Cozy and comfortable, this new lightweight travel trailer offers an economical RV option and a wide array of features.
By Robbin Gould, Editor
February 2022
Targeting families who want to enjoy the RV lifestyle without breaking the bank, Starcraft has added a new model to its Super Lite series of lightweight travel trailers: the Super Lite Maxx. This one-axle towable is available in four floor plans for 2022 that range from 20 feet to 23 feet 6 inches in length and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,995 or 5,500 pounds. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the Super Lite Maxx begins at $30,518; the MSRP of the 16FBS shown in the accompanying photos is $32,618.
Inside the 16FBS, a jackknife sofa across from the galley can be paired with a standard free-standing foldaway table.
The four floor plans offer versatility to address different needs and tastes. Of particular interest to RVers who require extra sleeping berths are the twin bunk beds in the 17BH, and double-over-double bunks in the 19MBH; the latter sleeps up to eight.
Despite its smaller price tag compared to some other towable RVs, the Super Lite Maxx includes a number of features and amenities designed to create a comfortable camping experience.
Construction
Like other models in Starcraft’s Super Lite series, the Super Lite Maxx features the company’s patented TuffShell sidewall construction, which is said to provide extra protection without additional weight. The walls are created via a vacuum-bonded lamination process and reinforced with aluminum frames, heavy-duty fiberglass, and metal backers. They are filled with rigid foam insulation.
The patented Magnum roof system combines reinforced crowned truss roof rafters with 3/8-inch decking; the process is said to result in a roof that is up to 50 percent stronger than those of other manufacturers. Puncture-resistant PVC roofing membrane is applied, which is also low-maintenance and reflects solar heat and ultraviolet rays. The membrane comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
The 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove residential floor is bolted all the way through the RV frame; this technique reportedly minimizes bounces and squeaks while strengthening the structure. The underbelly is enclosed and insulated. Customers can add optional 12-volt tank heat pads if desired.
The 16FBS floor plan includes a front pass-through exterior storage compartment.
Exterior
The Super Lite Maxx sports a molded front cap with integrated LED lighting. Diamond plating is added to the front and rear of the unit. An automatic tongue jack comes standard, as do twin 30-pound propane cylinders with quick connects. A rear roof access ladder also is supplied. Windows are made with tinted safety glass.
RVers can relax under the standard power awning enhanced with LED lighting and listen to music provided by two marine-grade exterior speakers. The 19MBH floor plan comes with an exterior kitchen.
Starcraft designers increased the ground clearance of the Super Lite Maxx. Its 15-inch off-road radial tires ride on a single rubber torsion axle and are paired with aluminum rims. Stabilizing jacks are standard. A set of swing-down steps provide a sturdy entrance and exit.
The roof is outfitted with an accessory rack, as well as a dome-style TV antenna prepped for an optional Wi-Fi router. Solar prep comes standard; if customers wish, they can add the optional off-grid solar package, which includes a 190-watt rooftop solar panel and a 30-watt controller.
The Super Lite Maxx comes with 30-amp electrical service. One 15,000-Btu air-conditioning unit cools the interior, and a 19,000-Btu furnace provides warmth when needed. The RV also contains a 6-gallon propane-electric water heater with direct-spark ignition.
Interior
Those who appreciate fuss-free camping will want to note the residential vinyl flooring that runs throughout this unit. The floor has no heat registers to step on or to become a repository for dropped food, fur, or other items. Furniture is upholstered with easy-to-maintain vinyl fabric. LED lights illuminate the interior, and roller blackout shades provide privacy. Countertops, cabinetry, furniture, and window valances are finished in a color palette called Graystone. The ceiling height is 6 feet 6 inches or 6 feet 7 inches depending on floor plan.
The 16FBS includes a corner shower in the rear bath; other floor plans have a tub-shower combination.
For its size, the Super Lite Maxx provides significant storage in various cabinets and drawers. Under-bunk storage, linen cabinets, and pantries are available on various floor plans. The hardwood cabinetry is screwed and glued; drawers feature 75-pound-capacity ball-bearing glides. The television — a 32-inch 12-volt LED model paired with an AM/FM/Bluetooth sound bar — swings away from the wall, revealing a hidden cubby behind it.
The galley is furnished with a recessed two-burner range that has a flush-mount glass cover; a range hood; a convection microwave; and an 8-cubic-foot propane-electric refrigerator. The deep-bowl sink is undermounted and paired with a high-rise faucet. Here and in the bath area, the countertop is covered with a single seamless membrane and has rolled edges.
The bath area contains either a corner shower, as in the 16FBS floor plan, or a tub-shower combination, which is available in the other three layouts. Also included are a porcelain foot-flush toilet, a stainless-steel undermount sink, and a mirrored medicine cabinet. The room has a skylight and power vent as well.
Several other differences exist among the Super Lite Maxx floor plans. As noted earlier, two incorporate bunk beds in addition to an 80-inch bed offered in all floor plans. Additional sleeping space is provided via a jackknife sofa or dinette. The largest model, the 19MBH, incorporates a spacious U-shaped dinette, a double-over-double bunk bed, and a Murphy bed.
As the latest entry to the Starcraft family of lightweight travel trailers, the Super Lite Maxx adds another option for new RVers and others in search of an economical yet comfortable home on wheels.
16FBS
SPECIFICATIONS | STARCRAFT SUPER LITE MAXX
MANUFACTURER
Starcraft RV, 903 S. Main St., Middlebury, IN 46540; (800) 945-4787; www.starcraftrv.com
MODEL
Super Lite Maxx
FLOOR PLAN ― IN PHOTOS
16FBS
EXTERIOR LENGTH
20 feet
EXTERIOR WIDTH
100 inches
EXTERIOR HEIGHT
10 feet 5 inches
INTERIOR HEIGHT
6 feet 6 inches
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)
4,995 pounds
UNLOADED VEHICLE WEIGHT (UVW)
3,830 pounds
HITCH WEIGHT
440 pounds
CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (CCC)
1,165 pounds
TIRES
15-inch radials
INSULATION
sidewalls — foam
FRESH WATER CAPACITY
61 gallons
HOLDING TANK CAPACITIES
gray water — 30 gallons; black water — 30 gallons
PROPANE CAPACITY
60 pounds (2 30-pound cylinders)
WATER HEATER
6-gallon propane-electric with DSI
HEATING SYSTEM
19,000 Btu
AIR CONDITIONING
(1) 13,500 Btu
REFRIGERATOR
8-cubic-footpropane-electric
TOILET
porcelain with foot flush
WARRANTY
1 year, limited; structural — 3 years, limited
MANUFACTURER’S BASE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
$32,618