Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2025 Keystone Bullet Crossfire 270RKS travel trailer. One of the many privileges I’ve enjoyed, thanks to your continued support here, is being able to attend things like Open House, where I get to see the new stuff first. As someone who’s a professional looker-atter of RVs, that’s almost like Disneyland for me.
There are even people dressed in funny costumes.
But something I’ve come to notice with Keystone’s Bullet line is a change in philosophy over time. When I was selling RVs, one of the brands we sold was Bullet. Something that was pretty apparent about them was that they felt like an affordable brand of trailer.
Some brands are good at making their more affordable line not feel so affordable. I think you know what I’m getting at here. Bullets were popular sellers with us and, quite frankly, our warranty experience with them was really, really good. But they just felt… well… affordable. How’s that for being PC?
I think a part of that was the cabinets which, when I was there, were painted a solid gray and almost felt like camping in something that required a court order.
Anyhow, all that is to say that someone at Keystone took notice and the newer Bullet product is improved in how they build it and how it’s decorated.
Another thing I noticed at Open House was that the Bullet line had a few pretty nice innovations that I didn’t see elsewhere.
As usual, let’s start at the road and work our way up, shall we?
Start at the road with the Keystone Bullet 270RKS
I’ve written before about trailers with spread axles and have asked transporters what they thought of this. They liked it. But what they tended to like even more were the trailers with torsion axle suspensions. Bullet has switched from the spread axles to torsion axles.
Quite honestly, this is a big upgrade for a brand known as being more affordable and one of the many examples of the Bullet line becoming more fancy, if you will.
They also use Goodyear Endurance tires, which are my favorites.
The frame on these is an NXG Huck-bolted frame rather than a welded frame. Again, there are claims that this is a better frame than the welded models under most trailers. Whatever the case, it’s clear that Keystone is investing in the Bullet line in ways you may not see—and that’s a positive thing.
This does still use the Accu-Slide cable slide system that is not rated to be occupied while retracted, but we also had almost no issues with these slides. However, owners should keep an eye on the tension of the cables over time. They can be adjusted and should be if they lose tension. I think cable slides are fine if you maintain them. But I also don’t think many people know jack squat about maintenance, so things like this get a bad rap.
Something else I liked: There are backup lights on these, which is something typically reserved for more pricey rigs.
What do you think about this?
On the subject of lighting, this has light strips at the front and back of the trailer that go into where there would otherwise be insert molding. The company that supplies these are friends of mine. I can see these strip lights being very helpful as you’re backing into a campsite after dark.
But I can also see people leaving them on all night long. You know who you are.
Funny thing—I was visiting the folks who make these with my new trailer and they mentioned that they were testing DOT-approved red versions that could be used for tail lights or turn signal lights. Anyhow, I got that prototype on the new trailer.
For those of you who may not know, I was rear-ended a couple of years ago with my three-month-old trailer which caused that trailer to be totaled. I’m hoping even Helen Keller could see these new lights. They only work as brake lights and turn signal lights in my case, but I love ‘em.
But on the subject of the white lights (see pictures above), what do you think of those? Used appropriately, I like them.
What’s inside the Keystone Bullet 270RKS
This is a rear kitchen trailer that’s a larger unit—but the thing that’s my favorite part of this trailer is sort of a fold-out table.
Like many modern RVs, there’s a big TV opposite the theater seats in this. Below that is a fireplace, of course, with some cabinets surrounding it.
But then flip down a door and a table can glide out of there on drawer slides. This is a table that has two sectioned pieces so you could use it to seat four people or use it as a desk. I really, really like this arrangement as it offers more functionality while also not taking up space when it’s not in use. Keystone includes a couple of chairs to use here, as well.
Otherwise, this rear kitchen model has an enormous amount of countertop that spans the width of the back of the trailer and continues up the camp side. Like always, when there’s lots of counter space, there’s also lots of drawer and cabinet storage.
If it weren’t for the puny 17” oven, this would be a great rig for those who like to cook. However, there is a flat-top griddle and mini fridge outside.
Sit and sleep in the Keystone Bullet 270RKS
Up front, there’s a proper queen-sized bed with hanging storage on both sides. That hanging storage also has cubbies behind it so you can finally put away your iPad after reading all of RVtravel.com.
Oh, the outlets on either side of the bed are also tied in to the inverter prep on this trailer. So, if you do camp off the grid, you can easily fit this trailer with an inverter to power those outlets from the battery.
It’s not typical that the overhead cabinets on travel trailers have a provision to stay up, but Keystone put struts in here to accomplish just that. As mentioned, they seem to be doing detail changes that might not get noticed but do result in a better product.
The bathroom in here has a rectangular shower that is rather spacious for a travel trailer. There’s plenty of space to accomplish all intended tasks in this room.
Boondocking and travel access
You might be surprised to learn that almost everything you might want to use in this trailer can be used with the slide in. The fridge, sink and most of the cabinets and drawers are accessible. The only thing that’s really blocked is the oven and stove.
Keystone really established a beach head with their SolarFlex™ packages. This one has the most basic, but that still includes a 30 amp MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller and 220 watts of solar on the roof. The nifty thing about this whole SolarFlex system is that Keystone has worked with dealers to make upgrading these packages easy.
Dealers can add panels (based on the size of the controller) and also offer high-quality batteries, all of which are covered under the factory warranty. Upgrading the stock systems is also pretty straightforward—it’s a well-thought-out system.
More Keystone stuff
My experience with Keystone has really been good. Even the more affordable models came in with few, if any, defects. But the company intentionally wires their trailers with consistent wiring colors, which means there are generally fewer issues to start with and they’re easier to diagnose if they do come up. Oh, and this trailer is wired for 50 amps, so dropping on a second A/C unit is simple.
Keystone also uses a flooring product called HyperDeck™, which is all man-made. While some companies have seemed to have issues with these laminate floors, I haven’t heard a lot of issues with this.
Another thing Keystone has done is re-engineer its A/C ducting system to provide greater airflow. All of this is part of what the company calls their Innovation Lab, and they’ve done a lot to make these trailers better. I also like that there’s no furnace ducting in the floors of these.
Conclusions about the Keystone Bullet Crossfire 270RKS
This is a long, long trailer—but I really like that table/desk arrangement. That space could be used in the same fashion in a lot of RVs, and I hope it catches on. Plus, bigger trailers have more counterspace.
On the outside of this trailer, notice the graphics. They are more linear. Let’s all put in thoughts of praise to Brinkley for finally breaking the mold on the swishy swirl graphics that I absolutely dislike. I’m seeing more and more actually tasteful (to my eye) graphics on RVs as a result of one company breaking the mold.
In fact, in one of my articles here, I complained about the swishy swirl graphics. Someone who designs RV graphics reached out and said that the decision-makers at the company they worked for absolutely wouldn’t approve anything but the swirly stuff. They wanted to do something different, but different doesn’t always play in the traditional space that is Indiana.
Overall, I like this trailer a lot. This would be great for someone who spends a lot of time in their trailer and might want to work or entertain there. What are your thoughts? Do you like that new desk thing? What about the graphics?
My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for the video and photos 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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Boy,Brinkley has sure led the way with paint schemes on trailers. I like it. Still that worthless fan in the bathroom. The ‘nightstand’ on the left side of the bed really presents a challenge if you’re one of those (like me) that makes the bed every morning. And saving the worst for last, I think that roll-out table is just goofy. I can just see trying to eat at that office desk. And of course, if you have friends over for dinner, do they just hang out waiting for their turn to sit at that desk?
I think RV manufacturers sit around just looking for something, anything, new and different to put out there without any thought on practicality. JMHO . . .
I don’t know the difference between a Bullet and a Bullet Crossfire, but I like the changes they have made. Bullet used to be a mid-priced trailer priced below Outback and Cougar and above Passport and Hideout. So it is interesting that Keystone has put torsion axles (hooray!) on these, while the “Rockstaff” twins have reversed to leaf springs on their fifth wheels. Now, if Bullet would just rotate the whole rear half of the interior 180 degrees to put the slide and its windows on the camp side, they would have my favorite fifth wheel floorplan. No outside kitchen, but I wouldn’t use one anyway. BTW, some motorhome floorplans have had pull-out dining table/desks/folding chairs for decades!
Thank you, Tony! The gray water tank volume notation implies to me that there are two gray-water valves. Is it remarkably expensive to plumb a rig with kitchen sink removed from the bathroom such that there is a single gray-tank dump valve rather than two. That seems quite inconvenient. Happy new year and safe travels!