Jayco’s Jay Feather Offers Safety, Storage & Style

Mark Lawson, director of product development for Jayco’s Jay Feather line, takes a calculated approach in planning new models for the lightweight travel trailer, focusing on achieving the right combination of design and construction.

“My guiding principle when it comes to product development is made up of four key things: towability, affordability, durability and functionality,” Lawson says. “What that means is, is it functional, does it have the correct features that our buyers need to camp correctly and comfortably? Does it have the right safety features; does it have an ample amount of storage, a good number of windows? Those are some of the things that are super important.”

Lawson estimates he spends about 30% of his time researching and developing new product ideas. He is quick to add that he is surrounded by a skilled group of professionals.

“I’m blessed to be a part of the lightweight team. They are absolute rock stars, from engineering to production to sales to marketing. We have a lot of staff who actually are campers themselves and own Jayco products. It’s not just me coming up with ideas — it’s the whole team, particularly our engineering manager, who camps all the time and comes up with a lot of cool ideas.”

Safety Sells

Lawson emphasizes Jay Feather’s safety aspects as a big selling point.

“We have a ton of safety features on the Jay Feather. We are standard with instant TPMS on all Jay Feather products,” he says, referring to the tire pressure monitoring system. “What is cool about that is, it is an app-based system that actually sends a notification to your phone. It allows you to be proactive. We give you really good tires, but if you run into an issue, such as a really large pothole, it will notify you. We have excellent speed ratings and road ratings on all of our tires. Also, self-adjusting electric brakes are built in.”

Lawson also touts Jayco’s magnum truss roofing system. All of Jayco models are capable of supporting 4,500 pounds. That’s an added layer of safety during heavy snows, or if something falls onto the roof.

“We believe in a strong foundation,” Lawson says. “On all of our travel trailers, we have what is called the integrated A-frame. It gives you more welds around the frame and gives you the assurance that the frame is not going to snap off from the chassis.”

Standout Storage

Jayco focused on key interior areas when determining its 2025 Jay Feather decor. Attractive bedrooms were a must.

“We give you adequate storage but also give you an open feel,” Lawson explains. “The majority of our floorplans in the bedrooms have a built-in closet that goes into the bath wall. You are going to have a ton of storage in there. Wherever we have those built-in closets, we removed the closets that were at the head of the bed on each side and opened up that space. You still have the overhead storage, but we just removed part of the wardrobe.”

Bedrooms also feature nightstands that slide out, with storage below. Nightstands are equipped with pop-up USB chargers on each side.

The kitchen was another area of concentration, offering a residential feel with cabinet doors and drawers. Jayco reduced the number of exposed hinges between all of the doors.

“We also wanted to make sure that we had an adequate number of drawers,” Lawson says. “A lot of times, when you look at travel trailers, you are lucky to get even one pot and pan drawer. We give you multiple pot and pan drawers, and they look very symmetrical.”

There is no shortage of floorplans available in the 2025 Jay Feather lightweight travel trailer. Space-wise, they range from small to midsize to large. Models range from 23 feet to 37 feet long. Jayco kept them all under the Jay Feather brand, simplifying offerings for its dealers.

Features, Floorplans & Feedback

“We are a one flag model, meaning if you are a Jayco dealer, you sell all of our brands,” Lawson says. “So, we try to simplify and make it a little easier at the dealership level. We are seeing really good success with our Murphy bed model. They are hinged, so that they do not drop down into the outside storage area, so that you do not lose any storage area. We opened up those wardrobes there, too, and added the sliding nightstands.”

Jay Feather’s niche is as a lightweight laminated travel trailer brand. Units retail from $25,000 to $45,000. Lawson says the model’s sweet spot is around $35,000. He reports that dealer reactions to the 2025 Jay Feather have been excellent, with good returns on all of the floorplans.

“Our staple floorplans that we have had around for years continue to do well, especially in our midsize range,” he says. “We are seeing really good growth in those. RV show reaction has been good. We have been doing well at shows.

“Overall, we have seen good growth at the bigger shows. We know it is a tough market out there, and to be able to see a bit of growth, we are happy about that.”

Customer feedback is a key source of inspiration in developing new models. That helps build loyalty, according to Lawson.

“It would not be smart if we did not listen to our customers. We are always asking questions, trying to find out what features they like and what they think of our floorplans. Our customers enjoy providing that feedback. We have a lot of loyal repeat customers. One of our slogans is ‘Generations of family fun.’ We hear stories about parents and grandparents who owned a Jayco from customers coming in to get their first Jayco.”

A standard feature on all Jay Feather lightweight travel trailer models is a climate shield package. Lawson describes it as an extended camping season package that maintains 68 to 72 degrees on the inside even when tested between temperatures from 0 to 100 degrees outside.

“This is part of our functionality aspect,” he says. “Our climate shield is something that gives us a competitive advantage.”

Lawson is especially proud of the 27MK (mid kitchen) floorplan, with its plentiful countertop space and lots of rear windows. It features a center aisle with dual opposing slides.

“So, you have huge panoramic windows all the way around that living area and a ton of storage. We also stretched the bedroom to give you more space at the foot of the bed. Essentially, it gives you the feel of a bedslide bedroom, without actually having the bedslide.”

Lawson also touts the 29BHB midsize bunkhouse floorplan with dual entry. The second entry goes directly into the bathroom. He says this model is loaded with storage and has a built-in closet in the bedroom. It also features an outside kitchen with a huge grill.

Engineering is nearly complete for 2026 model changes, Lawson says. Product development is a constant endeavor. For now, he is keeping new changes under wraps for the most part, but did offer a hint regarding one area.

“One of the big focuses for model year 2026 is that we want to increase window size, because it is important. People who buy RVs want to be in touch with the outdoors. They want to be able to see the outside. Another focus is making sure our price point is correct, to be able to compete from a price advantage standpoint.”

A Show of Support

Jayco plans to build 5,000 Jay Feather units during this model year, including single-axle and tandem-axle units. Lawson acknowledges the market is tough, with high interest rates, inflation and the threat of tariffs. Jayco’s strategy to mitigate these challenges includes increased dealer training and maintaining a big presence at RV shows.

“Everyone is working really hard to make sure that we can overcome these challenges in the market,” he says. “In spite of all this, we are still seeing steady growth, especially in the Jay Feather line. We are projecting more growth for this year, compared to last year. All of us, from product development to sales to upper management, are all hitting the road and making sure we are supporting our dealers at the shows and at the dealerships.”

For more, check out RV PRO’s coverage of the Jayco Greyhawk XL 30M, one of our picks for 2025 Best New Models.