RVing: 2018 Keystone Bullet Colt 172RBCT

Story and photos by Howard J Elmer

Keystone advertises its new Bullet Colt as being “ready for adventure.” A marketing tagline? Sure. But it’s also a clue to its intended purpose – which is giving you a complete, smaller, base camp. One you can tow to right where you want to do something.

The Colt is one of new wave of lightweight travel trailers that are aimed at an active, adventuresome RVing demographic. Now, some people will read that statement as meaning “appealing to younger buyers.” Age, though, has nothing to do with adventure and the spirit that drives it. Well, that’s my attitude anyway – and being that I’m coming up on 60, I do think about it a bit. So, my first impression of the Bullet Colt is that I would make it a useful companion for whatever outdoor passion I chose to pursue.

Weighing in at a GVWR of 3,900 lb (which includes 1,100 lb of cargo), the Colt can be towed by a wide variety of today’s vehicles. A truck is not necessary, and this frees up many potential buyers from having to change their daily driver to accommodate the weight of the trailer. In my case, I borrowed a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee (SRT) which was more than adequate for the job. In fact, the growth of the Canadian mid-size SUV market increases the number of models that would serve as a good tow vehicle for this trailer every year. This consideration simplifies the purchase and can save money.

The first look at the trailer shows off the classic teardrop shape of the shell – a design feature that equals strength and maximum space. You’ll also note that the wheels are mounted outboard of the body. This makes the trailer more stable, saves space otherwise needed for inside wheel wells and lifts the body – all the better to traverse rougher terrain. The 15-inch radial tires are attached to independent torsion-bar axles with super-lube hubs, and they ride on aluminum wheels. Considering where this trailer might go, the drain pipes are reasonably high under the body; my only concern is with the spare tire which hangs below the A-frame tongue. That I find too low.

Construction of the trailer is mostly welded aluminum walls on a steel frame. The wall covering is two-tone gelcoat fibreglass with a one-piece seamless fibreglass roof above. The windows are tinted and large with an automotive frameless look. The doors are all radiused and feature rubber seals. This unit is built for three-season usage – with R7 insulation in the sidewalls and R9 in the roof and floor. However, the water and waste tanks are not heated, so that precludes camping in consistent freezing temps, but with a 20K BTU furnace it will be comfortable in the shoulder seasons. For the summer heat, there is a powered vent fan and a roof-mounted 13.5K AC unit.

So, I’ve said this is a smaller trailer which is also lightweight, but it does have a single slideout which it uses to great interior benefit. This flush-floor slide uses what’s called the Schwintek slideout system. It’s built by Lippert Components and uses rail-mounted gears with electric motors, as you’d expect. However, all the aluminum components are mounted in the slide-out itself. This saves space and lets the box be secured at all four corners to prevent leaks.

My tester has nicely cubed the entire kitchen array into this slide. It is accessible when closed. When open, though, it makes for a central galley and offers up good floor space. The kitchen itself has a deep counter with a glass-topped two-burner stove next to a deep stainless steel sink with a gooseneck faucet. A sliding window with mini-blind sheds light on the food prep area. All this sits on top of the storage drawers and a large cabinet. The two-way, three-cubic-foot refrigerator is also stainless steel, as is the built-in convection microwave above it. Turn 180-degrees and you’re facing the two-seat dinette. By the way, the interior height is 6’6”.  That dinette table also doubles as the base for a single bed, or take it outside to set up – it does that too.

In fact, the designers of the Colt assume you’ll spend considerable time outside of the trailer, and so have provided a number of features for that purpose. Such as: exterior LED lights, an LP quick-connect for the BBQ, exterior speakers that run off a Bluetooth stereo, an outdoor shower, 120V plug, and a Thule awning to cover that alfresco living space. There is also a pass-thru storage at the front of the trailer accessible from either side. This is below the 60×74-inch Queen Bed.

It’s worth mentioning that the Colt has two different floorplans with two very different intentions. They both fit in the same shell and use the same single slide-out. The best way to label the difference between the two, though, is to state that one model (the one I tested) would be home to two people, while the other would support four. The key difference between them is the bathroom size. The bath space in my tester is large, particularly for a trailer of just 20-feet. It has a full corner shower stall, plenty of room around the Thetford toilet, and a freestanding cabinet and sink. The other floorplan setup creates a “wet” bath design. This much smaller space has features that can get wet as the smaller shower is in use. However, in this floorplan, the dinette seats four, not two – it also moves the kitchen to the rear of the trailer where the counter space is doubled. So, depending on your stage in life, you have choices.

The trailer is equipped with a 55 Amp shore power hookup that includes a converter with a house-battery charger. All the key appliances are two-way; including the water heater, so being plugged-in is no problem. But then, we have been talking about adventure and that often takes you off the grid. The Colt has a solar prep package that accepts a Go Power! solar charging system. Its flexible panels fit flush on the roof. But for more traditional camping, there is a pair of 12V house batteries, 20 lb propane tank and plenty of water. A weekend of boondocking should be no problem.

By the time you read this review, the Canada 150 celebrations will be over, but as many of you know, Parks Canada gave out free passes across the country, and it’s my hope that lots of people made use of them. I’m sure that most visitors were those who would normally take in the parks – but I’d think that a lot of first-time visits occurred too. These are the people who have likely gotten their first taste of outdoor adventure; loved it and are now thinking about the coming summer. Well, welcome – we have such a diverse and wonderful country to experience and a trailer like the Colt is a great way to get you started on a lifetime of outdoor wonder.

Specifications: Keystone Bullet Colt 172RBCT

Dry weight:               2,890 lb

Carrying Capacity    1,010 lb

GVWR:                      3,900 lb

Length:                       20 ft

Height:                       9’6”

Fresh water:              36 gal

Black water:              30 gal

Grey water:               30 gal

LPG:                           20 lb

Base price: $23,041.00

Optional features –   24-inch LED TV                              $310

Thule Awning with LED lighting    $930

Power Tongue Jack                          $233

Price as tested: $24,514*

*prices are all shown in US dollars. With the fluctuating exchange rate, the Canadian pricing is subject to change. Check with your dealer.

Test unit supplied courtesy of Camping In Style, Whitby, ON