The Best Travel Trailers with Murphy Beds

FOLD-DOWN MURPHY BEDS are a great way to optimize your RV’s interior space. Travel trailers with Murphy beds are often shorter and lighter than those without, yet they do not skimp on sleeping space. Many models on our top list have bunks with sleeping capacities of up to eight people. And all of this under 27 feet with SUV-towable options? Yes, please!

Key Takeaways

• Murphy bed travel trailers maximize space and towability, offering shorter, lighter RVs—many under 27 feet and SUV-towable—without sacrificing sleeping capacity.
• Top models stand out for smart layouts and storage solutions, such as rear kitchens, bunkhouses, outdoor kitchens, and thoughtful features like tankless water heaters, linen closets, and pet-friendly additions.
• Variety spans multiple brands and floorplans, with options from Jayco, Forest River, Winnebago, Grand Design, Heartland, and others—plus tips on comfort upgrades like mattress quality, setup, and durability.

Top 10 Travel Trailers with Murphy Beds

We’ve selected our favorite travel trailers with Murphy beds from leading brands, including Jayco, Forest River, Grand Design, Winnebago, and Heartland. For comparisons, don’t miss the honorable mentions below.

Here are my top options for travel trailers with Murphy beds, tailored to my travel style. Keep in mind that your needs and mine might not be the same.

Jayco Jay Feather 19MRK

Images by Camping World

Specs

• Length: 23’4”
• Dry Weight: 4,820 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 1,580 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 2

A fantastic option for couples, the Jay Feather 19MRK is an impressive travel trailer with a Murphy bed. This rear kitchen floor plan makes excellent use of all 23 feet of space. My favorite feature in this Murphy bed camper is the kitchen. It combines storage with functionality and has expansive counterspace for prep work. It even includes a dual-basin sink, which I find handy for washing or prepping vegetables.

The bathroom is also larger than in other campers on this list. It features a full residential shower and a pocket door, maximizing the interior space. The theater seating includes desk trays over each seat, but this RV lacks a traditional table. Jayco could consider adding a portable Lagun table set up for this travel trailer in the future.  

How I Ranked It

A Jayco at the top of my list? Gasp. You’re probably just as shocked as I am. Jayco is a functional RV brand, but it’s never been a top choice of mine, both stylistically and functionally. But this Murphy bed camper is impressive. From the rear kitchen design to the functional storage and features like a tankless water heater, Jayco is stepping up its game. 

Dare I say it? This Forest River lover might just switch sides for the Jay Feather 19MRK. 

Winnebago Thrive 22MBH

Images by Camping World

Specs

• Length: 26’
• Dry Weight: 5,882 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 1,178 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 5

Comfortable, functional, and luxurious, the Thrive 22MBH is another top contender for the best travel trailer with a Murphy bed. The 42” x 86” U-shaped dinette is nestled in a large slide, which also features additional closet and overhead storage. The kitchen features an L-shaped counter with a flip-up extension, increasing the surface area. The rear features a bunkhouse for extra guests. 

Winnebago also included large panoramic windows throughout, including one at the head of the Murphy bed. 

How I Ranked It

You might say, “Hey! Other RVs on this list also have this floorplan. Why is this one ranked higher?” It’s the little features—like using some of the dead space for extra storage and interior finishes—that really make the Thrive 22MBH stand out. Winnebago’s Modern Luxe interior is light yet warm. 

They also make minor adjustments, such as a slightly larger slide to accommodate a wardrobe and the pantry space located across from the kitchen. Making that corner usable storage might seem insignificant, but it adds enormous value, in my opinion.

Jayco Jay Feather 21MML

Specs

• Length: 25’5”
• Dry Weight: 5,225 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 1,275 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 6

The Jay Feather 21MML is another great option for couples. One of the big differences in this camper is the extra kitchen space at the rear. You get countertops, overhead storage, the sink, and a large pantry, complemented by a three-burner cooktop, the refrigerator, and additional counterspace in the off-campside slide-out.

This travel trailer with Murphy beds is one of the larger RVs on this list, thanks to the additional interior space created when the slide is extended. The bathroom is spacious, featuring a built-in linen closet that enhances the intelligent design. 

How I Ranked It

I won’t lie; the Jay Feather 21MML surprised me. I often don’t find that Jayco’s interior layouts fit my personal preferences. Their signature vintage farmhouse interior features millennial gray floors, which wouldn’t be my first choice. However, this travel trailer boasts a particularly nice design. The kitchen provides a fair amount of counterspace and storage, and the linen closet in the bathroom actually boosts this travel trailer up on the list. 

Grand Design Transcend One 151RB

Specs

• Length: 19’8”
• Dry Weight: 3,600 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 820 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 4

If you’re looking for a travel trailer under 20 feet with a Murphy bed, consider the Transcend One 151RB. This is the smallest and lightest camper on the list, but it still packs a punch. The rear bath makes great use of the space, with a sliding door that makes navigating the RV easier. Since the Transcend One doesn’t have a slide, space-saving adjustments like that make a big difference. 

The kitchen is modest, but it does include a pull-out trash can — a feature that is often underutilized in the RV space. It also added a pull-out pet dish when the Murphy bed is folded! It’s that little something extra—or lagniappe, as a Louisianan might say—that makes the difference between good and great.

How I Ranked It

In the ultralight market, you’ll trade interior space and features for a lower dry weight and cargo capacity. Even with those trade-offs, this is a great Murphy bed travel trailer for a couple or a small family. This travel trailer is also incredibly affordable, making it accessible to many entry-level campers. 

Forest River Campsite Ultra 21DF

Specs

• Length: 25’10”
• Dry Weight: 5,688 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 2,107 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 7

King bed alert! The Campsite Ultra 21DF is the sole option in this list that includes a camp king Murphy bed. In the realm of Murphy bed campers, this is a pretty big boon. This is another bunkhouse travel trailer, but it has a few additions that set it apart.

The L-shaped kitchen improves the working surface, and the back side of the addition includes a shoe cubby and an additional storage cabinet. There is also an additional open cubby in the dinette slide for storing books, gear, or board games. The bathroom also includes a shallow tub for washing pets or toddlers. 

How I Ranked It

The camp king bed is the real reason this RV is higher on the list. Otherwise, this is a pretty standard bunkhouse travel trailer with a Murphy bed. Its finishes are nice, but not luxe. But Forest River always knows how to add small storage solutions to give its RVs a slight edge.

Grand Design Transcend One 161BH

Specs

• Length: 23’
• Dry Weight: 4,784 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 716 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 6

Don’t want to empty your graywater tank for a while? The Transcend One 161BH has got you covered with an impressive 74-gallon gray water holding tank. Cavernous holding tank aside, the Transcend One 161BH continues the trend of solidly-built Murphy bed bunkhouse travel trailers.

The front’s unobstructed pass through storage provides space for large items, such as skis. In the rear, this Murphy bed RV also features a large 16” x 20” baggage door for additional storage. 

It also boasts a robust outdoor kitchen with a mini fridge, a large griddle cooktop, and a portable interior/exterior table. 

How I Ranked It

While I prefer the finishes of Forest River’s comparable RV, the improved privacy door on the bathroom gives Grand Design the slight edge. However, it sleeps only six people, so keep that in mind. 

Jayco Jay Feather Air 19MBS

Specs

• Length: 23’1”
• Dry Weight: 4,505 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 1,245 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 8

Similar to the Jay Flight SLX that rounds out this list, the Jay Feather Air 19MBS is a bunkhouse camper that embodies all the hallmarks of a functional, compact Murphy bed travel trailer under 25 feet. This RV comfortably sleeps up to eight people. 

Since the floor plan is similar to other bunkhouses, let’s explore some of its other benefits. It includes an outdoor kitchen with a griddle, which is great for frying up boudin or bratwurst. The outdoor kitchen also includes a refrigerator to keep drinks within reach of your camp chairs. 

How I Ranked It

Smaller and lighter, you might think this travel trailer would be less robust than the Jay Flight SLX with a similar layout. But in my opinion, this RV is more functional. I prefer the kitchen setup with the in-counter stovetop with a glass cover. It’s still affordable, but it works slightly better than some of my lower-ranked models. 

Forest River Salem FSX 178BHSK

Specs

• Length: 22’11”
• Dry Weight: 4,194 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 1,451 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 8

A great bunkhouse RV for sleeping large crews, the Salem FSX 178BHSK has all the hallmarks of a well-designed Forest River (we’ll discuss the minor exception in the “How I Ranked It” section). The Murphy bed is tucked into a cozy alcove with overhead lighting for reading.

The kitchen includes ample storage, and the bunkhouse has rounded mattresses that extend beyond the corner to better accommodate additional guests. For a lightweight Murphy bed camper, this is a great option under 25 feet. 

How I Ranked It

The Salem FSX and Transcend One 161BH are pretty similar, but I feel like this one falls short in the small details. The big kicker for me is the bathroom door. Where Grand Design included a more traditionally framed door, Forest River’s door has large gaps at the top and bottom. This leaves some room for improvement when it comes to privacy. 

Jayco Jay Flight SLX 197MBW

Images by Camping World

Specs

• Length: 23’7”
• Dry Weight: 3,940 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 1,055 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 7

Lightweight and minimalist, the Jay Flight SLX 197MBW is a great compact travel trailer with a Murphy bed for people who need to sleep a crew. This bunkhouse camper, featuring a convertible dinette, can comfortably sleep up to seven people.

The Jay Flight SLX is also an incredibly affordable travel trailer, making it an excellent choice for first-time buyers. If possible, opt for the upgraded roof-mounted A/C instead of the side-mounted unit, as this will improve air circulation throughout the camper. 

Heartland Prowler 1802MBSW

Specs

• Length: 23’7”
• Dry Weight: 4,995 pounds
• Cargo Capacity: 950 pounds
• Sleeping Capacity: Up to 6

Rounding out our list, I’ve placed the Prowler 1802MBSW after that Jayco Murphy bed camper because it sleeps one less and has a more limited cargo capacity, even though I like the finishes a little better. 

Since this follows the same floor plan, let’s discuss some of the specifications. You’ll have 30 gallons of fresh water in this RV, equipped with a tankless water heater. It also includes C-Pap prep on both sides of the bedroom for any needed medical equipment. 

How I Ranked Them (197MBW + 1802MBSW)

There are no bad RVs on this list, but these final two are my least favorite for a few reasons. Both require an upgrade for a roof-mounted AC, and both could benefit from upgraded interior finishes. 

Even small things, such as adding a backsplash, including a pop up countertop extension, and swapping the cooktop for a recessed model, go a long way toward improving the value of the Prowler and the Jay Flight SLX.

Honorable Mentions by Manufacturer

Didn’t find what you were looking for? There are plenty of other travel trailers with Murphy beds to browse and find your perfect RV.

East to West

Here are a few other East to West travel trailers with Murphy beds to consider.

• Alta 1900MMK
• Alta 1600MRB

How To Make an RV Murphy Bed More Comfortable

You can make an RV Murphy bed more comfortable by adding a high-quality memory foam mattress topper or replacing the mattress with one designed for RVs. Consider using a mattress pad for added softness, and ensure the bedding is breathable and fitted.

How Much Weight Can a Murphy Bed Handle?

The weight capacity of a Murphy bed typically ranges from 500 to 1,000 pounds, depending on the model and installation. It’s essential to check the manufacturer’s specifications for the exact weight limit and ensure the bed is securely mounted to handle the intended load safely.

What Are The Disadvantages of a Murphy Bed?

Murphy beds can be less comfortable than traditional beds, especially if the mattress is thin or of low quality. While setup and breakdown are easy, they can also be a bit tedious. The bed’s hardware is also more likely to require repairs over time than a standard RV bed.

Travel trailers with Murphy beds provide great space-saving options without sacrificing comfort. But there are many other layouts for you to explore! Check out some of these alternative floor plans to find your perfect RV.

• Popular Travel Trailer RV Floor Plans
• Which Rear Living Travel Trailer is Right for You?
• The Best Bunkhouse Travel Trailers of 2024
• Check Out the Top Ranked Travel Trailers

Do you have a favorite Murphy bed travel trailer or recommendations for traveling in one? We want to know! Drop your questions or comments below.

The post The Best Travel Trailers with Murphy Beds appeared first on Camping World Blog.