RV Roundup – Winter RVs
Let it snow! These new RVs are perfect for life in a winter wonderland.
Image Caption: Image Courtesy of Fleetwood RV
Wintertime brings along one of the classic conundrums for RV owners. Should I store my RV, or should I continue the outdoor adventure?
Of course, there are many factors that guide you toward a decision, from employment to funds to family to availability. Oh yeah, and cold. Bitter cold. Ice, sleet, snow, you name it. The cold has a way of creeping into your stick home, let alone your beloved RV. But it doesn’t have to.
While we can’t help your seasonal decision based on life’s responsibilities, we can help eliminate the cold-weather-related quandary by presenting you with these five all-season RVs that not only make life in the dead of winter bearable, but downright luxurious and enjoyable.
Newmar Canyon Star 3927
First thing’s first: The Canyon Star 3927 is a Class A motorhome toy hauler, billed at the time of this writing as the only front-engine diesel toy hauler on the market. Let the wintertime-adventure possibilities of bringing along a snowmobile, ATV, motorcycle, and the like sink in. Finished? Good, on to the four-season capabilities.
Image Courtesy of Newmar
Built on the durable Freightliner 274-inch wheelbase chassis, the 39-foot, 11-inch long 3927 comes standard with water-heater bypass and Polar Pak R-19 batten insulation in the floor. A Truma Aqua Go water heater ensures hot showers on demand, and options for heated holding tanks and a fireplace in the living area are sure to keep things nice and cozy … and frost-free.
Image Courtesy of Newmar
Also keeping the vibe cozy are standard Williamsburg furniture; polished solid-surface countertops and glazed maple cabinets throughout; vinyl tile flooring in the kitchen, bathroom, and living area; and two standard 13,500-Btu central air conditioners, with an option for a third in the garage area.
Image Courtesy of Newmar
The bathroom is conveniently located for both the living area and the garage, while a large streetside slide houses the smartly equipped galley; you can choose to up the livability ante by opting for a larger four-door fridge with icemaker, two-burner induction cooktop, and dishwasher, plus a stackable Splendide stacked washer/dryer in the garage area.
MSRP starts at $262,542.
Keystone Outback Ultra-Lite 244UBH
Let’s begin with the big news that Keystone is blazing an impressive trail by offering the factory-installed SolarFlex solar system as standard equipment on all its travel trailers and fifth-wheels. That idea is so hot it will keep you warm in the middle of a snowstorm.
Image Courtesy of Keystone RV
With that in mind, we’re looking here at the Ultra-Lite 244UBH, a 28-foot, 11-inch long travel trailer that sleeps up to seven thanks to its rear bunkhouse floorplan, along with its front queen bed and booth dinette. The fully equipped amidships galley has pressed kitchen countertops and is configured so as to partially form the wall of the bedroom by running east-to-west, which not only creates the feeling of a dedicated galley but allows for more privacy upfront.
Image Courtesy of Keystone RV
The 244UBH is equipped with some thoughtful features, from the built-in pet kennel in the bedroom to the pull-out doggie dishes under the entertainment center, to the exterior kitchen, to the bike/cargo door out back that allows the bunk area to be a storage “garage” while in transit. To combat the cold snaps, the Outback is constructed with a one-piece polypropylene heated and enclosed underbelly, plus the in-floor heating ducts lend a residential feel and warm up the tootsies in no time.
Image Courtesy of Keystone RV
Appliances include an on-demand water heater, two-way fridge (with the option for a 12-volt), microwave, and three-burner gas range, and 17-inch Furrion stove. Lighting throughout is LED, and entertainment is provided via a 40- or 50-inch LED TV and stereo with Bluetooth. It is a bunkhouse, after all.
MSRP starts at $39,795.
Fleetwood Frontier
Explore the wild and snowy Frontier in your own, well, Fleetwood Frontier, a well-appointed luxurious Class A powered by a Cummins 6.7-liter diesel. You’ll certainly appreciate the 100-gallon fuel tank that greatly improves the range between stops on the way to your snow-covered paradise.
Image Courtesy of Fleetwood RV
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll find the Frontier is equipped with a variety of cold-weather features. They include: An Aqua-Hot hydronic system plumbed to the basement to protect holding tanks, valves and water lines from freezing; dual high-efficiency air conditioners with outputs up to 15,000 Btu; PEX waterlines that resist cracking; heated mirrors; and high-density bead foam insulation throughout the ceiling, walls, and floor.
Inside, full-size residential appliances keep comfort at a maximum, as does the electric fireplace that can crank out up to 5,300 Btu of stocking-warming heat. The 36SS floorplan features an amidships half bath and a full bathroom in the rear, just off the bedroom with a king bed and plenty of clothes storage space.
Image Courtesy of Fleetwood RV
The open-concept living area features a massive 111-inch sofa with two theater seats to view the 50-inch LED, while an Adap-Table dinette and breakfast bar and pull-out galley counter extension make meal prep and dining a nice, warm breeze. There’s also an exterior entertainment center for brisk viewing between blizzards, for the more adventurous snow lovers.
MSRP starts at $324,413.
Lance Trailer
Image Courtesy of Lance Camper
Be it truck camper or travel trailer, Lance has long been known for its all-season construction and ability to withstand the elements. So, you can feel confident with most any Lance you select for cold-weather camping … but we’ll go with the Lance 1575 Ultra-Light, due to its sub-2,800-pound weight and “Super Slide” dinette that dramatically opens up the interior.
Image Courtesy of Lance Camper
Azdel construction and Euro-Ply cabinetry are built for the long haul, and up to four happy campers can comfortably call the Lance home for the holidays—even though it’s just a shade over 20 feet long. That’s because of the deluxe queen bed in the bedroom, the convertible dinette, the three-way refrigerator, stainless-steel range, and smartly positioned wet bath. Options include a 1,500-watt inverter, lithium battery, up to a 190-watt solar system, LED TV, and convection or conventional microwave.
Image Courtesy of Lance Camper
And now for that all-season comfort: The 1575 comes standard with the Truma Combi Eco+ heater/water heater that operates on electric and propane, providing maximum efficiency and comfort. The 1575 is also available with the Lance exclusive “Four Seasons Comfort Technology” package, which includes fully enclosed and ducted holding tanks, insulated hatch covers, and a winterizing valve.
MSRP starts at $33,009.
Outdoors RV Timber Ridge Mountain Series
When you think four-season trailers, Outdoors RV should leap to the forefront. The manufacturer is well known for all-season capabilities; it prides itself on the fact that all its trailers are designed for mountain states, western Canada, and Alaska.
Image Courtesy of Outdoors RV
So, the fitting Mountain Series Timber Ridge 26KVS is as close to a no-brainer here as could be. Why? Try triple-layered roof insulation, a fully enclosed and heated underbelly, Mountain Extreme thermalpane windows, thermal insulated luggage doors and bedroom ceiling vent, a larger furnace, a cold-weather kit that enables refrigerator operation down to 0 degrees F, laminated 2-inch fiberglass hardwalls, and Trekk flooring that features a three-year cold cracking warranty in temperatures down to minus 50. Yeah, that’ll do.
And, to ensure a safe trip to the cold climates, the travel trailer is built on a custom off-road chassis with custom off-road suspension. Once you’re in camp, you’ll appreciate the ultra-leather furniture, panoramic windows, LG countertops, stainless appliances, and farm sink, plus rustic wood laminate accents throughout.
Image Courtesy of Outdoors RV
The 26KVS floorplan features a rear kitchen that spans the width of the trailer, making for plenty of meal-prep real estate, and the amidships bathroom is large enough for two to get ready for a day on the slopes. Further proof that Outdoors knows where its trailers will be used is the fact that both entry doors are friction-hinged for wind resistance, and feature XL grab handles. It’s these types of thoughtful details that make such a big difference in extreme weather.
MSRP starts at $50,045.
Kristopher Bunker
Kristopher Bunker is the Managing Editor of RV Magazine and an avid RVer. He's one of the most knowledgeable journalists in the industry.
