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Prime Time Crusader 296BHS

Fifth wheelbuilt 2014–17Mixed build tierFindable on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$28,300est. used (2017, 9 yr old)

Sticker was $49,438 in 2016. 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
~10,272 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 8,972 lb + fresh water (60 gal, full) 500 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 around11,415 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)11,750 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~1,546 lb (15%)
Cargo capacity2,778 lb
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 28 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 296BHS'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-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
Toyota Tundra (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
The 67it doesn't fit

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

THE SPECS
Length35.3 ft
Height (incl. A/C)11.7 ft
Width8.0 ft
GVWR11,750 lb
Dry weight8,972 lb
Dry tongue weight1,350 lb
Cargo capacity2,778 lb
Sleeps9
Slide-outs2
Axles2
Fresh water60 gal
Grey water70 gal
Black water35 gal
Air conditioning13,500 BTU
Awning18 ft

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

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • Front queen bed(Permanent)
  • Rear bunks(Permanent)
  • Sofa converts(Convertible)
  • Dinette converts(Convertible)
HOW IT'S BUILT: 4/5
WallsLaminated fiberglass
FrameAluminum
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Prime Time (Mixed tier): Forest River

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED
  • 2014Introduced
  • 2017Final year
FINDING ONE

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

OUR TAKE

Light bunkhouse at 1,350 lb pin; popular with 3/4-ton owners.

OTHER CRUSADER FLOORPLANS
Find one for sale

Live listings for the 296BHS on the big marketplaces. Each search opens pre-filled with this exact floorplan:

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

Is the 296BHS 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.