CamperHardlyKnowHer

Forest River Forester 2861DS

Class Cbuilt 2006– (in production)Mixed build tierCommon on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$170,700MSRP today

Still in production — a used 2023 would run roughly $117,800.

THE SPECS
Length30.8 ft
Height (incl. A/C)11.3 ft
Width8.4 ft
GVWR14,500 lb
Dry weight12,500 lb
Sleeps6
Slide-outs2
Fresh water44 gal
Grey water39 gal
Black water39 gal
Air conditioning15,000 BTU
Solar (standard)200 W
Fuel55 gal
Generator4.5 kW gas

A missing row means the maker never published that figure — unknown, not zero.

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • Rear walkaround queen in bedroom slide-out(Permanent)60×74
  • Cab-over bunk(Permanent)60×80
  • Large couch converts to a bed(Convertible)
  • Booth dinette converts to a bed(Convertible)42×68
HOW IT'S BUILT — 4/5
WallsLaminated fiberglass
FrameAluminum
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Forest River (Mixed tier): Forester is the odd-numbered twin of the Sunseeker off the same line - aluminum-framed laminated walls and composite substrate are above class average, but Forest River motorhome QC and the 12-month/12,000-mile coach warranty hold it at mid-pack.

YEAR BY YEAR — WHAT CHANGED
YEARSGVWRDRYMSRP
2006–1814,500 lb12,412 lb$170,665
2019–2514,500 lb12,500 lb$170,665
2026–14,500 lb12,500 lb$170,665
  • 2006Introduced as the odd-numbered twin of the Sunseeker 2860DS; earliest independently verified Forester 2861DS spec capture is MY2010
  • 2010UVW 12,412 lb, GVWR 14,500 lb, 30ft 10in overall, sleeps 5
  • 2019Length settles at 30ft 9in, UVW 12,500 lb, sleeps 6
  • 2020Forester splits into Classic / LE / MBS sub-series
  • 2021Ford E-450 switches from 6.8L V10 to 7.3L V8
  • 202312V compressor refrigerator standard
  • 2026Full exterior kitchen standard; 200W roof solar standard
FINDING ONE

Common — usually several for sale within a day’s drive. Why: Forest River is a volume manufacturer; 21-year production run; still in production. Estimated from build volume and production span — not a count of live listings.

THE READ

The Forester twin of the 2860DS, and the one that gets the full outdoor kitchen - the practical family pick in the line.

OTHER FORESTER FLOORPLANS
Is the 2861DS your #1 — or just a spec sheet?

These are the facts. Whether it beats the other six thousand rigs for you depends on what you care about — set your priorities as sliders and watch the whole market re-rank around them. Nothing gets hidden, everything gets explained.

Rank it against your setup →

Data compiled from manufacturer spec sheets, retrieved 2026-07.