Excel RT

Adventure RV trekking with fifth-wheel trailers has just become a reality in the view of
Peterson Industries, and as a result the company has introduced the Excel RT (RV Trekker)
line. Built with backroad enthusiasts in mind, the new, ruggedly built fifth-wheel trailers
are regarded by the company as suitable for widely varying situations, ranging from snowy
mountains to baking deserts, rugged seashores and most places in between. Excel RTs are
manufactured to withstand many of the rigors of rough secondary roads, according to the
company. Available in three floorplans, from 29 to 32 feet, and containing two or three
slideouts, depending on model, these units are endowed with the same residential décor,
features and amenities found in other Peterson fifth-wheels, but in a much more durable
superstructure. Construction hallmarks of the RT are as one might expect in a trailer
touted for use off the beaten path. A heavy-duty steel box-tube chassis supports upper
framework that is assembled using a positive-pressure lamination system to prevent
delamination and buckling. Upper structure is assembled using 1 ½-inch wood studs,
5/8-inch-thick Structurwood floorboards and flat-floor slideouts with sealed, oil-packed
gear boxes that require no maintenance. Filon fiberglass adorns exterior side walls, and
Excel’s “walk-anywhere” roofs are topped with one-piece EPDM rubber. Molded gelcoat
fiberglass is used for front and rear end caps. Adding further to the rig’s all-weather
utility are tinted windows; R7 fiberglass side-wall insulation, doubled in the ceiling and
floor; a fully enclosed and heated basement storage area and underbelly; and 16-inch tires.
Furthermore, the entire unit is warranteed for two years on materials and workmanship, and
the directly heated holding-tank system with associated water lines and hardware makes the
RT a true four-season RV. The Excel RT is base-priced from $32,200 to $38,500 and includes
numerous standard features. Some of the most prominent include electric front jacks,
8-cubic-foot refrigerators, low-mount microwave ovens, 15,000-BTU roof air units and
35,000-BTU furnaces with in-floor ducting. Additionally provided for residential comfort
are rocker/glider swivel recliners, Magic Store sofa beds, residential-size ABS showers and
computer work stations in most models. Despite the varied standard items, there are still a
few options available. Of those offered, the more noteworthy include a Customer Convenience
Package (stereo with CD and utility center), freestanding tables and chairs and a prewired
AC generator box. Besides rugged construction, these units include generous interior
storage compartments and closets, and an ample forward pass-through cargo hold. Also, they
support dry-camping for extended periods of time because of their 71-gallon freshwater
tanks and sufficient black- and gray-water capacities of 39 and 55 gallons, respectively.
Excel RTs are towable by many properly equipped conventional pickup trucks, and possess
gross vehicle weight ratings (gvwr) from 13,000 to 15,000 pounds. Units also bear unladen
vehicle weights, including fluids, from 9,840 to 10,990 pounds, and can be expected to
shoulder cargo payloads ranging between 3,160 and 4,010 pounds. Peterson Industries Inc.,
(800) 368-3759, excelrvs.com