Black Series HQ17 vs Jayco Jay Feather 32RL
2026 Travel Trailer comparison · side-by-side specs, verdict, and who each is best for.
Quick verdict
Two Travel Trailer rigs with very different missions. The Black Series HQ17 is 24 ft, 6,000 lbs dry, 7,000 lb GVWR with galvanized tubular steel chassis, 600W solar, 400Ah lead-acid, 2,000W pure sine inverter, outdoor kitchen, four-season construction. Sleeps 5 with queen plus dual bunks plus convertible lounge. MSRP $59,899.
The Jayco Jay Feather 32RL is 35.5 ft, 7,400 lbs dry, 9,300 lb GVWR with single slide. Lightweight rear-living plan with queen bed, 200W solar, residential fridge, theater seating, outdoor kitchen, Climate Shield insulation. Sleeps 6. MSRP $56,100.
Directional verdict: pick the Black Series HQ17 if you want off-road and off-grid capability (600W solar) in a 24 ft footprint with kid bunks. Pick the Jay Feather 32RL for $3,799 less if you camp at hookup parks and want a residential rear-living layout with single slide and theater seating. Different use cases.
Side-by-side specs
| Black Series HQ17 | Jayco Jay Feather 32RL | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $59,899 | $56,100 |
| Length | 24' | 35'6" |
| Dry weight | 6,000 lbs | 7,400 lbs |
| GVWR | 7,000 lbs | 9,300 lbs |
| Sleeps | 5 | 6 |
| Slides | 0 | 1 |
| Fresh tank | 63.4 gal | 55 gal |
| Grey tank | 26.42 gal | 71 gal |
| Black tank | 26.42 gal | 30.5 gal |
| LP | — | 40 gal |
| Solar | 600W | 200W |
| Inverter | 2000W | — |
| Generator | — | — |
| Bath | wet bath | full |
| Bed | 1x queen bed plus 2x bunk beds plus convertible lounge | queen |
| 4-season | Yes | Yes |
| Off-road | Yes | No |
| Outdoor kitchen | Yes | Yes |
| Washer/dryer | none | none |
| Residential fridge | No | Yes |
Where Black Series HQ17 wins
- 11.5 ft shorter (24 vs 35.5 ft)
- 1,400 lbs lighter dry (6,000 vs 7,400 lbs)
- Triple the solar (600W vs 200W) plus 2,000W inverter
- Galvanized off-road chassis with coil suspension
- Dual bunks for kids in family layout
Where Jayco Jay Feather 32RL wins
- $3,799 cheaper at $56,100 MSRP
- Sleeps 6 vs 5 (with queen plus convertible)
- Single slide opens main cabin space
- Residential fridge plus theater seating plus Climate Shield
- 65.08 gal more grey tank (91.5 vs 26.42 gal)
Pick the Black Series HQ17 if…
Adventure families of 4-5 who actually leave pavement and need off-grid solar electrical. The Black Series HQ17's 600W solar, 400Ah battery, 2,000W inverter and off-road chassis enable multi-day boondocking on fire roads and BLM land. Skip it if you camp at full-hookup parks or want a slide-out residential interior.
Pick the Jayco Jay Feather 32RL if…
Couples and families of 4-6 who camp at full-hookup parks and want a single-slide rear-living Travel Trailer with theater seating, residential fridge and outdoor kitchen at $56,100. The Jayco Jay Feather 32RL's Climate Shield insulation supports shoulder-season trips in 35.5 ft. Skip it if you leave pavement or want big off-grid solar.
Frequently asked
Which has more grey water capacity?
The Jay Feather 32RL at 91.5 gal vs the HQ17 at 26.42 gal - a 65 gal difference. For multi-day no-dump stays at full-hookup parks (paradoxically), the Jay Feather is far more practical.
Why pay $3,799 more for the HQ17?
Off-road galvanized chassis, 600W solar (vs 200W), 400Ah battery, 2,000W inverter and the ability to leave pavement. If your camping is pavement-only, that premium is wasted; if you boondock, it's well spent.
Which sleeps the family better?
Both can handle a family of 5-6. The HQ17 has dual bunks plus queen plus convertible lounge for kid-friendly sleeping. The Jay Feather 32RL has queen plus dinette plus jackknife sofa with more open floor space due to the slide.