parameters. Fortunately, Jayco has a trailer for those families: the 2025 Jayco Jay Feather Micro 199MBS. This model sleeps up to eight, features a very usable outdoor kitchen, and comes in around 4,500 pounds (dry weight). This in itself tells a compelling story about the Jay Feather Micro 199MBS.
So, you may ask, where’s the compromise? Let’s dive into the details and talk about the strengths and limitations of this lightweight travel trailer.
At a Glance: Jay Feather Micro 199MBS
I rate the 2025 Jayco Jay Feather Micro 199MBS three and quarter out of five. One of the real surprises is that this little camper packs a lot of sleeping spots. Even so, some people really don’t like Murphy beds — and especially don’t like examples that head east to west. (Someone has to sleep in the corner.)
Another major plus is the off-road tires it comes with. That, with higher ground clearance and torsion axle suspension, mean that this trailer is set-up for finding adventure off the beaten path. So, the individual who seeks this kind of adventure may be just fine with the Jay Feather Micro 199MBS, regardless of the orientation of their sleeping arrangements.
Check the Specs
- Sleeping capacity: 8
- Hitch weight: 635 pounds
- UVW: 4,505 pounds
- CCC: 1,245 pounds
- Exterior length: 23 feet 1 inches
- Exterior height 10 feet 6 inches
- Exterior width: 8 feet 5 inches
- Fresh/Gray/Black: 55/30/30 gallons
- Propane: 2x 20-pound portable tanks
- Awning: 15 feet
Features We Love
- Jayco warranty and predelivery inspection process
- Higher ground clearance and torsion axle suspension
- Azdel substrate in the wall lamination
- Lippert quick drop stabilizer system
- Full outside kitchen
- Wider ladder and roof rack
Benefits
About the Build
- Warranty and predelivery inspection. Jayco’s warranty is longer than most with two years on the full trailer and three years on the exterior structure. Another big plus is that Jayco has purpose-built a number of facilities that fully inspect every RV they make using an extensive checklist called predelivery inspection (PDI). These are separate from final manufacturing and test all the systems and the finished build of their products. The company reports that early warranty claims are reduced with this process. This process is not at all common in the RV industry.
- Lamination. Laminated RVs, like this one, use a sandwich of materials to create the walls. In this case Jayco employs Azdel as a component of this which is a human-made product that is impervious to water damage. This kind of build material can also help an RV last longer and Azdel has better sound insulating properties than the Luan that some RVs use in the wall build.
Outdoor Features
- Off-road capabilities. If you truly do plan to go off road or to places where the road ends and the trails begin, the Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires are worthy accomplices in this kind of adventure. I also really like the torsion axle suspension which uses a rubber core along with torsion bars to provide a much smoother ride in a towable RV. The less jarring and jiggling the RV is subjected to, the better it is for the RV.
- Stability. Lippert’s quick drop stabilizers offer a significantly more stable support than traditional stabilizer jacks. What’s more, they’re rated to be used with a power driver like your electric drill. While we all use a power driver, these are actually built to be used with one.
- Outdoor dining. You could argue that the prospective owner of this kind of trailer is out seeking adventure and, thus, more likely to spend time in the great outdoors. As such the outside kitchen in this rig features a flat-top griddle and bar-sized refrigerator along with a hot and cold spray port. This is basically all you need to prepare meals under the stars and the sky. And this is a well-designed outdoor kitchen.
- Roof access. The wider ladder on the back of this rig is easier for someone to climb up to access the roof, where you’ll also find a roof rack to store things like kayaks and such. But another benefit of the wider ladder is that you can use it to hang towels and swimsuits after a splash in the lake.
Challenges
- East-to-West Murphy bed. Not everyone loves this. And there’s a reason why. As I’ll mention in the Sleeping Space section, this orientation pushes one sleeper into a pocket against the front cap. With means that they probably don’t need to be the one who takes a lot of bathroom breaks at night.
- Limited indoor living and cooking space. Every RV has its strengths and weaknesses. The Jay Feather Micro 199MBS is designed to get you outdoors with all your people and have room for everyone to sleep at the end of the day. But this model is also made to push you outdoors. Even the cooking area is more impressive outside. Inside, it’s not the kind of place where everyone can chill, cook, or entertain. That’s definitely not the intent behind this design.
Best For
- Families with smaller tow vehicles. This could be a great choice for someone who has a family, likes adventure but doesn’t necessarily have a huge tow vehicle. With sleeping for eight, this might be a good match for some capable SUVs and half-ton pickups. Of course, it’s always wise to know what your tow vehicle can pull and also what it can carry as the tow vehicle carries about 15 percent of any travel trailer.
- Pet companions. Another group you might not think of are people who like to travel with pets. The lower bunk on this can flip up so those pets who like to sleep in crates might be very pleased with that lower space. The lower bunk might also be a good spot for pets with two-legged travelers taking to the upper bunk.
Key Areas We Evaluate for RV Buyers
Sleeping Space
The thing that makes or breaks trailers like this is the Murphy Bed. This bed is located in the front of the Jay Feather Micro 199MBS. By day, you have a couch. But, remove the back cushion and flip down the platform, and boom! There’s a 60-inch-by-76-inch bed. Now, it should be noted that this is a “pocket” bed. That means that one of the two people who could sleep here has to sleep against the front of the trailer. So, it’s always best to choose the person who most frequents the bathroom in the middle of the night to take the outer spot.
There are also two double-over-double bunks at the back of this little trailer, each able to accommodate two people and support 600 pounds. Each of these bunks measure 42 inches by 72 inches. So, full-sized adults might get their own bunk. With that in mind, each bunk does have a window that opens for air flow plus both household and USB power outlets.
One of the nifty things about these bunks is the built-in ladder. This ladder folds into itself so you don’t have to worry about storing it. It’s a nifty device.
If you really want to max out the sleeping capability of this rig you can also fold-down the u-shaped dinette for yet another bed for two.
Bathroom
The bathroom offers a decent amount of space given the exterior of this rig. While some smaller trailers don’t have a sink, this one does. And there’s good space around the toilet in here.
The shower is interesting. There’s a panel on a retractable mechanism much like the window shades in some homes, but this one is an unusual woven-looking material. I like this better than glass doors since this won’t break. (Which would, you know, leave glass all over.)
Living Area and Kitchen
With a space of this size, it’s probable that the occupants will be outside enjoying the beautiful places. The living space in the Jay Feather Micro 199MBS is pretty small. However, when the bed is up there is a couch and you have a U-shaped dinette. So, you may be able to seat all the people you can sleep.
There’s also a nifty plastic table that slides in under the bottom cushion of the couch that can be used indoors or out. This might be where the couch sitters enjoy a meal, but you might also use it for prep space as the kitchen has almost none.
There is a three-burner propane cooktop and a small sink along with a convection microwave. But there’s no propane oven. There is a new larger 12-volt refrigerator for 2025 that features the freezer on the bottom.
But the kitchen that might get the most use is the one outside. That kitchen sports a flat-top griddle, small refrigerator, and hot-and-cold spray port. While there isn’t a proper sink, a basin or bucket can serve that purpose.
Four-Season Capabilities
In line with the adventuresome appearance of this, the Jayco Jay Feather Micro 199MBS has radiant-barrier insulation in the floor, front wall, and roof, and forced heat ducts that run into the underbelly area where the holding tanks are located. Jayco tests the Jay Feather Micro 199MBS to ensure it can hold ambient temperatures between zero and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Storage Space
The answer to the question about storage space depends heavily on how you use this trailer. If you’re going to bring seven others with you, storage space is going to be really tight. But there is space under the lower bunk and drawers under the front couch. Small cubbies are placed in the compartment that holds the Murphy Bed, and there are cabinets the full width of the trailer over the bed/couch in front.
But the Murphy Bed, drawers under the couch, and spot for the folding table inside the trailer really cut into the size of the passthrough storage up front.
There is a rack on the roof of the trailer. So, that would be where you might put some items, but I would imagine this would be more of a place for things like kayaks and such — rather than the toolbox and black tank supplies that often find a home in passthrough storage bays.
Closing Notes on the Jay Feather Micro 199MBS
From the standpoint of build materials and methods and interior design, this trailer has a lot to offer. This is not necessarily the trailer to choose if you and your crew are seeking a camping experience where you’re sitting back watching movies or reading books.
But if what’s outside is what’s in your heart, then this could be the perfect catalyst for that sort of getaway.
A Note on the RV Trader Review Process
RV Trader asked RV shoppers what was most important to them in their RV buying process. Potential buyers — like you — helped us to identify a list of six key areas that camping and travel enthusiasts always look at when they’re searching for the perfect RV: sleeping space, bathroom, living area, four-season capabilities, and storage space.
The RV Trader team then got to work providing you with honest and unbiased evaluations. If you’re wondering, that’s where I came in. As an RV expert and enthusiast, I provide an honest look at RVs from an RV industry insider perspective.
That way, you can learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about any RVs I review. I inspect each RV with the buyer’s perspective at the forefront. And I always evaluate those six key areas that buyers have told us that they have in mind.
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