01 What Puma is
Puma is Palomino's metal-sided value travel trailer — a high-volume bumper-pull line built to a price, and one of the broadest single travel-trailer rosters in the value bracket. Palomino RV, based in Goshen, Indiana and a division of Forest River, Inc. (a Berkshire Hathaway company), positions Puma squarely against the price-leaders: Forest River's own Salem / Wildwood and Aurora, Prime Time's Avenger, Keystone's Springdale and Passport, Jayco's Jay Flight SLX and Coachmen's Catalina.
The build is the value-bracket recipe done conventionally. Every Puma rides a bumper-pull tandem-axle chassis on a rugged, powder-coated steel I-beam frame with steel crossmembers, skinned in .024 and .030-gauge aluminum — a metal-sided trailer, not a laminated fiberglass one. The roof is an AlphaPly membrane under a limited lifetime warranty over 3/8-inch decking on 4½-inch crowned truss rafters; the sidewalls carry R-7 fiberglass insulation cut and glued between studs spaced 16 inches apart; the floor is 5/8-inch Araucoply plywood under a 25-year limited warranty over longitudinal studding on 12-inch centres; and the underbelly is enclosed and Darco-wrapped with enclosed water tanks. Inside, an 11 cu ft 12-volt black-glass refrigerator, a 1.3 cu ft stainless microwave, a 21-inch stainless oven and range hood, a tankless water heater and floor-ducted heat are standard, with a 3,500-pound electric tongue jack and four electric stabilizer jacks.
Two things are worth knowing before you compare Puma against a rival on paper. First, solar is prep only: the factory lists “roof and side-mount solar prep” — wiring and mounting points, not a working panel — so budget the panel and controller if you intend to boondock. Second, Puma has no options list: Forest River bundles the entire specification into four packages and marks all four required, which means the trailer on the lot is the trailer as specified. That structure also produces the one genuine contradiction in the line, on the air conditioner — covered below. The 2026 factory roster carries twenty travel-trailer floorplans; the eight highest-demand plans are profiled in depth below, and every profiled layout is taken verbatim from the Forest River factory floorplan record. Palomino and Forest River publish no MSRP for the Puma line, so street pricing is dealer-confirmed.
02 Floorplans profiled in depth
Eight 2026 floorplans are profiled in full, selected as the highest-demand plans on the roster — each carries two or more live dealer listings. They span the line from the compact front-kitchen 26FKDS to the four-slide family flagship 32BHFS, and include the most-listed plan in the line (the rear-living 31RLQS), two rear-kitchen couples plans, the bath-and-a-half 32BHQS and the loft bunkhouse 337BH. Every profiled plan's layout, exterior material and awning size is taken verbatim from the Forest River factory floorplan record and cross-checked against the 2026 factory brochure.
| Floorplan | Dry wt | Length | Sleeps | Layout | GVWR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26FKDS | 7,053 lbs | 30' 10" | 5 | Front kitchen and rear bedroom | 8,553 lbs |
| 310RK | 7,763 lbs | 35' 6" | 4 | Rear kitchen | 9,263 lbs |
| 30RKQS | 7,974 lbs | 36' 1" | 4 | Rear kitchen and front bedroom | 9,600 lbs |
| 31RLQS | 8,808 lbs | 36' 1" | 4 | Kitchen island, front bedroom and rear living | 10,500 lbs |
| 337BH | 7,463 lbs | 37' 1" | 8 | Bunk beds, loft, front bedroom and pass through bathroom | 9,263 lbs |
| 31FKRK | 8,333 lbs | 37' 11" | 4 | Front kitchen and rear bedroom | 9,930 lbs |
| 32BHFS | 9,608 lbs | 38' 9" | 11 | Bunk beds, kitchen island and front bedroom | 11,308 lbs |
| 32BHQS | 9,072 lbs | 38' 9" | 11 | Bunk beds, front bedroom and bathroom and a half | 10,800 lbs |
Body specifications (lengths, exterior heights, width, tanks, entries, slides and awnings) are verified three ways: against the Forest River factory floorplan records for the 2026 Puma roster, against the 2026 Palomino Puma factory brochure, and against the RVUSA structured records. The factory pages and the brochure agree on every field with no mismatches. Dry weight (UVW), GVWR, payload (CCC) and tongue (hitch) weight are published per plan, and for every plan the base dry weight plus payload equals the GVWR exactly — so all weight figures are shown unflagged with no derivation. Sleep capacities are the RVUSA-published figures. Palomino and Forest River publish no MSRP for the Puma line; street (dealer) pricing is dealer-confirmed. Real loaded tongue weights run higher — weigh the loaded trailer and confirm against your vehicle's tow rating and payload.
03 Also in the 2026 line
Twelve further 2026 Puma floorplans are catalogued here from published specifications but not yet profiled in depth — among them the lightest plan in the line (the 227RK at 5,608 pounds dry), the heaviest (the 340DB at 9,753 pounds), the bunkhouses 25BHS, 31QBBH, 32BH2B, 32RBFQ and 32RBFQ2, and the loft-equipped 345BHL. Like the profiled plans, all publish GVWR per plan with dry weight plus CCC equal to GVWR exactly.
| Floorplan | Dry wt | GVWR | Payload | Tongue | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 220FK | 6,078 lbs | 7,600 lbs | 1,522 lbs | 770 lbs | 25' 11" |
| 227RK | 5,608 lbs | 7,108 lbs | 1,500 lbs | 750 lbs | 26' 4" |
| 229RB | 5,788 lbs | 7,288 lbs | 1,500 lbs | 730 lbs | 26' 4" |
| 25BHS | 6,028 lbs | 7,528 lbs | 1,500 lbs | 650 lbs | 30' 5" |
| 27RBDS | 7,468 lbs | 8,968 lbs | 1,500 lbs | 1,030 lbs | 33' 7" |
| 290RL | 7,153 lbs | 8,653 lbs | 1,500 lbs | 980 lbs | 34' 8" |
| 32RBFQ | 8,998 lbs | 10,500 lbs | 1,502 lbs | 948 lbs | 36' 11" |
| 32RBFQ2 | 9,237 lbs | 10,500 lbs | 1,263 lbs | 932 lbs | 36' 11" |
| 345BHL | 9,018 lbs | 10,618 lbs | 1,600 lbs | 1,075 lbs | 37' 4" |
| 31QBBH | 8,231 lbs | 9,995 lbs | 1,764 lbs | 1,049 lbs | 37' 10" |
| 32BH2B | 9,023 lbs | 11,230 lbs | 2,207 lbs | 1,030 lbs | 38' 6" |
| 340DB | 9,753 lbs | 11,253 lbs | 1,500 lbs | 1,240 lbs | 38' 7" |
Catalogued weights are verified against the Forest River factory floorplan records for the 2026 Puma roster and, for the nineteen plans it carries, the 2026 factory brochure; dry weight plus payload equals GVWR exactly on each. Three plans — the 220FK, 290RL and 340DB — are new for 2026 and carry no RVUSA structured record, so no sleeping capacity is published for them and none is inferred. The 220FK's awning size is listed as “TBD” by the factory and is not published anywhere else, so it is left blank rather than assumed from the line pattern. The 345BHL is flagged Dealer Stock Only by the factory and stands 13 feet 5 inches tall against an 11-foot-1 line norm — a figure confirmed by the factory brochure, so it is real and not a transcription error. These plans are documented for reference and their full floorplan profiles are planned but not yet published.
04 The Puma family tiers
Beyond the twenty-plan core roster above, Palomino sells the Puma name as six factory sub-lines — 63 floorplans enumerated from the factory's own tier pages. The body-type calls are the factory's own category filings: Camping Edition and Tracks file under travel trailers, Vista under destination trailers, Ambush under toy haulers (its own floorplan sentence opens “This Toy Hauler is a Travel Trailer”), and Mesa and Grand Mesa under fifth wheels. Per this site's family policy, sub-lines roster here on the parent hub; the three Ambush plans are profiled in depth and linked below.
Puma Camping Edition — travel trailers (22 plans)
| Plan | Factory group | Hitch wt | Unloaded wt | Cargo cap. | Length | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120RKCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 360 lb | 2,614 lb | 1,246 lb | 16' 0" | profiled |
| 121RKCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 340 lb | 2,664 lb | 1,176 lb | 16' 0" | profiled |
| 122BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 380 lb | 2,664 lb | 1,200 lb | 16' 0" | catalogued only † |
| 123RDCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 365 lb | 2,684 lb | 1,180 lb | 16' 0" | catalogued only † |
| 12FBCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 355 lb | 2,869 lb | 986 lb | 18' 6" | profiled |
| 141THCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 660 lb | 3,089 lb | 1,500 lb | 16' 3" | profiled |
| 16BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 335 lb | 3,164 lb | 671 lb | 20' 0" | profiled |
| 16DSCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 440 lb | 3,629 lb | 1,501 lb | 22' 0" | profiled |
| 16QBCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 385 lb | 3,004 lb | 880 lb | 20' 10" | catalogued only † |
| 18BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 515 lb | 4,159 lb | 1,456 lb | 23' 1" | profiled |
| 20BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 495 lb | 4,223 lb | 1,500 lb | 25' 0" | profiled |
| 20RLCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 565 lb | 4,188 lb | 1,500 lb | 24' 8" | profiled |
| 210RKCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 485 lb | 4,358 lb | 1,500 lb | 25' 10" | profiled |
| 211FKCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 720 lb | 4,988 lb | 1,500 lb | 26' 7" | profiled |
| 23BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 665 lb | 5,153 lb | 1,500 lb | 29' 8" | profiled |
| 250RBCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 715 lb | 5,623 lb | 1,500 lb | 28' 11" | profiled |
| 263BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 850 lb | 6,103 lb | 1,500 lb | 32' 0" | profiled |
| 283BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 730 lb | 6,008 lb | 1,592 lb | 30' 9" | profiled |
| 284BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | — | — | — | —† | — |
| 303BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 680 lb | 6,548 lb | 1,500 lb | 33' 4" | profiled |
| 304BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 785 lb | 6,523 lb | 1,500 lb | 33' 5" | profiled |
| 305BHCE | Camping Edition Travel Trailers | 860 lb | 7,018 lb | 1,500 lb | 33' 5" | profiled |
† 122BHCE, 123RDCE and 16QBCE are catalogued here and are not profiled. On each of the three, Forest River's own published unloaded weight and cargo capacity add up to one pound less than Forest River's own published GVWR — 2,664 + 1,200 = 3,864 against a stated 3,865; 2,684 + 1,180 = 3,864 against 3,865; and 3,004 + 880 = 3,884 against 3,885. The figures above are the factory's, reproduced exactly. The disagreement is shown rather than resolved: this site does not adjust a published weight to make an arithmetic work, and a plan whose own numbers do not tie out is not given a specification page. One pound has no practical effect on a tow decision, and that is precisely why it is disclosed rather than quietly rounded away — if the published set is internally inconsistent, the reader should be told, and should weigh the trailer themselves before loading to any published limit. 284BHCE carries no row of its own because Forest River lists it as dealer-stock-only and publishes no detail page for it.
Puma Tracks — travel trailers (incl. a Lite group) (14 plans)
| Plan | Factory group | Hitch wt | Unloaded wt | Cargo cap. | Length | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 232UD | Lite Travel Trailers | 590 lb | 4,858 lb | 1,582 lb | 25' 9" | profiled |
| 235BH | Lite Travel Trailers | 585 lb | 4,728 lb | 1,585 lb | 25' 11" | profiled |
| 237RK | Lite Travel Trailers | 670 lb | 4,918 lb | 1,587 lb | 25' 9" | profiled |
| 2420RBS | Travel Trailers | 635 lb | 5,328 lb | 1,575 lb | 27' 11" | profiled |
| 2430BHS | Travel Trailers | 645 lb | 5,673 lb | 1,596 lb | 30' 7" | profiled |
| 2580RBSS | Travel Trailers | 725 lb | 6,013 lb | 1,615 lb | 32' 8" | profiled |
| 2750BHS | Travel Trailers | 650 lb | 6,183 lb | 1,467 lb | 32' 6" | profiled |
| 302BHS | Lite Travel Trailers | 725 lb | 6,348 lb | 1,252 lb | 33' 6" | profiled |
| 3060RKTS | Travel Trailers | 1,050 lb | 7,803 lb | 1,900 lb | 37' 0" | profiled |
| 3070RKLS | Travel Trailers | 1,080 lb | 7,918 lb | 1,976 lb | 37' 0" | profiled |
| 3150TBSS | Travel Trailers | 880 lb | 6,753 lb | 1,990 lb | 36' 10" | profiled |
| 3200TSBH | Travel Trailers | 995 lb | 7,458 lb | 1,937 lb | 36' 5" | profiled |
| 3300FLBS | Travel Trailers | 1,015 lb | 7,693 lb | 1,950 lb | 36' 10" | profiled |
| 3380RLBT | Travel Trailers | 1,060 lb | 8,298 lb | 1,962 lb | 37' 8" | profiled |
Puma Vista — destination trailers (15 plans)
| Plan | Factory group | Hitch wt | Unloaded wt | Cargo cap. | Length | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37PFL | Destination Trailers | 1,335 lb | 9,749 lb | 2,000 lb | 40' 0" | profiled |
| 38DEN | Destination Trailers | 1,295 lb | 10,434 lb | 2,000 lb | 40' 6" | profiled |
| 38RLB | Destination Trailers | 1,255 lb | 10,804 lb | 2,451 lb | 42' 3" | profiled |
| 38VFL | Destination Trailers - Full Loft Height | 1,605 lb | 11,414 lb | 1,800 lb | 40' 3" | profiled |
| 39BHK | Destination Trailers | 1,445 lb | 10,989 lb | 1,800 lb | 42' 10" | catalogued only ‡ |
| 39DBT | Destination Trailers | 1,439 lb | 10,162 lb | 1,838 lb | 42' 4" | profiled |
| 39FKL | Destination Trailers | 1,440 lb | 10,709 lb | 2,731 lb | 42' 7" | profiled |
| 401RLFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,895 lb | 12,604 lb | 1,296 lb | 42' 10" | profiled |
| 402LFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,695 lb | 11,849 lb | 2,051 lb | 42' 10" | profiled |
| 403LFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,675 lb | 12,639 lb | 1,261 lb | 42' 10" | profiled |
| 420LFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,890 lb | 13,024 lb | 1,801 lb | 42' 10" | profiled |
| 421LFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,990 lb | 13,499 lb | 1,800 lb | 42' 10" | profiled |
| 422LFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,425 lb | 12,889 lb | 1,800 lb | 43' 1" | profiled |
| 423LFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,790 lb | 12,234 lb | 1,800 lb | 43' 0" | catalogued only ‡ |
| 429LFT | Destination Trailers w/Loft | 1,730 lb | 12,114 lb | 1,786 lb | 42' 8" | profiled |
‡ 39BHK and 423LFT are catalogued here and are not profiled. On both plans Forest River’s own published figures do not reconcile. The 39BHK’s unloaded weight and cargo capacity add up to 12,789 lb against a published GVWR of 12,739 lb — 50 lb over its own ceiling. The 423LFT’s add up to 14,034 lb against a published GVWR of 17,034 lb — 3,000 lb under it, the largest single discrepancy catalogued on this site. The figures above are the factory’s, reproduced exactly. The disagreement is shown rather than resolved: this site does not adjust a published weight to make an arithmetic work, and a plan whose own numbers do not tie out is not given a specification page. Every plan on this site whose published figures disagree is listed together at published figures that disagree.
Puma Ambush — toy haulers (travel-trailer chassis) (3 plans)
| Plan | Factory group | Hitch wt | Unloaded wt | Cargo cap. | Length | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25TH | Puma Ambush Toy Haulers | 845 lb | 6,173 lb | 2,700 lb | 29' 9" | profiled |
| 27TH | Puma Ambush Toy Haulers | 1,235 lb | 6,738 lb | 3,257 lb | 34' 1" | profiled |
| 29TH | Puma Ambush Toy Haulers | 1,440 lb | 7,813 lb | 3,182 lb | 37' 6" | profiled |
Puma Mesa — fifth wheels (6 plans)
| Plan | Factory group | Hitch wt | Unloaded wt | Cargo cap. | Length | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 377DS | Fifth Wheels | 2,480 lb | 14,339 lb | 2,141 lb | 42' 7" | profiled |
| 379MBL | Fifth Wheels | 2,785 lb | 14,664 lb | 2,121 lb | 42' 7" | profiled |
| 383RLH | Fifth Wheels | 2,635 lb | 13,609 lb | 3,026 lb | 41' 5" | profiled |
| 384RKH | Fifth Wheels | 2,690 lb | 13,814 lb | 2,876 lb | 43' 0" | profiled |
| 388FKH | Fifth Wheels | 2,685 lb | 14,414 lb | 2,271 lb | 42' 10" | profiled |
| 389FLH | Fifth Wheels | 2,555 lb | 14,529 lb | 2,026 lb | 42' 7" | profiled |
Puma Grand Mesa — fifth wheels (3 plans)
| Plan | Factory group | Hitch wt | Unloaded wt | Cargo cap. | Length | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 393RL | Fifth Wheels | 2,425 lb | 14,844 lb | 3,155 lb | 42' 4" | profiled |
| 394RKL | Fifth Wheels | 2,575 lb | 15,114 lb | 3,461 lb | 42' 7" | profiled |
| 395FKL | Fifth Wheels | 2,900 lb | 14,929 lb | 3,071 lb | 42' 7" | profiled |
† Captured 31 July 2026 from the Forest River factory tier pages (roster and grouping from each tier's floorplan index; hitch weight, unloaded vehicle weight, cargo carrying capacity and exterior length from the factory print roster, which republishes them per plan). The weight column reproduces the factory's printed “Hitch Weight” label and figure on every tier, including the two fifth-wheel tiers — the label is the factory's as printed. The print roster publishes no GVWR, so none is claimed here; each Ambush plan's GVWR is on its profiled page. One discrepancy between the factory's own renders is shown rather than resolved: 284BHCE is on the Camping Edition landing roster but absent from the factory print roster, so its figures render as dashes. A dash in the Page column means the plan is catalogued here and not yet profiled on this site.
05 How to choose
The Puma line sorts by layout and weight tier. For the lightest way in, the catalogued 227RK is the lightest plan in the line at 5,608 pounds dry on a 750-pound tongue, with the 229RB and 25BHS close behind — all three suit a well-rated half-ton. Among the profiled plans, the 26FKDS is the shortest at about 31 feet, though its front galley loads a heavy 1,035-pound tongue for the length.
Choose by where the space goes. The 31RLQS is the most-listed plan in the line and the couples flagship — a kitchen island and a rear living area on three slides. The 30RKQS and 310RK are rear-kitchen couples plans, the 310RK carrying the lightest tongue of any long Puma at 840 pounds. The 26FKDS and 31FKRK invert that with front galleys and rear bedrooms. On the family side, the 337BH is the standout: a loft bunkhouse sleeping eight on a single slide, with the lightest tongue and the biggest cargo margin of the profiled plans. Above it, the 32BHQS adds a second half bath and dual entry for eleven berths, and the 32BHFS runs four slides and a kitchen island as the heaviest plan profiled.
Across all of them the construction is the same value build: a bumper-pull chassis on a powder-coated steel I-beam frame, aluminum skin, an AlphaPly roof, R-7 sidewall insulation, an enclosed Darco-wrapped underbelly, a tankless water heater and an 11 cu ft 12-volt refrigerator, with solar as prep only. Every plan carries the same 43-gallon fresh tank, which means fresh water — not the grey or black tank — is usually the binding constraint on the bigger family plans. The decision is layout, weight tier and how many the plan sleeps.
06 What to weigh before buying
This is a metal-sided value travel trailer, not a laminated one
Puma competes with the price-leaders — Forest River's own Salem / Wildwood and Aurora, Prime Time's Avenger, Keystone's Springdale and Passport, Jayco's Jay Flight SLX and Coachmen's Catalina. Its case is a conventional, well-understood value build: a powder-coated steel I-beam frame with steel crossmembers, .024/.030-gauge aluminum skin, an AlphaPly roof under a limited lifetime warranty and a 5/8-inch Araucoply floor under a 25-year warranty. It is a construction tier below the laminated step-up lines such as Prime Time's Tracer or Grand Design's Transcend Xplor — cross-shop it on floorplan, standard equipment and each maker's warranty rather than on badge.
The air conditioner size is contradicted by two required factory packages
Forest River sells Puma with no options list — the whole specification is bundled into four packages, all four marked required. Two of them disagree. The Value Shopper Package specifies a 13,500 BTU ducted low-profile air conditioner with a heat pump; the Limited Edition Package specifies a 15,000 BTU ducted low-profile unit with a heat pump “in place of” the 13,500. Both the factory web roster and the 2026 factory brochure mark both packages required, so the two first-party sources contradict each other on what actually ships; RVUSA's independent records list 13,500 BTU. We publish the 13,500 BTU figure flagged and state the Limited Edition substitution alongside it rather than assert a single size. Confirm the air conditioner on the actual unit before you buy — and if a second rooftop unit matters to you, note the 50-amp service and second-A/C prep also sit in the Limited Edition Package.
Solar is prep, not a panel — and the fresh tank never grows
The factory lists “Roof & Side Mount Solar Prep”: wiring and mounting points, with no panel or controller installed. When you compare a Puma against a rival that ships an installed panel, add the cost of the panel, controller and wiring to the Puma side of the ledger. Separately, every plan in the line — from the 26-foot 227RK to the 39-foot 32BHFS — carries the same 43-gallon fresh water tank. On the eleven-berth plans that is the real constraint: 43 gallons is roughly 359 pounds of water and it runs out long before the 65 or 70-gallon grey tank fills.
Match the tow vehicle honestly — and do not assume shorter tows lighter
The line runs from 5,608 to 9,753 pounds dry on GVWRs from 7,108 to 11,308 pounds, with dry tongue weights from 650 to 1,240 pounds — and real loaded tongue weights run higher. Tongue weight does not track length in this line: the front-kitchen 26FKDS puts 1,035 pounds on the ball at about 31 feet, while the 37-foot 337BH asks only 770 and the 35½-foot 310RK only 840. The heavy end — the 32BHFS at an 11,308-pound GVWR and a 1,175-pound tongue, and the catalogued 340DB at 11,253 pounds and 1,240 — is three-quarter-ton territory. Palomino publishes no axle rating and no tire size for the line, so the trailer's own placard is the only authority on those. Tow rating alone is not enough: the tow vehicle's payload has to carry the tongue weight plus passengers and gear. Treat brochure tongue weights as a floor, weigh the loaded trailer, and confirm against your vehicle's door-jamb ratings and a proper weight-distributing hitch before buying.
07 What every Puma has
09 Recalls
NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns affecting this line. The earliest was reported 7 Jun 2007 and the most recent 14 Apr 2025.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 2025 | 25V245000 | Structure | Steps that detach while in use increase the risk of injury. |
| 21 Feb 2025 | 25V111000 | Equipment | An incorrect weight rating may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16 Aug 2024 | 24V619000 | Equipment | Sewer gas entering the vehicle can increase the risk of injury to occupants. |
| 12 Jul 2024 | 24V531000 | Trailer hitches | Hitch failure increases the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 4 Jun 2024 | 24V395000 | Equipment | A loose wire can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 3 Jun 2024 | 24V387000 | Exterior lighting | Missing side marker lights can reduce visibility of the trailer to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 29 Jul 2022 | 22V556000 | Equipment | An awning that drops or extends beyond normal operation can increase the risk of injury. |
| 13 Apr 2022 | 22V243000 | Equipment | A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 25 Mar 2022 | 22V184000 | Equipment | A stowed griddle connected to propane increases the risk of a fire. |
| 8 Oct 2021 | 21V784000 | Equipment | In the presence of an ignition source, a gas build up increases the risk of fire. |
| 18 Dec 2020 | 20V799000 | Equipment | If the cooktop is stowed away while the propane hose is attached and the burner is on, it will increase the risk of a fire. |
| 12 Feb 2020 | 20V075000 | Equipment | If the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle while in motion, it can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash. |
| 6 Nov 2017 | 17V699000 | Equipment | The incorrect tire information can cause the operator to over-inflate the tires, which can cause premature tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 9 Oct 2017 | 17V635000 | Wheels | If the wheels were not properly tightened, they may loosen and detach while the trailer is moving, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 14 Mar 2017 | 17V169000 | Equipment | The incorrect tire information can cause the operator to install the wrong size of replacement tires, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2 Dec 2016 | 16V866000 | Equipment | If referencing the information that is on Federal placard, the operator could under-inflate the tires causing a reduction of vehicle handling and increasing the… |
| 30 Mar 2016 | 16V179000 | Suspension | A damaged tire could deflate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 29 Mar 2016 | 16V175000 | Suspension | A damaged tire could deflate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20 Apr 2015 | 15V231000 | Suspension | If the wheel studs break, the wheel could detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 17 May 2013 | 13V203000 | Equipment | If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the… |
| 7 Jun 2007 | 07V249000 | Equipment | A person could BE injured should the step give way while being used TO enter OR exit the trailer. |
Coverage is not complete, and this matters. These campaigns come from two passes over NHTSA’s public record: a query-by-query harvest of the recall API (1,556 queries, of which 0 failed and 242 returned an explicit zero), and a sweep of NHTSA’s complete recall flat file (325,650 rows), which added 46 campaigns the API harvest had missed. It missed them because the roster it worked from was built by a catalog endpoint that refuses most requests, so entire manufacturer names were never asked about — NHTSA files several Forest River sub-brands as makes of their own. Two limits remain: NHTSA sometimes files a roster under a parent name, and some matches below rest on the wording of the recall rather than its model field. Campaigns affecting only pre-2005 units fall outside this catalog’s range and are not listed. This page is a starting point, not a clearance. Check a specific VIN at NHTSA before you buy, and again before you tow.
10 Owner-reported problems
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about this line. The earliest was filed 5 Nov 2007 and the most recent 9 May 2026. The breakdown below is what those owners actually reported, grouped by the component NHTSA assigned.
Safety outcomes in this set: 2 reports describing a fire, 2 reported injuries and 2 reported deaths. These are the owner’s own account of what happened and have not been verified by NHTSA.
What gets reported
| Component group | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 11 | 28% |
| Structure | 8 | 21% |
| Equipment | 6 | 15% |
| Wheels | 5 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 8% |
| Suspension | 3 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 5% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
Most recent reports
The most recent 10 owner reports filed on this line, newest first. Wording is NHTSA’s summary of what the owner described.
| Filed | Component | Miles | What the owner reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 May 2026 | Electrical system | — | As I was wiring underneath the chassis to install a new electric black tank valve, I noticed that the wires in the RV and waterlines were lying across the cross-members of the chassis, chafing and almost exposing wires. The water lines were almost chafed through and were not secured on the chassis… |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailer | — | Got it in sept 2022 brand new the shower leaked water the seal of the slide leaked and the power inlet got very warm which would kick the breaker occasionally |
| 10 Sep 2024 | Tires | — | My wife and I were traveling from Wilson NC to Virginia Beach VA on Friday [XXX] for a vacation and we had 3 tires explode and do damage to fender on both sides of the unit and on the way home from Virginia Beach VA the 4th tire exploded ( Between all costs it has cost almost $1500 in service fees… |
| 1 May 2024 | Tires | — | I experienced four blow outs on Castle Rock ST225/75R15 tires on five different outings with my travel trailer. Prior to every trip I check/adjust tire pressures according to the tire placard on the vehicle and torque all lug nuts to OE specs. On two occasions, the blow out occurred on Sundays and… |
| 30 Mar 2024 | Wheels | — | I had three different occasions where my tires blow out ! The first time 1. Going up [XXX] head to Rollins lake in colfax 2. Going to lake collins going up [XXX] in Marysville 3. Going up to lake Amador [XXX] in Ione. Going over a speed bump before getting to the check in area ! Going under 5 mph… |
| 17 Oct 2023 | Wheels › Rim | — | The contact owns a 2020 Forest River Puma RV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling the RV trailer, he became aware that the rear driver's side tire was flat. The RV was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the flat tire was the result of a crack… |
| 8 Sep 2023 | Tires | — | Castle Rock Radial ST 225/75R15 When driving North on I81 in West Viginia just outside of Martinsburg my front left camper tire blew out and caused a lot of damage to the sideout on my camper. When traveling back from our camping trip weekend the right front axle tire blew approx. 15 miles from our… |
| 30 Jul 2023 | Tires › Tread/belt | — | I the outer tread separated from the tire. The tire pressure was correct at 80 psi. I was traveling at 57 mph. The outside temp was 81 degrees. We had traveled 12 miles from my home. The tire is a Castle Rock st235/80r16, It will be several weeks before I have estimated cost of damage to the camper. |
| 22 Jul 2023 | Tires | — | Headed home from camping and my tire blew on my 5th wheel trailer. Tires were inspected before leaving, tire pressure was 80psi per manufacturers recommendation. We were able to pull over, but the damage done to my camper includes damage to the fascia and fender skirting. We were going… |
| 10 Jun 2023 | Tires | — | Castle Rock ST 235/80R16 on the drivers side rear axle tire. I had just exited the interstate when the tire violently exploded. Debris from the side of the trailer and parts of the tire scattered across the opposing lane of traffic. Fortunately, no one was coming. This failure was harmful enough… |
How this count is drawn. A report is counted here only when NHTSA’s own model field names this line. What the owner typed in the description is never used to attribute a report: our line names are ordinary English words, and an owner writing “imagine my surprise when the axle went” or naming the state of Montana is not reporting a Grand Design Imagine or a Keystone Montana.
Read these as reports, not as findings. Complaints are submitted by owners and NHTSA does not verify them; no complaint here has been confirmed as a defect, and none of them is a recall. The sample is also self-selected — only owners motivated to file appear in it — so a high count tracks how many units a line sold at least as much as how well it was built. Use the pattern, not the total: a component that keeps recurring is worth inspecting on any used unit. File or search complaints at NHTSA.