01 What makes it unique
Heartland lists the 2023 ElkRidge 38MB at 12,615 lb dry, a GVWR of 16,000 lb and a pin weight of 2,359 lb. Heartland prints no cargo carrying capacity for it, so none is given here; the federal label inside the trailer carries one.
It is 42' 6" long and 13' 3" high. Heartland prints no tank capacity for it.
Among the 8 ElkRidge floorplans Heartland’s 2023 ElkRidge brochure lists with a published dry weight, it is number 5 from the lightest, in a range from 10,607 lb (ElkRidge 32RK) to 13,435 lb (ElkRidge 37DRB). Every figure in that comparison is Heartland’s, for the same model year.
Every number on this page was read on 5 Nov 2026 from Heartland’s 2023 ElkRidge brochure, the maker’s own dated document for model year 2023.
How the 38MB differs from the other seven ElkRidge floorplans. Most distinctive first. How these ranks are worked out.
- Pin weight as a share of dry weight, 18.7%: smallest of eight; next is the 32RLS (18.8%).
- Length, 42 ft 6 in: second-longest of eight, between the 37BBH (42 ft 5 in) and the 37DRB (42 ft 7 in).
- Pin weight, 2,359 lb: third-lightest of eight, between the 32RK (2,324 lb) and the 37BBH (2,531 lb).
- Dry weight, 12,615 lb: fourth-heaviest of eight, between the 37BBH (12,287 lb) and the 38FLIK (12,815 lb).
- Exterior height, 13 ft 3 in: lowest of eight, level with the 32RLS and 38FLIK; next are the 32RK, 37BBH and three others (13 ft 4 in).
- GVWR, 16,000 lb: shared with the 32RLS and 38FLIK; of eight, two lower and three higher, nearest the 37RED (15,500 lb) and the 37BBH (16,531 lb).
Next to the 37BBH, the nearest lighter floorplan by dry weight, the 38MB is 328 lb heavier by dry weight, has a GVWR 531 lb lower, has a pin weight 172 lb lighter, is 1 in longer and stands 1 in lower.
Next to the 38FLIK, the nearest heavier floorplan by dry weight, the 38MB is 200 lb lighter by dry weight, has a pin weight 497 lb lighter and is 5 in longer; the two publish the same GVWR and exterior height.
02 Full specifications
Dimensions
- Exterior length
- 42' 6"
- Exterior height
- 13' 3"
- Exterior width
- Not published by Heartland
- Interior height
- Not published by Heartland
Weights
- Dry / unit base weight (UVW)
- 12,615 lb
- GVWR (max loaded)
- 16,000 lb
- Net cargo / payload (CCC)
- Not published by Heartland
- Hitch / pin weight
- 2,359 lb
Capacities
- Fresh water
- Not published by Heartland
- Grey water
- Not published by Heartland
- Black water
- Not published by Heartland
Running gear
- Hitch type
- Fifth wheel (pin box)
- Tire size
- Not published by Heartland
Sleeping & layout
- Sleeps
- 7-8
How these published figures sit against the rest of the catalogue: fifth wheel pin weight and payload; fresh, grey and black tank sizes; camper trailer size chart.
Towing it
Check your vehicle. Enter the ratings from your owner’s manual and the door-pillar placard.
Compares your figures with this page’s published GVWR (16,000 lb) and the upper loaded pin estimate (4,000 lb, a rule of thumb). Your vehicle’s placard and the trailer’s own weight label govern.
Loaded range: 15–25% of GVWR on the pin, a rule of thumb, not a measurement of this unit. No truck ratings or hitch classes (why; NHTSA, DOT HS 809 433).
03 The ElkRidge floorplan family
Heartland’s 2023 ElkRidge brochure lists 8 ElkRidge floorplans; every one with a printed weight has a page here.
| Floorplan | Nominal | Sleeps | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ElkRidge 32RK | 36' 6 1/2" | 3-4 | Profiled |
| ElkRidge 32RLS | 36' 2 3/8" | 3-4 | Profiled |
| ElkRidge 37RED | 41' 7 3/8" | 5-6 | Profiled |
| ElkRidge 37BBH | 42' 5" | 7-8 | Profiled |
| ElkRidge 38MB | 42' 6" | 7-8 | Profiled |
| ElkRidge 38FLIK | 42' 1 7/8" | 5-6 | Profiled |
| ElkRidge 37FBH | 42' 4 1/8" | 3-4 | Profiled |
| ElkRidge 37DRB | 42' 7 3/8" | 3-4 | Profiled |
Heartland’s 2023 ElkRidge brochure lists 8 ElkRidge floorplans. Every one with a printed weight has a page here.
04 Notes on this floorplan
What Heartland does not publish for the ElkRidge 38MB
Heartland prints no cargo carrying capacity, tire size, interior height, grey-tank, black-tank for this model, so none is given. Nothing is filled from a sibling model, a different model year or a dealer listing.
Read the label on the trailer
Federal rules put a load-carrying label inside every RV trailer: its unloaded weight with full propane, its cargo carrying capacity and its GVWR (49 CFR 571.110 and 571.120). Those figures come from the trailer itself and govern the towing decision.
05 How it compares
12,287 lb dry and 16,531 lb GVWR, against this model’s 12,615 lb and 16,000 lb.
12,815 lb dry and 16,000 lb GVWR, against this model’s 12,615 lb and 16,000 lb.
07 Where this floorplan sits
Closest sibling: the ElkRidge 37BBH, nearest on the published figures. It differs on 4 of the 5 fields both publish (this plan first): length 42 ft 6 in vs 42 ft 5 in; dry weight 12,615 lb vs 12,287 lb; GVWR 16,000 lb vs 16,531 lb; hitch weight 2,359 lb vs 2,531 lb. They match on sleeps.
| ElkRidge plans | This plan | Position, low to high | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| GVWR (lb) | 16,000 | 3–5 of 8 | 15,000–16,660 |
| Dry weight (lb) | 12,615 | 5 of 8 | 10,607–13,435 |
| Hitch weight (lb) | 2,359 | 3 of 8 | 2,032–2,856 |
| Length | 42 ft 6 in | 7 of 8 | 36 ft 2 in–42 ft 7 in |
| Sleeps | 8 | 7–8 of 8 | 4–8 |
Either side of it by GVWR: ElkRidge 38FLIK matches it at 16,000 lb GVWR; ElkRidge 37BBH is 531 lb heavier (16,531 lb GVWR).
| Nearest ElkRidge siblings | Length | Sleeps | Dry (lb) | GVWR (lb) | CCC (lb) | Hitch (lb) | Fresh (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ElkRidge 38MB | 42 ft 6 in | 8 | 12,615 | 16,000 | — | 2,359 | — |
| ElkRidge 37BBH | 42 ft 5 in | 8 | 12,287 | 16,531 | — | 2,531 | — |
| ElkRidge 38FLIK | 42 ft 1 in | 6 | 12,815 | 16,000 | — | 2,856 | — |
| ElkRidge 37RED | 41 ft 7 in | 6 | 11,848 | 15,500 | — | 2,626 | — |
| ElkRidge 37FBH | 42 ft 4 in | 4 | 12,905 | 16,660 | — | 2,660 | — |
| ElkRidge 37DRB | 42 ft 7 in | 4 | 13,435 | 16,570 | — | 2,570 | — |
All 8 ElkRidge floorplans: ElkRidge line hub.
| Other lines, nearest by GVWR | GVWR (lb) | Dry (lb) | Sleeps | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ElkRidge 38MB | 16,000 | 12,615 | 8 | 42 ft 6 in |
| Big Country 3200RLK | 16,000 | 12,140 | 4 | 36 ft 5 in |
| Bighorn 31RL | 16,000 | 13,060 | 4 | 36 ft 0 in |
| North Point 310RLTS | 16,000 | 13,375 | 4 | 36 ft 0 in |
| Paradigm 295MK | 16,000 | 13,193 | — | 33 ft 3 in |
| Talon 313T | 16,000 | 10,800 | 8 | 38 ft 4 in |
| Avenue 38DBL | 15,995 | 12,890 | — | 41 ft 11 in |
Against the ElkRidge 38MB: the Big Country 3200RLK is 6 ft shorter and sleeps 4 fewer; the Bighorn 31RL is 6 ft shorter and sleeps 4 fewer; the North Point 310RLTS is 6 ft shorter and sleeps 4 fewer.
08 Common questions about the ElkRidge 38MB
How much does the ElkRidge 38MB weigh?
12,615 lb dry; 16,000 lb GVWR, the most it may weigh loaded.
What is the pin weight of the ElkRidge 38MB?
2,359 lb as published, 19% of the dry weight (median across 540 fifth wheels here: 19%).
What size tow vehicle does the ElkRidge 38MB need?
A tow rating of at least 16,000 lb, plus payload for the loaded pin weight, passengers and cargo.
How many people does the ElkRidge 38MB sleep?
Its published sleeping capacity is 7–8. No other ElkRidge floorplan here is rated for more.
How long is the ElkRidge 38MB?
42' 6" overall, tongue or pin box included.
From the figures above.
09 What this page publishes, and what it does not
6 of the 18 fields this catalogue tracks are published for the ElkRidge 38MB. Not published: cargo capacity (CCC), exterior width, interior height, fresh tank, grey tank, black tank, slide count, axle count, tire specification, awning, refrigerator, air conditioning.
Sourcing rules: methodology.
10 Manuals & documents
Sources: heartlandrvs.com, library.rvusa.com (linked below); the full source note is at the foot of the page.