A recreational vehicle is a perfect addition to your outdoor adventure gear. Whether you’re traveling infrequently or full-time, this vehicle can definitely crank up the experience.
Think about it—everything you need to make the journey a lot less stressful, from a cozy bed to a fully furnished kitchen, is within your reach, so you can focus on appreciating nature and having the time of your life.
Owning an RV is the retreat equivalent of renting a vacation house. The only difference is that you can go anywhere you like with an RV.
Well, not exactly anywhere because, apparently, accessibility and parking are prime considerations, but it gives you a great deal of flexibility. Plus, you don’t need to limit your stay to a few days. If you stock up on enough supplies, you can camp out for a week or two.
And if you’re 30 minutes to an hour’s drive to the nearest town, you can restock to extend your vacation.
That’s the gift of vehicle conversion to humanity. But what type of RV should you invest in? There’s an ocean of brands, models, and floor plans to explore.
So, choosing is understandably difficult, especially if you don’t know what you want or need. In this article, however, we will focus on the Keystone Sprinter, one of Keystone’s flagship trailer and fifth-wheel models.
Get to know Keystone RV
Founded in 1996 and now owned by Thor Company, Keystone is a leading manufacturer of towable RVs in North America. Its vision is to build a quality RV loaded with features but is much less expensive than other RVs on the market.
The company is doing a fantastic job so far. And let’s be honest, you’d expect nothing less than the best from a company named Thor.
Sure enough, they’ve produced many successful brands over the years, including Laredo, Montana, Cougar, Passport, and Sprinter. But unlike most manufacturers, this company specializes in luxury travel trailers and fifth wheels.
You can distinguish luxury RVs from typical ones by their high-end exterior and interior finish. Keystone RVs are also known for their extensive floor plans.
Why choose a fifth wheel or luxury travel trailer
As we slowly turn the spotlight to the Keystone Sprinter, it’s only fitting to first touch on the perks of fifth wheels and travel trailers. How do they differ from a motorhome, coach, campervan, and other types of RV? Here’s why they are quite popular among American campers.
- No engine room – The entire RV is a living space. No steering wheel or dashboard disrupts the vehicle’s homey vibe. That’s because fifth wheels and travel trailers are towable trailers, and their wheels serve as the filth wheel for the tow truck, hence the name. Travel trailers are essentially fifth wheels, too, except they are much shorter, lighter, and attached to the tow truck differently. For obvious reasons, these RV types have more indoor space than traditional RVs.
- Ideal for long-term camping – Due to its sheer size, a fifth wheel or travel trailer can easily be confused with a real home when static on a well-groomed yard (like a converted shipping container). You can fit all amenities of a real home in it, so barely anything can force you to end your vacation quickly. It even has enough storage space for equipment and gear, such as bicycles, motorcycles, surfboards, and sports tools.
- Perfect for a big family – Most RVs can sleep 3 to 5 people, which is pretty large already. Unfortunately, beds take up considerable space, so manufacturers limit their RV’s sleeping capacity to give room for other essential amenities. But since a fifth wheel or travel trailer doesn’t have an engine room, it can accommodate more people. Some can even sleep up the 12 people. So, it’s perfect for a family of more than five.
Keystone Sprinter Reviews
This product line has three different types—Sprinter Limited Fifth Wheels, Sprinter Limited Travel Trailers, and Sprinter Fifth Wheels. How do they differ from each other, and which one is perfect for your travel needs?
Sprinter Limited Fifth Wheels
They are the biggest and priciest of the Keystone Sprinter, weighing between 10,000 and 12,000 lbs. and cost from $78,100 to $97,800. Pretty expensive but absolutely worth it if you’re looking for a deluxe RV with sufficient floor space.
The granular length of these fifth wheels goes from 36 to 40 ft. In comparison, a standard bus is around 40 ft. as well, so you can imagine how much space you have inside.
But that’s just the length. Wait till you extend the slide-out rooms, and you’ll get a sense of how big it truly is.
Because of its sheer length, it also has more slide-outs than other Keystone RVs. The smallest version, which spans 36 ft., has a slide-out for a 70″ x 80′ king bed, another for the dinette and reclining theater sitting, and a much longer one for multiple other amenities.
On the other hand, the largest version has an additional slide-out room for the bunk bed.
When it comes to sleeping capacity, the Sprinter Limited Fifth Wheel does not disappoint. It can sleep 6 to 10 people, and, depending on the layout, you can choose to have some or a combination of a king bed, mid-bunk bed, bunkhouse, and a private master and second bedroom.
Sprinter Fifth Wheels
You may wonder why there’s another fifth wheel when there’s already the Sprinter Limited Fifth Wheel. Well, the clue is in the name. The latter isn’t mass-produced and may be gone if sales go up
The former, on the other hand, is reproduced continuously. That’s why they’re the cheapest in the Keystone Sprinter product line.
The price difference between the two is also staggering. For instance, the least expensive of the Sprinter Fifth Wheels only costs $52,300. But this is just the starting price.
Remember that the price can go up if you add more amenities should you decide to customize. Keystone has that option to allow customers to give their RVs a personalized feel.
The biggest and most expensive of this product line has a starting price of around $83,000. Still, it’s a tad bit smaller than the 3900 DBL, the largest of the limited fifth wheels.
The shortest, however, is only around 30 ft, which is excellent for short-term camping trips. This is your best option if you’re looking to save a few thousand dollars and still get the same amount of space.
Like other RVs, the Sprinter Fifth Wheel can be equipped with awnings and an outdoor kitchen, meaning you don’t need to set up a tent if you want to camp out.
If you decide to go deeper into the wilderness, where the most convenient spot to park is more jagged than the most avoided areas on a designated campground, don’t worry. This fifth wheel has electric stabilizer jacks and an automatic leveling feature.
Sprinter Limited Travel Trailer
If you want something less expensive but provides enough space to sleep up to 10 people, you can opt for the Sprinter travel trailer.
However, remember that this isn’t the same as other manufacturers’ travel trailers. It’s bigger and more luxurious, so it’s still going to cost a bit more compared to low-end travel trailers.
What’s great about the Sprinter Travel Trailer is that it offers almost the same level of convenience and safety as Keystone’s top brand, yet it’s nearly $30,000 less expensive. If there’s an RV that perfectly embodies Keystone’s vision, it’s this one.
However, unlike the limited fifth wheel, Sprinter travel trailers only come in three different floor plans, so you only have a few options to explore. Your only chance to make your rig slightly different from others is to customize its features through Keystone’s build program.
Of course, that might jack up the price, but at least you get something you’re most comfortable with.
Like the premium fifth wheel, this travel trailer is also a limited version. So, double-check its availability before you start imagining trips with it. You might be surprised by just how quickly these products get sold out each year.
More Perks from the Keystone Sprinter
Keystone Sprinter’s specific mantra lies in its towability and affordability. Even with features almost similar to luxury RVs within a much higher price range, they keep it affordable for middle-class families looking for safer and cozier road trips and seniors who want a more thrilling retirement.
Understandably, this particular product line also gets its fair share of bad reviews. Customers can have different experiences with this brand, although most of those who claim to have a bad experience have poorly maintained pre-owned units.
Even premium products like the Keystone Sprinter relies on proper maintenance to endure.
The key to ensuring that the RV you’re purchasing is of excellent quality is to do your research, thoroughly inspect the unit (maybe ask a technician to help you out), and do a test drive.
If possible, narrow your choices to three and run the same steps on each. Basic car buying principles apply to this kind of purchase.
