Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2026 Ember RV Touring Edition 2200ETL. But wait, you say. Didn’t Ember have a Touring Edition already? Well, yes. But this is different. While talking to company founder Ashley Bontrager, she mentioned that the Touring Edition has been a great trailer for those who like to put lots of miles on and use their trailers extensively. However, it wasn’t as apparent as, hopefully, it is in this newer version. How so? We’ll find out.
You know where we’re going to start this.
Start at the road with the Ember RV Touring Edition 2200ETL
Lippert has been burning the midnight oil, and working with Ember, on their suspension designs. The Touring Edition suspension was initially supposed to be in the Touring Edition trailers, but wasn’t. But now it is.
This suspension is one I actually got to test out by riding in a fifth wheel on a test track, and it’s one of the reasons I’m such a nut about trailer suspension. The quality of the suspension directly translates to how long the trailer lasts by minimizing harshness and vibration coming into the trailer.
So the fact that the Touring Coil Suspension is now standard under the Touring Edition is a good thing. This also rides on Goodyear Endurance tires. Yay. And this also includes a tire pressure monitoring system. Also yay.
This also comes with Lippert’s Ground Control TT3 auto leveling system, which incorporates a ram at either side in the back and then utilizes the tongue jack as the third point of contact. From there, it also uses the Lippert Quick Drop stabilizers in the front to finalize the leveling and stabilization process. Pretty cool to find this in a travel trailer.
Underbelly in the Ember RV Touring Edition 2200ETL
The underbelly is enclosed and heated, and there are also 12-volt tank heaters included. In fact, this is one of the few RVs you can buy that is certified for use down to 0°F. I had mentioned in my Keystone Cougar “Half Ton” 🙄 29RLP review that Keystone has a climate chamber, but so does Truma. Since Ember buys a lot of Truma components, they get to test their trailers in Truma’s climate chamber. Ember always earns a gold star rating.
Ember typically uses BAL® EXACT-SLIDE® cable slide systems, which are certified for use even if the slide is in.
Another component in these Touring Edition models is the dual-pane acrylic windows that incorporate shades and bug screens in them, but open almost 90° for airflow. These do a really good job of thermal insulation, which is a component of why the company gets such good test results in Truma’s climate chamber.
Another build quality feature is that Ember uses double Azdel in their wall construction. Also, every major plumbing fixture has a shut-off valve. And Ember buys pre-built plumbing features, so you don’t have the incorrect plumbing build to start with.
The ideal usability use case
Ember is the only company that I know of that uses a flexible space in the back that can be a bunk room, an office, a dining table, storage for bicycles, or even have a place for a hammock. Ember calls their system Ember Track, but it’s really just commercially available click track rails that Ember has designed platforms around. These platforms form the base of the beds if you want a bunk room, for example.
Since they’re commonly available tracks, you can also find all sorts of aftermarket pieces that work with this system.
But another thing that’s unique is that you can place the bunk platforms all the way up toward the ceiling for transit and then use the space to carry bicycles, kayaks, or other adventure gear. Then, once you’re in camp, you can move the platforms, and now you have bunks.
Another thing I like about this system is that you could have a bunkhouse trailer this weekend, but then use that same space for hunting gear the next, or for an office. Rather than being forced into one design, you now have multiple use cases in one trailer.
Something new for 2026 is that Ember also placed washer and dryer hook-ups in this space, so if you’d like to have that, it’s available too. I had mentioned that Ember puts a shut-off at every major fixture. That’s true of the washer-dryer hook-ups, as well. That could be especially useful if you have curious kids camping with you who turn the faucets on in the middle of the night. Ha! It’s been shut off behind a panel, so junior can’t flood the camper.
The opening for the outside door of this now has a flip down and flip up dual door—sort of like the back door of a ’57 Chevrolet Nomad wagon.
More interior magic in the Ember RV Touring Edition 2200ETL
One of the more unusual aspects of this camper is that you can get it either with or without the Murphy bed in the front. But I’m going to make the case for the Murphy bed.
With the Murphy bed, you get a couch, and that couch has Lagun table mounts on either side of it. These table mounts are height-adjustable but can also be swung around to the sides of the couch, so now they’re nightstands. Or you can take the tables off altogether. And, of course, when the Murphy bed is up, you have a couch.
That Murphy bed is a true 60” X 80” bed. But you can leave it down all the time, even when the slide room is in. So it doesn’t have to be an inconvenience if you’d rather not use it as a Murphy bed.
There’s also a theater seat in the road-side slide of this camper.
Something else to note is that this has a higher-than-average ceiling height of 82”.
Kitchen in the Ember RV Touring Edition 2200ETL
Ember’s RVs were the first place I saw the two-burner in-line propane stove top. This also features a convection air fryer microwave and your typical 12-volt fridge.
There are decent amounts of cabinets and drawers in here, so storage is good. There’s also what Ember calls a coffee hutch. I’m thinking this would make a pretty good bar, especially since it’s right next to the refrigerator. There’s also a pantry.
There are literally three dining spots if you get the Murphy bed. Those are the couch under the Murphy bed with those Lagun tables, rotating tables that slot into the cup holders on the theater seat (though you could also get a dinette here) and a breakfast bar at the entrance of this trailer.
Boondocking and travel access in the Ember RV Touring Edition 2200ETL
I happened to run into Christopher Barth, another of Ember’s founders, at the Overland Expo. They were showing off one of these trailers with the optional Max Solar package that consists of 1,200 watts of solar and a 270 amp-hour lithium battery. This was in Arizona, so there was plenty of sunlight. But they were also running the Furrion Chill Cube A/C and actually operating without a deficit in battery power.
Sure, this was an ideal situation, but it shows how far this technology has come. I really like the way Ember has fitted their solar components into a metal structure in the front pass-through of this trailer for those who choose this option.
This system is an option for those who like camping off the grid; it’s a good one.
I had already shared that you can use the bed with the slide in if you have to. This slide system is certified for use with the slide in or out. Many slide systems very specifically recommend never occupying the slide when it’s in.
Final thoughts on the Ember RV Touring Edition 2200ETL
If I were to give awards for RV designs, I would likely give this the award for best bunkhouse camper. I can’t tell you how many people I sold trailers to who had this vision of the kids or grandkids going with them—which never came to pass. With the flexible space in the back, if you never used it for a bunkhouse, that would be fine, too.
There are also so very many little details in here that come from Ember’s decision makers actually going camping, like little handles by the entry doors and shower. These little touches are really what make the difference between being frustrated now and then with poor design or liking the camper more and more over time as you discover them.
Quite honestly, if you’re looking for a mid-sized trailer that can be a great bunkhouse or just a couple’s camper, I can’t think of a better one than this. When you combine the attention to detail, that flexible space in the back, and the top-notch suspension, I think Ember has created my favorite trailer in this size category.
My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for the video and photos in this article.
An honest look at RVs from RV industry insider Tony Barthel, where you learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about RVs, including travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A, Class B, and Class C RVs, as well as some interesting class-breaking RVs. You can find more reviews online at StressLessCamping.com.
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 has also written the syndicated Curbside column about cars.
MORE EMBER RV REVIEWS:
- Sneak Peek: 2026 Ember RVs—New models and smart upgrades
- RV review: Ember RV Touring Edition 2300MLL—Party in the campground
- RV review: Ember RV E-Series Spark 18RBE—a big surprise
- RV review: Ember RV E-Series SPARK 19ETS—fabulously flexible
- RV review: Ember RV E-Series SPARK 18FBE—a big deal in a small trailer
RVT1240
Thx, Tony. Sent that one off to my oldest daughter as they are starting to look for a quality hardside to replace the nearly 20 year old Jayco popup I bought them when they got married. Ember did a super job on this one.
Still not sure I like a cable driven slide system though. Kinda partial to hydraulic rams or HWH’s hydraulic piston and HD chain driven systems.
We really liked our 2023 Ember. The blind spot detection system was awesome for driving in heavy traffic, not sure if they still offer this. The acrylic windows are nice but scratch VERY easily so only use microfiber rags to clean them.