Sunray 109 Review After Two Years: Would We Buy It Again?
We owned a Sunray 109 travel trailer for more than two years and regularly camped with it across Ontario and other parts of Canada.
We eventually sold it and upgraded to a larger camper, but not because the Sunray was unreliable or poorly made. Looking back, there are times when I wish we had kept it. It was compact, easy to tow and surprisingly effective for such a tiny trailer.
This review is based on our actual ownership experience rather than a short dealership walkthrough. I will cover what we liked, what we changed, what we found limiting and whether we would buy another Sunray 109.
Watch the full video below, then keep reading for a closer look at our experience.
Our Sunray 109 at a glance
Ownership period: More than two years
Where we camped: Ontario and other parts of Canada
Tow vehicle: Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Approximate dry weight: 1,400 pounds for our trailer
Sleeping setup: Stock cushion replaced with a foam mattress
Kitchen setup: Rear outdoor kitchen
Bathroom: No indoor toilet or shower
Best upgrade: Batwing awning
Best qualities: Easy towing, compact size, reliability and practical outdoor kitchen
Biggest limitations: One side door, limited interior space and no indoor bathroom
Would we buy it again? Yes, for the right kind of camping
What we liked about the Sunray 109
The Sunray 109 is a very small trailer, but it does the important things well.
It gave us a comfortable place to sleep, a practical outdoor kitchen and enough water and storage for the style of camping we were doing. Its size also made it much easier to tow, manoeuvre and store than a larger travel trailer.
For us, that simplicity was one of its greatest strengths.
It was easy to tow
Our Sunray 109 weighed approximately 1,400 pounds dry, and my Jeep Wrangler Sahara towed it well.
I do not consider myself an expert in towing trailers, but the Sunray was straightforward to handle. It pulled nicely on highways and gravel roads, and we did not experience any issues with the tires during our ownership.
Its small size also made backing into campsites and parking spaces much less intimidating. After getting some experience with it, I was able to reverse it into spots without much trouble.
The compact design allowed us to camp in places where a larger trailer may have been more difficult to position.
That said, every owner must verify their own vehicle’s towing capacity, payload capacity, hitch setup and braking requirements. The fact that our Wrangler handled our trailer well does not mean every vehicle or trailer configuration will perform the same way.
The rear outdoor kitchen was practical
One of the Sunray 109’s most useful features was its rear kitchen.
The back door lifted to reveal a sink, stovetop, refrigerator, microwave and storage cabinets. Everything was accessible from outside, which made sense for such a small camper.
There were three reasonably sized kitchen cabinets where we could store food, dishes and other camping supplies.
We did not use the microwave very often, so we removed it and turned that space into storage for our small barbecue. That was more useful for the way we camped.
The outdoor kitchen was effective, but it also meant that weather protection became especially important. Since there is very little room to cook or spend time inside, much of your camping experience happens outdoors.
The batwing awning was our best upgrade
Our strongest recommendation for the Sunray 109 is to add a batwing-style awning.
We had one installed, and it was an excellent investment.
The awning extended along one side of the trailer and wrapped around the rear kitchen. This created a large, covered outdoor space over both the entrance and cooking area.
That protection was extremely useful when it rained or when we wanted relief from the sun.
Because the Sunray 109 is so small inside, the area around the trailer effectively becomes your living room, dining room and kitchen. The awning gave us a much more usable campsite and allowed us to remain outside in less-than-perfect weather.
For our style of camping, the batwing awning was close to a must-have accessory.
The outdoor shower was useful
Our trailer included an outdoor shower with a hose long enough to be practical.
You need to provide your own privacy solution, but we used a pop-up shower tent. This gave us a basic shower setup without needing an indoor bathroom.
The fresh-water tank was also a useful size for washing dishes in the rear sink and taking outdoor showers.
An outdoor shower is not as convenient as having a complete indoor bathroom, especially during cold weather or at a busy campground. However, it worked well for the type of camping we were doing.
Anyone considering this trailer should be comfortable relying on campground washrooms, portable toilets or an outdoor privacy tent.
Sleeping inside the Sunray 109
The interior is primarily a sleeping space.
We replaced the original cushion with a foam mattress because getting a good night’s sleep was more important to us than preserving the stock setup.
That change made the trailer much more comfortable.
The large window was also valuable. It let in natural light and fresh air, helping the interior feel slightly more open than its dimensions might suggest.
Even with the window, this remains a very small sleeping space. Two people need to be comfortable sharing close quarters and organizing their belongings carefully.
There is not much room to stand, move around or spend an entire rainy day inside. The Sunray is better viewed as a comfortable bed on wheels than a miniature apartment.
We installed a television
The interior was already well suited for adding a television.
We installed a 27-inch TV with a built-in DVD player. This gave us something to watch in the evening or during poor weather.
A television is certainly not essential for camping, but it made the compact sleeping area more comfortable when we wanted to relax inside.
Because the interior is so small, a modest television was more than sufficient.
Storage was better than expected
The Sunray 109 had a large exterior storage compartment where we could keep a good amount of camping equipment.
There was also some storage underneath the bed and a small cubby below the air conditioner inside the trailer.
The rear kitchen added three more cabinets.
Even with those spaces, we still stored larger items in the back of the Jeep, including:
- Camping chairs
- Cooler
- Outdoor equipment
- Additional supplies
The trailer had enough storage for short trips and organized campers, but owners should not expect the storage capacity of a full-sized travel trailer.
Packing efficiently is important.
What we changed in our Sunray 109
We made several changes to better suit our camping style:
- Replaced the stock sleeping cushion with a foam mattress
- Removed the microwave
- Used the former microwave space to store a small barbecue
- Installed a 27-inch television with a built-in DVD player
- Added a batwing awning
- Used a pop-up privacy tent with the outdoor shower
None of these changes completely transformed the trailer, but they made it more comfortable and practical for us.
The foam mattress and batwing awning had the greatest effect on our experience.
What we did not like
The Sunray 109 was a solid trailer, but it was not perfect.
It only had one side door
I wish the trailer had included a door on each side.
Some other small trailers, including certain Geo Pro models, have two doors. That arrangement is convenient when two people are sleeping inside because each person can enter or exit from their own side.
With only one door, one person may need to move or climb over the other.
A second door would also provide more airflow and make the interior feel less confined.
There was no indoor toilet
The lack of an indoor toilet is one of the biggest compromises.
You need to be comfortable using campground facilities or creating your own portable setup.
For occasional camping in developed campgrounds, this may not be a major problem. For remote camping, cold-weather travel or anyone who values nighttime convenience, it can become a significant limitation.
There was no indoor shower
The outdoor shower worked, but it required a privacy tent and suitable weather.
It was not something we would have wanted to use in every season or location.
The interior was extremely small
The Sunray 109 is not designed for people who want an indoor dining area, standing room or substantial living space.
Most of your time will be spent outdoors.
That worked for us, particularly after installing the awning, but it will not work for everyone.
Sunray 109 pros and cons
What we liked
- Lightweight and easy for us to tow
- Handled highways and gravel roads well
- Easy to manoeuvre and back into campsites
- Compact enough for smaller camping areas
- Practical rear kitchen
- Useful fresh-water tank
- Outdoor shower
- Good exterior and kitchen storage
- Large interior window
- Easy to store when not in use
- Reliable during our ownership
- Batwing awning created an excellent outdoor living area
What we would change
- Add a second side door
- Improve the original sleeping cushion
- Add more interior storage
- Include an indoor toilet
- Provide a more private shower arrangement
- Create slightly more room for two people to move around
Who is the Sunray 109 best for?
Based on our experience, the Sunray 109 is a good fit for:
- Solo campers
- Couples comfortable sharing a small space
- Campers who spend most of their time outdoors
- People who use campground washrooms
- Owners with limited storage space at home
- Travellers who want a lightweight, manageable trailer
- Campers interested in smaller or more rustic campsites
- People who want a step up from tent camping without buying a large RV
It may be especially attractive to someone who values simplicity and does not want the maintenance, storage requirements or towing demands of a larger trailer.
Who should consider a larger camper?
A larger travel trailer may be a better choice for:
- Families
- Anyone who requires an indoor toilet
- Campers who want a complete indoor shower
- People who regularly camp in cold or rainy conditions
- Travellers who spend substantial time inside
- Couples who want separate sleeping access
- Anyone needing extensive storage
- Campers who want indoor cooking and dining space
The Sunray 109 requires owners to embrace outdoor living. That is part of its appeal, but it is also its primary limitation.
Why we sold our Sunray 109
We eventually upgraded to a larger camper because we wanted more space and additional amenities.
The decision was not caused by mechanical problems or dissatisfaction with the quality of the Sunray.
At the time, moving to something larger felt like the natural next step. However, bigger trailers bring their own complications. They require more storage space, more towing capacity and more effort to manoeuvre.
Looking back, I miss how simple the Sunray was to own.
It was easy to hitch up, easy to pull and easy to place into a campsite. There was less to worry about, and that made spontaneous trips more manageable.
Would we buy a Sunray 109 again?
Yes, under the right circumstances.
The Sunray 109 is a well-made and effective tiny trailer. It is easy to tow, easy to store and comfortable once the sleeping area is properly set up.
Its outdoor kitchen, fresh-water system and storage make it more practical than its size might suggest.
The main question is whether you can live without an indoor toilet and shower. You also need to be comfortable spending most of your camping time outside.
For couples or solo travellers who value simplicity, the Sunray 109 has a lot to offer.
We enjoyed more than two years with ours, and looking back, part of me wishes we had kept it.
The Sunray 109 gets a thumbs up from us.