RV review: 2026 Brinkley Model Ix 20x—new, smaller, and more affordable

Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2026 Brinkley Model Ix 20x travel trailer. This is the smallest, lightest, and least expensive product Brinkley has come out with thus far. But have they cut corners a lot, or is this still something that follows their reputation of building well-made towable RVs? 

Regular readers know the best places to start to answer that question. Oh, and do know there is one very polarizing feature that might get this rig checked right off your shopping list. 

Start at the road with the Brinkley RV Model Ix 20x

Starting where the rubber meets the road, this trailer rides on Hankook D-rated tires. While many readers know what a fan I am of the Goodyear Endurance tires, these have proven to be good as well. The suspension is a simple leaf spring setup, but at least they use a Road Armor dampening system, so that’s good. 

By the way, one of the reasons I’m so critical of leaf spring suspensions in RVs is that many RV companies cut corners here and use springs barely up to the task. They don’t provide greaseable bearings, so there are multiple reasons why failure is so likely. But, as with everything in the RV industry, each component makes a difference, and the choices made by the company’s decision makers make a difference. 

I also got to ride in several RVs on a test track, testing different suspension systems. But, again, there’s never just one answer. 

Another little detail, while we’re down here. The underbelly is heated and enclosed. I also like that the stabilizer jacks, which are simple manual jacks, are at a 45° angle to the chassis. 

Something else to take note of: Brinkley’s plumbing features brass elbows and individual shut-off valves at all the fixtures. This is best in class and how it should be done, Son. 

Up top, I like that Brinkley uses an Alpha roofing system. But don’t be fooled by the marketing hoopla; others do too, including Rockwood and Flagstaff. It is a really good product, though. 

But one of the biggest differences between this RV versus other travel trailers is that the skin is a painted aluminum skin rather than fiberglass. This is a laminated trailer with Azdel as both inner and outer substrates. It is likely going to look good much longer than fiberglass with stickers. 

I also like that Brinkley uses frameless windows that have integrated shades and screens built into the interiors of them. 

The slide mechanism on this trailer is the newer Lippert SlimRack^® system. It replaces their Schwintek mechanism and is reportedly more reliable. 

What’s inside the Brinkley Model Ix 20x

This is a couple’s camper with the floor plan we first saw in the Grand Design 17MKE and which has since been copied by a lot of RV builders. 

To get this out of the way, this does feature a Murphy bed at the front. It’s a 60” x 78” bed, so not quite a proper queen. Further, Brinkley’s way of doing the Murphy bed is to force the mattress itself to bend when you close the compartment. So, you can not have the Murphy bed down when the slide is in. 

Honestly, I still think Rockwood/Flagstaff’s implementation of the Murphy bed is better simply because the platform pivots rather than forces the mattress to bend. However, let’s all stand up and cheer as these Brinkley models do not have a windshield. To me, a windshield plus a Murphy bed is one of the dumbest possible combinations. 

Still, like so many RVs, this has closets on either side of the bed along with drawers. Also, there’s a cubby behind the closet with both household and USB power outlets. 

The real trick in this floor plan is Brinkley’s table setup. This can be just a counter space, but there is a table that folds out of here in segments, so you can go from counter space to having a dining table. Further, there is a drawer here that can be for the silverware, or really whatever. And Brinkley includes two folding low-back chairs to take advantage of this table. 

Across from this table-o-matic, you have a choice of a jackknife sofa or theater seats. Those face the TV, which is directly above the table-o-matic. That’s what I’m going to call it. Also, there is no built-in stereo here, but rather a portable Bluetooth speaker. I like this better, too, than a built-in sound system that stinks anyway. 

I like that there’s a big window above this table arrangement. These windows feature built-in shades and screens for the windows that open. The ones that don’t obviously don’t have screens. 

On the subject of the drawers, all the drawers in Brinkley products are built with dovetail corners. Once again, another example of doing things the best way possible. 

Okay, so let’s not fawn too much. This uses a Thermofoil counter, which is basically particle board that plastic is sort of heat-shrunk onto. It’s a common product but definitely one that’s more price-focused.

Kitchen in the Brinkley RV Model Ix 20x

One of the highlights of this floor plan is typically a very long counter with plenty of surface area, even though this is a smaller RV. However, Brinkley has employed a very high-quality stovetop here. The plus side of this is that it’s a nice, high-quality propane fixture. The downside is that it takes a lot of counter space. So do I like it, or do I not? I’m not sure. 

I’ve seen others use that two-burner in-line propane stove top. That thing makes a lot of sense because it takes less counter space, but it doesn’t have as premium a feel. 

What I’m totally sold on is the residential-size convection air fryer microwave. Ooh la la, that’s a nice one. There are also plenty of drawers and cabinets here, including Brinkley’s signature drawer with the pull-out paper towel roll holder. There’s also a trash can beneath this in a drawer. 

Beneath the sink is a cabinet, which can accommodate a dishwasher! This is the only time I’ve seen a dishwasher spot in a smaller RV like this. 

There’s also a pantry here with a shelf that can be pulled out if you prefer more hanging storage. But Brinkley also puts a household power outlet in the pantry, so you could hide a small appliance in here if that’s your jam. 

Bathroom in the Brinkley RV Model Ix 20x

Something that Brinkley had done in some of their models was not to put a skylight in the shower. Skylights are one of the most likely places for a leak in the roof, so I was a bit saddened to see that this does have a skylight.

The bathroom is fine with a porcelain foot flush toilet, of course. I like that, and the decently large shower plus a sink. 

Boondocking and travel access in the Brinkley RV Model Ix 20x

Looking at Brinkley’s website, one of the highlighted features they list on this RV is that everything is accessible with the slides in. The fact that they even thought of this as part of designing this rig makes me very, very happy. 

This trailer comes with a single 200-watt solar panel on the roof, but with a provision to easily add a second panel. There’s also a Victron 30-amp MPPT charge controller—these are outstanding. This is also prepped for a 3,000-watt inverter. 

Oh, and speaking of wiring, Brinkley intentionally wires these RVs. That makes doing any repairs much, much easier. (It’s nice when you know that the red wire does the same thing on all of these.) This is uncommon—most RV builders just let the team on the line pull wires as needed. 

My thoughts on the Brinkley RV Model Ix 20x

While this is the most affordable in Brinkley’s line thus far, and some of the features in the Model Z aren’t here, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. This has manual stabilizer jacks and there is no dumb windshield on here. Those two features alone would get me to prefer this over the more expensive Model Z, quite honestly. But that’s just me. If they took away the slide altogether, that might make me a Brinkley customer. The less I have to do to a travel trailer to just go camping, the happier I am. 

One of the interesting things on the outside is a built-in ladder, which is becoming ever-rarer in RVs. But it’s on the side of the rig rather than on the back. This is because of where the mounting points would be for the ladder, which makes it like a toy hauler in that the ladder sort of folds out when you want to use it. I also like that Brinkley puts handrails on the roof of the trailer to help you get up there. 

Overall, there are so many things where Brinkley is showing attention to detail, and it’s no wonder the company has made such a huge splash. Overall, I like this trailer with a few exceptions—the bendy mattress being one of those.

What’s your take? As always, I sincerely look forward to and appreciate your comments on these articles. 

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

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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. 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 lifelong RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. 

You can also check out Tony and Peggy’s RV podcast.

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