Today’s RV review is something different, a partnership between Jayco and Lippert. The concept is called the Jayco Baja Sur and is based on the 2023 Jayco Jay Feather Micro 199MBS, a single-axle bunkhouse model. There are a few things that really strike me about this collaboration but first, the players.

Lippert

If you own a modern RV, you have Lippert components in it. Lippert is a huge supplier to the RV industry and makes most of the systems and subsystems you’ll find in a modern RV. The company does have a few competitors out there, but you could almost literally look through the Lippert parts catalog and build an entire RV.

Not all the components will have the Lippert brand as the company owns Curt, Furrion and several other companies that make things for RVs and more.

We have toured several Lippert plants and it’s quite an impressive operation. Despite their leadership position I have to honestly state that the way they treat the team members and focus on innovation is quite refreshing.

Jayco

Jayco almost needs no introduction to most RV consumers as the company is well known and has been a fixture in the RV space since 1968. Now part of the Thor corporation, Jayco has a number of innovations that I really like. The principal one of these is their JaySMART lighting which flashes upper and side marker lights with the turn signals.

Jayco builds RVs of all types and sizes including some of their lightest, the Jay Feather Micro on which this custom unit is built.

Jayco Baja Sur

If you’re a regular reader of my daily RV reviews you may have noticed that the RV industry is tripping all over themselves to get into the overlandling space. They, too, have seen that campgrounds can get pretty crowded and the opportunity lies in boondocking or finding places that aren’t developed campgrounds in which to camp.

Even from the get-go the Jayco Jay Feather series is a narrow-body trailer that features brush guards around the perimeter of the outside. I have a full story about the Jayco Jay Feather 199MBS here.

The collaboration on this trailer included a full wrap of the exterior to give it a more off-road/aggressive look. There is also a laundry list of upgrades and changes to the exterior employing Lippert’s various components, some of which are listed below.

Meanwhile the interior get a big change as well. Jayco is unique in often offering more than one interior decor choice in their RVs but this is a step in a different direction with the intention being to create a beach cottage feel to this trailer.

The company also favored more environmentally-friendly products in the build including upholstery fabrics in particular. Jayco indicated that some of the changes to this one-off may find their way into production models and I’m all for it - I like the way this unit feels inside.

Upgrades and Additions

There is an absolutely laundry list of upgrades, changes and swaps in this RV. Among the Lippert components in here are:

Furrion tankless water heater
Lippert Acuva Wanderer 2.0 water purification system. This system uses LED lighting to help purify the water coming in to an RV.
Lippert battery and propane monitoring system. We have the propane monitors and like them very much.
Lippert Bluetooth entry door lock system
Lippert battery monitor system
Resonado audio package. Resonado is best known in the RV space for equipping various Airstream Class B RVs with audio systems. I suspect this is an announcement that they’ll be coming to Towables. Happy to see anything to make towable audio systems better.
CURT tire pressure monitoring system
Furrion Vision S camera system
Lippert Power Stance tongue jack. This is a pretty slick device because it allows you to attach the jack directly to the seven-pin connector on your tow vehicle to power the jack. Nice.
Lippert Quick Drop stabilizers. I absolutely love these. They’re a more rugged stabilizer that was specifically designed to be used with a power drill.

What is SEMA?

SEMA, or the Specialty Equipment Market Association, is an organization that caters to all those companies who make aftermarket products for the automotive industry. Their annual show in Las Vegas has become a Mecca for aftermarket companies to show-off what they’ve been working on.

But, being a show in Las Vegas, it has absolutely become an elaborate extravaganza of incredible displays. Some companies spend years creating new displays. For example, YouTuber Rich from Rich Rebuilds built a V8-powered Tesla. Legendary customizer Gene Winfield, now in his 90s, continues to work on custom projects for the show. The SEMA show has become an absolute spectacle in true Las Vegas fashion and is an international powerhouse of all sorts of creations as well as new ideas and products.

Tony’s Thoughts

The first RV Peggy and I had together was a Jayco, specifically a pop-up travel trailer. We had some great adventures in that thing and the pop-up was what got Jayco started in the first place. Unfortunately, they don’t make these any longer.

I really like the changes made to the interior of this RV and this shows how one can customize their own rig. From the start there’s already quite a bit to like about the Jayco Jay Feather Micro 199MBS and this takes it all a step further.

From the press release

The Baja Sur is a concept travel trailer built by Jayco in conjunction with Lippert, which has been designed to be rugged on the outside and provide coastal inspired comfort on the inside. Upfitted from a Jay Feather Micro 199MBS base unit with a laundry list of accessories and enhancements to provide the next level of capability in this 23’ 2” unit and weighing less than 5,000 pounds.

This RV demonstrates how a buyer or existing owner can accessorize their stock RV to fit their individual lifestyle and taste without breaking the bank.

“This concept build has been the culmination of months of hard work by both Jayco and Lippert,” commented Trey Miller – Vice President of Marketing for Jayco. “Seeing the rising popularity of the Overlanding segment at SEMA provides a natural crossover to recreational vehicles, which are experiencing their highest popularity in history. Whether it is a highly capable towable unit or a 4 x 4 Class B Van, RVs are quickly becoming a fixture in Overland adventure travel.”

You can see it in person in spot 58095 in the SEMA West Hall Trucks, SUV and Off Road exhibit at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 1st – 4th, 2022