As many RV techs can attest, however, when units are brought in for servicing even seemingly minor repairs and upgrades can become drawn-out affairs. The oftentimes bewildering nests of pipes and wiring demanded by onboard safety and comfort systems tend to follow routes dictated by the RV’s framework — a situation that can, on occasion, tax the abilities of even the most experienced service shop.

Changing this design to provide such systems their own dedicated pathway is easier said than done, however. Knowing that one way to achieve this – raising the floor of a fifth wheel or travel trailer – would not only elevate the vehicle’s center of gravity but also extend its roofline to untenable heights, Keystone RV went in the other direction: The Goshen, Ind.-based subsidiary of THOR Industries developed its own proprietary frame for its new Arcadia brand. Between the chassis and the Arcadia’s unique “leaning forward” front cap design that dramatically opens up forward storage space — as well as a push by Keystone engineers to create dedicated locations for such critical connections as leveling systems and convenience centers — the new line looks to dramatically accelerate the towable design envelope.

It Starts with the Chassis
Dubbed the NGC2 (which stands for “Next-Generation Crawlspace Chassis”), the chassis is the lynchpin to what Keystone President and CEO Jeff Runels calls a “ground-up reimagining” of towable design.

“Our goal was, we wanted something in every area of the Arcadia that, aesthetically or feature-wise, would be different, that we could pitch as an improvement over our competition,” Runels told RV Enthusiast as we toured Keystone’s first fifth-wheel floorplan.

Many of these changes — from the soft-shell fenders that resist cracking and discoloration to the front cap design which provides greater ceiling height and depth of the forward closet in the upper-deck master bedroom suite — are evident from first glance at the Arcadia.

However, the biggest departure from the norm is what is not visible: The patented chassis, which was developed in-house and can be contracted out to any company for construction. Built around a typical 10-inch extruded I-beam frame, the chassis features crossmembers that sit nearly 3 inches below the level of the outer I-beams. This creates a channel, or “crawl space,” between the supporting crossmembers and the floor of the unit to allow an unimpeded area to run water lines, electrical wiring and ductwork.

Keystone turned nearly every available space inside the Arcadia into storage, including the area behind the flatscreen TV in the main living area.

The pantry boasts a chalkboard inside the door for notes, adjustable shelves and a space-saving countertop with outlets to plug in small kitchen electronics.

According to Runels, part of the Acadia’s 18-month gestation was spent talking to a lot of retail customers and integrating their thoughts whenever possible. The interior, for example, replaces typical window coverings with Roman shades, while the rear sofa found in the 3660RL fifth wheel has a 92-inch-wide mechanism that folds out to a king-size bed. All of the oversized slide-outs on the main floor are flush and finished in matching linoleum used on the floor itself, and are either ram-driven or use Schwintek mechanisms instead of cables.

And, of course, there’s an abundance of storage — another area where the Arcadia shines — in the kitchen island, behind the 50-inch flatscreen TV, “anywhere we could put a drawer, we did,” says Runels.

Aside from the expected pantry space — augmented by adjustable shelves, a chalkboard for notes on the inside of the door and a countertop with outlets to plug in small kitchen electronics — the island itself contains added storage, as well as a flip-up butcherblock countertop that doubles as a workstation complete with electric outlets and USB-port hookups.

Two additional engineering innovations contribute to industry “firsts” with the Arcadia. Because the front cap leans forward at the top, Tavernier says it creates “about 57 inches of depth” in the fifth wheel’s forward closet as well as increased headroom. As such, there’s space for either a stackable washer and dryer or separate components behind the twin farmhouse sliding doors.

Meanwhile, Keystone decided to design the bedroom slideout so that only the California King bed (with a 72- by 84-inch Simmons mattress) would move when the slide was actuated; the bed base remains fixed in place. This means that when extended, the slide-out occupies higher air, thus nearly eliminating cracked skulls when walking outside near it. And, with the permanent bed base, Keystone utilized some of the space beneath it to add a reserve freshwater tank, increasing the Acadia’s total freshwater capacity to 107 gallons.

“This is going to be a very good coach for boondocking,” said Tavernier. “In addition to the freshwater capacity, we ‘went big’ where it counts — using the largest, most robust components available. Instead of a 30,000-Btu furnace, we use one rated at 35,000-Btu, and instead of a 10-gallon hot water tank, we went with a 12-gallon tank. We also have a great solar package.”

The Arcadia has a few choices when it comes to solar power. It will come standard with a roof port, 200-watt panel and a 15-amp charge controller. Optional equipment includes a 50-amp MPPT charge controller, multiple solar panels, a 2,000-watt inverter with transfer switch, a Victron energy monitor and a 265Ah lithium battery. All the solar equipment is intended to be housed in a forward bulkhead wired for the system. Both choices feed into six outlets designed to run off the solar power, including one outside, one in the bedroom and another built into the kitchen island for use while using the workstation; the theater seats and TV also are wired into the system.

While Keystone touts the “residential feel” of the interior living space, Runels also noted the “automotive finish” to the exterior. Components such as the convenience center and leveling controls are housed in their own compartments and — like bigger full-time units — the convenience center is set up with easy winterizing valves. Creating individual housings also freed up the storage bays, which boast same-size doors at either end, are fully finished off like the trunk in a car and have D-rings mounted to the floor to keep bigger items from sliding around. Even the fender skirts, made of shatterproof TPO, are finished with side marker lights.