CamperHardlyKnowHer

Forest River Salem Hemisphere 286RL

Fifth wheelbuilt 2020– (in production)Mixed build tierCommon on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
—price not published

The maker never published an MSRP for this floorplan. Unknown is not cheap — treat any asking price against comparable models, not against zero.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~10,655 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 9,380 lb + fresh water (57 gal, full) 475 lb + propane + battery 200 lb + gear for 2 600 lb. Brochure dry weight omits water, propane, batteries and your gear; this estimate doesn't.

You want a tow rating around11,840 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)12,071 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~2,125 lb (20%)
Cargo capacity2,691 lb
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS — 26 OF 95

Judged the way the app judges: estimated loaded weight against each vehicle's rating less a 10% margin — per model year, because the 286RL's published weights held steady. Fifth wheels also need a pickup bed and are held to the fifth-wheel rating where published.

VEHICLETOW RATINGVERDICT
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax, max tow) '24-2622,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '20-2318,510 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '11-1918,100 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '20-2636,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '11-1923,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado EV (4WT) '24-2612,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '15-2013,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '21-2314,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, gooseneck) '20-2222,800 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, tow pkg) '17-1918,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel) '11-1616,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel, gooseneck) '23-2623,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '20-2237,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '17-1932,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '11-1621,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-2638,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-450 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-2640,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Sierra EV '24-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan XD (Cummins diesel) '16-1912,710 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi eTorque, max tow) '19-2412,750 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins HO) '19-2620,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins) '11-1817,980 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins DRW, gooseneck) '13-1831,210 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '25-2636,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '19-2437,090 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
The 69it doesn't fit
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-26 — over by ~3,725 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-22 — over by ~3,725 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 (6.2 V8, max tow) '19-26 — over by ~1,385 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (max tow) '14-18 — over by ~215 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Chrysler Pacifica '17-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-24 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '24-26 — over by ~935 lb loaded
  • Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '11-14 — over by ~485 lb loaded
  • Ford F-150 Lightning (max trailer tow) '22-26 — over by ~1,655 lb loaded
  • Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~7,055 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-23 — over by ~3,905 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~3,905 lb loaded
  • Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-26 — over by ~3,905 lb loaded
  • GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Honda Odyssey '18-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26 — over by ~6,155 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26 — over by ~6,155 lb loaded
  • Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-26 — over by ~3,725 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-21 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Land Rover Defender '20-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Land Rover Discovery '17-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Lexus LX 600 '22-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-24 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~4,220 lb loaded
  • Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-24 — over by ~1,870 lb loaded
  • Ram 1500 (3.0 Hurricane, max tow) '25-26 — over by ~205 lb loaded
  • Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi, max tow) '11-18 — over by ~1,095 lb loaded
  • Ram ProMaster '14-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Rivian R1S '22-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Rivian R1T '22-26 — over by ~755 lb loaded
  • Subaru Ascent '19-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Tesla Cybertruck '24-26 — over by ~755 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota Sienna '21-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
  • Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~4,805 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-23 — over by ~4,535 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tundra (5.7 V8, tow pkg) '11-21 — over by ~1,475 lb loaded
  • Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26 — no pickup bed — cannot hitch a fifth wheel
THE SPECS
Length33.9 ft
Height (incl. A/C)13.4 ft
Width8.0 ft
GVWR12,071 lb
Dry weight9,380 lb
Dry tongue weight1,871 lb
Cargo capacity2,691 lb
Sleeps4
Axles2
Fresh water57 gal
Grey water60 gal
Black water32 gal
Air conditioning18,000 BTU
Awning13 ft

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front bedroom queen(Permanent)60×80
  • 1× Rear living sofa/dinette(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT — 4/5
WallsLaminated fiberglass
FrameAluminum
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Forest River (Mixed tier): Salem

YEAR BY YEAR — WHAT CHANGED
  • 2020Introduced under the Hemisphere nameplate
FINDING ONE

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

THE READ

The smallest Hemisphere fifth wheel and the couples rear-living plan that anchors the line.

OTHER SALEM HEMISPHERE FLOORPLANS
261FKRB · 9,820 lb · sleeps 2265BSRB · 9,740 lb · sleeps 2270FKS · 9,840 lb · sleeps 4271RL · 9,985 lb · sleeps 6273RL · 10,010 lb · sleeps 6291RL · 12,130 lb · sleeps 4295BH · 12,185 lb · sleeps 10308RL · 11,385 lb · sleeps 6310BHI · 11,445 lb · sleeps 8314BUD · 11,510 lb · sleeps 10320VIEW · 14,040 lb · sleeps 6321DRL · 14,025 lb · sleeps 4322VIEW · 11,700 lb · sleeps 4325RL · 14,085 lb · sleeps 6the whole line →
Is the 286RL 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.