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Forest River Salem FSX 181RT

Travel trailerbuilt 2019– (in production)Caution build tierCommon on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$31,000MSRP today

Still in production. A used 2023 would run roughly $16,400.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~4,703 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 3,578 lb + fresh water (39 gal, full) 325 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 around5,230 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)4,930 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~697 lb (15%)
Cargo capacity1,352 lb
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 73 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 181RT's published weights held steady.

VEHICLETOW RATINGVERDICT
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-267,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-227,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
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
Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,400 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-268,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-269,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-249,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Explorer (3.0 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '20-265,600 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) '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-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) '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
Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-237,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-267,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Transit (HD tow pkg) '15-266,900 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-267,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Sierra EV '24-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,400 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-267,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-217,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL, tow pkg) '22-266,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-267,200 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
Kia Telluride (tow pkg) '20-265,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Land Rover Defender '20-268,201 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Land Rover Discovery '17-268,201 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-269,096 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus LX 600 '22-268,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-267,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-268,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-248,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Frontier (3.8 V6, tow pkg) '22-267,150 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Pathfinder (tow pkg) '22-266,000 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) '25-2636,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '19-2437,090 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram ProMaster '14-266,910 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Rivian R1S '22-267,700 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 4Runner (i-Force Max) '25-266,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Land Cruiser (i-Force Max) '24-266,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-269,520 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tacoma (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '24-266,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tacoma (V6, tow pkg) '16-236,800 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 22it doesn't fit

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

THE SPECS
Length21.7 ft
Height (incl. A/C)10.2 ft
Width7.5 ft
GVWR4,930 lb
Dry weight3,578 lb
Dry tongue weight530 lb
Cargo capacity1,352 lb
Sleeps4
Fresh water39 gal
Grey water30 gal
Black water28 gal
Air conditioning13,500 BTU
Awning12 ft

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front queen bed(Permanent)—
  • 1× Garage sofa converts(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT: 1/5
WallsWood frame + siding
FrameWood
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyOpen

Forest River (Caution tier): Entry-price single-axle line: 2" wood-framed walls 16" on center with corrugated metal siding standard (fiberglass only in the Platinum package) — same caution tier as the FSX 178BHSK.

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED
  • 2018Introduced as 180RT
  • 2019Became 181RT
FINDING ONE

Common: usually several for sale within a day’s drive. Why: Forest River is a volume manufacturer; 8-year production run; still in production. Estimated from build volume and production span, not a count of live listings.

OUR TAKE

The little single-axle FSX toy hauler, seven model years. No published MSRP found.

OTHER SALEM FSX FLOORPLANS
135ICE · 3,865 lb · sleeps 2161QK · 4,908 lb · sleeps 4162RBS · 5,610 lb · sleeps 4163RDSK · 5,615 lb · sleeps 2164FBLE · 3,865 lb · sleeps 4167RBK · 4,795 lb · sleeps 3169RSK · 5,635 lb · sleeps 4170SS · 4,845 lb · sleeps 7174DBLE · 3,935 lb · sleeps 8175BHLE · 3,840 lb · sleeps 6176QBHK · 4,920 lb · sleeps 6177BH · 4,770 lb · sleeps 6178BHSK · 5,645 lb · sleeps 8179DBK · 4,865 lb · sleeps 5the whole line →
Find one for sale

Live listings for the 181RT 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 Salem FSX line ↗

Is the 181RT 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.