The humble bathroom scale has come a long way from those clunky old things with the red needles in doctors' surgeries. Today, scales look sleek and fancy – and they do more than just tell you your weight, too.
Putting aside extras like being able to tell you the weather (seriously) or sing you a lullaby (OK, not seriously, but who knows for how long?), the best bathroom scales will include the majority, if not all, of the following features.
Make sure the scales you eventually decide on are big enough and sturdy enough to accommodate you. Scales with little platform space for your feet won't be able to accurately measure your weight. And nobody wants scales that break after one use.
Most people keep their scales in the bathroom and it can get pretty steamy in there. Look around for scales that don't start malfunctioning when they come into contact with a little extra heat.
Increasingly, scales are being used for much more than simply telling you your weight. If you're on the lookout for scales that can also relay your body fat back to you, ensure its accurate.
Fitbit attempt to corner the scales market in addition to the fitness gadget one with the Aria, a set of bathroom scales described as "for the technologically-advanced weight watcher".
The scales are sturdy and have enough space for you to place your feet comfortably. The LED display is bright and easy to read. The Aria calculates your body fat percentage by passing a small electrical current through your bare feet, offering up accurate results.
The scales connect to your WiFi network and upload your weight and body fat percentage to a private online profile which can be accessed through the Fitbit website or app, where you'll be able to see graphs showing the progress of your weightloss and fitness regime.
For a great value set of digital scales, this glass set from John Lewis should do the trick. Made from a toughened glass, these scales are sturdy and provide enough platform space for you to stand on comfortably.
It has an easy to read LCD display revealing your weight in numerical form. Extremely accurate, the scales go the extra mile and are fitting with carpet feet to reduce any chance of inaccuracy due to uneven floors.
Unlike other scales, these scales do not analyse BMI or any other additional measurements and cannot connect to WiFi.
The Smart Body Analyzer from Withings is another set of scales that would be ideal for the technologically inclined. It connects to your WiFi and links to your Withings account, automatically uploading your weight to your profile every time you step on it. Use the app to look at your weightloss/gain graphs and set a target weight.
The scales record your body fat percentage by passing a small electrical current through your body to ensure optimum accuracy and also allows you to read your heart rate. For homes with multiple people, the scales are smart enough to analyse the weight of the person standing on it and correctly guess who it is, sending the information to the correct account.
Bizarrely, these scales also monitor temperature and CO2 levels in your home, notifying you of any unusually high readings.
This bright white scale set from Beurer boasts a range of features, displaying to you not only your weight, but the time, indoor and outdoor temperatures, and the local weather forecast. Simply attach the weatherproof outdoor sensor on a wall and get temperature readings in either C or F and a weather forecast each morning.
The LCD displays are clear and easy to read, though it can get a little busy and differentiating between the five first thing in the morning might be tricky for some and just plain annoying for others.
Despite offering extras such as temperature and a weather forecast, the scales don't measure BMI which is surprising given its other capabilities.
These bamboo scales from Argos are a great budget option for people looking for a cheaper set of scales without compromising on accuracy. Made from natural bamboo the scales can withstand weights of up to 180kg and have enough space to comfortably stand on.
It accurately calculates your weight in real time switching between imperial and metric measurements and is battery operated.
Stylish and smart, the QardioBase measure not only your weight, but also your BMI and full body composition (fat, muscle, water and bone). It connects to your WiFi to work seamlessly with the free Qardio app to collect, store and analyse your measurements.
It measures in kg, lb and stones to offer a precise and accurate measurement even on an uneven surface. Like other scales, this one is smart enough to recognise the profiles of up to 8 users automatically after been stepped on.
The bright LED display is simple to read, replacing numbers with smiling faces and the scales even have pregnancy mode, measuring progress week-by-week with a photo diary.
It uses both feet and hand sensors to accurately analyse and display your measurements.
If you don't mind fiddling around with the various buttons to get the measurements you need, the Omron is top tier for the kind of accuracy you'd receive at your GP.
If you'd rather keep things traditional, go for the trusted Salter 145 mechanical scale. Sturdy and with a generous amount of foot room to keep you balanced, the scale can hold weights up to 150kg.
It doesn't have any of the bells and whistles as any of the above machines, but for a simple set of scales that'll tell you what you want to know without any hassle, the Salter 145 mechanical scale is a great choice.
Above: The Travel Lite 625 at D&H RV Center in Apex, North Carolina
From the repeated requests, the Travel Lite team designed a hard side truck camper that would fit inside of a 6.5-foot short bed truck with the tailgate closed. Keeping the camper inside the tailgate would allow for towing without an extension hitch and provide the best possible turning radius for the rig. Once lowered, the tailgate could then become a small deck for sitting or gear.
Perhaps the Travel Lite 625’s most impressive trick is its ability to work with short and long bed half-ton trucks. It looks a bit odd mounted on a long bed, but the two feet of bonus truck bed storage is perfect for toys, gear, and water containers.
To keep the weight down, Travel Lite used the materials, construction approach, and design concepts of their best-selling 770 Super Lite model. The 625 features the same overall profile, kiln-dried Banak wood from South America, and cabinetry netting as the 770. Further eliminating weight, the 625 was designed without a bathroom, black tank, or grey tank.
Dustin reported the initial dry weight of the 625 at 1,285 pounds and gave the camper a $10,495 MSRP with standard build options; refrigerator, sink, stove, fresh water tank, converter, and manual Rieco-Titan jacks. Clearly Dustin was looking to put a sizable dent in the half-ton truck camper marketplace.
Of course the path to half-ton truck camper paradise is paved with good intention truck camper designs that never caught on. These campers were usually too heavy, too expensive, or too small to become a consistent seller in the marketplace.
The question is, will the Travel Lite 625 break through where so many others have failed, or end up in the half-ton truck camper bin of history? It’s time to put the 625 under the microscope.
We photographed the 2016 Travel Lite 625 seen in this review at D&H RV Center in Apex, North Carolina.
Floor Plan Evaluation
As seems to be the trend of late, the Travel Lite 625 is infused with the ideas and lessons of the past five decades of truck camper design. This is not a fancy SolidWorks modeled multi-slide with intricate cuts and exotic amenities. You’ll find no CNC-routed curves or luxury appliances here.
What you will find is an firmly old-school, pencil-to-paper, saw-to-wood truck camper design that shoe-horns an impressive amount comfort and utility into a short bed half-ton compatible truck camper. Shut the tailgate and that’s exactly what Travel Lite’s dealers and customers asked for. As the saying goes, give them what they want.
Stepping into the 625, the careful design decisions are everywhere. The main living space feels open and spacious with plenty of light from a dual-window entry door, two large windows in the dinette, and a cabover side window. Kitchen and dinette cabinetry and storage are readily available and the overall level of materials feels solid and durable.
While we didn’t take precise measurements, it appears that half of the available kitchen counter top is taken up by the single-basin sink and two-burner cooktop.
The flip-up counter helps by adding about 25-percent more counter space, but it’s still a tight set-up for preparing anything other than the basics.
To put this into perspective, Angela and I are connoisseurs of culinary basics on the road. Our coffee, tea, one-pot-meals, and endless PB&J sandwich preparations would all work fine between this kitchen set-up and dinette table. Now our laptop-to-laptop work requirements would be seriously challenged, but that’s another topic.
The U-shape dinette in the 625 was designed to accommodate three to four adults (if they’re very good friends) around the table for meals, conversation, and cards. In reality, the dinette seating, table, and available leg area is best for two adults. With just two, there’s plenty of floor space for legs and feet underneath, and ample table room for two plates of food, and drinks.
If this were our camper, we would want a larger table, and a more stable table leg and/or wall attachment system. There’s nothing worse at a restaurant than a table that moves when you put your dinner plate or elbow on it. With a single post, this table is fairly stable, but requires care not to bump it. Naturally, one table leg is less weight than two, and a smaller table weighs less than a bigger one. Compromises, compromises.
Above: The table and table leg are easy to remove for more room, or to make the dinette into a bed
Above: The porta-potti has a convenient storage compartment under the dinette
The dinette quickly makes into a 6-foot bed with the provided cushions. This makes the 625 an ideal choice for the hunter or fisherman who wants to bring a friend for a weekend trip to that remote hunting ground or fish camp.
On the rear wall, the 625 features a 110-volt outlet and the thermostat. While I don’t foresee this unit connected to shore power often, this outlet will be vital for charging computers, phones, and cameras while hooked up to AC or a portable generator.
Above: Standard on the 625 is a two-cubic foot refrigerator, which can be upgraded to the three-cubic foot size shown
The three-cubic foot, three-way refrigerator is ample for a camper this size. In the past, campers targeting the short bed half-ton size and weight came primarily with ice boxes if they had cold-food provisions at all. Having an actual three-cubic foot, three-way refrigerator is quite a luxury in this weight category and price.
Just below the refrigerator is a cabinet dedicated to a sealed enclosure for the 625’s single battery. When I opened this cabinet, I was hoping to see storage, and found myself disappointed that this space was almost completely used.
Another option is changing to sealed AGM battery in this location. You won’t gain your storage back, but you’ll likely gain more amp hours. Then again, a bigger battery adds cost and weight. When designing a camper for a half-ton short bed, trade-offs abound.
To the right of the refrigerator and battery cabinet is a large two-section cabinet and pull-out drawer. With its immediate proximity to the kitchen and dinette, the drawer will likely be used for silverware, cooking utensils, and other kitchen items.
The large two-section cabinet is open season. Some will use it for dry food, pots, and pans, while others will store clothing and camping gear. We would at least attempt to use the cabinet over the sink for all dry food, cups, and plates, and use this space for a limited number of pots and pans, and then clothing and camping gear. In truck camping, less is more. In truck camping in a small camper, even less is even more.
Below the pull-out drawer is where you’ll find the stereo system, power converter, and fuse panel. Having the stereo system and fuse panel easy to reach mid-ship makes sense.
The opening into the cabover is wide open and inviting with white-color LED lights perfectly placed for general lighting and reading.
Above: The cabover ceiling has a 110-volt outlet and provisions to add a 12-volt television
On the other hand, there’s not a single cabinet for clothing in the cabover. Not one. There is however a main LED area light, two smaller reading lights, a 110-volt outlet, and provisions to add a 12-volt television. No cabover muss. No cabover fuss. That’s it.
Above: The overcab bed on the passenger’s side (left photo) the driver’s side (right photo)
In practice, I expect most folks will bring duffel bags for their clothing and keep the bags in the cabover when they’re not sleeping. Duffel bags (or whatever cloth based luggage you prefer) are light weight and highly portable, especially compared to standard wood cabinetry. Unless you just have to have your clothing folded up and put away, duffel bags make a lot of sense in a small camper like the 625.
Travel Lite offers a range of options for the 625 including a solar panel system, electric remote-controlled Rieco-Titan jacks, roof rack, ladder, and an awning.
Above: Rieco-Titan manual jacks, cable television connection, shower power connection, and 110-volt outlet
Unfortunately, you could quickly defeat the concept of the light weight 625 if you add a lot of options. Just the above mentioned list could add 150 pounds, or more. In a camper where the design team opted for cabinet netting instead of cabinet doors, that doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Above: The Travel Lite 625 is 78-inches wide and 7-feet, 4-inches tall on the exterior
The 78-inch width of the Travel Lite 625 is 14-inches narrower than Travel Lite’s mid-size truck campers and 17-inches narrower than their largest models. Obviously, every additional inch in length, width, and height on a truck camper adds weight. For a camper targeting short-bed half-ton trucks, the 78-inch width strikes a good balance between interior space, and weight.
Above: The ceiling in the 625 is full height at 6.5 feet
One aspect of the 625 design that’s full-size is the interior height. At 6.5 feet, standing in the Travel Lite is like standing in a much larger truck camper. There’s plenty of headroom, even for tall folks like me. That headroom helps give the 625 its roomy feel.
Above: The Travel Lite 625 on a long bed truck, photo courtesy of Travel Lite Campers
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the 625 is its long bed compatibility. Mounted on a long bed truck, the 625 looks fairly ridiculous as it locates the unit two-feet inside of the truck bed. To say this is an unusual rig aesthetic would be an understatement. For many – us included – the immediate reaction was, “What the heck is Travel Lite thinking?”
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Above: The Travel Lite 625 on a long bed truck, photo courtesy of Travel Lite Campers
Well, Travel Lite was thinking that the 625 is compatible with the widest possible number of truck bed lengths and payload capacities. In short (no pun intended) the 625 is compatible with many half-ton trucks, all three-quarter and one-ton trucks, and works equally well with short bed or long beds. Does it look funny on a long bed? Absolutely! But very few hard side truck campers have this kind of truck compatibility.
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Above: The 625 on a short bed truck with the tail gate closed, photo courtesy of Travel Lite Campers
And we must recognize the point that mounting the 625 on a long bed allows for the remaining two-feet of bed space to be available for whatever the owner wants it for; bikes, water, gear, you name it.
Capacities
Capacities
Fresh
9 gallons
Grey
N/A
Black
N/A
Water Heater
6 gallons
Propane Tanks
20 pounds
Batteries
Optional
With nine gallons of fresh water, no grey tank, no black tank, and no inside bathroom, there’s not much to talk on the subject of the 625’s holding tanks. Since you’ll likely only be using the fresh tank to wash hands, wash dishes, and brush teeth, the nine gallons could last upwards of a week, or more.
If you plan to scare the bears and use the outside shower, the nine gallons may only last you a couple days.
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Speaking of bears, I can hardly believe Travel Lite included a city water connection for the 650, but they did. Without an inside shower, I can barely find a reason for this. Maybe so those who enjoy flashing the wildlife take extended outside showers? Hide your eyes Mother Nature. Nothing to see here.
The single vertical 20-pound propane tank is absolutely perfect for the 625. Not only are vertical tanks exchangeable at nearly every Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, and gas station from coast-to-coast, but a 20-pound capacity should last a long time in a camper this size, unless you’re camping in the seriously cold.
When camping with a single tank you always need to keep tabs on your usage. When that tank runs out, there’s no second tank to change to. If we had one tank, I would fill it long before empty, just like putting fuel in the truck.
Travel Lite lists the battery as optional on the 625. You could connect the 625 to your truck’s battery and gain the space we talked about earlier, but that would not be our recommendation. All it takes is one night of running the furnace in cold weather and you could be stranded with a dead truck battery. Whether you get the built-in battery Travel Lite provides, or another battery storage solution, we definitely recommend a house camper battery.
Since we don’t foresee or recommend many options being added to the 625, we’re not going to run an optioned wet weight calculation. As it is, the final wet weight of 1,945.1 pounds may shock some folks.
500 pounds of that weight is the standardized “stuff weight” that we add to each and every wet weight calculation in Truck Camper Magazine. In a small camper with limited storage like the 625, 500 pounds of stuff weight is likely more than required. If we subtract half of this stuff weight, we get a more realistic 1,695.1 pounds.
Truck Recommendations
To remain conservative, we are going to match the 625 with a 1,695.1 pound wet weight (250 pounds of stuff). This may still be high, but we always play it safe when it comes to truck and camper matching.
For those who haven’t looked at too many payload stickers, it may come as a surprise to learn that many half-ton trucks don’t have 1,695.1 pounds of payload. Many older half-ton trucks, or trucks with fancy packages and long option lists, have considerably less. Do not assume that any half-ton truck has this kind of payload. It might, but it might not.
That said, it would be a cinch to either locate or order a half-ton truck with 1,695.1 pounds of payload, or better. If you approached your preferred local dealer and said, “I need no less than 1,700 pounds of payload in a half-ton truck” they should be able to work out the specifications you require, and locate or order the right truck without trouble.
You could also take those same specifications and find a used half-ton with enough payload. New or used, always check the actual payload sticker (the yellow sticker inside the driver’s side door) on the actual truck before making a purchase.
If you are purchasing a new or new-to-you truck, it’s also worth considering buying even more truck. Two years from now you may want a bigger camper. Why not buy the right truck for that bigger camper now? In trucks, you often don’t pay that much more to get a lot more payload.
The Verdict
Some truck campers are designed to wow the senses. You walk in and they have a dance floor of interior space, a dinette ready for six, a refrigerator that could swallow a beer keg, and storage that could empty your attic. You know you’re in one of these campers when the HDTV is almost as big as the one you have at home, and there’s a fireplace underneath it (almost kidding).
Where these campers “wow the senses”, the Travel Lite 625 “wows with common sense”. From the very concept of the unit, to the way the camper was designed and built, everything about the 625 is a carefully considered compromise to create a hard-side unit that’s truly half-ton compatible.
Judged from this perspective, the 2016 Travel Lite 625 is a roaring success. Yes, it’s chock full of compromises compared to the “wow the senses” models, but these compromises were the right ones to make the half-ton targeted size and weight. The form, function, and comfort this camper offers half-ton truck owners – especially for the price – is very impressive.
In short, Travel Lite has built a truly half-ton compatible truck camper that’s worth owning. Yes, you will still have to run the numbers to make sure the 625 will match your half-ton truck, but the chances are very high that it will.
If you’re in the half-ton truck camper market, and can live with the 625 list of compromises (tight kitchen, no bathroom, no grey tank, no cabover storage, etc.), this camper deserves to be on your list. With the 625, Travel Lite has a serious half-ton ready contender.
Pros Low weight and forward COG maximizes half-ton potential Short and long bed truck ready Tailgate closes on a 6.5-foot short bed truck Excellent sense of interior space for a small camper Good amount of kitchen and dinette area storage Dinette makes into a 6-foot bed
Cons Very tight kitchen area Very limited 9-gallon fresh tank, no grey, no black No bathroom, but features a porta-potti cabinet Extremely tight kitchen counter space, but extension helps Optional single battery takes up valuable interior storage No storage in the cabover – pack your duffels
Model Information 2016 Travel Lite 625 MSRP: $10,495 Warranty: 1 year from time of purchase
Travel Lite, Inc. 71913 Country Road 23 New Paris, IN 46553
Phone: 574-831-3000 Request A Travel Lite 625 Brochure Web: TravelLiteCampers.com
Quality, Customer Service, and Long-Term Reliability
*This product is a special order item and available to purchase online or by speaking to an associate at this selected store. Choose from store pick-up or home delivery. Standard charges apply for home delivery. (learn more)
High fuel prices and the skyscraping cost of 3/4– and 1-ton pickups have created a growing demand for lightweight, easier-to-tow RVs. But not everyone wants a little trailer, which has led many RV builders to focus on smaller and lightweight fifth-wheels now more than ever. And the consumer stands to benefit from that trend. However, while many half-ton towable fifth-wheels might be smaller, that doesn’t mean they aren’t spacious and filled with great features; many offer niceties such as solid-surface countertops, leveling jacks and electric awnings. And almost every brand has a fifth-wheel designed for half-ton pickups that offers a slideout to expand the living space. Some even have two or three.
Keystone’s Laredo Super Lite fifth-wheel line is a perfect example. The series tops out at 31 feet in length with a dry weight of 7,735 pounds, yet is available in two double-slide floorplans. ‘‘These fifth-wheels are extremely well-equipped, attractive, offer great value and, of course, are towable by properly equipped half-ton trucks,’’ explains Jim Mac, Keystone’s communications manager.
Having made a name for itself in the travel trailer and truck camper markets, Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles entered the fifth-wheel segment for the 2013 model year with the Mercury, an aluminum-and-composite fiver that will initially feature two 24-foot floorplans with dry weights of less than 4,500 pounds. ‘‘We expect the Mercury to prove to be something that changes the market a little bit in the true ultralight fifth-wheel category,’’ says Livin’ Lite President Scott Tuttle.
Mark Lucas, president of Forest River’s Shasta division, says the company’s new 100-inch wide-body Phoenix fifth-wheel in lengths of 27 to 34 feet is intended to deliver more livability in a smaller RV. ‘‘It’s more cost-effective for the consumer, easier to tow and easier to park and they give up nothing,’’ Lucas said.
More and more builders are coming to market with a half-ton towable fifth-wheel that offers many of the conveniences, features and luxuries of the larger, heavier fivers. Here’s a guide to get you started.
Axiom
The compact Axiom lightweight fifth-wheel built by Forks RV is aimed primarily at the Australian market, but is available through select dealers in the United States. The 71/2-foot-wide mid-profile Axiom is offered in four 23- to 27-foot floorplans, each with a single sofa/dinette slideout. With a dry weight of 6,500 pounds, the aluminum-and-laminated fiberglass Axiom features an aerodynamic front cap, composite cabinets, LED lighting inside and out, thermopane windows and linoleum floors in the living area with carpeting in the upper deck — which is equipped with a queen bed. Base MSRP starts at $42,000.
Forks RV, 574-825-7467, www.forksrv.com
CrossRoads
CrossRoads RV has added a double-slideout 30-foot lightweight fifth-wheel to its 2013 Cruiser Aire lineup. The Cruiser Aire fiver, from this subsidiary of Thor Industries, has a walk-through queen-size bedroom with a 6-foot 6-inch ceiling. Five other fifth-wheel floorplans in lengths of 25 to 30 feet will also be available. The Cruiser Aire fiberglass-and-aluminum debut floorplan, with a 7,000-pound dry weight, is equipped with electric jacks, a 15,000-Btu air conditioner, 8-cubic-foot refrigerator, maple cabinets, 54-by-27-inch shower with a glass door and a midway island kitchen with a large amount of Formica countertop space. Base MSRP: $29,995.
CrossRoads RV, 855-226-7496, www.crossroadsrv.com
Escape 5.0
Made entirely of hand-laid fiberglass in a two-piece mold, the lightweight, aerodynamic Escape 5.0 from Escape Trailer weighs approximately 2,650 pounds (dry) and offers a low center of gravity for increased road stability and a 3,500-pound-capacity independent suspension axle for reduced vibration and better handling while towing. Standards such as 15-inch tires (including the spare), LED marker lights, a 10-foot Fiesta awning and dual 5-gallon LP-gas cylinders dress up the exterior of this 19-foot 6-inch fifth-wheel. Its compact kitchen still boasts a 4.3-cubic-foot three-way Dometic refrigerator, two-burner cooktop with power range hood, optional microwave and a countertop and sink roomy enough to get the job done. The fifth-wheel has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,400 pounds, making it easily towed by half-ton pickups such as a GMC Sierra or Toyota Tundra, and even by some compact pickups with appropriate trailer weight ratings and proper equipment. Base MSRP: $27,000.
Two new rear-living-room floorplans have been added to Heartland Recreational Vehicles’ Elkridge Express fifth-wheel series for 2013. The 30-foot E27 and 31-foot E28 floorplans each have a single slideout and are among seven that the manufacturer is building for the new model year. With dry weights ranging from 7,205 to 9,250 pounds, the Elkridge Express is constructed with laminated fiberglass side walls on an aluminum frame and has an 88-degree turning angle. Features include heated storage with slam-lock doors, kingpin box covers, outside showers, Beauflor floors, solid-surface countertops, cherry cabinets with hidden hinges, 60-by-74-inch queen beds, full wardrobes, sofa air beds, porcelain toilets, dinette chairs with hidden storage and multiview TV centers. Base MSRP starts at about $24,000.
Heartland RV, 877-262-8032, www.heartlandrvs.com
Jayco
Dry weights range from 5,975 to 7,135 pounds in the Jayco Eagle HT line, with four available floorplans for 2013. Offered in 26- to 32-foot layouts, three have wardrobe slideouts to complement the living-room slide. The unusual Eagle HT 23.5RBS has a large rear bath with tub and shower to allow for more bedroom space in the upper deck. A standard Glacier Package includes an R-29 insulation value in the main floor and R-27 in the roof in addition to triple insulation in the heated-and-enclosed underbelly. Countertops are solid- surface and cabinets have solid hardwood doors with screwed stiles. Base MSRPs begin at $30,586.
Jayco Inc., 574-825-5861, www.jayco.com
Laredo Super Lite 289SRE" width="300" height="205" />Keystone
A tri-level rear-kitchen floorplan has been added for 2013 to the newly redesigned Durango from KZRV. The unique 37-foot double-slideout floorplan, built on a bi-level drop-frame, features a new front cap designed to allow a greater turning radius, and has a side-aisle (streetside) front bath with a porcelain toilet, large neo-angle shower and linen closet. The 331RK queen-bed floorplan — one of 12 offered in the Durango series — has a dry weight of 9,740 pounds and is equipped with 110 cubic feet of storage under the kitchen, an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator with wood insert panel, solid-surface countertops, kitchen table with four chairs, Beauflor linoleum, slam-latch baggage doors, an L-shaped sofa bed and a 32-inch LCD TV. MSRP: $49,999.
KZRV LP, 260-768-4016, www.kz-rv.com
Livin’ Lite
Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles, known for its lightweight all-aluminum folding camping trailers and truck campers, has introduced the Mercury fifth-wheel. Livin’ Lite’s Mercury will have two 24-foot aluminum-and-composite floorplans, each equipped with a single slideout. Both are designed for half-ton pickups with GVWRs in the 3,500- to 4,500-pound range. One floorplan features double bunks in the upper bedroom, while the second will be equipped with a queen bed. Both will have dry baths with LP-gas stoves, refrigerators and water heaters. The interior is available in a wood-look Azdell composite or champagne aluminum. Base MSRP: $26,000.
Livin’ Lite, 574-862-2228, www.livinlite.com
Northwood
Northwood Manufacturing has given its Fox Mountain lightweight fifth-wheel a facelift for 2013. The redesigned Fox Mountain now has tan side walls, an aerodynamic mocha front cap and a more contemporary interior with stainless-steel appliances. Built on a cambered chassis, the fiberglass-and-aluminum Fox Mountain is available in six 26- to 32-foot floorplans with up to three slideouts. With a dry weight of 7,500 pounds in the 28-foot double-slide model, a standard Four Seasons package includes heated-and-enclosed underbellies, R-7 insulation in the side walls and floor, and R-18 in the roof. Features include solid-surface countertops, Beauflor floors, centrally located control panels, exterior showers and electric awnings. A combination sofa/dinette with leatherlike fabric is optional. Base MSRPs begin at $32,500.
Forest River’s Shasta Recreation Vehicle division has introduced the mid-profile Shasta Phoenix wide-body fifth-wheel with a distinctive exterior and a kingpin that can be adjusted to accommodate 51/2-foot-pickup beds. Available in eight floorplans with up to four slideouts, the Phoenix is 100 inches wide and available in eight 27- to 34-foot floorplans, all with 6 feet 4 inches of headroom in the upper deck bedroom. The gray hung fiberglass side wall on a six-side aluminum superstructure is connected to the root-beer-colored front cap. Bamboo rattan accents in the cabinets and on the slide fascia, along with Beauflor wood-plank floors, give the Phoenix a lighter interior. Dry weights begin at 7,400 pounds. Base MSRPs start at $30,000.
Shasta RV, 574-825-7178, www.shastarving.com
Starcraft RV
Starcraft RV is building its 2013 Starcraft Travel Star FW fifth-wheel series on its own StarMaxx drop-frame chassis to increase the storage capacity to 75 cubic feet. Floorplans offering two or three slideouts and dry weights from 7,415 to 7,915 pounds are available. A standard Arctic Package includes heated and enclosed underbellies with foil insulation in the roof and slideout rooms. Amenities include bourbon-glazed beechwood solid-wood raised-panel doors and drawers throughout, porcelain toilet, radius shower, oversized sinks, Formica countertops, storage drawers beneath the booth dinette and large windows over the dinette. An optional Galaxy Package includes a colored fiberglass front cap; power stabilizer jacks; remote control for patio awnings; slideout, porch and security lights; front and rear jacks; solid-surface countertops; and a 32-inch LED TV with DVD player. Base MSRP starts at $29,986.
For those in the market for a midprofile fifth-wheel, Winnebago Towables has introduced the Winnebago Lite Five with four 28- to 34-foot floorplans, three of which are equipped with a single slideout and an optional wardrobe slide in the bedroom. With a cambered front cap, the fiberglass-and-aluminum Winnebago Lite Five, with dry weights from 6,907 to 8,953 pounds, can be towed by shortbed pickups. Features include high-gloss automotivelike gel coat exterior, fully enclosed-and-heated underbellies, 35,000-Btu furnace, high R-value insulation, patio awnings and stabilizer jacks. Amenities include a sectional sofa, island queen bed, a large bathroom with neo-angle shower, double-door refrigerators, a large amount of counter space and Bluetooth-enabled entertainment centers. Base MSRPs start at $28,993.
The Yellowstone division of Gulf Stream Coach has added a 29-foot rear-living room floorplan to its Canyon Trail XLT fifth-wheel series. The low-profile Canyon Trail XLT 25FLRW floorplan, with a dry weight of 7,297 pounds, has a single 38-inch-deep, 6-foot-2-inch tall slideout that contains a convertible sofa/dinette. Offering a large hallway closet with mirrored doors, the 25FLRW has a separate shower and bathroom, hardwood cabinet doors and drawers, laminated countertops with a solid-surface option and a queen bed with a flip-down fabric headboard with hidden storage. To accommodate shortbed pickups, the aluminum-framed vacuum-bonded side wall Canyon Trail XLT has an extended kingpin box. MSRP: $29,253.
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Axiom 
CrossRoads 
Escape 5.0
Heartland RV
Jayco
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KZRV 
Livin’ Lite 
Northwood
Shasta 
Starcraft RV
Winnebago 
Yellowstone