One of the things we like about the Baja is that it sets up fast. We found that we could have it disconnected from the truck, leveled, and set up with bunks out and interior placed in less than 15 minutes. Camping on soft terrain like sand isn't a problem either, thanks to stabilizer jacks that have pads with a large surface area.
Now this is cool. A pop-up camping trailer specifically designed to go off-highway. It's called the Jayco Baja 10Y and it features gobs of ground clearance, big 15-inch wheels, a heavy-duty axle and frame, aggressive mud-terrain tires, and it's totally self-contained so even in the middle of nowhere, you have all the comforts of home. Heck, it even has a spacious and convenient front deck so you can bring along toys like a pair of dirt bikes or an ATV. As an added bonus, it's made by the folks at Jayco-long known as a manufacturer of quality campers and travel trailers. The folks at Middlebury, Indiana-based Jayco have their game on when it comes to off-highway campers. In addition to the pop-up Baja 10Y and its sister camper the pop-up 10Z, they also offer Baja versions of their Jay Flight and Jay Feather travel trailers, which feature increased ground clearance, aggressive tires, and auxiliary lighting.
We recently had the chance to spend a few weeks with the Baja 10Y. During our test, we dragged it over brutal terrain that shook, tipped, and generally hammered the Baja. We camped on wicked terrain and used every feature the camper offered. When it was all said and done, we came to the conclusion that this is the fully self-contained camper for those of us who love venturing off-highway in the great outdoors. With one of these, you no longer have to settle for camping suburbia-style at a campground. The Baja's capabilities give you the freedom to find your own serene campsite far down a trail that would stop standard pop-up trailers in their tracks.
This image highlights many of the trailer's fine features. The galley area features an acrylic sink and a 17-gallon fresh water system, which provides plenty of liquid when in the outback. The water is transferred to the sink and shower by an electric on-demand pump. There's also a city water hookup for campgrounds. A 6.2-gallon propane water heater provides hot water, and it has a very fast recovery rate. There's also a portable two-burner propane stove, thermostatically controlled 18,000-Btu propane furnace with auto-ignition, and a 2-cubic-foot three-way refrigerator. A galley-mounted battery gauge allows you to monitor battery condition should you be using a tongue-mounted 12-volt battery for power.The bathroom is located at the front of the trailer adjacent to the king-size bed and features a shower and cassette toilet. We were surprised at how well the hot water heater and on-demand water system worked. Further, the 11-gallon gray-water tank easily held the water from two lengthy showers plus a day's dishes. When not in use, the shower can be lowered and covered to create more interior space.
The rear of the unit features a double bed with a surprisingly comfortable deep-quilted bunk cushion. There's also a dinette with 40x62-inch portable dinette table (so you can use it inside or outside). Our tester was equipped with the optional heated bed mats (which were very welcome on cold nights) and the optional AM/FM stereo and CD player with roof-mounted speakers. | 
The four-leaf spring packs are mounted over the axle and stabilized with heavy-duty shocks. Speaking of the axle, the Baja is equipped with a larger EZ-Lube axle than a standard pop-up camper to ensure durability in rough terrain. The Baja 10Y is equipped with standard electric brakes, but hydraulic surge brakes are optional. |
We love the front deck. If we weren't hauling dirt bikes or an ATV, we used it for stuff like coolers, chairs, and firewood. It has a 650-pound weight capacity. The Baja 10Y includes a pair of aluminum ramps so you can load your wheeled toys, and they conveniently store and lock on the deck when not in use. | 
We baja'd the Baja over a variety of terrain. Most impressive was its 13 inches of ground clearance, which is one of the keys to its agility. We found that even with its taller stance, it still provided significant stability when off-camber. We also liked the fact that its taller frame height meant that we only needed a 6-inch-drop trailer hitch on our 4-inch lifted truck. We think that with a full load on the front deck, we could get away with a 2- or 4-inch drop hitch. |
The Baja comes standard with aggressive LT235/75R15 Dunlop Mud Rover tires. As we found, these tires offer great flotation in mud and sand. We also like the fact that they self-clean, which improves side-to-side stability while churning down a greasy trail. The Baja also features one-piece high-density polyethylene wheels for durability and rubber fender flares and mud flaps to keep debris in check. |  |
Model: Jayco Baja 10Y
Base price: $8,857
Price as tested: $10,464
Options as tested: 12-volt rechargeable spotlight, Customer Value Package (2-cubic foot three-way gas/electric refrigerator, AM/FM stereo with CD, battery gauge, prep for generator and solar power, self-storing awning and water purification system), 16,000-Btu furnace, portable RVQ grill, heated bed mats, shower/toilet.
DIMENSIONS
Exterior travel length (in.): 234
Campsite length (in.): 250
Travel height with roof vent option (in.): 66
Campsite height with roof vent option (in.): 104
Exterior width (in.): 85
Interior height/headroom (in.): 80
Hitch-ball coupler size (in.): 2
WEIGHTS
UVW-dry weight without options (lb.): 2,315
Axle weight-dry weight without options (lb.): 2,135
Hitch weight-dry weight without options (lb.): 180
GVWR (lb.): 4,000
Gross carrying capacity (lb.): 1,685
CAPACITIES
Fresh water tank (gal.): 17
Water heater (gal.): 6.2
Gray water tank (gal.): 11
Furnace (Btu output): 18,000
LP gas bottles (no./lb.): 2/40
Refrigerator (cu. ft.): 2
SEATING & SLEEPING
Front bunk (in.): 70x79
Rear bunk (in.): 54x79
Dinette (in.): 40x62
MISCELLANEOUS
Electric system (amps): 20
Stabilizer jacks: 4
12-volt interior lights: 4
Tire size: LT235/75R15C