We live in a Brinkley Model Z 3515, so walking into the Brinkley section of the Tampa RV Super Show felt a bit like visiting the in-laws. The display was noticeably bigger than last year, with a full covered roof (Florida sun, we thank you, Brinkley), and rigs lined up everywhere. We spent the day touring three of them and comparing everything to the one we tow.
The new GX 3500, side by side with our Z 3515
The headliner for us was the brand-new Brinkley GX 3500, a whole new line, and conveniently the same length as our Model Z 3515. That made it the perfect side-by-side. We walked it slowly and spotted every change: the things they improved, the details they moved, and a couple of touches that honestly made us jealous of people buying in now. That's the strange part of owning a rig from a company that iterates this fast. Your two-year-old RV starts feeling like an older phone model, still great, just no longer the newest one. The full walkthrough with all our nitpicks is in the video.
The owners lounge and a very American snack education
Between tours we used our VIP access to the Brinkley owners lounge, which is a real perk: comfortable seating, cold drinks, and a snack table that turned into a cultural exchange. Fabiola, born and raised in Brazil, had her first ever Barnum's Animal Crackers, Goldfish, and Nutella sticks, on camera, with commentary. We won't spoil the rankings, but American childhood snacks now have one more fan.
Model Z Air 297: the 3100 as a travel trailer
Next we toured the Model Z Air 297, which is essentially the Model Z 3100 floor plan rethought as a travel trailer. If you like the Brinkley interior but don't want a fifth wheel hitch in your truck bed, this is the answer. It's a smart way to get the same finish level into a lighter, more towable package, and we could see it working well for couples who don't full-time.
The I 265, and Fabiola under the bed
The last stop was the Brinkley I 265, the first "I" model we've ever toured. It's compact compared to what we live in, and Fabiola inspected it thoroughly, including crawling under the bed to check the storage. No shame. That's how you actually evaluate an RV, and it's a habit you develop after living in one full-time: you stop looking at the decor and start opening every hatch.
The best part wasn't the RVs
The genuine highlight of the weekend was meeting subscribers in person. A surprising number of you stopped us to say hi around the show, and every single conversation made our day. We started this channel talking to a camera in an empty RV, so getting recognized at the biggest RV show in the country still doesn't feel real. If you were one of the people who came over: thank you. Come find us at the next one.
Watch all three walkthroughs and the snack taste test on YouTube. We also send a short weekly newsletter about where we are and what broke this week. The signup form is on our newsletter page.