Getting one up on your neighbor just got a little easier
Preston Gratiot
Trailer Life, May 2008
We're always on the lookout for new ideas in the industry. Slideouts in RVs have been around for some time, and do a great job of opening up sometimes cramped floorplans. But how about a slide-up? Raising the bar -- literally -- is the Keystone Outback Loft, a trailer that features a pop-up slide, offering a comfortable place to view from on high.
The Loft has a bonafied second story, which is accessed via a carpeted stairway that leads up to a covered viewing platform. Inside the covered patio of sorts is a comfortable L-shaped couch ... and a drop-down flatscreen television. After all, life's good at the top.
But aside from the novel viewing platform, this unit also provides the basics we've come to expect from a decent travel trailer. For a small family that likes to spend a weekend away from home -- and bring their toys -- the Loft offers numerous sleeping sections, starting with the forward U-shaped dinette -- plenty of seating here -- that converts into a queen-size sleeping zone. Just aft of the dinette in the streetside slideout is a jackknife sofa that also converts into a bed. Amble on back to the rear garage area and there's another fold-down queen-size bed.
And speaking of the garage, the area -- accessed by the 54-inch fold-down curbside ramp door or through the typical entry door on the atypical streetside -- offers enough room for an ATV or two if packed tightly, two to three motorcycles depending on type or even a full family's supply of mountain bikes. Tie-down eyelets are pre-installed in the floor.
Back in the living area, the curbside galley includes a three-burner stovetop along with a dual-basin sink, while the streetside bathroom area is spacious enough to take care of the daily necessities, and the shower offers ample headroom.
Keystone's new entry is destined to be a big hit with RVers who enjoy taking in the sights around them while staying warm and protected from the elements. The Loft will no doubt be a huge hit with NASCAR fans, who can eschew the folding-chair-on-the-roof balancing act and spread out in the loft area.
Pick up the June 2008 issue of Trailer Life magazine for more info on Keystone's Outback Loft -- then subscribe to Trailer Life, so you can stay informed on the latest tests, previews, tow vehicles, and technical and RV-lifestyle information. Trailer Life is also available in digital-issue format.
