It has been said that the best days of a boat owner’s life is the day they buy and the day they sell. Sometimes, it feels like RV ownership can be the same way. One way to improve the odds is to buy a camper that’s built on a good foundation. I think that’s what you’ll find with the new 2025 Keystone Reign and 2025 Keystone Sprout, two surprising campers from a large manufacturer that you might find actually appealing. For starters, neither of these trailers even have a splinter of wood in their structure.
Large RV manufacturers have a reputation for cranking out trailers as fast as humanly possible. The companies construct hundreds of thousands of units each year from complex production lines where workers are often paid by the piece. As I’ve seen with my own eyes over the past few years, quality wildly varies, and I’m not just talking about my parents’ camper. I’ve seen brand-new trailers displayed at RV shows with faults you wouldn’t accept in a Hyundai sitting on a dealership floor, let alone something more expensive.
A lot of travel trailers are also built similar to how they’ve been constructed for decades. Many trailers are still wood-framed boxes with layers of plywood and fiberglass sitting on top of a steel frame and rounded out with a rubberized roof. These types of campers are often called “stick-built” campers and generally, this method of construction is more cost-effective and typically doesn’t require a highly-specialized workforce.
However, stick builds are also known to be a bit less durable than more advanced builds. For example, a stick-built trailer has countless potential points of entry for water. If water gets in, you could be looking at replacing entire walls, roof sections, and floors after the leaks do their damage. Some better stick-built trailers may have Azdel material instead of Lauan plywood. Azdel is composite and is advertised as being able to stand up to abuse far better than old-school Lauan.
On the other hand, some builds go far and beyond. Some manufacturers go with all-metal, all-composite, or all-fiberglass construction. The logic here is that if there’s no wood, then there’s nothing to rot or split apart in the unfortunate discovery of a water leak. Besides, some of these trailers might not even leak in the first place.
That’s what we’re getting here with the Keystone Reign and its sibling, the Keystone Sprout. Both of these trailers look like the typical stick-built unit, but both are a mix of composite and metal construction without a pound of wood to be found.
I think what surprised me most about these two trailers is that they are vastly different than the typical product built by a brand under the Thor umbrella. Keystone was founded in 1996 by Cole Davis with the mission of building feature-packed RVs for thousands less than the competition. This formula worked and saw the brand rocket up the charts, scoring a number two spot on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies in 2000. That was enough to get the attention of Thor Industries, which purchased the brand in 2001.
Keystone RV sells everything from the absurdly cheap Coleman travel trailers to the monster triple-axle Raptor fifth wheels. Most of these trailers look nice but aren’t going to stop you in your tracks.
What did halt my forward movement at the 2024 Thor Dealer Open House were the 2025 Keystone Reign and the 2025 Keystone Sprout. Neither of these trailers are even mentioned on Keystone’s website right now and I haven’t even found a press release. I’m told that these trailers are so new that they aren’t even officially on sale yet, hence the lack of a press release. However, they are beginning to pop up for sale at RV dealerships, so there’s that.
What I’ve been told by Keystone staff is that these trailers are a new luxury single-axle lineup with a focus on innovation. So, let’s take a look.
Each Reign and Sprout starts life as a Huck Bolt-fastened steel frame with a torsion axle. This frame is powder-coated before the living unit is attached on top.
The box features a composite inner wall, block foam insulation, a composite outer wall, and flat sheets of aluminum for the exterior siding. This body is held together using an aluminum inner skeleton structure. The floor is composite, as is the roof. The composite roof does have a rubberized top layer, but again, there isn’t wood underneath it to rot.
Keystone tells me there isn’t a single bit of wood in the structure because these trailers are supposed to be lighter and last longer than the typical travel trailer. The trailers I toured were currently the only two prototypes that are out there and I’m told that the inner walls of the prototypes are typical RV walls. But the real deal will be composite.
All of this sounds great! I also like some of the attention to detail. Automotive paint is used on the exteriors of the Reign and the Sprout, giving both trailers a glossy finish. The RGB lighting is also a pretty cool touch and I like how the RGB strips look like they’re meant to be fixed to a vehicle. That sounds like a silly thing to praise, but too many trailers seemingly just use RGB strips meant for computer cases and just call it a day.
For another note about that paint, Keystone says the green of the Reign is the same kind and color of paint used by Mercedes-Benz in Europe.
The interiors of these trailers are said to be of a European-inspired design. To me, they both look like a doctor’s office, but with beds. What’s more important to me is quality. While my tours of these interiors were short, I didn’t find anything obviously wrong and the materials used all felt like they belonged in there. In other words, there was nothing in there that I felt I could break by accidentally falling over.
To be clear, the materials in these trailers aren’t necessarily luxurious. They are about as you’d expect from this price point. However, everything looked like it was put together well, nothing felt nasty to the touch, and I can see this interior lasting a pretty long time. Keystone told me that the cabinetry in here was designed to be “impervious” to water so that if they did get wet, you wouldn’t see the finish bubbling like you’d see in a typical travel trailer.
You’ll also note the lack of doors on a lot of the cabinetry. That’s on purpose. Apparently, Keystone got feedback from existing owners about cabinet doors flying open and spreading their contents all over their trailers. Keystone’s solution was to get rid of the doors and instead have an open hole with a tall lip. If you have stuff that will still fly out, you can use nets to keep them in.
Some of the fancy cabinetry does get weird. It seemed like the designers ran out of ideas in the bathroom because there’s nowhere to put toilet paper and the shelving sort of just stops, leaving a lot of dead space. Months ago, these prototypes also had exposed plumbing, but that has been rectified.
Other goodies include 220 Watts of solar on the trailers’ roofs with ports for expansion, a 37-gallon fresh tank, a 27-gallon gray tank, and a 27-gallon black tank.
In terms of weight, there are two versions of the Sprout. The 19’9″ 15RBS weighs 3,310 pounds while the 22’7″ 18RBS weighs 3,815 pounds. These trailers are a little heavy for composite units, but the real reason to buy these is for the longevity, anyway. The Reign comes in the same lengths with the same weights.
Pricing gets interesting. Keystone tells me the smaller 2025 Reign and 2025 Sprout starts at $29,000 while the larger floorplan starts at $33,600. However, here’s the wild part: I’ve seen a now-expired listing for the $29,000 Reign 15RB cut down to $22,900, so at least one dealer already applied a large discount on this new design. However, some listings are also over MSRP. As always, it pays to shop around.
I’m told that Keystone’s website should be updated to include these trailers soon enough. They’re still so new that the company hasn’t even made an official announcement about them yet.
You might wonder why the prices seem so low, well, compared to the typical RV, anyway. I did notice that some corners were cut. I mentioned that the frame is powder-coated, but it’s also important to note that the frame isn’t galvanized. Some paint is already chipping off of the frame of one of the prototypes and sure enough, rust is starting to form there.
As I said earlier, the interior materials aren’t particularly luxurious either, just finished better than usual. Keystone’s people say that they could have done more to the frame and other materials, but that would have driven up the price.
So, just make sure you pay attention to the frame or perhaps give it an undercoating.
Overall, I must admit I’m a bit shocked. There are some genuinely good ideas at work here. These trailers don’t have any wood to rot, but they do have stylish bodies, eye-popping colors, and interiors that at least feel like they’re going to last more than a few years. Are these the best-built trailers I’ve seen? No, but they seem to be several steps higher than the typical trailer.
Yet, they aren’t wrapped up in a price tag that starts with six figures. I can only hope other big manufacturers start doing more designs like this, or better.
(Images: Author, unless otherwise noted.)
“I can only hope other big manufacturers start doing more designs like this, or better.”
Go ahead and hope but as long as the utter crap they make sells for insane prices why would they? Especially when that crap predictably falls apart and those same customers pay equally insane prices for more utter crap.
If anything this discourages making quality products since that lowers turnover. Sure, maybe customers might revolt someday but so what? That’ll be the next guy’s problem.
“You’ll also note the lack of doors on a lot of the cabinetry. That’s on purpose… “
Have they never heard of latches?
I’m sure the build quality is there – but the monotone early IKEA interiors are so….
….depressing.
I guess that’s one way to get the kids outdoors.
If they sell a bunkhouse version for my kids, I’d be pretty serious about upgrading to one.
This sounds like hopeful news, however as always, my first question is, Are these avaialble without the exterior graphics, logos, and branding? I prefer very plain exterior styling.
I don’t know why they would call these interiors european inspired. Interiors of the average european brand caravan (european word for trailer-camper) are much more composed and cozy looking, this still looks like a bunch of furniture placed against the walls.
Even a year ago I had no interest in RVs or campers, but the closer I get to retirement the more I appreciate these articles. My wife and I have discussed getting something small like these for getaways after this kids are out of the house and I outgrow the desire to pitch a tent, but quality has been a concern. Thank you for these excellent, informative articles about things real people can afford.
My wife and I are about 5-8 years away from that same scenario. We rented one and found it cramped and stuffy while cooking and generally claustrophobic. $25k buys a lot of AirBNB or hotel rooms. All of those you can leave without the hassle of mice, winterizing, cleaning and a storage spot. We recently “glamped” in a deluxe Yurt in the NC mountains this summer. A/C and hot showers with a killer view. Most RV campgrounds don’t have that kind of view either. That’s just my $0.02.
That’s always my thought process. And these are depreciating assets with their own carrying costs, so it’s not like you can pull your investment out when you’re done. I’d rather spend that money on a hotel room and a rental car.
Again that inner cost accountant looks at doenfing 30k on an assst that depreciates faster than a VW Phaeton and looks for the nearest upscale hotel with indoor pool.
Yeah, these look and sound pretty decent…although they’re still a little pricey. Hopefully they start making them better like this. Also, I thought those workers were paid in meth ha ha
Mercedes,Take a peek at the Intech Sol series, welded aluminum complete cage (walls and roof) welded to an aluminum frame.
Fiberglass roof and sides.
https://intech.com/rv/sol/
The problem with inTech is they dont have a bunkhouse version (and none that I see with a slide), and even the small trailers they have are really spendy. So great for 2 people, but not a family on a 2 week national parks trip. =\
I owned two travel trailers for a terrible business model that I had…. airbnb trailers… very stupid idea
Anyway…. the roof seam crapped out after 10 years or so and it being winter in New England I wasn’t ever too interested in dealing with it. Didn’t know where the leak was coming from at the time.
In the spring I had a lot of tearing out and rebuilding to do with custom cut 2x4s spray foam and random plastic sheeting.
The old insulation was full of mice nastyness, mold and whatever else that could make you massively depressed from being a neglectful idiot
You are correct. My best day of trailer ownership was when I sold those babies.
If I ever get another one I always said I want an airstream or something exactly like these!
Agree that getting away from vinyl veneer interior panels and cabinets is great. Frame could be better, like welded or even riveted. Like to see them ditch the vinyl,roof. And what type of aluminum framing is in the walls. One wonders.
but kudos for a quality improvement at a affordable price point.
The stark “European” interior styling appeals to me.
Then again, I also think the hotel suite where astronaut Dave Bowman meets the star child is pretty swank.
I’ve sworn off single-axle full sized campers. Too bad they’re not available with tandem axles.
I had a Camplite – Livin’Lite 16BH. All welded aluminum/composite constructions, 2700lbs dry, with dual torsion axles, and only 9ft tall. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a slide, so was cramped.
Thor bought them out, and drove them into the ground.
We’re getting warmer at least.
But their website pretending that these trailers don’t exist is concerning. Is this a product they’re excited about offering? Or is it the black sheep of the company; an admission that the construction methods used for their money-makers actually sucks?
Ah, that’s my fault for not clarifying. Keystone says these are super fresh and not officially out yet, so the company hasn’t even made an official announcement about them. They made their debut at the Hershey RV show, then Keystone made some small changes before bringing them to the Indiana dealer show.
The company expects to announce them soon, but I guess I beat them to the punch. lol
Oh that’s cool. Yeah I guess I would have just assumed that if they were at a show, there would have at least been a “coming soon” on their site. I guess I was also confused as to how some dealers had these listed already.
I wonder if the money they’d save ditching the LED light strips could pay for galvanizing the steel of the frame.
LED’s are cheap and flashy. Plus everyone can see them. Whether they want to or not. Galvanizing takes a lot more work and money than some unnecessary bling.
“I’ve seen brand-new trailers displayed at RV shows with faults you wouldn’t accept in a Hyundai”
Please, Mercedes, don’t hurt ’em!
Hyundai has come a long way…. I get that it was a turn of phrase, but it seemed less… ‘fair’ I guess? to continue piling on Hyundai.
I mean no one would do that comparison today with, say, Chevy, because they once had headliners that fell down after 6k miles.
It’s whatever.
I chose a random automaker out of my head. My first choice was Smart, but that doesn’t make sense because those aren’t sold here anymore. I switched to the next brand that popped into my head, Hyundai. Don’t think too much about it. 🙂
Guess I should have just said “car” so people don’t think I’m dunking on a car brand. Blegh, I guess I’m just stepping on a lot of toes today.
Lollerskates! I am not thinking that much about it, and I wouldn’t say you had stepped on my toes.
It was more like we are both on a crowded subway train, and you may not be quite aware of where my toes are.
Believe me, when people start nitpicking, Mercedes, it means you are doing a lot of things right.
Hugs!
The paint it peeling off my Hyundai. There might be a class action suit for this.
Also, if I use my sunroof, chances are the wind deflector will detach.
Have at it.
Sure we do! Malaise GM is used as a negative benchmark all the time.
Oldsmobile diesel, Chevy Vega, Cadillac Cimmaron, Chevy Chevette, the list goes on.
I am often drawn to these articles about RV’s. This one seems nicer than most in the similar price point range, and has a Pop out! I went the DIY trailer route, but it’s nice to see what the next logical step in RV ownership looks like.
I camp in a tent, tall enough to stand in, with a cot, chair, and table in the tent with me. I am so glad that I have not sunk thousands into an RV and all these right ups that I enjoy reading make me feel good that I do not own an RV.
The costs of these trailers would pay for quite a few nights in decent hotels.
Yep like hundreds if you are looking at the expensive RVs
This sentiment misses the point about camping. If a person doesn’t enjoy camping then there’s no RV or travel trailer on the planet, even at zero dollars, that equals a nice hotel. Consider these points about camping:
We live in state with a large amount of federal land. We camp next to streams, on mountain peaks, on open playas, near hot springs and everything in between all four seasons. We go where we want and not where we can find a reservation.
I agree about the kitchen. 3 people all with different dietary needs. Carrying your food and cooking for lunch at rest stops is good. This is a lifestyle choice not a money saver.
That being said my dream RV is a loaded Super C. 🙂
Totally agree with on this but around me the only place to park a camper of this size would be in a lot at a campsite full of other large campers/RVs full of children and generators running all night. The real cool camping spots are often tent or vehicle only, no trailers or certainly no electrical/amenities for trailers.
They’re definitely best for people with certain lifestyles. If you enjoy tent camping, there’s certainly no reason to spring for an RV.
Most mid-end or higher units don’t have wood frames anymore anyway – though they often still use Plywood for floors and roofs – so this is definitely a move in the right direction. I am still unsure why it has a rubber roof – why can’t they just put the composite siding up top as well? I’ve never understood the rubber roofs – they are very maintenance intensive.
I suspect the lack of cabinet doors is about weight and money savings as much as anything. Ours never open, but they have strong latches on them (made by Keystone!)
Anyway, its an interesting step in the right direction, but to me just shows where Keystone should have been…20 years ago.
>why can’t they just put the composite siding up top as well
How about a metal roof? Galavanized steel sheeting with no holes in it should last decades.
“It has been said that the best days of a boat owner’s life is the day they buy and the day they sell it”
I hate this statement so much. Maybe if you’re an idiot that buys something impulsively without an inspection and is unable to change a spare tire, sure, accurate statement.
But if you’re remotely able to twist a screwdriver or spin a wrench, boats are FAR less complex than cars, zero braking system, zero suspension system, pretty much no rust, just resins and glues, and generally basic bish engines with cheap parts.
Every day I spend on the water, I am doing better than 99.999% of humanity. Boats make core memories.
For the rest of this article, this camper, like most of them, is still built like total garbage imho. It’s a basic design, with zero innovative materials or construction methods, with $40 worth of RGB leds stuck onto the outside of it. Gee wizz.
I get you’re on a streak of reviewing these things, and RVs, but…. vans are better than either. And not super lux sprinters, but man, for 30k you could have a quigly 4×4 7.3 powered econoline fully built out.
And it would be better than any camper or RV you’ve reviewed.
Excuse me, but does your boat have a tungsten infused carbon fiber hull? No, innovation may not come at a staggering pace for camper trailers, but your boat probably isn’t infused with every bit of the latest technology unless your a billionaire. And I’m sure a fair amount of boats have random RGB crap tacked on.
… huh???
Show me the part where I claimed it did?
I’m with you on the boat thing – but suggesting someone is better off with a 30 year old powerplant in a aftermarket modified van verses just hooking up a warrantied cheap travel trailer to their existing truck is….an interesting take.
Diesel engine operation and maintenance, even simple ones like the 7.3 are not for the faint hearted or thin walleted…. Expecting someone to be able to understand the complexities and maintenance around say the HPOP system on the 7.3L and oh also that aftermarket Dana 60 with manual locking hubs, and full custom suspension setup that likely needs regular maintenance…seems a tall order. Again, not so simple.
I want one – But no I don’t think most people are better off that route.
“But no I don’t think most people are better off that route.”
But I’m not talking about ‘most people’. This is the autopian. For you know…. like… automotive enthusiasts. If this website only wrote about what was best for ‘most people’, it would be nothing but minivans, crossovers, and a used toyota camry.
I would argue that a brand new camper like the one above, that will rapidly depreciate and likely turn into a piece of ****, is not great for ‘most people’.
I would argue that any towable camper is not a great fit for ‘most people’ as it doesn’t get used very often, and takes up a ton of storage space.
I would argue that a van is more secure and better built than any of these campers, because it requires millions of dollars in tooling and encases the user in a weatherproof shell that protects against the elements, bears, intruders, etc.
And the 7.3 is expensive to service…. but it also lasts for friggin ever, which means a lot of things: Great mpg (diesel), great torque, and great resale value… which is far better than this stupid RGB gamer-fied camper will be.
You don’t see too many e350 vans in New England that look like they are driven by a person you ever want to be friends with that are older then say 2010 model year.
They get desperate and sad looking quickly after 15 years old.
In Arizona they probably look fantastic 30 years old though!
My aunt and uncle use their camper regularly when they can and it’s lasted a long time. And it does not have the “Stupid RGB gamer-fie” lights. Campers are great for those of us who don’t live near a lake or an ocean, like those in the middle of the USA. But hey, whatever sinks your boat.
You know, the same boat stereotype is very similar to trailers. Never use it and complain about it. But when you actually maintain a trailer, it can stay in good condition and last a long time, just like a boat. And a used trailer is cheaper than a used van.
Kind of ignoring the cost of a tow vehicle…
You got it 100%. That saying is from those that impulsively buy a boat not considering whether it will actually work for them. Then, when it sits in their driveway for 363 days a year they bitch and moan that it needs work. Then spend crazy money on wake towers and 18 speaker marine audio systems to keep up with their neighbor.
I’ve owned my current boat 4 years. Paid $8k cash and have spent maybe $300 on it in 4 years (along with fuel and oil). My family takes it out probably 30 times a year tubing, cruising, swimming, and having a blast. I’ll be sad when I have to sell it.
I won’t use that boat saying again. Thought it was a good way to start about how RVs are crap, but clearly, I’m wrong. Sorry about that.
As for my coverage, what’s “better” depends on the person, and for some, they want something that’s not a van. I know people who wouldn’t buy anything other than a travel trailer and I know people who’d rather build their own van than buy something made in Indiana. I get it. But hey, I try to cover a little bit of everything. I mean, we’ve written about everything from million-dollar expedition trucks that can’t climb hills to $1,500 boxes you can throw into the back of a Chevy Spark. Something for everyone.
But thanks for reminding me that I should write something about Quigley!
Better as in:
The issue with what you’re currently covering is that it’s generally all brand new, crazy expensive stuff where a company is wanting exposure. That’s fine… but a used econoline with a 7.3 has a lot going for it, but they don’t make them, so they’re all used… so you aren’t going to get a company to just hand you the keys.
And I get it. But you’re missing a huge portion of what’s available out there, and what’s affordable for most people.
Potential viral idea: Drive a built out econoline THROUGH the side of a used camper. 🙂
How about we drive it through a boat instead?
haha, maybe a pontoon?
Just swap in “used BMW” and it works.
I think me and ADDvanced can agree to that…
Uh, maybe used. Let’s say a private buyer could buy a new E450 cutaway today. The Ford MSRP is $40K and the Quigley upgrade is another $19K. The build-out cost would be a minimum of $10K, and more like $30K for decent cabinets, windows, electrical, HVAC and plumbing.
And room for two people that really like each other and you can carry a box of Kleenex to not go overweight (remember people, water, fuel, are considered cargo). This trailer seems good for a single traveler though I despise murphy beds.
Lost too many Sims to those, wait that is a video game, Move along.
“Every day I spend on the water, I am doing better than 99.999% of humanity. Boats make core memories”. – ADDvanced
“If a man must be obsessed by something, I suppose a boat is as good as anything, perhaps a bit better than most.” – E.B.White
“”Nice? It’s the only thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly as he leant forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,” he went on dreamily: “messing…about…in…boats…messing…”” – K.Grahame – The Wind in the Willows
I have an e350 xlt. And I’d be happy to live in it for a while….solo…. but I’d much rather have this trailer if living with my partner, kids, dogs ect.
Most peeps don’t go camping on the Rubicon trail
These actually looks pretty good! The nets instead of cabinet doors idea is just pure genius!
First it Reigns, then it Sprouts.
Also, another plus – no weirdo swoop and swirl graphics all over the outside that look like some drunk went crazy with a paintbrush
Agreed. That looks like an ice cream sandwich.
That’s gonna be Thor’s next big idea… a cheap RV for cold climates built using a load of ice cream sandwiches that expired that they got from Walmart for cheap!!!
That’ll be catnip for the prepper kinda guy.
“I’ll never starve! My whole house is made of food!”