The Brinkley RV Model Z Air 285 is built right, including its top-notch plumbing

Today’s RV review is of the forthcoming Brinkley RV Model Z Air 285. As long-time readers know, I tend to be both backward and different when it comes to what I look at in any RV, and this RV first made me unimpressed and then blew my socks off. How? I’ll explain. 

Best features of the Brinkley RV Model Z Air 285

More than once I have recommended that someone shop for an RV from the ground up rather than looking at the pretty cabinets and homey interior features. In fact, it was those cabinets that I didn’t like. At first. 

But since we’re starting here at the underside, Brinkley is using a Road Armor equalizer in their suspension. This offers better cushioning than a traditional leaf spring suspension alone. Further, they’re putting a shock absorber in here, too. 

In fact, there are a lot of features under here worth noting, including the electric gate valves (but not everywhere, darn it). I also like how the skirt molding is attached to the body of this rig, which doesn’t leave a bunch of screw heads visible. 

But what made me want to give Brinkley some sort of award is the plumbing system. 

RV plumbing has come under fire recently and, in many cases, deservedly so. A lot of RV plumbing is garbage. While the actual pipes, which are typically PEX, are fine, it’s the cheap connectors and joints where they fall short. And leak. 

Here you have a system that uses actual brass joiners in the plumbing. I’m beside myself with how exciting this is. They also make it so you can access and effect repairs to the plumbing. 

Of course, the underbelly is enclosed and heated, and the gate valves are inside that heated compartment. 

Brinkley Model Z Air 285 - 2024

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More to like about the Brinkley RV Model Z Air 285

Another thing I saw that is absolutely brilliant is a hole. Yep, a simple hole. But what that is is a hole from the roof (with a cap) to the pantry. This would allow you to run things like a Starlink cable, or more solar, or any other things we haven’t thought of yet without damaging the roof and having to mitigate more holes. 

Further, Brinkley is using a different sealant on the roof that is said to be far longer lasting and require dramatically less maintenance. 

I also like that the windows that open, which are most of them, have both nightshades and bug screens. But you don’t have to have the bug screens covering the windows if they’re not open, giving you a more pleasant view. 

Interior details

Okay, let’s talk cabinets. I really, really dislike these battleship gray cabinets with gold handles. Intensely. 

But I do like how they’re all soft close, and the drawers are built of plywood and joined with dovetail construction. The build quality is great, but whoever is the interior designer here really shouldn’t be afraid of color. Okay, maybe the gold.  

Aside from that, the number of drawers and cabinets is terrific. There is an island with drawers, plus plenty more along the camp-side walls. 

I also like that there’s a desk at the back of this. Brinkley includes both an ottoman as well as two chairs, and there is a dinette with a padded bench. You can sit at the desk with the ottoman or with one or both of the chairs. Neat. 

This also has taller sidewalls than is typical at 6’ 9”. But then there’s also a barreled ceiling for additional height. 

That helps out in all the interior, but in the bathroom you have this height so you don’t need a hole in the roof to make a skylight. 

There is an indentation into the roof cavity above the shower, which is very fifth-wheel-like with a seat and a very fancy shower head. But that headroom helper doesn’t poke a hole in the roof. Nice. 

Bedroom plus

I also really like the bedroom in here, where there’s a true queen-sized bed that sits atop a platform containing two chests of drawers, each opening to the outside. Between these is space, and there’s even a little cubby under this space. It’s a nice design. They even have struts that are strong enough to hold up the bed, if you want to get under there. 

There’s also a closet that can provide a home for a washer and dryer and, of course, more hanging and drawer storage on either side of the bed. 

Something I noticed: The bolsters on either side of the bed are shorter, which means climbing into bed will be easier. 

Boondocking and travel access

Effectively, this is a flat fifth wheel, meaning it’s a fifth wheel layout but packaged into a travel trailer. Like a fifth wheel of this configuration, you can forget the main deck in travel mode due to the opposing slides. But you can get to the bathroom and the bedroom, so this is travel-stop friendly.

This also has a lot of liquid storage aboard, with 62 gallons of fresh water and 110 of gray. Yowsers!

This also uses two air conditioners, one of which is the new Furrion Chill Cube, which is remarkably efficient and quiet.

What I would change

Aside from the battleship gray interior, I would try to figure out a way to plumb the two gray tanks together. There’s one for the kitchen and one for the bathroom, which is plumbed to accommodate the washer if you get one. 

But the gray tank for the kitchen has a manual gate valve and the bathroom one is electric. 

Conclusions 

There is a lot that Brinkley is doing very, very well—starting with the fact that they actually test their RVs before they unleash them on us. As in, they actually go camping. 

I hope you were sitting down for that. 

This is very clear when you look at how they do things and the decisions made in the design process. 

A lot of this RV clearly shows attention to detail and different thinking. That means that these aren’t going to be cheap. But, really, wouldn’t you rather be camping in your RV than grumbling about poor decision-making by the RV manufacturer? 

My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for the photos and video used 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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