Starcraft Travelstar 23SBS/Antigua 235SBS

[griffsmom]

The Starcraft Travelstar 23SBS is one of five hybrids we are looking at and researching. We had yet to see this model in person, and this past Sunday afternoon, our local Starcraft dealer called with one finally on the lot. Mom ("Nana"), Griffin and I went down to have a look, and of course, I took my camera.
 
The dealer actually had the Antigua instead of the Travelstar, with the only difference between the two being the color of the wood interior (Travelstar=maple-colored wood; Antigua=white painted wood). We prefer the wood-colored wood, but we still wanted to see the floor plan in person while we had the chance. So the pictures I have to share with all of you show the white wood of the Antigua.
 
Enjoy!
 
http://community.webshots.com/album/549420350ppAjOt

[cjpoppin]

Looks like the family is ready to goooooooo....Know what you mean about the ceiling height...Jim is 6'5" too and that A/C will be lots of fun......OUCH. As for me I could most likely sleep on the couch......We have been looking at the smaller Antigua and one of these days we just may show up with one.......carol

[4campinfoxes]

Thanks for the photos!  This is one of the units I've been interested in.  Like you I prefer the wood of the Travelstar instead of the white of hte Antigua.

I'm disappointed by what looks to be a lack of usable storage space in the galley area.  Thinking of all the stuff we bring camping, along with non-perishable food & things I wonder if the storage is adequate.

Sharon

[TheViking]

Wow Lori!  Imagine how much more crap you can stuff in that !!! LOL

 
Seriously,  before we bought the TT, that was the Hybrid I wanted.  I love the looks and the layout of the Antigua.  Kristi just didn't want to mess with the pop out beds.  Will we be seeing this at Oceanside?

[wavery]

I like the "Wood look" too. However, the "White look" seems to be in these days.

We have light natural wood cabinets in our apartments. A lot of prospective tenants that come to view the apartments ask if we would be willing to paint the kitchen cabinets white. It's really puzzling because we are putting in (hardwood look alike) laminate floors and granite (like) counter tops. They usually comment that the natural wood cabinets look "Old fashioned" and "Out of date".

We go ahead and have then painted (upon request) because we can always have the paint removed and re-varnished back to natural wood.

The reason that I bring it up is because it could effect the resale value of the camper. It seems like natural wood cabinets is becoming "dated". There were some $1.5M condos built across the street from our building this year. The designer kitchens are fitted with colored plastic cabinet doors.

[griffsmom]

Wow Lori! Imagine how much more crap you can stuff in that !!! LOL

No kidding!!!! :-()
 
 

I'm disappointed by what looks to be a lack of usable storage space in the galley area. Thinking of all the stuff we bring camping, along with non-perishable food & things I wonder if the storage is adequate.
 
Sharon

The 23SBS is a new floorplan for 2006. It basically adds a slide and more storage to Starcraft's previous three-bunk floorplan (21SB) and moves things around a bit. We love the idea of three bunks, but you're right Sharon, what looks to be like lots of storage compartments in the camper is a bit deceiving. That was why I made sure to open all the cabinets and drawers and take the pictures. I'd forego one of the bunks for awesome storage.
 
The galley basically has the big pantry behind it next to the fridge, but as for storage in the galley itself, it is virtually devoid of places to put things. We are also considering the Rockwood Roo 23SS which actually has counter space (!) and looks like it has tons of interior storage and among many other features, is 6'6" inside with flat-to-the-ceiling ducted a/c, which is important if your DH is 6'5"! But the trade off is that there is no exterior storage. (Sure wish I could design my own trailer!!) Again, until I can see a Roo 23SS in person and open all the drawers and doors, I won't really know which is the right trailer. The other thing about the Starcraft 23SBS that I really am not fond of is that the galley is right smack next to the front bed. Food prep and sleeping quarters together don't do much for my appetite.
 

Will we be seeing this at Oceanside?

Don't get your hopes up; I'm not. I'm currently on a 6-month independent contractor agreement with the publishing company I'm working for and will be renegotiating my contract in June or July. Dave wants me to have more job security before we plunk down a bunch of money and gain a new monthly payment. I'm going to try and go permanent when it comes time to renegotiate and if that happens, then we can start looking to buy with a vengenance, but until then, I just keeping dreaming of hybrids. No, literally, I'm dreaming of camping in hybrids. I need a life. :rolleyes:
 
Although......the guy I work with is interested in possibly buying our pop up, so if I just up and sold the camper to him after Temecula, we'd HAVE to get a new camper for Guajome......right?:Z

[griffsmom]

Our dealer took delivery of Starcraft's Travelstar version of this camper.  The difference is the color of the cabinets: wood-colored for the Travelstar and white-laminate for the Antigua.  I added 5 new photos to my Webshots album showing the Travelstar, in case anyone's interested:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/549420350/2119048720067662063AXpIvs
 
http://community.webshots.com/photo/549420350/2529126580067662063eCSvKN
 
http://community.webshots.com/photo/549420350/2847028980067662063bwUcDW
 
http://community.webshots.com/photo/549420350/2514174670067662063FTMWeW
 
http://community.webshots.com/photo/549420350/2844081570067662063iDGpnC

[zamboni]

We are also considering the Rockwood Roo 23SS which actually has counter space (!) and looks like it has tons of interior storage and among many other features, is 6'6" inside with flat-to-the-ceiling ducted a/c, which is important if your DH is 6'5"! But the trade off is that there is no exterior storage.

It appears they've listened.  This was the #1 reason we did not buy the Rockwood Roo -- the ceiling heights were 76 inches (even 2006 models we saw at our RV show last fall)  Those extra 2 inches that the Jayco had made all the difference to me, and I'm only 6'2.

The Roo is 6 inches narrower, but we could have lived with that.  They must have changed the ceiling height at some point recently!

However, one important thing about the SS models:  When the kitchen is on the slide, it is MUCH SHORTER than a normal kitchen, because of the wasted space on top (and bottom) by the slide mechanism.  That meant the upper cabinets and microwave were up to 6" lower than the other floor plans.  To me, this put the microwave too close to the stove for me to "cook" comfortably.

[Renee]

I have a 21sb and when I saw the 23sbs at the show this year I fell in love with it and I wanted it. more storage space and floor space for the dogs to spread out. so next year I will be trading in the 21 for the 23

[griffsmom]

I have a 21sb and when I saw the 23sbs at the show this year I fell in love with it and I wanted it. more storage space and floor space for the dogs to spread out. so next year I will be trading in the 21 for the 23

We ordered our 23SBS in December last year and took delivery this January. We've had 5 camping trips in it so far and have loved every minute of it. The slide makes all the difference, IMHO. i am also tremendously impressed withthe quality of the unit. Everything was neatly finished and tidy. i've seen pictures of other manufacturers where wiring is all over the place and cut-outs are ragged and unsightly. Although the 21Sb is a great unit as well, I doubt you'll regret it if you do decide to trade the 21SB in for the 23SBS.