Today’s RV review is an update on the Keystone Outback 328RL travel trailer. This is a flat fifth wheel with the most widely produced floor plan in the fifth wheel world but packaged as a travel trailer. Word is that this is the most popular floor plan in the Outback line, and that makes sense.
As many of you know, I consider myself a professional (sorta) looker-atter of RVs. There is literally not a day that goes by where I’m not looking at RVs to share with you and some other places that share my stories.
But this time I quite literally got stopped in my tracks. And that was by a trailer I had sold quite a few of when I was selling RVs. So how does a trailer like this get me to literally change directions at an RV open house?
Gold paint.
RVs tend to all look alike until you get into the big motorhomes—and then you go full carnival float graphics. But this Keystone Outback was so very different looking and very tasteful, in my opinion. The gold and obsidian gray paint followed the structural lines of the trailer as it if were designed by a car company’s most tasteful paint designer.
I was taken aback.
This is one of two paint options—the other is called obsidian, or you can just go with the more traditional white. But the gold! Wow!
The exterior appearance isn’t the only big change for 2025.
From the road up with the Keystone Outback 328RL
One of the things our rep from Keystone used to share with us when I was working in the dealership was that these Outbacks rode on a Norco frame that was huck-bolted together rather than welded. We’ve seen others with this type of structure in the past, and the claim is that these are stronger frames.
We sold a lot of these trailers and they tended to not come back for warranty repairs. There are other things Keystone is doing that help with this, including the fact that they are intentionally wired rather than having the line workers pull wires as needed.
Keystone has also bragged about things from their Innovation Lab, which is a group of Keystone team members that are empowered to try new things that might serve owners better.
This does have an enclosed and heated underbelly as well as tank heaters. These did tend to be well-insulated and, in fact, we considered them to be rather tank-like compared to most travel trailers. That was good in that they were a solid build, but you usually had to tow them with a more capable vehicle.
One thing that I noticed is that this still rides on simple leaf springs, which is my absolute least favorite trailer suspension.
Another fifth wheel-like feature is the power stabilizers. The standard issue on these is a five-point auto level with four power jacks around the trailer plus the power tongue jack. This is a nifty system that will remember how high it has to be raised to accommodate your tow vehicle. In addition, you can go super deluxe and get a seven-point auto level.
Hey Power Pro
Something new for 2025 in the Outback line is WFCO’s “Hey Power Pro” system. Essentially, if you have Siri or Alexa in your home, that’s what this is but for RVs. It works with the RV’s control panel so you can use voice commands to turn on lights or monitor tank levels.
To my understanding of this system, it works completely off the grid and requires no connection to the internet. So if you’re concerned about things listening to you, that may be more comforting. Besides, your phone is already doing all the listening you want.
I love technology and new gadgets and that sort of thing. But I’m not sure I’m on board with RV-specific tech that is baked into an RV. I like the system in my home that I can upgrade over time without having to trade my whole house in. I wish the RV industry had gone with something that was more universal. For example, incorporating a system that works with your smartphone’s voice assistant and some sort of app.
This air conditioner’s cool
The first time I saw the Furrion Chill Cube air conditioner was in a prototype Keystone Outback. Now they’ve gone all-in, making this the standard unit in the Outback line. These A/C units are remarkably efficient yet provide 18,000 BTU of cooling. Most other RV A/C units max out at 15,000 BTU. But these are not just efficient, they’re incredibly quiet, as well. To me, this is the best A/C unit on the market today.
At the present time, these are only available in “direct dump” configuration, where the A/C ducts directly into the space. There is a duct into the bathroom, but this is a good way of doing things.
There will be ducted versions of this A/C later in the year.
What’s inside the Keystone Outback 328RL
The floor plan of this trailer is very much like a fifth wheel, which you’ll notice as you step inside. Your entry point is a hallway and there are night lights here and in several other places. Take a left and you’re in the main living area, which features opposing slide rooms.
The camp side is a dinette. I was pleased with the cushions used in these dinettes. They’re another example of a slightly more upscale attitude when building trailers. The dinette table can be pushed down and the backrests slide in to make a bed. That is not unusual, but the thicker cushions are. Also, the seat cushions flip up to reveal under-seat storage.
Next up are theater seats. There have also been upgrades to this even within the same brand. The couch at the back of the trailer has exposed feet, which makes it feel much more residential.
The back wall is a tri-fold sofa and, again, the cushions are thicker than average on this. It’s a decently comfortable bed when it’s doing sleeping duty.
On the camp side slide, there’s a large TV housed in a televator.
Kitchen in the Keystone Outback 328RL
Next down the line is a Furrion three-burner RV stove with a larger oven and a drawer directly underneath that. It matches the finish and is intended for pots and pans. Next to that is the 12-volt fridge. The first one of these I saw had two refrigerators, but now we’re down to one. One should be plenty.
Around the corner from that on the front wall is a cabinet that really does look like what you’d expect in a fifth wheel. That cabinet features the microwave, a paper towel holder, some cabinet and drawer space, and a countertop with a plug.
The company is also particularly proud of the doors and door jambs they use. The doors are solid core and covered in two types of wood finish. The door jambs are also wood and are fully framed out. This might seem like a small detail, but it really does change the way an RV feels as you open and close doors. It results in a higher quality feel overall.
The bathroom is in the middle of the coach and is also a bit larger than you might expect in a travel trailer. There’s a corner radius shower and a porcelain toilet. They’ve also included a linen closet inside.
Bedroom in the Keystone Outback 328RL
In the bedroom, you’ll find the third slide room in this trailer where the king-sized bed resides. That bed rides sideways in this trailer so it can go out with the slide room. Along the front/nose of the trailer is a closet and drawers. There’s even plumbing and space for a washer/dryer in this trailer. Furthermore, there are additional drawers in a camp-side cabinet in the bedroom.
Lastly, one of the more clever things about Outback trailers is the pet kennel under the bed. If you have a small- or medium-sized pet, this could be a great place for them to sleep if they are crate trained. Even if you don’t have a pet, you can use the space for storage or shoes. Furthermore, of course, there is additional space under the bed for other things.
In summary
When these trailers came in they would go out in short order. A big part of the appeal was that people who might have considered a fifth wheel liked these since there were no steps to an upper deck. For some customers who might have mobility issues, or even if they have pets that do, this makes a lot of sense.
But it’s also nice in that you don’t have the height of a fifth wheel, either.
Overall, the customers whom I sold Outback trailers to really had a great experience with them. We also had very little need for warranties on them. But Keystone did a great job servicing our dealership with regard to warranty.
What about the idea of getting a travel trailer that has almost all the benefits of a fifth wheel? And what do you think of these paint colors? Very different, and I’m sure they’ll be polarizing. But I liked what I saw.
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.
##RVT1181
Glad to see in the photos that Keystone offers and optional table and chairs instead of just a booth dinette. Living in the Southwest, I would never even consider a black & gold RV due to the heat, especially one without ducted air. And I have not, and would never, buy any trailer with Model T-vintage leaf springs! Even late-to-the-game American cars have not had leaf springs for decades, so why do trave! trailers and fifth wheels? Keystone has lots of great ideas, but the suspensions ruin all their model lines for me.
That’s why I bring this stuff up. The Outback line has been a good seller and, quite honestly, a good product for some time but I wish they would move out of the past with their suspensions already.
As Steve H mentioned, the dark colors, while cool and stylish looking, would invite more absorbed heat in my western home area than my run-of-the-mill white travel trailer. Not a fan of the solid entry steps for all the reasons folks mention. It looks like they used slider windows instead of the trendy flat glass pop-open windows. I love sliders. Way more ventilation. I didn’t see any bedside shelves. I don’t use a CPAP but do have ‘important stuff’ next to my side of the bed. Couldn’t tell what kind of slide mechanism is used on the big slide. “They say” not to sit in your slide room when not deployed if you have a Schwintek slide mechanism. I couldn’t tell.
At 37 feet and with only 54 gallons of fresh water, I’m out. Not dry camping capable.
Thank you, Tony! DW wants RV #3, if there is a #3, to be a towable. I want to stick with driveables. However, if I win (we get a #3) and lose (#3 is a towable), then I won’t mind getting one of these (and upgrading the suspension). Thanks again, have a great day, and safe travels!