2025 Highland Ridge Open Range 322RLS Review

It’s a common question that many RV buyers face: fifth wheel or travel trailer? And behind that question are other questions. Do you want the conveniences, layout, and premium feel of a fifth wheel? Or do you prefer the fact that a travel trailer leaves the bed of your truck free for other things? The interesting thing about to the 2025 Highland Ridge Open Range 322RLS is that it gives you an answer to both questions. And the answer in both cases is yes.

If you find it hard to believe that there’s a travel trailer blends perfectly with the best fifth wheels selling points, get ready. In that area, the Open Range 322RLS really hits a home run.

At a Glance: Open Range 322RLS

I gave the 2025 Highland Ridge Open Range 322MLS three and a half out of five stars. When I first walked in my impression was, “Wow!” And I was continually wowed by features and attention to detail in this travel trailer.

Check the Specs

Sleeping capacity: 4–6 (depending on seating choices made)
Hitch weight: 1,280 pounds
UVW: 9,370 pounds
CCC: 2,130 pounds.
Exterior length: 37 feet 7 inches
Exterior height 11 feet
Exterior width: 8 feet 4 inches
Fresh/Gray/Black: 50/114/31 gallons
Propane: 60 pounds
Awnings: 14 feet and 11 feet 6 inches (two awnings)

Features We Love

High-quality suspension
Motorhome-style roof construction
Frameless windows
Wide-body stance
Pet-friendly features
Two desks
Cup holder-mounted trays on the theater seat
Reversible mattress
Metal tray on tongue

Benefits

On the Exterior

Great suspension. One of the things I encourage any RV shopper to do is start at the road and work your way up. While most RV companies are good at making pretty cabinets, the caliber of suspension can really change how much vibration is transmitted to the RV. And that can affect its lifespan. The Open Range 322RLS uses a cushioned Road Armor suspension that has greaseable bolts, which provides better long-term wear when properly maintained. It’s also shod with American-made Rainier tires.
Roof construction. There are a lot of first-rate build features in this trailer including the roof construction, where the roofing material rolls over the roof and onto the side. This protects the edge where the wall and roof come together. It also tends to result in a longer-lasting RV. The sidewalls in this are vacuum bonded which tends to result in a longer lifespan.
Pret-friendly. There were a few items on here specifically to address pets who travel with you. These include a leash latch on the outside to keep them at bay outside. But the best feature might be the Lippert Screen Defender. This is a reinforced mesh over the lower portion of the screen door. It keeps pets from damaging the screen but can also keep them from going through it.
Tongue tray. The tongue of this trailer has a metal tray that can hold things like a portable generator or firewood. (Or whatever you like, really.) That tray flips up, and there is accommodation for two standard RV batteries beneath it. This transforms the tongue of this RV into an unusually useful space.

On the Interior

Wonderful windows. The frameless windows are a premium feature. They use the glass to protect the seals from UV radiation. This reduces the amount of maintenance required. (And they also have a smoother appearance.)
Extra room. Most travel trailers are 96 inches in width (8 feet). But the Open Range 322RLS is 100 inches wide. It might seem like a small number, but this additional width really makes a big difference in how open and spacious this trailer feels. Combine that with the large windows and you have a winner. This also really plays-out in the sofa at the back of this rig.
Two desks. More and more RV companies are recognizing how many of us are working from the road. Even so, this is the first RV I’ve seen with two desks — one in the bedroom and one in the main living space. Each had power outlets close by.
Nifty tables. The Jayco family of companies have exclusivity on these nifty tables that just drop into the cup holders in their RVs. These allow you to lounge in the theater seats while your meal is in front. They also have a cup holder so whatever beverage you’re enjoying is still able to stay safely put.
Mattress upgrades. When I was at Jayco, I was told that the company has made a significant investment in upgrading mattresses. And that was quite evident in this RV. The included mattress is very likely worth keeping and sports two sides: one firmer and one softer. I wanted to test it for an extended period of time … but was told that I had to leave when the facility closed. (Talk about sleeping on the job!)

Check out these nifty power theater seats with tables that drop into the cup holders.

Nice look at the screen defender pet screen.

Challenges

This is a big and heavy travel trailer. That means whatever you’re towing with will also be big and heavy — and probably pricey. However, the Open Range 322RLS has all the comforts of a premium fifth wheel without having to navigate a set of steps to go to the bathroom. For those who might want to simply park this at a seasonal site, many RV dealers offer transport services. That way, you wouldn’t have to bring your own big pickup.
For all the premium features on this trailer, I was really surprised to see the cheap vent fan in the bathroom. These frameless windows don’t open as far as the sliding kind, so many builders who employ this style of window also put a high-performance vent fan in their trailers. Not here. The bathroom has the dollar store-quality vent fan that really does little more than make noise.

Best For

Although the couch in the Open Range 322RLS folds into a bed (and you can swap the theater seats for another jackknife sofa), this really is a couples’ trailer. This model is especially great if the owners or passengers have any mobility issues. Unlike a fifth wheel, there are no steps to climb when heading to the bathroom or bedroom.
For RVers who might be working from the road, the fact that the Open Range 322RLS has two desks — including one in the private front bedroom — means that you could use this as both a home base and a place to … write RV reviews. (Wink!) Or, you know, whatever work takes you on the road.

Key Areas of RV Trader Reviews

RV Trader asked RV shoppers what was most important to them in their RV buying process. Potential buyers — like you — helped us to identify a list of six key areas that camping and travel enthusiasts always look at when they’re searching for the perfect RV: sleeping space, bathroom, living area, four-season capabilities, and storage space.

The RV Trader team then got to work providing you with an honest and unbiased evaluations. And that’s where I come in. I’m Tony Barthel, RV expert and enthusiast. I provide an honest look at RVs from an RV industry insider perspective. That way, you can learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about any RVs I review. I inspect each RV with the buyer’s perspective at the forefront. And I always evaluate those six key areas that buyers have told us that they have in mind.

So, that said, let’s take a closer look at the 2025 Highland Ridge Open Range 322RLS.

Sleeping Space

The front bedroom on the Open Range 322RLS truly feels separated from the rest of the trailer. It has a premium feel. The bed itself is in a road-side slide room with little nightstand tables on either side. Each has both household and USB outlets within reach.

The entire nose of the space is a very large closet, and there’s a wardrobe on the camp side with several drawers. Next to that is a space that could be a desk for work — or just a place to write how awesome RVing is in your diary.

A queen-size bed is standard but can be swapped for a king-size bed. Either mattress is a new model for 2025 and is a two-sided affair. It has a softer side and a firmer side that you can flip to match your preference. While it’s almost a joke how RV mattresses are just decorative, I would say many owners will likely keep this one. It felt quite comfortable — which is not typical in the RV space.

In the main living space is a couch that folds out to be a bed. But you don’t necessarily have to fold it out to take a cat nap. Taking advantage of the width of this trailer, there is a wide armrest on either side of the couch. These armrests have varying positions that they can tilt up and stay in. So, you could easily use this couch for naps or even for the night.

Bedroom overview with the 60-inch by 80-inch bed.

Love this work surface in the bedroom. It’s one of two in the RV. Also, note the nice drawer sizes.

Front storage with hanging and cubby space in closet.

Bathroom

The bathroom in the Open Range 322RLS might not immediately seem unusual. But when you start pulling things open, there are a few surprises. The space is certainly sufficient to change clothes or make world-shattering decisions while seated on the throne of honor. There is also a door from the bedroom and another from the hallway.

In the bathroom, there is also a cabinet with multiple drawers. (So, this has more storage than many RV bathrooms.) There’s also a surprise pull-out shelf, which could be very useful if you’re doing makeup or doing your own dental work. (Maybe not that.) But the space is truly useful. Plus, there’s a bit of counter space and a medicine cabinet. The shower is more like what you’d expect in a fifth wheel with a seat and some shelves for soaps and such.

View into the bathroom from the bedroom.

The Open Range 322RLS has a fifth wheel-like shower with seat.

This cheap vent fan is one of the few bummers in an otherwise-good bathroom. Really contrasts with the premium feel of the rest of the RV.

Living Area

As an RV reviewer, I see a lot of RVs. So, trust me, it’s not typical that I say “wow” when walking into an RV. But I did when I came in here. The few extra inches of width really opened this space up along with a large slide room on either side. There’s the couch I mentioned (see Sleeping Space), which, if there were an RV couch award, it might get first place. The theater seats directly face the large TV and fireplace. And there’s a table with free-standing chairs for dining.

But you can snag one of those chairs as there’s a desk near the entrance of this RV. While some RVers nowadays are working full-time from the road, not all are but many will still want a place to pop open a laptop. (Some to tweak an RV review or share that review with all their friends on social media.) However you use it, the desk in the living space is a really nice touch.

Another interior overview, now facing the windows. Here you can better see the free-standing table.

One advantage of wider body width: It enables a wider couch.

Take a look at these power-operated theater seats and the free-standing table.

Kitchen

Likewise, the kitchen is equally nice. The Open Range 322RLS model I saw featured an optional residential refrigerator with water filtration. (Plus, an ice maker and water dispenser in the drawer.) Something I did not expect was a hatch on the outside of this rig to help with winterization or servicing. Smart.

There’s a large oven and three-burner propane stove, as well as a residential-sized microwave and a decently large island. On either side of the stove is a good-size counter. Combine that with the island and prep space is a strong suit here.

In addition to the good indoor kitchen, there’s a good one outside as well with an included flat-top griddle and bar-sized fridge. This has a spray port with hot-and-cold water faucets, although there is no sink. But a bowl or small tote will solve that problem quickly enough.

The Open Range 322RLS has very large oven with good counter space There’s a large microwave as well. Note the fridge to the left. It’s a 20-cubic-foot, 12-volt model. Huge.

The island not only has a huge basin. It also sports plenty of drawers and cabinets

Four-Season Capabilities

While this trailer shines in a lot of places, it really glows when the weather turns cold. The baggage doors are thicker than average and sealed to keep winter out. There is heat ducted to the underbelly and better-than-average insulation in the ceiling and underbelly to boot. Importantly, the sewer (gate) valves are also contained in the heated underbelly and the whole water docking station is enclosed and protected.

Storage Space

At first glance, storage might not seem all that great when you only look in the front storage bay. But then you realize there is a second smaller storage compartment on the road side. There’s another one in the slide, effectively under the bed.

I already mentioned that tray on the tongue of this RV, which is an unusual and pretty great way to maximize storage for things you might not want inside — like a generator.

Inside, storage abounds with a closet in the front bedroom that spans the width of the trailer. This closet is also outfitted for a washer and dryer. There’s also some storage under the bed and a chest of drawers on the camp side wall of the bedroom. I mentioned the drawers in the bathroom which are an unexpected plus. The main living space is really chock full of storage with larger cabinets over the couch along the back, a large pantry with a motion-sensing light in it and plenty of cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. It may not seem apparent at first, but storage is a strong suit in this rig.

This is a good look at the pantry storage and that second work desk.

Closing Notes on the Open Range 322RLS

If you can’t tell, I really like the attention to detail in this. With so many little surprises inside that will add-up to a better experience over the life of this trailer, I think this might be one that may not be on your radar, but it should be. Especially if you’re looking for a large travel trailer that you can spend a lot of time in. In fact, it might also be worth putting on your shopping list if you’re considering a fifth wheel. The Open Range 322RLS has much of what makes a fifth wheel great without the steps to the upper deck.

I have to admit I wasn’t expecting to find so many first-rate details in this trailer, and it makes me wonder why there isn’t more awareness of this brand. Compared to some others I’ve seen in this class, this one certainly has a lot of class but also a good number of class-leading features.

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