First Look: New 2023 RVs

RV manufacturers are continually pushing the creative envelope to make fifth-wheels, travel trailers, pickup campers, and motorhomes nicer and more robust than the year before. Consumers are attracted to innovation, and it’s those creative design touches, both small and large, that are the deciding factor triggering buyers to choose one brand’s model over another.

The 2023 model year is no exception. While many of the smaller RV manufacturers are still trying to fill backorders from the huge surge in RV sales after the pandemic, many of the RV manufacturing giants—and some lesser-known brands—are marching forward with new floorplans and new models that make their offerings even more attractive.

While we haven’t had the opportunity to personally tour each and every new model that’s debuting this year—and there are plenty—we feel confident the ones highlighted here are pretty cool offerings that have recently been on display at dealer shows. We hope you agree!

Keystone Raptor 431

Powersports RVers will love the new Keystone Raptor 431—the brand’s largest model. At just under 45 feet and sporting a massive 13-foot, 8-inch garage, this sizable fiver can easily carry a four-seater side-by- side while making camp stays as comfortable as you’ll find in any luxury fifth-wheel.

In this floorplan, the recliners in the camp-side slide are nested into the L-shaped sofa for a great conversational layout. Added to that is a wonderful entertainment center with the obligatory giant flat-screen television and high-power KICKER sound system. The large kitchen has a residential-sized fridge, oven, cooktop, and microwave.

Up front is a king bed with a large wardrobe and a washer-and-dryer hookup. It also features a new “Long Haul Package” that adds a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an iN-Command Smart RV control system, Furrion side cameras with a 7-inch screen, an onboard air compressor, and a 50-amp electric cord reel. MSRP: $153,668

Leisure Travel Vans Unity MBL

Leisure Travel Vans is renowned for its high-end quality and innovation in the Class C market, and the 2023 Unity MBL (Murphy Bed Lounge) is no exception. At the heart of the new Mercedes- Benz diesel-powered Sprinter 3500 is the completely redesigned Leisure Lounge System in the slide-out featuring upgraded dual reclining chairs with power footrests and a luxurious 65-by-74-inch Murphy bed that drops down over the recliners.

A large panoramic window, spacious galley, 40-inch pop-up TV, stand-alone shower in the rear bathroom, and lots of storage make this one of the most comfortable Class B’s on the road. MSRP: $188,590

InTech Sol Horizon

RVers looking for a sweet, lightweight travel trailer to tow behind smaller vehicles will find inTech’s new Sol Horizon a nice fit. This luxurious 4,000-pound-GVWR, aluminum-framed travel trailer is bright and airy with a full-width U-shaped dinette up front surrounded by big windows that give an expansive view of the surroundings. The 19-foot trailer’s unique “tilt-forward design” helps maximize the sleeping/lounging space.

A sizable wet bath, a nicely appointed and luxurious kitchen, entertainment center, and comfy bedroom area make any camping outing a pleasant one. A 10-foot awning is standard, with extras such as an outdoor slide-out kitchen and solar-power system on the long options list. MSRP: $42,539

Kimberley Karavan Classic

A unique towable for overlanding/adventure-bound North American RVers originated from half a world away. The Kimberley Karavan Classic is a hard-sided, 17-foot-long hybrid camper from Australia (now with a division in Ohio) with a roof that raises via a worm-drive system into a full-size 21-foot long, 10-foot-tall travel trailer.

The 5,500-pound-GVWR trailer is stoutly built from high-grade alloys, tough thermoplastics, and marine-grade stainless steel. Heating and hot water are from a 2kW diesel unit that supplies the inside shower and galley. A waterless toilet, a 16-gallon gray tank, 50-gallon freshwater tank, and an interior galley with a 12-volt fridge and induction cooktop are standard. The trailer rides on an air suspension, and a 240-watt Merlin Solar Tech system and lithium batteries provide electrical power. Vegan leather seating and a comfy queen-sized bed are also standard fare. An exterior galley and exterior cargo carriers are just two of many options. MSRP: $88,171

Palomino River Ranch 391MK

What makes the quad-slide, 36-foot, 7-inch Palomino 391MK fifth-wheel cool is that it features a rear side entry into a mudroom with a bench and steps that lead up to a single-level floor layout. This creative raised-floor design provides a living area with no steps to navigate end-to-end. And under the raised floor are five pass-through basement-storage compartments (with slide trays) to provide a bounty of storage space just like a Class A motorhome.

This well-appointed, 16,000-pound-GVWR fiver comes standard with triple A/Cs and heat pump, high-end residential-style furnishings, a well-appointed kitchen, a big entertainment center, a master suite with a king bed, and deep closets. The tall slideouts and a ton of windows give this fiver a bright, rich, airy interior feel. MSRP: $80,665

Thor Indigo BB35

RVers stepping into their first Class A motorhome will find the brand-new Indigo BB35 a really cool floorplan. This 35-foot, 9-inch motorcoach is built on the popular 335-hp Ford F-53 gas chassis with an 8,000-pound-capacity hitch to pull a vehicle. The interior is bright, roomy, and airy with a 7-foot ceiling, vinyl floor, and a load of cabinets and storage compartments from the front dinette to the 72-by-76-inch king-size bed in the rear.

It sleeps seven and features both a drop-down bunk above the driver’s cockpit and a pair of bunk beds on the streetside opposite the nicely appointed bathroom. Located across from the galley is a big double-door fridge with a pullout lower freezer. The BB35 is equipped with all the modern electronic features, a 5.5kW gas generator, tons of exterior storage, an exterior kitchen, and a full-wall slide. MSRP: $230,850