01 What makes it unique
The Salem Cruise Lite 28VBXL is the value twins' most versatile family bunkhouse, built around the most flexible bunk room in the lineup. The rear is a private bunkhouse with two 30-by-74-inch Versa-Bunks above a Versa-Queen — a convertible bed that drops in for more sleepers — so the back of the trailer can sleep several kids or guests on its own. The front is a private bedroom with a custom king bed and Versa-Tilt; the center holds the kitchen with a U-shaped dinette, the Versa-Lounge and a mirror-front electric fireplace under a large panoramic window; and a center bathroom with a walk-in shower serves both ends. With the king, the bunks, the Versa-Queen and the convertible furniture, nominal capacity reaches ten. Its twin is the Wildwood X-Lite 28VBXL.
It carries the full Cruise Lite value-laminate build — a powder-coated I-beam steel frame, two-inch laminated sidewalls, a walk-on Tufflex™ PVC roof and an enclosed Accessibelly underbelly — with a published oversized 11-cubic-foot 12-volt refrigerator, a three-burner range with an oven, a 60,000-BTU tankless water heater, a 13,500-BTU air conditioner, a 16-foot power awning and pass-through storage standard. The Platinum package adds a fiberglass exterior and a 200-watt solar panel for off-hookup nights.
At 6,208 pounds dry against a 7,790-pound GVWR it leaves roughly 1,582 pounds of cargo capacity — reasonable for a trailer that can sleep ten, though a full load of water, gear and a packed bunk room adds up fast, so it rewards deliberate packing and a well-equipped half-ton. For a large family or a group that wants maximum, flexible sleeping — a private parents' bedroom and a separate convertible bunk room — at a value-tier price, with the identical Wildwood to shop against, the 28VBXL is the top of the value twins' family bunkhouse range.
02 Full specifications
Dimensions
- Exterior length
- 33' 7"
- Exterior width
- 8' 0"
- Exterior height
- 10' 4"
- Slide-outs
- 1
Weights
- Dry / unit base weight
- 6,208 lbs
- GVWR (max loaded)
- 7,790 lbs
- Cargo carrying capacity
- 1,582 lbs
- Hitch / tongue weight
- 790 lbs
Capacities
- Fresh water
- 44 gal
- Grey water
- 28 gal
- Black water
- 28 gal
- Refrigerator
- 11 cu ft
Construction
- Frame
- Powder-coated I-beam steel
- Walls
- 2″ laminated · 16″ OC
- Roof
- Tufflex™ PVC · walk-on
- Underbelly
- Enclosed Accessibelly
Running gear
- Axles
- 2 (tandem)
- Hitch
- Bumper Pull
- Front cap
- .040 smooth aluminum
- Solar
- 200W (Platinum pkg)
Galley & bath
- Cooktop
- 3-burner range
- Refrigerator
- 11 cu ft (12V)
- A/C
- 13,500 BTU (15K opt)
- Water heater
- 60K tankless on-demand
Sleeping & layout
- Sleeps
- 10
- Primary bed
- Front custom king
- Layout
- Front king bedroom, rear private bunkhouse (two Versa-Bunks + Versa-Queen), center kitchen with U-dinette + Versa-Lounge + fireplace, center walk-in shower bath, 1 slide
- Awnings
- 1 (16' power)
03 Salem & Wildwood floorplan family
Forest River's Salem and Wildwood are near-identical twin lines — the same trailers built on the same factory line, differing mainly in exterior graphics and interior décor. The volume laminate models are the Salem Cruise Lite and its twin the Wildwood X-Lite, which share an identical floorplan roster. The 28VBXL on this page is highlighted; each other profiled plan links to its own page. Across both nameplates the family runs to dozens of floorplans; the highest-demand layouts are detailed here and the rest are catalogued on the line hub.
| Floorplan | Nominal | Sleeps | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 171RBXL | 23 ft | 4 | Compact rear-bath couples, triple-slide |
| 19DBXL | 25 ft | 6 | Compact double-bunk family, single-axle |
| 23ZEN | 31 ft | 4 | Rear-living couples, walk-through bath, front bedroom |
| 240BHXL | 29 ft | 7 | Double-bunk family, king bed, dual entry, outside kitchen |
| 24RLXL | 29 ft | 4 | Rear-living couples, king bed, fireplace |
| 25ICE | 30 ft | 5 | Front-bedroom couples, rear bath, fireplace |
| 261BHXL | 29 ft | 8 | Mid bunkhouse family, walk-in shower |
| 263BHXL | 32 ft | 7 | Double-bunk family, dual entry, Versa-Lounge, outside kitchen |
| 26ICE | 33 ft | 8 | King + double bunks family, rear bath, 18′ awning |
| 273QBXL | 33 ft | 8 | Large family bunkhouse, outside kitchen |
| 28ICE | 33 ft | 6 | Front-bedroom family, rear bunks, ICE-series |
| 28VBXL | 34 ft | 10 | King + rear private bunkhouse, Versa-Bunks + Versa-Queen |
Every Salem Cruise Lite and Wildwood X-Lite travel trailer carries a powder-coated I-beam steel frame, two-inch laminated sidewalls, a walk-on Tufflex™ PVC roof and an enclosed Accessibelly underbelly; a 200-watt solar panel comes with the Platinum package. Lengths, weights and equipment change with options and model year — always confirm against the unit's own weight sticker. Additional Cruise Lite / X-Lite, FSX and Hemisphere floorplans are documented on the line hub.
04 What owners & reviewers report
The most versatile bunk room in the line
Two 30-by-74-inch Versa-Bunks above a Versa-Queen make the rear a flexible private bunkhouse — sleep several kids or guests, or fold it down for space.
Private bedroom plus separate bunk room
A front king bedroom and a separate rear bunkhouse give real parents-and-kids separation that open-bunk plans don't — and a center bath serves both.
Big capacity, watch the load
It sleeps up to ten, but at 6,208 lb dry with ~1,582 lb of cargo capacity a full load of water, gear and a packed bunk room adds up fast — weigh it loaded and tow with a well-equipped half-ton.
Published 11 cu ft fridge
The 28VBXL publishes its refrigerator size, so the spec sheet is fully verified — an oversized 11-cubic-foot 12V unit.
05 How it compares
The shorter double-bunk family plan — open rear bunks instead of a separate bunkhouse, lighter and easier to handle.
The same trailer in Wildwood trim — identical chassis and specs, different décor. Compare both nameplates' pricing.
The other large family bunkhouse — an outside kitchen and a front-to-rear bunk layout instead of the convertible Versa bunk room, a similar length and weight.