CamperHardlyKnowHer

Forest River Salem 290ZEN

Travel trailerbuilt 2026– (in production)Mixed build tierFindable 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
~9,143 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 8,001 lb + fresh water (41 gal, full) 342 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 around10,160 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)9,810 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~1,154 lb (13%)
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS — 35 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 290ZEN'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) '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 1500 (max tow) '14-1812,500 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) '24-2613,500 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-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 (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) '25-2636,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '19-2437,090 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 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 60it doesn't fit
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-26 — over by ~2,213 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-22 — over by ~2,213 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~1,673 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~1,583 lb loaded
  • Chevrolet Traverse (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Chrysler Pacifica '17-26 — over by ~5,903 lb loaded
  • Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-26 — over by ~1,313 lb loaded
  • Ford Bronco 4-dr (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~5,093 lb loaded
  • Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-24 — over by ~773 lb loaded
  • Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-26 — over by ~503 lb loaded
  • Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,103 lb loaded
  • Ford F-150 Lightning (max trailer tow) '22-26 — over by ~143 lb loaded
  • Ford Maverick (2.0 EcoBoost, 4K tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~5,543 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-23 — over by ~2,393 lb loaded
  • Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~2,393 lb loaded
  • Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-26 — over by ~2,933 lb loaded
  • GMC Acadia (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-26 — over by ~2,393 lb loaded
  • GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-26 — over by ~1,583 lb loaded
  • Honda Odyssey '18-26 — over by ~5,993 lb loaded
  • Honda Passport (AWD) '19-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Honda Pilot (AWD, tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Honda Ridgeline (AWD) '17-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Palisade (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz (2.5T AWD) '22-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-26 — over by ~2,213 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-21 — over by ~2,663 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~3,563 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-26 — over by ~2,663 lb loaded
  • Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26 — over by ~278 lb loaded
  • Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-26 — over by ~143 lb loaded
  • Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-dr (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~5,993 lb loaded
  • Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,193 lb loaded
  • Land Rover Defender '20-26 — over by ~1,763 lb loaded
  • Land Rover Discovery '17-26 — over by ~1,763 lb loaded
  • Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~958 lb loaded
  • Lexus LX 600 '22-26 — over by ~1,943 lb loaded
  • Mazda CX-90 (3.3 turbo, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-26 — over by ~2,393 lb loaded
  • Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-26 — over by ~1,493 lb loaded
  • Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-24 — over by ~1,493 lb loaded
  • Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~2,708 lb loaded
  • Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-26 — over by ~3,743 lb loaded
  • Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-24 — over by ~358 lb loaded
  • Ram ProMaster '14-26 — over by ~2,923 lb loaded
  • Rivian R1S '22-26 — over by ~2,213 lb loaded
  • Subaru Ascent '19-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Subaru Outback (XT / Wilderness) '20-26 — over by ~5,993 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model X (tow pkg) '16-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Tesla Model Y (tow pkg) '21-26 — over by ~5,993 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (4.0 V6) '11-24 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Toyota 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-26 — over by ~3,743 lb loaded
  • Toyota Grand Highlander (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Toyota Highlander (tow pkg) '20-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
  • Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-26 — over by ~3,743 lb loaded
  • Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-26 — over by ~573 lb loaded
  • Toyota Sienna '21-26 — over by ~5,993 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-26 — over by ~3,293 lb loaded
  • Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-23 — over by ~3,023 lb loaded
  • Volkswagen Atlas (tow pkg) '18-26 — over by ~4,643 lb loaded
THE SPECS
Length34.8 ft
Width8.0 ft
GVWR9,810 lb
Dry weight8,001 lb
Dry tongue weight1,010 lb
Sleeps6
Slide-outs1
Axles2
Fresh water41 gal
Grey water60 gal
Black water30 gal
Air conditioning13,500 BTU

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front bedroom king(Permanent)—
  • 2× Versa-Slide bunks(Permanent)—
  • 1× Sofa converts(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
  • 2026Introduced
FINDING ONE

Findable — a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: Forest River is a volume manufacturer; only one model year; still in production. Estimated from build volume and production span — not a count of live listings.

THE READ

ZEN with the Versa-Slide - bunks, storage or an office, and no traditional dinette. 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 627RKSS · 9,660 lb · sleeps 627TDSS · 9,999 lb · sleeps 9280ZEN · 11,265 lb · sleeps 428DBUD · 7,805 lb · sleeps 1029BDB · 9,850 lb · sleeps 1029VBUD · 9,710 lb · sleeps 10the whole line →
Is the 290ZEN 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 low-confidence record — figures are inferred and should be independently verified, retrieved 2026-07.