Luxury in the Wild
Keystone Raptor 415 Toy Hauler
Story By: Kyle Callen
Photos By: Staff of UTV Sports Magazine
The word “camping” means different things to everyone. On one end of the spectrum, you have those that like to hike into the middle of nowhere with only the necessities on their backs. On the other side, is where I am most comfortable. The purests say its not really camping, but as I pull a piping hot dinner out of the oven, I find myself okay with being called a “glamper.” Over the years I have learned it doesn’t matter how you get away from the hustle and bustle of life, it’s the fact that you get away—giving the mind and body time to hit the reset button while enjoying the outdoors. This was the case with a recent trip to Sand Hollow, Utah. The destination is quickly becoming a favorite in the office and on this trip, we had the opportunity to camp, instead of staying in the beautiful Sand Hollow Resort.
We know each camper is more luxurious than the next one. Some have great space, some have comfier beds, and some just make you feel like you won at the high roller table. We wanted something that was going to be a happy medium between sitting in the comfort of our own homes versus being out in the wild with nature literally at our doorstep and still maintaining all of the amenities needed to support a full cinematic camera crew. Our search led us towards RV World in Yuma. With a huge inventory available, they had plenty of options for us to choose from in getting the right setting for our camping needs.
Essentially, we knew what we needed… well, at least had an idea of what we needed, and without knowing what was available, threw our fates in the hands of the guys over at RV World. Thankfully, their good graces extend to every customer that walks through their doors. If there is a trailer shopping for dummies book out there, we think these guys wrote it. Finding exactly what we required couldn’t have been easier. All we had to do was tell them what we were planning to do and what all we needed to get it done. With that information, they were able to supply us with the Raptor 415 Toy Hauler from Keystone, in which they lent us for our time in Sand Hollow.
Measuring at forty-four feet long and thirteen and a half feet tall, this trailer was nothing short of bolstering a massive living space to facilitate the entire crew and offered all the amenities to make sure they were able to run their equipment without worry—RV World was definitely paying attention to our requests. All-in-all, we spent nine days in this temporary abode.
We showed up to Sand Hollow early to prep for the Trail Hero SXS Rally event. With not a whole lot going on before the event, we spent our time in what we considered the living quarters. There was a fridge, pantry, microwave, stovetop oven, a sink with 106 gallons of freshwater, an entertainment center which had a TV and digital fireplace, a surround sound stereo system that reached outside speakers as well, a countertop island with flip-up bar stools, and finally a 4-seat recliner with massage and heated seating options. With each piece of the lofty trailer pie accentuating the next, the living area had us feeling relaxed and at home.
The remainder of our time spent at the event was constant traffic. The camera crew was constantly in and out of the trailer: uploading footage, charging batteries, planning out the days, and getting out of the heat to refuel their own bodies. Fortunately, the trailer also had placed at the rear, a fifteen-foot garage. On our drive up the garage was used to haul one of our UTVs, but once the action ensued, it became our office space. Below an electrically-lowered bed in the back of the garage was dual opposing sofas with a quick-mounted table we used for a desk area. With the desk area in use, there was still ample room to set up another table in the garage to place gear and charging stations. The most convenient part of the garage was that it offered its own bathroom, so there was less worry of people walking in and out of the living quarters and dirtying up the floors.
The generator was strong and kept up with our demand for energy, but taking the safe road, we did hook up an external generator to make sure we weren’t running the internal into the dirt. This was a borrowed trailer afterall. At the end of the nine days, we were not only satisfied with the capabilities of the trailer and everything it offered, but very pleased with RV World for setting us up with just what we needed. They proved they would take their time in getting to know your camping needs and make a solid recommendation based on that information. Now that’s quality service. There’s no doubt these guys will take care of you and make everything as seamless as possible.
