CamperHardlyKnowHer

Forest River Salem 27RKSS

Travel trailerbuilt 2012–20Mixed 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
~8,107 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 6,798 lb + fresh water (61 gal, full) 509 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 around9,010 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)9,660 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~1,026 lb (13%)
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS — 43 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 27RKSS's published weights held steady.

VEHICLETOW RATINGVERDICT
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 (6.2 V8, max tow) '19-2613,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax, max tow) '24-2622,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '11-1918,100 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '20-2318,510 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '11-1923,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '20-2636,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (max tow) '14-1812,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado EV (4WT) '24-2612,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-249,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-269,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '11-1411,300 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-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '24-2613,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 Lightning (max trailer tow) '22-2610,000 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) '11-1621,600 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) '20-2237,000 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
Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-269,850 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-2610,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-269,096 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-249,760 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan XD (Cummins diesel) '16-1912,710 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (3.0 Hurricane, max tow) '25-2611,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi eTorque, max tow) '19-2412,750 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi, max tow) '11-1810,620 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) '19-2437,090 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '25-2636,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Rivian R1T '22-2611,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Tesla Cybertruck '24-2611,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-269,520 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (5.7 V8, tow pkg) '11-2110,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
The 52it doesn't fit
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-26 — over by ~1,177 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-22 — over by ~1,177 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~637 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~547 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Chrysler Pacifica '17-26 — over by ~4,867 lb loaded
  • Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-26 — over by ~277 lb loaded
  • Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~4,057 lb loaded
  • Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~3,067 lb loaded
  • Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~4,507 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-23 — over by ~1,357 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~1,357 lb loaded
  • Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-26 — over by ~1,897 lb loaded
  • GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-26 — over by ~1,357 lb loaded
  • GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~547 lb loaded
  • Honda Odyssey '18-26 — over by ~4,957 lb loaded
  • Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-26 — over by ~1,177 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-21 — over by ~1,627 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~2,527 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-26 — over by ~1,627 lb loaded
  • Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~4,957 lb loaded
  • Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~3,157 lb loaded
  • Land Rover Defender '20-26 — over by ~727 lb loaded
  • Land Rover Discovery '17-26 — over by ~727 lb loaded
  • Lexus LX 600 '22-26 — over by ~907 lb loaded
  • Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-26 — over by ~1,357 lb loaded
  • Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-26 — over by ~457 lb loaded
  • Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-24 — over by ~457 lb loaded
  • Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~1,672 lb loaded
  • Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~2,707 lb loaded
  • Ram ProMaster '14-26 — over by ~1,887 lb loaded
  • Rivian R1S '22-26 — over by ~1,177 lb loaded
  • Subaru Ascent '19-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26 — over by ~4,957 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~4,957 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26 — over by ~2,707 lb loaded
  • Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
  • Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~2,707 lb loaded
  • Toyota Sienna '21-26 — over by ~4,957 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~2,257 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-23 — over by ~1,987 lb loaded
  • Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~3,607 lb loaded
THE SPECS
Length33.5 ft
Height (incl. A/C)11.3 ft
Width8.0 ft
Interior height6.7 ft
GVWR9,660 lb
Dry weight6,798 lb
Dry tongue weight860 lb
Sleeps6
Slide-outs1
Axles2
Fresh water61 gal
Grey water75 gal
Black water42 gal
Air conditioning13,500 BTU
Awning16 ft

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front bedroom queen(Permanent)—
  • 2× Dinette and sofa convert(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT — 2/5
WallsWood frame + siding
FrameWood
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Forest River (Mixed tier): Forest River's volume full-size travel trailer - wood-framed and cheap to buy, but with a heated enclosed underbelly, a walk-on roof and the genuinely clever Versa furniture system.

YEAR BY YEAR — WHAT CHANGED
  • 2012Introduced
  • 2020Final model year
FINDING ONE

Common — usually several for sale within a day’s drive. Why: Forest River is a volume manufacturer; 9-year production run. Estimated from build volume and production span — not a count of live listings.

THE READ

Long-running rear-kitchen plan, also badged T27RKSS. No published MSRP found.

OTHER SALEM FLOORPLANS
22ERAS · 7,664 lb · sleeps 222RBS · 7,765 lb · sleeps 425RKS · 7,578 lb · sleeps 626DBUD · 9,595 lb · sleeps 826RBS · 9,723 lb · sleeps 626TBUD · 7,853 lb · sleeps 927RE · 11,155 lb · sleeps 427RK · 9,755 lb · sleeps 627TDSS · 9,999 lb · sleeps 9280ZEN · 11,265 lb · sleeps 428DBUD · 7,805 lb · sleeps 10290ZEN · 9,810 lb · sleeps 629BDB · 9,850 lb · sleeps 1029VBUD · 9,710 lb · sleeps 10the whole line →
Is the 27RKSS 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 dealer and aggregator listings, retrieved 2026-07.