RV review: Ember RV E-Series SPARK 18FBE—a big deal in a small trailer

Today’s RV review is of the Ember RV E-Series SPARK 18FBE travel trailer. Let me start off by saying that, as someone who spends a lot of time exploring RVs, I owe it all to you for making this possible. Thank you for your continued readership!

Lately, one trend that’s catching my attention is the growing number of affordable models being introduced by RV manufacturers.

For a while, ever-more-pricey and feature-laden RVs were what were coming out of Indiana. But that trend has completely about-faced so that there are more and more affordable and smaller RVs on the market. 

I’ve also noticed that some companies are just nailing this process, and some are just building cheaper RVs. Meh… That’s how it goes, right? 

Ember RV’s SPARK series follows the path of nailing the process and is a more affordable and less lavishly equipped line of trailers from the company.

What is the Ember RV E-Series?

There are a variety of ways that Ember has created the E-Series so that it’s more affordable than some of their other lines. For example, the custom metal edging along the perimeter of the RV isn’t there. 

There’s no Stargazer window either, unfortunately. I really like that feature, but it’s not an inexpensive one. 

Wall construction still uses Azdel as the substrate of the exterior wall, but the interior wall substrate is a wood product. Also, you’ll find the fancy metal locker on the tongue for the batteries and propane gone. 

Honestly, much of what it takes to create the E-Series is no different than some other RVs. There are some really thoughtful touches in this trailer that I haven’t seen before. 

The SPARK sub-series is that, but smaller. The entire range is single-axle trailers, and is intended to be just smaller but not less feature-rich. 

For example, these still have an 84” interior height—which is tall compared to much of the industry. They also are a full 96” wide. Many smaller trailers are narrower. But that also means that they’re not super lightweight—bigger dimensions mean bigger weights. 

Ember RV E-Series Spark 18FBE - 2025

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More features

What I liked about the whole E-Series and the SPARK subset is that they don’t feel cheap. This is lost on some RV makers. These feature the Furrion Chill Cube 18,000 BTU air conditioner, which I feel is the best new A/C unit in the RV business, bar none. They also ride on Goodyear Endurance tires rather than the low-budget MayPop tires that many RV companies are using. 

The kitchen features a two-burner in-line propane stove. The microwave offers convection and air frying functionality. 

One of the things that I was most pleased with is the fact that Ember is plumbing these with proper connections and fittings and providing a shut-off at each fixture. As much as I rant and rave about cheap suspensions and tiny ovens, this is honestly going to make a tremendous difference over time. 

What you may not like

There’s always something about any RV that you may not like and, just based on the comments here, I know some of you will disqualify this trailer simply because it has an east-west bed. I understand that fully—that doesn’t work in my world either. 

But we’re likely not the market for this trailer—I can see this appealing to younger, potentially first-time RVers. For them, perhaps, crawling over each other might be part of the appeal of this rig. But I also know a lot of solo travelers for whom an east-west bed is not an issue whatsoever. The more compact length of this trailer more than outweighs the bed configuration. 

The bed here is a true queen-sized bed. There’s a compartment at the head of the bed that has USB ports in it. 

Another thing you won’t find is any hanging storage. Priorities. 

Highlights of the Ember RV E-Series SPARK 18FBE

The floor plan of this trailer is not unlike the floor plan of my previous trailer, except that it’s shorter and has that east-west bed. But something any RVer is going to like is the counter space in this rig. 

I am happy with the prioritization of counter space in this trailer through decisions like the two-burner stove and smaller (but not too small) sink. Nobody ever complained about having good counter space, and there’s not much to complain about in that department. 

There’s also good drawer and cabinet space in this floor plan. That’s one of the benefits of lots of counter space. 

There’s also a full-sized 12-volt fridge. The bathroom has enough space to accomplish what you went there to accomplish. And, the toilet is a porcelain model. Also good. 

For seating, Ember offers two choices, a dinette or a couch. Both of those are located in a slide room on the road side. The slide room is a BAL EXACT-SLIDE® system. That’s the only travel trailer slide mechanism that specifically says you can occupy it while it’s retracted. 

I know, I know. Lots of people have written that they’ve used the slide when it’s in for years without issue. I also know people who have smoked for years and it’s not an issue. Until it is. 

Speaking of clearing the air, another thing I like about this trailer is the use of a high-performance vent fan in the bathroom. 

Lastly, this sports the Lippert Quick Drop stabilizers, which I believe are also best-in-class—they just are easier to use and work better. 

Boondocking and travel access

When I saw the specs for this trailer I was pretty impressed only because, for a smaller RV, this one still has what I consider full-sized holding tanks.

Now, there are other Ember models that do have what is called the Showermi$er, which recirculates water into the system while you’re waiting for it to get hot at the shower head. That’s one of the features that went on the chopping block here.

With the slide in, this RV is pretty much fully accessible. Honestly, they could build this without the slide room and I think this would still be a good floor plan. But they don’t, so you get the additional floor space with the slide. Welcome to 2025.

Final thoughts

There are a lot of details in this RV that are the result of the fact that every Ember decision-maker actually owns an RV and uses it. The prioritization of features and functions in an RV when you are focused on the price of that rig shows that Ember’s team members have put in the things most people will ultimately appreciate and taken out some of the features that are nice enough, but not necessary. 

Now, yeah, this does ride on leaf springs. But if you’re not towing all that much, like many RVers, then that’s fine. And, if you prioritize a nicer suspension, Ember has two other series, both of which offer great suspensions. 

I think Ember’s prioritization of functions and features really works well here—there’s plenty to like without going too fancy. I guess that’s why they call the E-Series trailer the “Essentials” Series. 

My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for the photos and video in this article.

More about these RV reviews

These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.

Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.

You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy. 

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