The Keystone Cougar 25RDS is a luxury couples travel trailer featuring a large rear dinette for sit-down meals, a front windshield to let in natural light, and plenty of kitchen space for meal prep. It’s also four-season capable, thanks to the insulated walls and sealed underbelly. Take full advantage of this dream getaway camper with our six must-have Keystone Cougar 25RDS upgrades.
Mattress
The massive king bed is part of the reason I love the 25RDS so much. Although roomy, it’s not the most comfortable, or so I have found. If you agree, upgrading to the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling Mattress will not be a decision you soon regret.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora has pressure-soothing springs offering superior motion isolation and cooling-infused foam that absorbs excess body heat.
Technician Tip: The bedroom mattress is an RV King, which measures 70” wide x 80” long.
Other Mattresses to Consider
Backup Camera
If you struggle reversing into tight parking spaces or need greater visibility on the road, a backup camera will be a lifesaver. The 25RDS is pre-wired for a backup camera, which makes installation easy. Simply attach a few wires, and you’re done.
The Trailer Life Pathway 5″ Wireless Backup Camera System is an excellent Keystone Cougar 25RDS upgrade option. It has a large color monitor and built-in camera lights for use at night.
Technician Tip: There is a cover plate on the rear of the trailer at the top, held in place with two screws. Once removed, you’ll have two exposed wires, one for power and one for ground. Attach these wires to the plug that comes with the camera kit, then simply attach the plug to the camera and mount the camera to the trailer.
Other Backup Cameras to Consider
Portable RV Generator
The 25RDS has phenomenal window space, including a large front windshield in the bedroom. If you want to take full advantage of these views, you’ll likely find yourself venturing away from crowded campgrounds. To power your camper while off-grid, you’ll need a portable generator.
The Cummins Onan P4500i Inverter Portable Generator is my choice. It offers plenty of power for all your essentials and enough fuel efficiency to keep them running for a long time. In order to use this generator with your existing power cord, you’ll also need the 30 Amp to 50 Amp Power Grip Adapter. If you need more power, you can run two parallel generators using the Cummins 50A Parallel Kit for Onan P4500i Inverter Generator.
Other Portable Generators to Consider
Surge Protector
To protect the appliances and electronics inside your camper while hooked up to park power, you need a surge protector. A surge protector plugs into the campground’s power pedestal and checks for issues such as an open neutral, open ground, and low voltage, letting you know when it’s safe to plug in your RV. A surge protector also guards against power surges that can fry your electronics.
I recommend the Southwire Surge Guard Portable 50-Amp Surge Protector with easy pull handles, LED indicators, and an LCD display.
Other Surge Protectors to Consider
Bike Rack
If you want to take your bikes camping, you’ll need a way to haul them. If you have space inside the truck bed, you can place them there. However, this space is usually reserved for portable generators, firewood, camp chairs, a cooler, and other camping gear. Therefore, most opt for a bike rack.
The 25RDS has a rear-mounted trailer hitch receiver which makes adding a bike rack super simple. The Swagman Trailhead 4 Bike Rack is my recommendation, allowing you to carry up to four bikes.
Other Bike Racks to Consider
Slide Topper Awning
The off-camp side of the 25RDS features a single slide-out that houses the sofa, opening up the living room. Before retracting the slide-out, you must ensure that no debris is on top. If not, you risk pushing debris past the seal and into the slide-out, which can cause leaks.
If you don’t want to worry about cleaning the slide each time before retracting, you can install a slide-topper awning. I recommend the Lippert Solera Slide Topper Awnings. It installs easily and automatically extends/retracts with the slide-out.
If you’re feeling a bit intimidated about making upgrades or modifications to your RV, here are a few resources you might find helpful:
If we missed any must-have upgrades for the Keystone Cougar 25RDS, let us know in the comments below!
