Today’s RV review is of the Keystone Arcadia Super Lite 292SLRL fifth wheel. This is that floor plan that I always recommend you look at as you start the process of fifth wheel shopping because it’s so common that you get an idea of what a company is doing to earn your business.
Is Keystone’s Arcadia Super Lite 292SLRL checkbook-worthy? Well, it will be to some buyers, for sure.
Start at the road
Oh, dear. I know when companies are installing things like Goodyear Endurance tires, tire pressure monitoring systems, and high-quality suspensions along with anti-lock braking systems they tend to make a big deal out of it on their promotional materials, including their websites.
They do include anti-lock braking, which is a very good thing. The leaf spring suspension has also been upgraded with a Road Armor suspension system that incorporates greaseable bolts, also a good thing.
Keystone does actually test their RVs in a cold chamber, and this has been tested to be usable down to 0° F. If you’re one of those owners who might put this into an RV park and use it as a seasonal camper, then the importance of towing safety features aren’t quite as critical, I guess. I also know of people who don’t even tow their trailers and simply leave them at a seasonal site, hiring transporters to move them when they need to.
In that case, just make sure the transporter has decent insurance.
Something I really did like, though, was the CURT Helux™ pin box. This is a new offering from CURT, which is part of the Lippert family. This pin box incorporates a coil spring and a shock absorber to absorb a lot of the harshness that can be transmitted to the tow vehicle from the fifth wheel.
What’s inside the Keystone Arcadia 292SLRL
Basically, this is the floor plan that, I believe, every manufacturer who makes fifth wheels builds a copy of. That’s fine. It’s a good floor plan that works well.
If you’re looking at what distinguishes this model from others, I’d start at the front of the main living space, where you’ll find a very large countertop. That countertop spans the width of the space from the wall to the hallway leading upstairs. There are cabinets overhead and drawers below.
It’s interesting to see how different companies lay this space out—some put a pantry here. But that’s not what you’ll find in this case. However, there is a nice pantry at the back of the kitchen. So I don’t think drawers, cabinets, or pantry space is really an issue in this floor plan. Keystone has done a nice job with storage in here.
Significant changes in decor in the Arcadia line
While we’re looking around, note that the Arcadia line has gotten some significant changes to the decor choices. In the past, there were Roman-style shades and an interior with more natural woods. For 2025 it seems that natural-looking wood surfaces are out as are the Roman-style shades.
Something about “style” is that we all appreciate things differently. As I’ve written before, there’s a reason there are 31 flavors at the ice cream store—something for everybody. Looking at the comments on Josh’s video of this floor plan, it’s clear that this might be more polarizing—that’s not always a bad thing. I know which side of the equation I’m on and, as usual, it’s not the popular side.
Keystone went with a wider couch in this than you might otherwise expect in a standard-width fifth wheel—which works. Of course, there are theater seats opposite the fireplace and TV. You have a choice of either a free-standing table and chairs or a typical booth dinette.
Kitchen in the Keystone Arcadia 292SLRL
This does have a good kitchen with very usable appliances all around. Nothing huge like some fifth wheels. But, by the same token, this isn’t really an expensive offering, either, and nothing in here is a negative.
Keystone has also redone the island. The base of it is sort of raised, which is also where the furnace ducts are. I really like this. It makes a lot of sense in so many ways.
Upper deck in the Keystone Arcadia 292SLRL
Upstairs you’ll find a bathroom that’s mostly well done with a larger shower that incorporates a seat, and good space around the toilet.
Something interesting is that the faucet on the sink is on the side, rather than at the back. To me, this makes sense as a space-saving measure that doesn’t affect the functionality of the sink. I’m curious if you all have any thoughts on this?
The vent fan in the bathroom is the unfortunate low-performance noisemaker. Bleh.
The bedroom features a proper queen-sized bed in a north-south arrangement with pretty decent side tables. That’s becoming less common nowadays. Side tables aren’t inexpensive to make, and it’s an easy corner for some companies to cut.
There’s also a wardrobe slide with hanging storage and more drawers.
Something to note: The frame in this has a structural element under the bedroom such that there’s a step up right at the foot of the bed. I’d put a motion-sensing battery-powered night light there, at least at first. You don’t want to trip on this when you’re getting used it when you have to get up in the middle of the night and then come back. The swearing will wake your partner up in short order.
Keystone key features
I have written many times about features that Keystone offers that really do set the company apart.
Keystone is one of the few companies that tests their RVs in a climate chamber. The company reports that this unit is rated to -4° independently. I’ve written before about other Keystone features but, suffice it to say, I think the company does a really good job with what they do.
The company also uses intentional wiring, so warranty claims are easier to diagnose and less likely to happen.
Something I haven’t seen before, which I really like, is the 50-amp power plug on this rig. That plug has indicator lights to show the condition of the incoming power and details what’s happening on each leg of the power. This is really a terrific feature. While it’s not a substitute for a power management system such as the Hughes Power Watchdog, it is a real step forward.
This also incorporates the company Blade Pure™ A/C ducting that purportedly provides greater airflow but also incorporates a residential-style filtration system. I don’t know why this isn’t more common, but it’s not.
There are a bunch of other features that I’ve written about in the past, but I do like the way Keystone, and their Innovation Lab, operates.
Another thing that had set Keystone apart was its SolarFlex™ packages. This comes with 200 watts of solar and a 30-amp charge controller. You can opt for a package that includes 400 watts of solar and a 2,000-watt inverter. The company also worked with Dragonfly (Battle Born) to make those batteries available at Keystone dealers.
I thought this was very forward-thinking of Keystone. However, it seems that dealers, who often live in the past, weren’t as universally thrilled. So it seems the company is soft-pedaling the significance of this. Too bad. Dealers should really be more hip to what’s now rather than selling in the past.
Conclusions about the Keystone Arcadia 292SLRL
There are a lot of reasons I like this fifth wheel, but there are some that would keep me shopping. This is especially true after I had the chance to ride in several fifth wheels and actually experience the difference a suspension can make in how the trailer handles the harshness of the roads.
And I think we all know that the roads don’t seem to be getting magically smoother.
The polarizing, to me, interior is another thing. But I think polarizing can be good. Or bad.
Something interesting to me, though. Knowing that I was specifically hunting for this fifth wheel model, I found it wasn’t easy to locate on Keystone’s website. That made me realize the huge volume of different lines and models that the company makes. As someone who looks at RVs all day, every day, I would be confused by the sheer volume of models in the catalog. Then, with that many offerings, if I wanted a specific model, the huge array of offerings means that my local dealership may be less likely to have what I want.
Looking at the RV industry from the outside, as I do, I wonder if it would make sense to shrink the number of choices they offer to make a more simplified list, and then really push those simplified brands so that the choice is more clear. Hiring all those designers and engineers and brand managers plus just the various parts that have to be kept in stock doesn’t seem that logical to me. But, again, what do I know?
Anyhow, I’d love to read your comments below on the interior of this and what you think overall. I really enjoy interacting with you all.
My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for the photos and video in this article.
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with Peggy.
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The bedroom is cool. Easy to make bed, side stands that you can easily reach on both sides of the bed, and stands that do not reach so far into the room that making the bed is ‘rough duty’. And then they ruin it with those goofy useless ‘spin fans’ in the bathroom. How is this so hard for mfgs to change? Also, it looks like everyone is following in Berkley’s footsteps with less and less of what Tony calls “swishes and swirls”.
I have a 2022 Arcadia 3660 that blew us away at the dealer with its interior. Unfortunately, we had multitude of problems that rooted to a lack of quality control by both mfr and dealer. A/C that didn’t work because thermostat wasn’t connected (discovered after dealer changed the A/C); all 4 tires (HiSpec) failed long before tread wore out (replaced with Goodyear Endurance); electric outlets that didn’t work because they were not wired; brakes that failed repeatedly due to shorted wires that were result of mfr oversight (according to dealer); fridge that wouldn’t work until finally after 2 years of complaining the dealer finally changed the whole fridge; I’ve run out of space, etc.
Love the floorplan, hate the interior color choices. The bedroom layout is exactly like the one in our old fifth wheel, which was really comfortable and had lots of hanging and shelf storage for clothes. And there is no windshield over the bed, which is another plus. But the leaf springs, no matter the “improvements”, makes it a no-sale RV for us!
We had one of the first Curt fifth wheel hitches that had drop-in feet with cam locks for our Ram diesel with under-bed rails. If we ever bought a new fiver, we would want another Curt hitch. And that Curt pin box is a definite improvement on our old Reese pin box!
PS–Do RV manufacturers really have engineers, Tony? I’m an engineer and it’s hard for me to believe that anything but the frame has any real “engineering” involved in it. And the frames come from an outside supplier, not the RV manufacturer. Plus Henry Ford did the last engineering of a leaf-spring suspension, so only the Band-Aids added to that suspension are “engineered” But those suspensions also come from an outside supplier. So, what role do engineers play in any of the remaining components actually built by RV companies? My guess is none, therefore no “RV engineers” needed. Engineers I know wouldn’t even think of taking a job in such a poor quality-contol industry!
Guess I need a little better “quality contol” of my own!
Thank you, Tony! If you can’t find something on a company website, then who can? That is a pretty strong indictment. Have a great weekend and safe travels!