What is the best Keystone 5th wheel?

In today’s blog post, we will answer the following question: What is the best Keystone 5th wheel? We will review three of the best Keystone 5th wheel trailers and let you decide which one is top of the line!

What is the best Keystone 5th wheel?

By far, the best Keystone 5th wheel trailer is the family-friendly Keystone Cougar Half-Ton Series. This fifth wheel is the best sold 5th wheel model for the past two decades. It is easy to tow and, as you will read in this short review, packed with innovative features. Their Tru-Fit ™ sliding construction and RoadArmor ™ suspension help make these RVs tough, durable and road-ready.

Keystone Cougar 5th wheel specifications

TiresST225 / 75 / R15
Places to sleep4
Number of bedrooms1
Awning length20’
Bunk bedsNo
Exterior width96’’
Exterior height11’10’’
Front bed sizeQueen
Exterior colourWhite & Black
Water heater (gas-electric)Yes
Load capacity2645 lbs
Air conditioning15,000 BTU
Tongue weight1370 lbs
Dry weight7366 lbs
Res. of water60 gallons
Res. greywater60 gallons
Res. septic tank30 gallons

Why is Cougar the best 5th wheel Keystone has ever made

Since its inception in 1998, the Cougar brand of Keystone RV has sold more fifth-wheel trailers and mid-size luxury trailers than any other brand in North America. Committed to cutting-edge innovation, quality and style, Cougar offers a wide selection designed for half-ton and full-size 5th wheels. Discover here some characteristics that make the brand a legend.

  1. A better 5th wheel chassis
  • One-piece welded rolled beams that eliminate potential points of failure
  • Full-width stabilizers that fully support the weight of the sidewalls
  • Lighter stamped steel sleepers replace the welded bar and angle construction
  • One-piece Rotocast tanks eliminate welded and glued failure points
  • Steel straps prevent tanks from inflating during transport and touching the ground
  • Patented MaxTurn seamless bent tube frame design increases turning radius
  1. High-performance RV floor
  • 100% inorganic and water-resistant
  • Glass fiber reinforced polypropylene layers increase strength and resist weak spots
  • Reduces floor weight by up to 25% for easier towing
  • Less likely to degrade over time
  • Increased screw holding keeps RV construction secure
  • High-density foam and polypropylene construction increases insulation and reduces noise
  1. Luxurious interior 

While the interior topped the list of 2021 Cougar firsts, there are also eight new floor plans, one of which is the Cougar 345 UMR harness. 

The “UMR” designation in the model names stands for Utility Mud Room, a quirk that Cougar says makes this floor plan unique and, to be fair, has never been seen before.

Cougar’s team says it’s primarily designed for campers with more active occupations like fishing, hunting, and pet owners. The 345UMR gives away the flexibility of a huge usable / mud space inside the back of a 38-foot fifth wheel.

The singularities of the subtitles incorporate:

  • Walk-in shower that allows campers and their four-legged friends to rinse off the day’s adventures without dumping dirt or debris into the master bedroom. 
  • Very large cabinet in the rear area with connections for a washer-dryer or to store fishing rods, rifles or beach equipment. 
  • Dedicated office space.
  •  Sliding door to separate the office from the main living room.

The next best Keystone 5th wheels 

Yes, we have established the Cougar series are the best Keystone 5th wheels ever made. However, there are two more models that we believe are right next to Cougar 5th wheels and that is worth considering at least one of them!

Keystone Montana High Country 280 / 281 CK

With the repeal of the RV Industries Association’s 430-square-foot rule, many producers have moved into larger buildings. However, the new 280/281 CK from Montana High Country goes in the opposite direction.

When RVIA increased the maximum square foot limit on hitch hitches, the temptation was to expand. However, our sales data indicates otherwise, ”said Sam Lengerich, Montana product manager. “Many of the customers we see today are mobile and on the move during their travels, rather than sitting in one place for weeks. We are pushed to use smaller harnesses, including the Montana High Country 280 / 281CK.

By the way, the odd and even-numbered floor plan designation (e.g. 280 / 280CK) indicates whether the floor plan is furnished with a mobile home refrigerator or a living room refrigerator. Keystone believes there is a demand for both. In this example, the 280CK is an RV cooler and the 281CK is a place-of-life cooler.

Although Montana High Country has successfully introduced plants less than 32 feet long in recent years, the new 280 / 281 CK is the shortest at 24 inches.

Lengerich said: “When you design a smaller unit, you usually have to give up space inside the kitchen counter and the TV on the back wall has a terrible view. Our plan was to remove these design limitations and create a compact floor plan, but not one.

The High Country team swapped the dining room for a U-shaped kitchen with a massive counter and stools. They also created an L-shaped seating compilation with an armchair that faces the entertainment centre for a perfect TV screen. You have probably noticed that the TV seats exist at a steep angle in some VR setups, this is not so much the case in these highlands.

Additionally, Keystone RV has created larger windows and has been positioned to let in more natural light. Montana High Country colours and interior design will remain technically unchanged from 2020. 

The 2021 High Country brings an optional Solar Flex system that includes a 265-watt solar panel with a 2000 watt inverter. For a better life in free wind, the 280 / 281CK plant leaves the factory with two patio awnings that provide 27-foot coverage.

Keystone Outback

Keystone Outback features updated internal and external graphics for 2021, along with three ultralight floor plans (two of which are bedroom models) and two larger floor plans.

In the kitchen, the Outback supplies a standard 12-volt refrigerator and an optional 2.5-meter arcade refrigerator. Outback expects the 12-volt cooler, new to the 2021 line, to be surprisingly old-fashioned because it uses a compressor method rather than an absorption cooling method. 

Keystone Outback floor plan features a wheelchair-accessible ramp.  The 342CG Outback is the result of a collaboration with adventure and disability advocates Riley Poor and Andrea Peruzzi. 

The Outback team started with the basic design of one of the tested plants and then redesigned it. The original floor plan added a 56-inch wide ramp door that was a natural entry and exit point for wheelchair users.

Other changes included a wider 30-inch main entrance door for replacement wheelchair lifts, a more affordable pantry, sliding room and bathroom doors, and handles. more ergonomic wardrobe and drawer.

Other substantial qualities of the 342CG include a cargo garage with folding bunks, a king-size bed with a built-in kennel, two pantries, a 48-inch fireplace, and a sleeper sofa.

Conclusions

As for our recommendation,  Keystone’s popular Cougar RV line offers fifth wheels that adapt to every stage of your life. Designed to meet all your needs and grow with your family, Cougars are quality RVs that have won over many adventure enthusiasts for many years.

Over time, Cougar models have always known how to combine innovation, excellence, style and good value for money. It is the ideal choice for your next getaway to the great outdoors. Each new Cougar model takes into account the expectations of travellers to provide exceptional services, whether in terms of comfort, convenience or handling.

Do you have any questions, comments or tips on the content? Please let us know!

FAQ on What is the best Keystone 5th wheel?

Are Keystone RVs any good?

Keystones make good quality RVs, camper trailers, fifth wheels and miniature trailers. Founded in 1996, Keystone RV is the leading manufacturer of fifth wheels in North America and a leading manufacturer of caravans.

Are Keystone and Dutchman the same?

More or less yes, Keystone and Dutchman are the same. As an administrative business, Dutchman is under Keystone and all RVs are made in their factories in Indiana and Oregon.

Which RVs have the best resale value?

The Jayco Rvs have the best resale value. There are many reasons for this, but we must mention the high-quality materials, strong foundations and longest warranty. 

What is the most reliable travel trailer brand?

The most reliable travel trailer brands are:

  • Airstream.
  • Winnebago.
  • Forest River.
  • Jayco.
  • Keystone.
  • Oliver.
  • Happier Camper.

What is a fifth-wheel trailer?

The fifth-wheel hitch is a U-shaped hitch that fits into the rear of the tow vehicle – typically, a pickup truck – and connects to the trailer. The place where the trailer connects to the tow vehicle, in essence, acts as another point for the trailer to connect and rest its weight.

Is a fifth-wheel trailer a good idea?

The design of the fifth wheel has many advantages. A trailer with a fifth-wheel hitch design will feel more stable when towing. It shouldn’t experience a lot of trailer sway. This is because the weight of the hitch is on the rear axle (drive axle) of the tow vehicle, which means that the weight of the trailer is better distributed over the entire rig.

Other FAQs about Fifth Wheel Trailers  that you may be interested in.

How to move a fifth-wheel trailer without a truck?

What is the smallest Jayco fifth wheel?

What’s the longest 5th Wheel trailer ever made?

References