While parts and people constraints due to the pandemic have forced many RV manufacturers to bump prices, most are doing everything possible to maintain price points. At Forest River’s Cardinal and Wildcat divisions, they’ve taken it one better with the Cardinal RED and Wildcat ONME fifth wheel lines — which, said brands GM Mike Terlep III, are more affordable fifth wheels that don’t sacrifice the type of amenities RVers want.

“The $35,000-to-$55,000 price point used to be 51% of the market in 2018 and 2019,” Terlep explained. “In 2022 we have inflation and a lot of things going on in the world with COVID and everything affecting the price, and that segment has now grown to be essentially $60,000 to $80,000. Now that $35,000 to $55,000 price point is 7% of the market. It’s not because the retail buyer left it — it’s because there’s no brand left in that segment.”

Forest River designers and engineers set about designing a model that would be able to fit into that price point without being de-contented to the point where there was no value. The resulting 28BH — RVB’s choice as a Top Debut — checks in at 8,400 pounds and is 35 feet long with plenty of natural lighting and open space to make the vehicle feel larger.

The 28BH, said Terlep, is its smallest unit but still sleeps eight. It features the main bedroom up front with a large slideout that provides plenty of space for walking around either side of the bed and a sizable bathroom with walk-in shower. The kitchen, meanwhile, is equipped with a three-burner stove, Furrion refrigerator, convection microwave and large pantry, while the back bedroom has two twin bunks and a third lofted bed that sits atop storage space with cubbies that hold containers for easy packing and storage. The Wildcat ONE 28BH has an MSRP of $55,000.

forestriverinc.com