With 40 years of experience in building recreational trailers, Peterson Industries of Smith Center, Kansas, has parlayed its collective manufacturing knowledge and skill into the fine art of upscale fifth-wheel construction. As a case in point, the company’s Excel Limited 30 RSO is an attractive, triple-slide rendition that may appeal to a wide variety of trailerists seeking a quality product in a moderate-size floorplan.
Of three Excel lines available, the Limited class is the company’s top-of-the-line unit. And Model 30 RSO, being an inch shy of 32 feet in length, renders it considerably shorter than what might be considered the average full-timer’s rig. However, when taking a stroll through the unit and its full-featured layout, one is hard-pressed to find anything of real significance that is missing.
This Limited’s floorplan mirrors the traditional scheme of most fifth-wheels, beginning with a forward slideout bedroom. Moving rearward and partially incorporated into the bedroom area is a bathroom facility with washstand, a private curbside water closet with china toilet, and a corner, streetside shower stall. Moving farther aft and below the bedroom level is a nicely laid-out and compact galley area, with the rear of the trailer and its two opposing slideouts dedicated to a reasonably spacious living room.
The test unit carries a base retail price of $63,046, and a total-with-options price of $71,110. The living room features an overstuffed, streetside couch/sofa bed, with two recliner rockers located in the curbside slide room. At the rear of this zone is a wall-mounted entertainment center with a television and DVD/CD player.
Petersen’s Excel 30 RSO is well-suited for those seeking a more compact, durable, easier-to-maneuver fifth-wheel. The stylish unit is loaded with upscale amenities, and is built to be weather-tolerant in a diverse range of climates.
Pick up the January 2006 issue of Trailer Life for full test impressions and details of the Excel Limited 30 RSO — then subscribe to Trailer Life, so you can stay informed on the latest tests, previews, tow vehicles, and technical and RV-lifestyle information.
Petersen Industries, Inc., (800) 368-3759, excelrvs.com.
