designed into the fixed cabinetry including under the lifting master bed. Under the unit in the basement you’ll find over 145 cubic feet of space. Keystone has installed non-skid rubber diamond-plate flooring in there. Doors are large and feature weather seals and “slam” latches. A full-timer typically spends weeks and months parked; however, they also tend to drive very long distances to get to and from their destinations. This means that the towing characteristics of a unit like the Avalanche are important. To this end I first looked over a couple of features that will make the towing of this trailer easy and comfortable. It goes without saying that towing 36 feet of trailer demands as much maneuverability as possible. How much you’ve got is determined by the pin-and-nose design of the unit. In the case of the Avalanche, the pin is set far forward and the shape of the nose is tapered. According to Keystone, this offers as much as 30% better turning radius than some comparable units. This unit also uses the Trailair Rota-flex pin box, which features rubberized shock absorbers and a pivoting mechanism that soaks up the rough pitching of the trailer rather than transmitting it to the truck. I also noted there is a backup mirror and light in the unit’s nose—both are helpful. The other factor in a comfortable ride is the suspension and tires.
A look at the axles and Dexter suspension on the Avalanche reveals upgraded 7,000-pound axles that are greaseable, have bronze bushings, and bump absorption. The Nitrogen filled tires are on 8-spoke bright rims and feature 15-inch “G” load radial tires that support more weight than the “E” range tires found on many units in this size class. My test unit was fitted with the optional “one touch” auto level system. With six legs, this unit plants the trailer. It’s all operated from one location behind a locked exterior door. Also, the jacks operate in pairs, so there is no worry of twisted or bent shafts due to uneven lifting. When it comes to ride, the trailer design certainly has a lot to do with it—but then so does the truck. The Chevy Silverado 3500 had no problem with this load and its suspension was the other half of the great ride equation. All in all a fine tow—with a really nice trailer. Makes me want to retire, right about now.
KEYSTONE AVALANCHE 320RS
GVWR: 15,000 pounds DRY WEIGHT: 11,530 pounds LENGTH: 25 feet 10 inches WIDTH: 8 feet 4 inches HEIGHT: 13 feet 2 inches
FRESHWATER: 66 gallons BLACK WATER: 49 gallons GREY WATER: 83 gallons LPG: 60 pounds
RV REVIEW
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2017
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