01 What makes the 2018 273 different
The Octane 273 is one of Jayco's Octane travel-trailer toy haulers, built around a rear garage behind the living space and towed on a conventional hitch rather than a fifth-wheel pin.
Across the 2 model years of the 273 on this site (2018 to 2019), the 2018 record has the heaviest dry weight, 6,420 lbs; the same GVWR as 2019 (9,950 lbs); the smallest cargo capacity, 3,530 lbs; the lightest dry tongue weight, 1,045 lbs; the longest exterior length, 30' 11".
Against the 2019 273, the next model year on this site, 5 of the 8 fields both records publish differ: dry weight 6,420 lbs to 6,400 lbs (-20 lb); cargo capacity 3,530 lbs to 3,550 lbs (+20 lb); dry tongue weight 1,045 lbs to 1,080 lbs (+35 lb); exterior length 30' 11" to 30' 10" (-1 in); interior height 89" to 7' 4" (-1 in). Written differently but the same figure: exterior width and height with A/C.
Among the 5 Jayco Octane travel trailers with a 2018 page on this site, the 273 is 2nd heaviest of 5 by dry weight; 3rd highest of 5 by GVWR; 2nd largest of 5 by cargo capacity; 2nd longest of 5 by exterior length. By dry weight, the lightest is the 161 at 4,470 lbs and the heaviest is the 272 at 6,990 lbs.
02 Full 2018 specifications
Dimensions
- Exterior length
- 30' 11"
- Exterior width
- 102"
- Width, slides out
- Not published
- Exterior height
- Not published
- Exterior height (w/ A/C)
- 143"
- Interior height (main)
- 89"
- Garage length
- Not published
Weights
- Dry / unit base weight (UVW)
- 6,420 lbs
- GVWR (max loaded)
- 9,950 lbs
- Net cargo / payload (CCC)
- 3,530 lbs
- Dry tongue weight
- 1,045 lbs
Running gear
- Tire size
- Not published
- Hitch type
- Bumper pull (weight-distribution recommended)
- Model year of record
- 2018
Capacities
- Fresh water
- Not published
- Grey water
- Not published
- Black water
- 45.4 gal
- LP / propane
- Not published
- LP / propane, optional
- Not published
Galley & systems
- Water heater
- Not published
- Furnace output
- Not published
- Furnace, auto-ignition
- Not published
- Outside storage compartments
- Not published
Sleeping
- Sleeps
- Not published
Towing it
Loaded range: 10–15% of GVWR on the tongue, a rule of thumb, not a measurement of this unit. No truck ratings or hitch classes (why; NHTSA, DOT HS 809 433). The range starts at the published dry figure, because loaded is never lighter than dry.
03 What changed for the 2018 model year
2018 is the earliest model year of the 273 on this site, so there is no earlier record to set it against. Section 01 compares it with 2019.
| Model year | Dry (UVW) | GVWR | Dry tongue | Sleeps | Tire size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6,420 | 9,950 | 1,045 | Not published | Not published |
| 2019 | 6,400 | 9,950 | 1,080 | Not published | Not published |
All years side by side: the Jayco Octane 273 parent page.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page is read from the 2018 Jayco Seismic factory brochure (RVUSA brochure library) (how sources are handled).
Fields Jayco does not publish for 2018
For this model year the factory record has no width with slides out, exterior height, garage length, tire size, fresh tank, grey tank, propane, optional propane, water heater, furnace output, auto-ignition furnace, outside storage compartments and sleeping count. Those rows read “Not published” and are not filled in from another year.
04 Buying a 2018 273 at 8 model years old
Its age, and the date on its label
A 2018 273 is 8 model years old in 2026. Its build month is on the certification label (49 CFR 567.4(g)(2)), not in the model year.
Tires: size and date code
Jayco publishes no tire size for 2018, so read the size off the sidewalls. Read the four-digit date code at the end of each tire's identification number, spare included (49 CFR 574.5(b)(3)).
NHTSA record for model year 2018
For model year 2018, NHTSA's files hold 4 recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint under the Jayco Seismic name (see Jayco Seismic year by year). Campaigns by component: Equipment (21V685000, 18V364000); Fuel system, gasoline (19V172000); Service brakes, hydraulic (19V169000). Complaints on 2018 units name Service brakes (1). They are filed against the line, not this floorplan alone.
05 How it compares — and to its other years
Differs from 2018 on 5 of 8 shared fields, dry weight, cargo capacity and dry tongue weight among them.
06 Loading it for a trip
Cargo capacity on the 273 is 3,530 lb.
07 Where this floorplan sits
| 2018 travel trailers from other lines, nearest by GVWR | GVWR (lb) | Dry (lb) | Sleeps | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 273 | 9,950 | 6,420 | — | 30 ft 11 in |
| Eagle 324BHTS | 10,950 | 8,605 | — | 38 ft 4 in |
| Jay Flight SLX 174BH | 3,750 | 2,960 | — | 21 ft 6 in |
Against the 2018 273: the 2018 Eagle 324BHTS is 1,000 lb heavier and 7 ft longer; the 2018 Jay Flight SLX 174BH is 6,200 lb lighter and 9 ft shorter.
08 Common questions about the 273
How much does the 273 weigh?
6,420 lb dry; 9,950 lb GVWR, the most it may weigh loaded.
How much can the 273 carry?
3,530 lb, 35% of its GVWR (median across 958 travel trailers here: 23%).
What is the tongue weight of the 273?
1,045 lb dry, 16% of the dry weight (median across 1,156 travel trailers here: 12%).
What size tow vehicle does the 273 need?
A tow rating of at least 9,950 lb, plus payload for the loaded tongue weight, passengers and cargo.
How long is the 273?
30' 11" overall, tongue or pin box included.
How does the 2018 273 differ from other model years?
Set against the published 2019 273 record, 4 figures differ: dry weight 6,420 lb in 2018 against 6,400 lb in 2019; cargo capacity 3,530 lb in 2018 against 3,550 lb in 2019; dry hitch weight 1,045 lb in 2018 against 1,080 lb in 2019; exterior length 30 ft 11 in in 2018 against 30 ft 10 in in 2019. 1 other figure both years publish is identical. This floorplan is profiled for 2 model years here (2018 to 2019).
From the figures above.
09 What this page publishes, and what it does not
8 of the 18 fields this catalogue tracks are published for the 273. Not published: exterior height, fresh tank, grey tank, sleeps, slide count, axle count, tire specification, awning, refrigerator, air conditioning.
Sourcing rules: methodology.
10 Manuals & documents
Sources: jayco.com (linked below); the full source note is at the foot of the page.
11 NHTSA safety record
NHTSA holds 17 recall campaigns and 13 owner complaints against the Seismic line. They are counted separately: a recall is a confirmed defect with a remedy, a complaint one owner’s unverified account.
What to look at on a used one. Across the 13 complaints filed on this line the most-reported components are suspension (38%), unknown or other (23%) and service brakes (15%).
Recall coverage here is not complete, and complaints are owners’ unverified reports (how this record is built). Check a specific VIN at NHTSA before you buy. Full tables are on the Seismic line page.