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Palomino Columbus 385BH

Fifth wheelbuilt 2012–17Mixed build tierFindable on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$40,500est. used (2017, 9 yr old)

Sticker was $72,379 in 2017. Out of production since 2017, so the used market is the only way to buy one. Estimate assumes a 2017 unit.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~14,437 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 13,103 lb + fresh water (64 gal, full) 534 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 around16,045 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)16,103 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~2,391 lb (17%)
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 19 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 385BH's published weights changed mid-run. 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
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
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
The 76it doesn't fit

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

THE SPECS
Length42.4 ft
Height (incl. A/C)12.5 ft
Width8.4 ft
GVWR16,103 lb
Dry weight13,103 lb
Dry tongue weight2,170 lb
Sleeps9
Slide-outs5
Axles2
Fresh water64 gal
Grey water94 gal
Black water78 gal
Awning21 ft

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • Front queen bed(Permanent)60×80
  • Bunks(Permanent)
  • Sofa converts(Convertible)
HOW IT'S BUILT: 5/5
WallsAzdel composite
FrameAluminum
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Palomino (Mixed tier): Palomino RV (Forest River / Berkshire Hathaway), Colon MI

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED
YEARSGVWRDRYMSRP
2012–1515,940 lb11,811 lb$72,379
2016–1716,103 lb13,103 lb$72,379
  • 2012Introduced with the Columbus line at 15,940 lb GVWR
  • 2016Restyled to a 101 in wide body
  • 2017Final year; also 385BHC in Compass trim
FINDING ONE

Findable: a few listed nationwide most weeks. Why: Palomino is a volume manufacturer. Estimated from build volume and production span, not a count of live listings.

OUR TAKE

Original Columbus bunkhouse - five slides, 94 gal grey and 78 gal black, built from launch through 2017.

OTHER COLUMBUS FLOORPLANS
Find one for sale

Live listings for the 385BH on the big marketplaces. Each search opens pre-filled with this exact floorplan:

Inventory varies by site and day. Slim pickings? search the whole Columbus line ↗

Is the 385BH 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.