CamperResearchFind your rig →

Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 278BHS

Fifth wheelbuilt 2024–25Mixed build tierFindable on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$60,900est. used (2025, 1 yr old)

Sticker was $84,580 in 2025. Out of production since 2025, so the used market is the only way to buy one. Estimate assumes a 2025 unit.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~9,769 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 8,293 lb + fresh water (81 gal, full) 676 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 around10,855 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)10,295 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~1,543 lb (16%)
Cargo capacity2,002 lb
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 31 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 278BHS'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 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) '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) '11-1411,300 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) '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 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 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 (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
The 64it doesn't fit

These verdicts assume 2 people aboard with typical gear. See the margin for your truck and your crew →

THE SPECS
Length34.2 ft
Height (incl. A/C)13.2 ft
Width8.0 ft
GVWR10,295 lb
Dry weight8,293 lb
Dry tongue weight1,310 lb
Cargo capacity2,002 lb
Sleeps8
Fresh water81 gal
Grey water70 gal
Black water35 gal
Air conditioning15,000 BTU
Solar (standard)100 W
Awning20 ft

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front queen bed(Permanent)60×80
  • 2× Double bunks(Permanent)54×74
  • 1× Dinette converts to a bed(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT: 3/5
WallsLaminated fiberglass
FrameWood
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Forest River (Mixed tier): Cherokee's fifth-wheel line - laminated aluminum-framed walls, heated enclosed underbelly and 50-amp service at a low price, with Forest River volume-plant QC.

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED
  • 2024Introduced
  • 2025Discontinued
FINDING ONE

Findable: a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: Forest River is a volume manufacturer; only 2 model years. Estimated from build volume and production span, not a count of live listings.

OUR TAKE

Single-slide bunkhouse with a low 1,310 lb pin - short-lived, two model years.

OTHER CHEROKEE ARCTIC WOLF FLOORPLANS
23MLE · 9,900 lb · sleeps 5261RK · 11,525 lb · sleeps 6265DBH8 · 9,900 lb · sleeps 7271RK · 11,385 lb · sleeps 427SGS · 9,995 lb · sleeps 4285OPT · 10,585 lb · sleeps 10287BH · 10,395 lb · sleeps 10289PANO · 11,970 lb · sleeps 6291RL · 11,455 lb · sleeps 8298LB · 11,820 lb · sleeps 6311ML · 11,645 lb · sleeps 4321BH · 11,815 lb · sleeps 83250SUITE · 12,040 lb · sleeps 4327MB · 11,740 lb · sleeps 8the whole line →
Find one for sale

Live listings for the 278BHS on the big marketplaces. Each search opens pre-filled with this exact floorplan:

RV Trader ↗Camping World ↗FB Marketplace ↗Google ↗

Inventory varies by site and day. Slim pickings? search the whole Cherokee Arctic Wolf line ↗

Is the 278BHS 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, switch on your hard limits, and watch the whole market re-rank around them. Every exclusion explained, every margin shown.

See where it ranks for you →

Data compiled from dealer and aggregator listings, retrieved 2026-07.