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.
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