2018 Salem Hemisphere 286RL

RobH063 · 03-07-2018, 01:52 PM

Hello everyone. New here and looking for opinions and any other input you may have. I'm considering buying my first 5th wheel. The dealer where I feel comfortable and have bought travel trailers from before has a Salem Hemisphere 286RL that I'm going to see in person this coming weekend. I have a 2015 Chevy 2500HD Gas Doublecab with the 6.5 foot box as my tow vehicle and won't be changing that. Any advise on whether I have enough truck?, is it a decent 5th wheel? anything I should look for when giving it a good look? Thanks in advance!

SeaDog · 03-08-2018, 07:58 AM

Welcome to the forum its a great place to get your questions answered. Your truck will pull it fine the short box may make maneuvering less then optimum however there are hitches that compensate for that.

RobH063 · 03-08-2018, 08:20 AM

Thank you for the reply SeaDog. I know a short box isn't ideal and will have to buy a more expensive slider type hitch for it but it's good to know my truck is capable of towing that size 5th wheel.

**Bama Rambler** · 03-08-2018, 01:09 PM

We have almost the same configuration of RV & TV and I had a slider hitch before we got the Andersen and never had to slide it. I don't think you'll need a slider hitch with that unit. I don't know if that RV comes with the revolution pin box, but if it does, I know you won't need one.

Do you have a gooseneck hitch in your truck?

RobH063 · 03-08-2018, 01:30 PM

Bama, no I don't have a Gooseneck hitch. I've only towed travel trailers the traditional way although I utilize the Propride P3 hitch. I'm really looking forward to the towing experience a 5th wheel provides. I don't know if the Salem models come with the Reese Revolution. We're going to see it on Saturday and begin negotiations if my wife and I like it once we see it. I am concerned a little about the residential fridge it has. We do like to boondock a little but I'm sure I'll think of something to make that happen without running out of power.

**Bama Rambler** · 03-08-2018, 03:57 PM

Even if it doesn't come with the revolution, I still don't think you need a slider.

Depending on where and how many days in a row you normally boondock, you may need to up the battery bank and/or add an inverter generator to keep the batteries charged.

I'd seriously consider adding a gooseneck hitch to your truck. That way you can maintain a clean bed when you're not towing. Then you could go with a fifth wheel hitch that connects into the gooseneck or get the pin box changed out for a goosebox.

RobH063 · 03-08-2018, 05:16 PM

Well, we almost have a done deal. I was on the phone with the owner of the dealership we've been working with for over an hour. We have agreed to price but he has to order me the Salem Hemisphere 286RL now. He sold the one I was interested in. No worries though. I will get a 2019 model instead for the 2018 at the same agreed upon price. Since it had to be ordered, I swapped out the 10.7cf residential fridge for an 8cf AC/Propane fridge to accommodate our boondocking better. I have to wait 5-6 weeks but since campgrounds don't open near me until May, I should be fine. The hitch he sells is the Reese model and he said that with the 6.5' box, I can still get to 88 degrees and don't need the slider style. If I run into trouble, he said the slider part can be added. The hitch removes for full use of the truck bed but there will still be the rails installed to the bed. That's ok too. I'll work with what I have. He also agreed to let me keep my four lifeline 6v AGM batteries that are with my trade-in and just said to buy a cheap battery so the trade in has one. I'm happy to spend $100 to save my nearly new Lifeline's I paid $300 each for! I also get to keep my Propride P3 hitch and can sell that. My wife and I are still going to do the walk-through on Saturday of the 2018 he sold before actually signing the papers but things are really moving in the right direction.

Locky · 03-08-2018, 06:00 PM

Congrats Rob!! I'm sure it will be worth the wait.

RobH063 · 03-08-2018, 06:22 PM

Thanks Locky. I've never owned a Forest River product before but they must be well liked. The dealer said he can't keep them on his lot!

Locky · 03-10-2018, 11:04 PM

We just purchased our first Forest River trailer last week when we bought the Rockwood 2906ws.

MORobb · 03-12-2018, 03:41 PM

Hello,

I have a 2016 286RL and pulled it with my '04 GMC 2500 crewcab shortbed. I have a slider and have never taken it out of the tow position. My GMC 6.0L pulled ok, not great. Suspension was fine, power was lacking. I now have an f350 crewcab shortbed with the 6.7PS and still have not moved the hitch out of tow position.

Robb

RobH063 · 03-14-2018, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locky

We just purchased our first Forest River trailer last week when we bought the Rockwood 2906ws.

That looks like a real nice camper Locky. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as we hope to enjoy our 286RL this camping season!

RobH063 · 03-14-2018, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MORobb

Hello,

I have a 2016 286RL and pulled it with my '04 GMC 2500 crewcab shortbed. I have a slider and have never taken it out of the tow position. My GMC 6.0L pulled ok, not great. Suspension was fine, power was lacking. I now have an f350 crewcab shortbed with the 6.7PS and still have not moved the hitch out of tow position.

Robb

Robb, When my 2500HD is paid off (2 more years) I may look into a bigger truck with Diesel but man are they expensive! I just don't have enough equity with my truck yet to pull off buying a new 5th Wheel and a new truck!

MORobb · 03-14-2018, 02:06 PM

Yes understand about the cost of a new truck. I went with a used one my f350 is a 2011. Only had 70k miles and I got a good price...

I hope you enjoy your new camper, we love ours!

Robb

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