Family-friendly travel trailers often ask buyers to compromise. You can have a spacious rear living room or dedicated bunk beds, but combining both usually results in a cramped layout with awkward walkways and limited seating.
The 2027 Brinkley Model I Bunkhouse takes a different approach.
Rather than simply adding bunks to an existing floorplan, Brinkley redesigned the entire living area after spending time camping with the prototype. Small changes, like rotating the seating, enlarging windows, improving storage, and rethinking how families move through the RV, create a floorplan that feels noticeably more open and functional.
It’s also a great example of Brinkley’s design philosophy. Instead of relying solely on engineers and designers, the company tests its RVs in real camping situations, then refines them based on what actually works.
In this review, we’ll explore what makes this new Model I 290 unique, who it’s designed for, and why it may be one of Brinkley’s most practical family floorplans yet.
Table of Contents
Why Brinkley Redesigned This Floorplan
Quick Specs & Features
Who Is This RV Best For?
Living Room & Entertainment
Kitchen Design
Bunk Room
Bathroom
Bedroom
Exterior Features
Towing & Road Mode
Pros & Considerations
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Why Brinkley Redesigned This Floorplan
At first glance, this may look like another rear living travel trailer with bunks added to the back.
In reality, it’s much more than that.
Brinkley’s founders took an early version camping and realized several things could be improved. Instead of accepting the compromises that often come with bunkhouse floorplans, the team made meaningful changes based on real camping experience.
Those updates included:
- Rotating the main seating arrangement
- Adding a triple theater seat facing the TV
- Creating a large wraparound sofa inspired by the Brinkley Model G
- Enlarging windows for better campsite views
- Improving storage around the bunks
- Reworking the under-bed storage layout in the bedroom
Why That Matters
Many bunkhouse RVs simply carve space out of the dining area to create a hallway leading to the bunks. While functional, those layouts often leave the living room feeling cramped.
Brinkley approached the problem differently by redesigning the seating arrangement first, resulting in a more natural flow throughout the coach.
Bottom Line: Instead of forcing bunks into an existing floorplan, Brinkley redesigned the space around how families actually camp.
Quick Specs & Features
While specifications may vary slightly, these are some of the standout features highlighted during Josh’s walkthrough.
Interior Features
- 6’9″ interior ceiling height
- Triple theater seating
- Wraparound sleeper sofa
- Electric fireplace
- Dishwasher prep
- Variable-output Furrion Chill Cube air conditioner
- Dedicated bedroom air conditioner
- XL kitchen vent fan
- Large campsite windows
- Soft-close cabinet doors
- Hardwood cabinetry and dovetail drawers
Exterior Features
- Auto-leveling available
- Road Armor suspension
- ABS braking system
- Electronic anti-sway technology
- Outside refrigerator
- Gas quick-connect
- Large front pass-through storage
- Solar prep with expandable roof capacity
Who Is This RV Best For?
This floorplan isn’t just for large families.
Its flexible living room makes it a great option for several different camping styles.
Great Fit For
- Families with young children
- Grandparents camping with grandchildren
- Couples who frequently host overnight guests
- Weekend campers
- RVers who value comfortable seating and entertainment
May Not Be the Best Fit For
- Couples who don’t need bunks
- Buyers wanting a dedicated rear living room only
- Campers looking for the lightest travel trailer possible
Because of its thoughtful blend of family-friendly sleeping space and residential-style seating, this floorplan offers more versatility than many traditional bunkhouse models.
Living Room & Entertainment
The biggest difference between this Model I and its sister floorplan is the living area.
Instead of forcing everyone to twist sideways to watch television, Brinkley repositioned the furniture so the triple theater seats face the entertainment center directly. A large wraparound sofa provides additional seating while preserving an open walkway to the bunk area.
The result is a living room that feels larger than you might expect from a 30-foot-class travel trailer.
Living Room Highlights
- Triple theater seating with direct TV viewing
- Wraparound sleeper sofa
- Electric fireplace
- Large entertainment center
- Oversized campsite windows
- Open-concept layout
- 6’9″ ceiling height
What We Like
When the hide-a-bed is opened, it folds north-to-south instead of blocking the entire walkway. That means family members can still move through much of the coach without climbing over furniture, a small design decision that makes a big difference during everyday camping.
The oversized windows are another standout feature. Combined with the taller ceiling and open layout, they bring in plenty of natural light and make the interior feel even more spacious.
Bottom Line: Brinkley didn’t just rearrange the furniture, they redesigned the living space around how families actually relax, watch TV, and move through the RV.
Kitchen Design
The kitchen continues Brinkley’s philosophy of combining premium finishes with practical everyday functionality.
Rather than filling every cabinet with storage, the designers focused on making the space easier to use. Aggressive toe kicks allow you to stand comfortably at the countertop, dishwasher prep is already built in, and the oversized XL vent fan helps remove heat and cooking odors since the convection microwave isn’t located on an exterior wall.
Kitchen Highlights
- Dishwasher prep
- Residential-style convection microwave
- XL exhaust vent fan
- Deep toe kicks for comfortable meal prep
- Under-cabinet power outlets
- Large 12-cubic-foot compressor refrigerator
- Hardwood dovetail drawers
- Clever corner cabinet with double-hinged access door
What We Like
Instead of accepting the unused space above a traditional refrigerator, the company worked with its supplier to fit a larger 12-cubic-foot compressor refrigerator, maximizing storage without increasing the trailer’s footprint.
The kitchen also includes thoughtful everyday touches like a dedicated place for a trash can, a laundry hamper, and easy-to-access drawers, features that make extended camping more convenient.
Bottom Line: The kitchen isn’t just attractive; it’s designed around the little things RV owners use every single day.
Bunk Room
While many manufacturers treat the bunk room as an afterthought, Brinkley clearly spent time thinking about how families actually use this space.
The bunk area features two generously sized bunks, measuring approximately 48″ x 72″, along with dedicated storage, drawers, shelving, and larger windows than the original prototype. During testing, Brinkley’s team realized the upper bunk felt a little enclosed, so they redesigned the space to include a larger window that brings in more natural light. It’s a small change, but one that makes the bunk room feel much more inviting.
Bunk Room Highlights
- Two oversized bunks
- Large upper bunk window
- Individual storage shelves
- Deep drawers below
- Blackout shades with radiant heat-blocking backing
- Open access without blocking the walkway
What We Like
Something that many manufacturers overlook, kids need storage too. Rather than simply adding beds, Brinkley incorporated shelves, drawers, and cubbies where children can keep clothes, books, shoes, and personal items.
The large wraparound sofa also doubles as additional sleeping space, making the floorplan flexible enough for guests without sacrificing everyday usability.
Bottom Line: The bunk room was clearly designed by people who actually camp with kids, not just people trying to maximize sleeping capacity.
Bathroom
The bathroom continues Brinkley’s philosophy of combining premium finishes with practical functionality.
One of the first upgrades you’ll notice is the addition of solid-surface countertops, something that wasn’t included on the original Model I lineup. Brinkley also incorporates soft-close cabinet doors, a spacious medicine cabinet, and one of the largest shower areas you’ll find in this segment.
Bathroom Highlights
- One-piece fiberglass shower
- Solid-surface countertop
- Soft-close cabinet doors
- Large medicine cabinet
- XL roof vent fan
- Decorative mirror
- Excellent headroom thanks to the 6’9″ ceiling
What We Like
Brinkley skips the traditional skylight above the shower. Instead, they rely on the tall ceiling height and Fusion Beam lighting to create an open, bright shower without introducing another potential leak point in the roof.
Bottom Line: Rather than chasing flashy design trends, the bathroom focuses on comfort, storage, and long-term durability.
Bedroom
Brinkley made several meaningful updates to the bedroom after real-world testing.
One of the biggest changes is the redesigned under-bed storage and wardrobe layout. Instead of creating a large dressing room, the new design offers more practical everyday storage while still providing plenty of room for clothing and personal belongings.
The bedroom also features an Olympic Queen mattress, which falls between a standard queen and king in size. It’s becoming increasingly popular in the RV industry and offers more sleeping space without requiring a full king bed.
Bedroom Highlights
- Olympic Queen mattress
- Dedicated bedroom air conditioner
- Dimmable bedroom lighting
- CPAP-friendly bedside storage
- Hidden charging stations
- Redesigned under-bed storage
- Hardwood cabinetry
- Pocket-screwed cabinet construction
- Dovetail drawers
- Hidden hinges and magnetic catches
What We Like
From finished plywood edges beneath the bed to removable storage dividers and hidden charging compartments, the company continues to focus on the little things many buyers won’t notice until they’ve lived with the RV.
It’s those details that often separate a premium travel trailer from one that’s simply loaded with features.
Bottom Line: The bedroom combines residential comfort with thoughtful storage solutions that make extended camping much easier.
Road Mode
One of the most practical features of this floorplan is how well it functions with the slide retracted.
Road mode determines how usable an RV is during quick stops, overnight stays, or lunch breaks without fully setting up camp.
Road Mode Highlights
With the slide closed, you can still access:
- The refrigerator
- The kitchen
- The bathroom
- The bedroom
- The rear bunk area
- Much of the living room
While there is a small second step to move through the rear living space, the redesigned sofa glides easily out of the way instead of requiring you to wrestle with heavy furniture.
What We Like
Road mode isn’t perfect, but it checks nearly every major box that matters on travel days. Being able to access the refrigerator, bathroom, beds, and kitchen without fully extending the slide makes quick stops significantly more convenient.
Bottom Line: The redesigned furniture improves travel-day usability without sacrificing comfort once you’re parked.
Exterior Features
The premium construction continues outside. Brinkley equips this Model I 290 with many of the features owners often add after purchase, helping eliminate the need for expensive upgrades down the road.
Exterior Highlights
- Auto-leveling available
- Large front pass-through storage
- Outside refrigerator
- LP quick-connect
- 200-watt factory solar package
- Expandable to 600 watts
- Ladder with wrap-over roof design
- Road Armor suspension
- Hankook Vantra 10-ply tires
- ABS braking system
- Electronic anti-sway technology
- Dynamic brake boost
- MORryde stable entry steps
- Composite front entry steps
- Large rear cargo compartment
What We Like
The combination of Road Armor suspension, Hankook 10-ply tires, anti-lock brakes, electronic sway control, and dynamic brake boost creates one of the most advanced towing packages available in this segment. These systems work together to improve stability, automatically adjust braking on steep grades, and help reduce sway during emergency maneuvers.
Rather than installing a small, fixed camp kitchen that may not suit every owner’s needs, they provide an exterior refrigerator, LP quick-connect, and plenty of storage so buyers can customize their outdoor cooking setup.
Bottom Line: Brinkley invests heavily in towing confidence, storage, and owner flexibility instead of simply adding flashy exterior features.
Pros & Considerations
What We Like
- Innovative family-friendly floorplan
- Triple theater seating faces the TV
- Spacious wraparound sofa
- Excellent road mode accessibility
- Oversized bunk storage
- Premium cabinetry and dovetail drawers
- Dishwasher prep
- Olympic Queen mattress
- Outstanding suspension and braking technology
- Excellent towing features
- Thoughtful storage throughout
Considerations
- Best paired with a ¾-ton truck for most families
- No traditional exterior camp kitchen
- Dining setup uses portable chairs rather than a fixed booth
- Larger footprint may not appeal to campers wanting a smaller trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this Brinkley Model I different from the 294?
While both share a similar foundation, this floorplan redesign focuses on improving the rear living space by rotating the seating, adding a wraparound sofa, improving traffic flow, and creating a more functional bunk area.
Is this a good RV for families?
Yes. The dedicated bunk room, additional sleeping space, generous storage, and family-friendly living area make it an excellent option for families with children.
Can you access the bathroom with the slide closed?
Yes. The bathroom, refrigerator, bedroom, and most essential areas remain accessible during travel stops.
Does it have solar?
Yes. It comes standard with a 200-watt solar package and can be expanded up to 600 watts.
What tow vehicle is recommended?
A ¾-ton truck is recommended for most buyers, particularly families carrying passengers and camping gear, as payload is often the limiting factor rather than towing capacity alone.
Final Thoughts
The 2027 Brinkley Model I Bunkhouse is more than just another family travel trailer, it’s a great example of what can happen when a manufacturer actually uses its own products before bringing them to market.
Instead of simply squeezing bunks into an existing rear living floorplan, Brinkley reimagined how families move through the coach, relax together, and store the gear that comes with traveling. From the redesigned seating arrangement and expanded bunk storage to premium cabinetry, upgraded climate control, and one of the most impressive towing packages in its class, this RV reflects a thoughtful, real-world approach to design.
If you’re looking for a premium bunkhouse travel trailer that blends residential comfort with innovative features and exceptional build quality, the new Brinkley Model I 290 deserves a spot at the top of your shopping list. It isn’t just different for the sake of being different, it solves many of the everyday frustrations families experience while camping, and that’s what makes it one of Brinkley’s most compelling floorplans yet!
Written By: Brooke Erickson
Some say I am a writer, I like to say I am a storyteller