Hitting the Canyon Trail

We’ve all heard the expression, “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” But
for RVers, sometimes the issue is “a space for everyone, and everyone in that space.” Most
RVs have only one bedroom and a living area that doubles as sleeping quarters for the kids.
That’s usually alright, but when mom and dad would like a little quiet time in the evening,
or when inclement weather has everyone cooped up indoors, a little extra separation can be
a welcome thing. With that in mind, Gulf Stream recently introduced the Canyon Trail 33
FBHT, a fifth-wheel trailer with an interesting front-bunkhouse, rear-master-suite
floorplan. “The bunks are located in the front gooseneck area,” explains Matt Popovic, Gulf
Stream’s general manager of luxury towables. “The kids go up the stairs and into their
bedroom, where there are triple bunk beds and lots of floor space. So they can literally go
to their room and play.” And with a built-in corner entertainment center that can
accommodate a 19-inch color TV and a DVD player or game console, what kid wouldn’t want to?
Plus, the room also features two large cabinets with drawers, and hidden storage beneath
the third bunk for games, toys and the like. As on most fifth-wheels, the bath area on the
33 FBHT is located just aft of the sleeping area. But unlike most fifth-wheels, it can be
used by guests at either end of the coach — so there is a solid door separating the bunk
house from the bath area, and another separate door for the toilet room. That way, parents
need not be surprised by sleepy-eyed children while engaged in normal morning rituals. With
solid bedroom doors at either end of the unit, Gulf Stream’s concern was that the living
area would be too dark, so the company graced it with a 6-foot 2-inch-tall, 44-inch-deep
streetside slideout room with large windows. The slide incorporates a sofa, as well as a
48-inch booth dinette that can easily accommodate four adults, according to Popovic.
Opposite the slide room is the galley, which features a high-output three-burner stove, a
double-bowl sink, a 16-inch oven, a microwave and an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator. “Though the
Canyon Trail is a mid-line coach, it has a number of standard features you’d normally only
find in a high-end product,” Popovic commented. “Most products in this price range offer a
13,500-BTU air conditioner; ours is 15,000 BTU. We have heated and enclosed holding tanks,
exterior black-tank flush, residential-size cabinetry with real wood crown and return
molding and ball-bearing drawer glides, all standard.” The rear master suite features a 60
x 74-inch queen bed in a streetside slideout, plus overhead cabinetry and a TV shelf. And
though there is no bath back here, there is a lav with a sink. Options are few, and include
a sofa bed and Fan-Tastic fan with rain sensor. The Canyon Trail is available in a total of
five floorplans, each of which is designed to be towed behind a 3/4-ton truck. Gulf Stream
Coach Inc., (800) 289-8787, www.gulfstreamrv.com