2014 StarCraft Travel Star 239 TBS Review
The StarCraft Travel Star Expandable brings comfort to your camping trips. Perfect for outdoorsy families, the Travel Star Expandable is easy to tow and offers generous living space, an uncommon combo in the RV world. It sleeps up to 10 people and still has room for cooking, cleaning and relaxing.
With six floorplans to choose from, you decide whether you want a large living space, large kitchen or large bed. Personally we’re interested in a spacious living area with ample seating and walking room, so we’re going to look at the Travel Star Expandable 239 TBS. It has an unloaded vehicle weight of 4,970 lbs, dry hitch weight of 680 lbs, gross vehicle weight rating of 6,500 lbs, and cargo carrying capacity of 1,530 lbs. For measurements, the 239 TBS has an exterior length of 27’, exterior width of 96”, exterior height (with A/C) of 128”, and interior height of 78”. For tanks, the Travel Star Expandable has a fresh water capacity of 28.5 gallons, gray waste capacity of 30.8 gallons, and black wastewater capacity of 30.8 gallons.
COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2014 Coleman Explorer Ultralite CTE211
StarCraft promises that the Travel Star Expandable will outlast everything but your memories. With fully sealed, cable supported foldout bunks and hard-wall slide-outs, StarCraft might live up to that promise and if it doesn’t, you needn’t worry because it comes with a two-year warranty. StarCraft uses Tuff Shell vacuum-bonded lamination on its walls. Combined with welded aluminum framing, fiberglass sidewalls, and metal backers, the Travel Star Expandable will conquer everything that Mother Nature throws at it. The Travel Star Expandable features a crowned truss roof with one-piece seamless rubber roof material. StarCraft’s mold-resistant tent comes with a seven-year warranty and is guaranteed not to stretch, shrink or crack.
When rainy weather doesn’t permit bonfires, you’ll have to bring the cooking indoors. The kitchen is equipped with an 8 cu. ft. flush-mount refrigerator and a three-burner range, which comes with a range hood, light and exhaust fan. The oversized kitchen sink features integrated drying racks, ideal when you’re washing dishes for 10 people. It also has a high-rise mixing faucet with a pullout sprayer, taking the mess out of rinsing and washing. The cabinetry features hardwood stiles. If there’s a baker in your family, then throw in a few extra bucks and request an oven. The kitchen drawers feature ball bearing drawer guides with full drawer extension, so opening and closing is not a hassle. The pantry is perfect for storing canned goods, condiments and cereal boxes. When dinner is finally ready, serve it at the spacious U-dinette.
COMPARISON: Read our review of the Jayco Jay Series Camping Trailers
Although camping trips bring you closer to nature, sometimes you need a break from the rain, insects and forest smells. You can always spend an afternoon sprawled out in your living room – on the sofa, dinette or floor. The windows come with pleated shades so if you want privacy, just pull the shades down. If you’re an entertainment junkie, request a 22” LED TV and CD/DVD Player with an iPod jack option. The space is prepped for cable and satellite TV so you can watch your favourite shows and broadcasts.
When you’re ready to call it a day, choose one of three Queen beds and make yourself comfortable. Each bed is located in a separate slideout and sits beside an overhead shelf compartment, allowing you to store belongings, clothes and electronics. Privacy curtains separate the sleeping areas from the rest of the trailer so if family members are still walking around, you can close the curtains and recharge for the next day. If you’re camping on a cold night, you’ll be thankful for the heated bunk mats in your tent.
COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2012 Rockwood Premier 2516G
Last but not least, let’s take a tour of the bathroom. Equipped with the necessities, you have a porcelain foot flush toilet, exhaust fan, and shower with a skylight. A vanity mirror sits above the sink so all your grooming rituals can be comfortably executed.
Since the Travel Star Expandable is built for camping, its outdoor amenities are important. Other than high-quality tents to keep you warm at night, StarCraft offers a few more features. Outdoor speakers will add some energy to afternoon barbeques and evening parties. Electric awning features LED lighting. The Amber patio light is powered by an inside switch and the entry step is lit at night. To fulfill all your camping needs, the Travel Star Expandable comes with outside grill prep.
The StarCraft Travel Star Expandable 239 TBS sells for around $25,000. For more information visit: http://www.starcraftrv.com/.
