Author: Tony Barthel

The Shasta Compact 16RE is a travel trailer by definition, but if you thought of this as a pickup camper on wheels, you wouldn’t be far off. While that might not really tell the whole story, it should give you an idea. At just 16 feet 9 inches in total length and weighing in at 2,983 pounds, its light, easy to tow, and lean. But despite its smaller profile and traditional build, the truth is that the Shasta Compact 16RE actually has pretty much everything you’d need in a travel trailer.

 

At a Glance: Shasta Compact 16RE

I gave the Shasta Compact 16RE three and a half out of five stars. This is a great little trailer for some campers, but it does possess a few oddities. The two sewer connections seem silly in a trailer this small. I’m also not a big fan of the latch in the 12-volt fridge on this unit. Other than that, for a camper of this size, this is a nifty little package.

 

Check the Specs

• Sleeping capacity: 4
• Hitch weight: 302 pounds
• UVW: 2,983 pounds
• CCC: 1,017 pounds.
• Exterior length: 16 feet 9 inches
• Exterior height 10 feet 6 inches
• Exterior width: 8 feet
• Fresh/Gray/Black: 40/30/30 gallons

 

Benefits

• Light, easy-to-tow trailer that keeps things simple
• Nice amount of counter space and storage, plus dry bath

 

Challenges

• Having two sewer connection points seems unnecessary
• Wood and aluminum construction not ideal for all seasons

 

Best For

• Weekend warriors looking for a traditional camper
• Single RVers who want to focus on the essentials

 

The RV Trader 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 an honest and unbiased evaluations. And that’s where I come in. I’m Tony Barthel, RV expert and enthusiast. I provide an honest look at RVs from 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.

So, that said, let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Shasta Compact 16RE.

 

Sleeping Space

In many ways, the Shasta Compact 16RE’s configuration reminds me of a pickup camper in that you enter from the back. The trailer is essentially a hallway with a bed on the front and that bed faces east-to-west. This configuration can scare away some buyers, but I can easily imagine this trailer being popular with single campers (as opposed to families, although in theory you can sleep four in here. The bed is an RV queen model, but if there are two people sleeping here, someone’s going to have to sleep against the wall. And that’s the primary reason some folks don’t like this configuration.

There is a wardrobe along the camp-side wall along with a space behind that for things like digital devices. (You know, the ones we’re not supposed to look at right before bed but many of us do. Guilty as charged.)

For additional sleeping space, there’s room for two on the sofa, but we’ll get there in a moment.

 

Bathroom

One surprise I enjoyed is that there’s a full dry bath in here. That means your toilet is not inside your shower. Shasta managed to get a proper shower in here as well as a plastic foot flush toilet.

The shower features the usual plastic enclosure and a shower curtain rather than a glass door, but this is what I would expect.

 

Living Area

On the camp side of this rig is a couch where the back can tumble over and form a bed. Truthfully, this won’t win any awards for comfort, but even so, it would work fine for a guest or grandchild, something like that. And let’s not ignore the fact that you have a trailer this small with a couch. Which is a win in and of itself.

 

Kitchen

Opposite the couch you have a kitchen that certainly has a respectable amount of storage and counter space — all things considered. If you’re a fancy chef, this kitchen might not work for you. But if you’re making meals in camp, this might be all you need. There’s a two-burner propane cook top and a microwave.

Somehow, Shasta has managed to put more counter space in this 16-foot trailer than in either of my first two campers, both of which were larger than the Shasta Compact 16RE. So kudos to Shasta. You’ll also find a decently large 12-volt refrigerator here.

 

Four-Season Capabilities

This is not the rig I would choose to a lot of winter camping with. There are no provisions for things like heated holding tanks. Nor are the knife valves enclosed or protected.  As for boondocking, there are no options for solar but you could easily get some portable solar panels and a good battery and be set. This has a surprisingly large 40 gallon freshwater tank and 30 gallons each of black and gray water, which is more than some much larger trailers.

 

Storage Space

You might be surprised by the amount of storage on this trailer, especially inside. There is certainly acceptable outside but inside is where it’s at. Surrounding the bed, there are cabinets overhead along with hanging storage on the camp side. There’s also a storage cubby behind this for things like tablets and phones and even medical appliances like a CPAP.

The kitchen has some overhead and cabinet storage, but you’ll also find a place for things under and over the folding couch.

 

Closing Notes on the RV Model

A Few Things I Would Change

One of the things I saw was a head scratcher — that there are two connection points for the sewer system. In a rig this small that seems, well, goofy. I know that costs are important when working on something at this end of the price spectrum, but, really?

Admittedly, I also am not a fan of the latch on the Magic Chef fridge. I had this kind of latch in my own RV, and it let the fridge door fly open several times before I just replaced the whole fridge with a different 12-volt model.

 

A Few Considerations

This camper is a simple stick-and-tin model, which means traditional wood construction with an aluminum skin. That’s how many campers have been built for many years, and this being the Shasta brand means that they’re continuing as have for decades. The company is proud of their start in 1941. In the case of the Shasta Compact 16RE, they use a thicker aluminum skin for the nose that is not corrugated and then a corrugated siding. (Makes sense to me.)

While some people aren’t a fan of this type of build, I have nothing against it. Plus, it’s really easy to repair if something unfortunate happens. It should be noted that the uneven skin means uneven gaps on the windows so it would behoove the owner to keep an eye on the seals around any breaches in the shell such as for windows or doors, that sort of thing. With proper maintenance these can last for decades.

What I really liked about this camper is that it truly has everything you need. A kitchen. A full bathroom. A water system and even a couch for Pete’s sake! But that’s all in a small, light, and easy-to-tow package that might be within the capability of some SUVs and mid-sized pickup trucks. I can easily see this being popular with solo travelers more than anyone else. Since I know a lot of these people, I can imagine this being something many of them would consider.

 

And a Few Final Niceties

I was also quite surprised — and delighted — to see that the Shasta Compact 16RE includes a tire pressure monitoring system, which is a safety feature I think all towable RVs should be equipped with. This one is, but not all trailers are. Of course, this does feature entry-level tires and a very simple leaf spring suspension, but I would be shocked if it were otherwise.

Also of note, with the entry door at the rear, there is an awning across the back plus a second power awning over the camp side of this rig.

Overall, if you can get one of these for the right price, it might make a great companion for some wonderful outdoor and camping adventures.

 

Make Your Move

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What Other Campers Are Saying

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The Prime Time RV Sanibel 3952FBWB fifth wheel is an enormous fifth wheel that is very well suited to larger families. By design, it is packed with some truly unusual features to accommodate lots of people. 

For starters, the Sanibel 3952FBWB’s floorplan is like nothing I’ve seen before, and I imagine it would serve a family quite well, including families who take to the road full-time. While some RVs are more price-focused, the Prime Time RV Sanibel 3952FBWB has different focus: delivering premium features and build quality. Speaking with Spencer from Prime Time RV, he noted that the aluminum structure under the trailer is fully welded rather than spot welded, a common industry practice. This is part of what the company calls their Eternabond build. (Not to be confused with Eternabond tape, a common product used in RVs.)

Other build quality features include a PVC roof with a lifetime guarantee and a Dexter EZ Flex suspension system (something I really liked). This suspension system helps to minimize shocks transmitted into the trailer itself, which can reduce wear over the long haul. It also rides on Hankook Vantra trailer tires — not the usual off-brand tire. Further, there’s a tire pressure monitoring system included, which I feel is an important safety detail. Stacking these up, you get an idea what the Sanibel 3952FBWB is about — even before you step inside. 

 

At a Glance: Sanibel 3952FBWB

Without question this RV gets five stars in my book — for a number of reasons. The build quality and features are there. But this also really scores on the areas they focused on which is the upper bunk room with the office and the lower bedroom and living space. This will absolutely not be the fifth wheel for everybody but, for those who might be able to take advantage of this unique floor plan, it’s going to be a home run.

 

Check the Specs

• Sleeping capacity: 8
• Hitch weight: 2,362 pounds
• UVW: 12, 875 pounds 
• CCC: 3,487 pounds.
• Exterior length: 46 feet 2 inches
• Exterior height 13 feet 1 inch
• Exterior width: 8 feet 4 inches
• Fresh/Gray/Black: 54/78/78 gallons
• Awnings: 12 feet and 18 feet

 

Benefits

• Rare combo of sleeping space (8) and living space
• High build quality and premium features

 

Challenges

• Long, large, and heavy fifth wheel for towing
• High occupancy could strain water capacity off-grid

 

Best For

• Use as a home base for group/family adventures
• Large full-time families looking for a major upgrade

 

The RV Trader 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 an honest and unbiased evaluations. And that’s where I come in. I’m Tony Barthel, RV expert and enthusiast. I provide an honest look at RVs from 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.

So, that said, let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Prime Time RV Sanibel 3952FBWB.

 

Sleeping Space

Many bunkhouse RVs — including most of the larger fifth wheels that I’ve seen — put the bunk room in the back. And honestly, this creates a second-class type of feel to them. Not that they’re bad, but the occupants of the bunk room won’t be expecting room service to include caviar. In seriousness, it can make the person sleeping in the bunk space feel like an afterthought.

What you have here is different. The bunks are located over the pin box in the nose of this fifth wheel. There are four bunks on two levels in an L shape, along the road-side wall and nose cap of this rig. Below these is a storage space which would be great with totes. But there are even better surprises than that.

Behind the bunk is an actual proper desk with drawers. So, if you are home schooling (or just need a place to get some RV reviews written), this would be a good place to do so. There’s also a camp-side slide room with a wall of drawers and cabinets and a center cutout that leaves space for a TV. I was told that this space was really designed to support a video game station. 

The whole upstairs really has a very spacious feel. With the bunks in an “L” shape you could easily accommodate even taller adults on two of the bunks so it may not be limited to just youthful travelers. In fact, if you have two younger travelers and, perhaps, grandparents along for the journey this space could easily accommodate them. 

Don’t Forget Who Pays the Bills 

While the upstairs bunk room is unlike anything I’ve seen before the main bedroom in this fifth wheel is very much like a hotel suite. Those who drive the truck that pulls this rig and pay the bills that support this rig are treated to a very nice space indeed. 

There’s a large 72-inch by 80-inch king- bed in a slide room which faces a closet with a good number of drawers and hanging space. 

 

Bathroom

The very back of this rig harbors a rather substantial bathroom. There’s a vanity that features two vessel-style sinks. There’s a large shower. And the space around the porcelain foot-flush toilet is almost big enough to hold a small dance party. (Not that you’d want to, mind you, but you could.) There’s also a linen closet back here which is outfitted with hook-ups for a stackable washer and dryer. 

On the opposite side of the cabin, in the bunk area, there’s also a half bath up with a sink and porcelain foot flush toilet. 

 

Living Area

As unusual as the rest of this floorplan is, you might think that the main living space would stay traditional. But the Sanibel 3952FBWB is keeps it untraditional trend going. Along the camp side is a large slide room with a long sofa that is comprised of five reclining positions. No, seriously. I said five. I meant it.

Also, in the middle of this whole space is an island. And that island features a flip-up countertop on the camp side — with four bar-style seats. Why is this so pleasantly unusual? Typically, RVs with lots of sleeping space don’t always have a seat for everyone. The Sanibel 3952FBWB has more than enough places to sit. 

 

Kitchen

Someone who enjoys cooking will likely enjoy doing so here with a very large four-burner range and a huge oven. To heat things up, there’s also a large residential-style microwave overhead. To keep things chilled, there’s a very capable 16-cubic-foot, 12-volt refrigerator. And to keep things stored, there’s also a decent pantry. 

Counter space is not only good on the island, but there’s also a coffee bar near the entrance. I was told that Prime Time RV, which makes the Sanibel line, hired a professional interior designer to give their products a nicer look. All I can say is that based on just this model, I think she did a great job. I don’t normally like to comment on style, but this model really is attractive. 

 

Four-Season Capabilities

I’m not sure that a fifth wheel this large is going to be doing a lot of boondocking. Sure, it provides a lot of sleeping capacity, but I would imagine you could blow through the 54-gallon freshwater tank in no time. (Particularly if some of the occupants are teenagers.)

But if you have hook-ups, you could comfortably spend time in some pretty chilly places with this. The underbelly of this camper is enclosed and heated. Plus there are 12-volt heating pads on all the tanks. Further, I was told that forthcoming models will even have heated elbows on the tanks, and the knife valves for the holding tanks are also enclosed in the underbelly. 

 

Storage Space

Like most fifth wheels this has a good-sized storage bay at the front and in a large passthrough. As mentioned earlier, inside in that unusual bunk room there is a slide room that has cabinets and drawers for storage plus there are some drawers in the desk as well. But the space under the lower bunks could easily be used for totes and storage and there is a lot of space underneath there. Few RVs with bunks are going to provide that much capability for stuff.

On the main deck, the kitchen has a large pantry, and there is room for stuff on either side of the stove in closets and there are more drawers and cabinets under the counter in the island. There’s even a closet in the downstairs main bedroom plus storage in the bathroom. Storage is absolutely a strong suit in this RV.

 

Closing Notes on the Sanibel 3952FBWB

This is one of the best bunkhouse floorplans I’ve come across, and I’ve seen a lot of RVs. I could see this easily accommodating a family who live full-time on the road giving the younger members of the family a great space to do their homework — but also get some time away from homework. 

The parents, too, get an almost spa-like feel to their space. And the joint space is very well suited for everyone to come together and enjoy a meal prepared in a very capable kitchen. 

There are often times I see RVs where they’re intended for large groups but miss the mark in something pretty critical. This is not one of those at all. 

However, it’s worth noting that at 46 feet 2 inches in length and with a dry weight of 12,875 pounds, this is not an RV to be taken lightly. Accommodating something this large and heavy is going to take an above-average amount of forethought. 

Still, quite honestly, if you park this at a base camp that can accommodate very large rigs, you now have a really nice home base from which to plan your adventures. With all the seating and desk space in here there’s certainly a place to make those plans. It’s pretty rare that I find an RV where there’s no big negative, so this one gets both thumbs up from me. 

 

Make Your Move

Start shopping for the year, make, and model. Find Your Sanibel 3952FBWB

 

What Other Campers Are Saying

Read the best reviews by owners. Search for an RV Model

Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Forest River IBEX RV Suite RVS1. I would imagine that followers of Forest River’s relatively new IBEX brand appreciate the way IBEX products enable more adventurous travel with the offerings being smaller and shod with more off-road tires. Last year’s new Beast Mode suspension option further reinforced that image with a very, very solid off-load suspension system courtesy of Lippert’s Curt brand as an option.

In fact, RV family Jason and Abbey Epperson of RVMiles took their own IBEX with this suspension up to Alaska and found it to be quite capable. The brand also offers an off-grid power package that features plenty of solar and lithium battery power, further reinforcing the overlanding lifestyle.

All this is to invite you to forget all that with IBEX’s new line, the RV Suite. Comprised of three models you could almost call these park model trailers — but with a twist. A big twist.

 

At a Glance: IBEX RV Suite RVS1

What is the IBEX RV Suite? The IBEX RV Suite line is a completely different kind of offering from the brand. These high-content travel trailers are really more suited to be taken somewhere where they’re going to spend much of their time much like larger park model trailers. But these are smaller and nimbler. The model I saw is the RVS1 which measures 32 feet 6 inches in length.

Overall, I give this RV a four out of five stars. This is not the RV for everybody, so my rating is meant relevant to who might consider this. There is so much right with this rig but know that you’ll have to convert the bed every night. Also, I love technology, but these voice- activated devices hardwired into an RV are already frustrating and won’t be updated like something like Siri or Alexa.

 

Check the Specs

• Sleeping capacity: 3
• Hitch weight: 790 pounds
• UVW: 7,380 pounds
• CCC: 2,210 pounds
• Exterior length: 32 feet 6 inches
• Exterior height 11 feet 3 inches
• Exterior width: 8 feet 5 inches
• Fresh/Gray/Black: 90/60/30 gallons

 

Benefits

• Spectacular views from the windows and porch
• Very social set up with smart features, modern décor

 

Challenges

• Better suited for on-grid than off-grid living (requires 50-amp)
• Converting the bed every night, limited sleep space

 

Best For

• Use as a vacation home on a scenic property
• Park model setups versus nomadic travel

 

The RV Trader 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 an honest and unbiased evaluations. And that’s where I come in. I’m Tony Barthel, RV expert and enthusiast. I provide an honest look at RVs from 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.

So, that said, let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Forest River IBEX RV Suite RVS1.

 

Sleeping Space

The IBEX RV Suite RSV1 has lots of the makings of a very social RV. More on that when we get to the living area. But when it’s time to kick the revelers out and enjoy some rack time, the entire side wall folds down. And that’s your king-size bed. So, this back bedroom/living room/party palace offers multiple uses. (I guess that makes it a multipurpose room.) By day, there is a table that can flip up and offers a counter- or bar-height surface. Put the table down against the back wall and you’ll have a large open air – perhaps for holding dance parties. Oh, or how about karaoke in the campground?

In the lounge, what you might assume is simply a couch is also an additional sleeping area. With the right bedding this, too, can be a place for additional guests to sleep, but probably only one adult could fit there comfortably.

 

Bathroom

The front of the trailer features a very spacious bathroom with two sinks and a large walk-in shower. There is a closet here which reveals a washer-dryer combo — something you’d really like if you were living in this, or offering it as a vacation home on your property.

 

Living Area

Something really unusual in the RV industry is that this model doesn’t have a slide room, again more common in a tiny house. So, the main living space features your kitchen on one side and a lounge on the other.

Since we’re in the main living space, let’s take a closer look at that lounge. Under the head of the couch is a cushion system that pops out and up so now you’ve got an “L” shaped seating arrangement. Another ottoman-style cushion awaits at the lower end of this thing and that, too, pops up so you can go from a single lounge to something that can accommodate a number of people.

This lounge also has the ability to sort of kick up the center cushion so that it becomes almost a fainting couch. (You know, in case you get the vapors.) But it’s a comfortable place to sit in this position.

 

Onto the Porch

From this space, there is a sliding glass door that takes-up the entire rear of the trailer and leads to a substantial metal back porch. That porch is surrounded by metal a railing with a gate on the camp side and steps down to adventure.

There is also a barbecue grill and wooden table that can be mounted to the receiver hitch on the back of this trailer and that’s the one place you’ll find propane. The barbecue grill is powered by those one-pound propane bottles that can’t be recycled, unfortunately.

 

Kitchen

The kitchen in Forest River’s IBEX RV Suite RVS1 consists of a two-burner induction cook top with a convection microwave beneath it. A single-bowl stainless steel sink with restaurant-style faucet is for cleanup, and the refrigerator is a vintage-style 12-volt unit.

That was a surprise indeed as the rest of this interior has a very modern look with dark green cabinets and very clean, modern styling. That refrigerator’s style runs a little counter to this with its 1950s styling.

 

Four-Season Capabilities

The shape of the trailer is much like the tiny houses that are in vogue at the moment, which is intentional. While the IBEX line might be associated with off-grid living this is more of an on-grid offering. All the functions inside the trailer are electrical from cooking to heating. This trailer requires a 50-amp service and is not set-up to operate on solar or other off-grid systems.

Even the heating in this trailer is electric only with two small furnaces at each end, one in the bathroom and one in the bedroom. The ducted air conditioner features a heat strip which provides warmth as well, but there is no propane furnace.

In fact, there is almost no propane whatsoever. This inaugural model has some interesting innovations in it and really is well-suited (forgive the pun) to taking on the role of a tiny house instead of being an RV.

 

Storage Space

There is more storage in this RV than you might suspect. While this doesn’t have a traditional pass-through compartment like many towable RVs, there is the metal locker on the tongue. Considering that this is likely not going to be traveling, but rather parked in a location for extended periods of time, that should prove sufficient.

Inside there are a lot of drawers and cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen. There may be enough there that you bring what you need to bring and still find an empty cabinet or drawer left. Unless you’re related to my family.

Somewhere you might not expect to find a place for your stuff is under the couch but if you use this in multiple seasons that could be a good way to keep bulkier winter outfits when the weather isn’t right to wear those.

 

Some Smart Talk Features

If you have one of those personal digital assistants that live in your phone, you are probably already used to cursing that thing. Now there’s another one for you to say unkind things to as this has a new item from WFCO where you can ask for things by saying “Hey Power Pro.”

This trailer voice assistant can control lighting and report on tank levels – that sort of thing. At this point the people at IBEX told me they didn’t want it controlling the temperature in the rig, but this is one of my favorite features with the voice assistant I’ve set up in my house. I tried it out in this example, and it seemed to recognize my requests.

Closing Notes on the IBEX RV Suite RVS1

This is certainly an unusual offering from the IBEX line. Like an RV, it does have holding tanks, so you could use it as a travel trailer. The model I saw had a cover in place for the front window when this unit is being transported, but this can also be removed once you get to where you’re getting to. That’s a good thing.

While this could be used like a normal travel trailer, where I see this working well is with a property in the mountains or by a lake or something like that and then being a second home. When it’s time to close down for the season, it could simply be towed back to storage or something and returned once the weather changes to more tolerable conditions.

In support of that this trailer has a tremendous number of windows so it would be particularly nice in a place with a beautiful view. But remember it does require a 50-amp service which is something to consider if you’ve got a piece of land in a remote place.

 

Make Your Move

Start shopping for the year, make, and model. Find Your IBEX RV Suite

 

What Other Campers Are Saying

Read the best reviews by owners. Search for an RV Model