K-Z brings a number of welcome features to its new D315RKD fifth-wheel with a rear-kitchen complex and adjacent living room
As with any modern vehicle or RV, current trends and waves of popularity dictate design and standards. One of the more recent elements in floorplan design is the placement of the kitchen/living room combination at the rear of the trailer. Many manufacturers have been able to use this layout to make dramatic gains in space, storage and comfort. The engineers and designers at K-Z RV have recognized these benefits and used their new admiration for a rear-kitchen layout to develop the Durango 2500 D315RKD fifth-wheel; for brevity, we’ll just call it the Durango 315.
Two recliners and an opposing couch provide plenty of seating to enjoy the fireplace and entertainment center.
The groundwork for the Durango 315 is a heavy-duty steel I-beam frame. To aid in absorbing roadway roughness, K-Z opted for the Equa-Flex rubberized equalizer to tie in the leaf springs that are attached to Dexter axles with Nev-R-Adjust brakes that have a forward self-adjusting feature. Mounted to the axles are 16-inch, eight-lug heavy-duty aluminum wheels wrapped with E-rated radial tires. Pulling everything together is the optional Rota-Flex rubberized pin box.
Starting from the very bottom of the frame and working up, the Durango 315 is loaded with features like an optional four-point, automatic leveling system and a completely covered, insulated and heated underbelly, which encapsulates the holding tanks and plumbing system. Every linear inch of the plumbing routing is well thought-out; precautions were made to ensure the water lines, gray-water piping and low-point drains are all above the insulation and not exposed to the elements. Further isolating occupants from the cold is an All Weather Insulation Package, where the roof, floor, end caps and tanks are upgraded to an R38 value with a significant R11 rating in the walls. Residential heat registers in the floor complete the task of keeping the cold at bay.
Resting on the 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove, glued and screwed floor decking are 3-inch aluminum framed side walls, which have been carefully wrapped using glossy finished fiberglass exterior wall segments with an integrated lauan backing. To offer extra interior cabinet support, the walls have been laminated with the addition of metal backing strips.
Outside, the smooth flowing outlying edges of the body will lead you to a slew of nicely proportioned compartments, some offering pass-through accessibility and all trimmed with bus-type slam-latch doors, using dual locks on the basement. Other creature comforts include a 20-foot Carefree electric awning with LED lighting, outside speakers with TV prewire, and a cleanly arranged central convenience center with heated and enclosed dump valves — all part of the standard equipment package. Clearly, K-Z’s intent is to set up the Durango 315 to provide serious livability with an assortment of exterior compartments, one of which is available with a prewire and/or Onan 5,500-watt LP-gas generator.
Moving aboard, the interior quickly exudes true coziness, due largely to the cabin-inspired wooded tones carried throughout the living room/kitchen area and the optional fireplace with remote. Encasing the faux brick-housed fireplace is an entertainment center featuring a 39-inch LED TV and DVD/radio entertainment system, with Bluetooth capability, tied to four living room speakers.
The rear kitchen complex puts all of the galley amenities within
easy reach of the cook. Solid-surface countertops and surrounding cabinets and drawers make it simple to organize the kitchen and comfortable to access the storage areas.
The large living room slideout has been attractively appointed with an appropriate selection of furniture for dining and seating, including an optional freestanding dining table with chairs and two leather recliners. The furniture provides the right level and look of luxury, but the recliners are not ideally situated for viewing the TV.
The décor theme continues on the opposing side of the fifth-wheel with a very comfy deluxe residential-style sectional sofa bed. Topping off the living room is the collection of overhead cabinetry detailed with color-coordinated trim, molding and accents.
Following the upper cabinet edges leads straight to the wide-open and user-friendly rear kitchen complex. Working from the plethora of overhead and under-counter cabinet storage, which has been laid out in a U shape, the workspace and cookware storage availability are more than ample and easily accessible. The uniquely shaped lower kitchen cabinets have been topped with a solid-surface counter, large residential stainless-steel sinks and a 22-inch high-output oven/stove, complemented by a wraparound faux-tile backsplash. At the end of the counter/cabinets resides the standard 8-cubic-foot refrigerator and a handy pantry.
One of the key benefits of this kitchen/living room placement is the ability to view and hear everything going on, whether it’s interacting with guests or using the entertainment system.
The front section, in true fifth-wheel fashion, is a bedroom graced with an optional king-size Cotton Cloud memory foam mattress that’s positioned in the second slideout. Among the bedroom options are the additional 13,500-Btu air conditioner and a 32-inch LED TV above the dresser at the foot of the bed, which is prewired for those who prefer to install their own TV. There’s also prewiring and preparation for a washer and dryer inside the nearly full-width and -length front-wall wardrobe. The bedroom is simple yet spacious.
In the landing area between the bedroom and entryway is the bathroom. Not much out of the ordinary for this configuration, but there is a large linen closet lighted by LEDs beside the one-piece fiberglass shower/tub that’s sealed behind glass doors. A porcelain toilet sits across from the sink vanity. Again, the area is simple, spacious and effective.
Controlling the climate inside the Durango 315 is a fully ducted 15,000-Btu air conditioner, along with a 35,000-Btu furnace. Some of the amenities include the optional central vacuum system, Maxxair fans with wall controls and the exterior entertainment center, complete with a mini-fridge.
There truly isn’t much to be desired on the Durango 315 that wasn’t already thought about or covered. This fifth-wheel comes standard with just about anything wanted or needed to pull off most RV trips and can even be considered for budget-minded full timing.
There is a substantial option list, but with a suggested retail price south of $50,000, there’s room for a number of options that personalize this fifth-wheel for specific needs — without breaking the bank.
KZ RV | 866-472- 5460 | www.kz-rv.com/durango
