Highland Ridge Colt 18MBS West vs Jayco Jay Flight SLX 245BHS
2026 Travel Trailer comparison · side-by-side specs, verdict, and who each is best for.
Quick verdict
Both Travel Trailers target family bunkhouse buyers but at different size points and $2,638 apart in MSRP ($25,643 vs $28,281). The Highland Ridge Colt 18MBS West is a compact 23'7" at 3,855 lbs dry, sleeps 8 with a king bed, includes 200W solar, 50A service, theater seating, fireplace, four-season, and off-road package. The Jayco Jay Flight SLX 245BHS extends to 29'5" at 4,745 lbs dry, sleeps 10 with bunks across a single slide, 52 gal fresh, 40 gal LP, 200W solar with solar prep, outdoor kitchen, and full bath.
The Colt 18MBS West packs feature density into a smaller envelope - 4-season and off-road for hard-side shoulder-season use, plus a king bed in just 23 feet. The Jay Flight SLX 245BHS adds 6 feet of length to sleep two more and gain an outdoor kitchen, but loses the four-season insulation, fireplace, and off-road suspension.
For the Travel Trailer bunkhouse shopper, the Highland Ridge Colt vs Jay Flight SLX choice splits on size and content versus pure sleeping capacity.
Side-by-side specs
| Highland Ridge Colt 18MBS West | Jayco Jay Flight SLX 245BHS | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $25,643 | $28,281 |
| Length | 23'7" | 29'5" |
| Dry weight | 3,855 lbs | 4,745 lbs |
| GVWR | 4,995 lbs | 6,500 lbs |
| Sleeps | 8 | 10 |
| Slides | — | 1 |
| Fresh tank | 30 gal | 52 gal |
| Grey tank | 40 gal | 39 gal |
| Black tank | 40 gal | 39 gal |
| LP | — | 40 gal |
| Solar | 200W | 200W |
| Inverter | — | — |
| Generator | — | — |
| Bath | — | full |
| Bed | king | bunks |
| 4-season | Yes | No |
| Off-road | Yes | No |
| Outdoor kitchen | No | Yes |
| Washer/dryer | none | none |
| Residential fridge | No | No |
Where Highland Ridge Colt 18MBS West wins
- Lower MSRP by $2,638 ($25,643 vs $28,281)
- 5'10" shorter at 23'7" vs 29'5"
- 890 lbs lighter dry weight (3,855 vs 4,745 lbs)
- King bed standard vs bunks only on Jayco
- Four-season, off-road, fireplace included
Where Jayco Jay Flight SLX 245BHS wins
- Sleeps 10 vs 8 (two more bunks)
- Outdoor kitchen included
- Full bath layout documented
- 40 gal LP vs unspecified on Colt 18MBS
- 615 lbs more cargo capacity (1,755 vs 1,140 lbs)
Pick the Highland Ridge Colt 18MBS West if…
Pick the Highland Ridge Colt 18MBS West if you have one or two kids, camp in shoulder seasons, and want a king bed in a sub-$26K trailer that fits state-park sites under 25 ft. The four-season certification, fireplace, off-road suspension, and 200W solar at 3,855 lbs dry create an unusually content-loaded short trailer. The 23'7" length backs into tight pads the 29'5" Jay Flight SLX 245BHS can't. At $25,643 it's $2,638 cheaper than the Jayco and adds capability the Jay Flight SLX skips.
Pick the Jayco Jay Flight SLX 245BHS if…
Pick the Jayco Jay Flight SLX 245BHS if you have three or four kids and need to sleep 10 in a single rig. The bunkhouse, dinette, and convertible spots stack two more sleeping spots than the Colt 18MBS West, the outdoor kitchen handles camp cooking without crowding the interior, and 40 gal LP supports long stays. The 4,745 lb dry weight is still half-ton territory. At $28,281 you pay $2,638 more than the Colt but gain the family hauler capacity the smaller Highland Ridge Colt can't provide.
Frequently asked
Can the Colt 18MBS West really sleep 8 in 23 feet?
Yes, but tightly. The king bed plus bunkhouse plus convertible dinette and sofa reach 8 sleeping spots. Adults sleeping any of the convertibles will find the floorplan crowded; this works best for one or two adults plus several kids.
Which is easier to back into a state-park site?
The Colt 18MBS West at 23'7" is significantly easier to maneuver than the Jay Flight SLX 245BHS at 29'5". Most state parks have abundant sub-25 ft sites; sites accommodating 29+ ft trailers are more limited.
Does either trailer have a real bathroom?
Both have full baths (toilet, sink, shower). The Jay Flight SLX 245BHS documents the layout explicitly; the Colt 18MBS West has a bath but layout details aren't published.