New to RVing

No matter what you buy don't pay anywhere near sticker.

Sorry, but less 5er or more truck. A 2500 is at safe limit with about a 12-14k 5er & 2k pin. Remember to include cargo and passengers in truck loading.
A 3500srw can handle a 16k 5er, for more than that a dually.
I see hundreds of units every year in every concievable match up. The biggest thing I hear is ' we wish we had more truck' . Then rv size & weight is no problem.
If you can, stay shorter with longer slides to keep gvw and pin box weights down, get elec. over hydraulic brakes. Make the rigs brakes equal to the truck.

Yes there are many hundreds who say here in camp and in forum that their truck handles it just fine. My concern is about your life, and ours. Too little truck, too mich camper puts more than your life at risk.
Start out right.

Look at Northwood's Arctic Fox fifth wheels. They make their own frame and the insulation and construction is solid. Add me to the side of the ledger that you would be insufficient with a 2500 for a 38 foot fifth.

You've already fallen into the 250/2500 Catch 22, don't make the situation worse by buying more RV than you TV can support, and since you'll be "Full Timers" as much as you try to limit weight chances are you'll end up at or slightly over the RV's GVWR.

That is going to exceed your trucks limits. Think fifth wheels under about 30 feet and under about 12,000 GVWR. The one I looked at has an advertised pin weight of around 2400 pounds dry! That will translate of over 3000 loaded pin weight. That puts them squarely in 3500 territory and honestly into dually country. While new trucks have higher weight limits, you will find as you go bigger weights pile up in a big hurry.
Columbus is a relatively new name plate with only an OK reputation. Check out Cedar Creek Silverback for an alternative.

DCHigdon wrote:
We have retired, sold our home,downsized our belongings and bought a 2016 RAM 2500 Cummins. We have been looking at 5th Wheels for 2 months. I keep hesitating on making a final decision because I have read so many horror stories about RVs falling apart because they are not made very well anymore. My husband likes a 38' Columbus Palomino. Does anyone own one or have any suggestions. We are spending around 80,000. For us this is a lot and feel we can't go any higher. Some say you get what you pay for. Since we will be living in it and going across the country full time we want it to be sturdy. Please help some newbies start out well.

Congratulations on doing well enough to pull off what so many consider The American Dream: a comfortable retirement when you are young enough to enjoy it. I'm sure you will receive lots of great advice.