Is This a Travel Trailer or Park Model? - Salem 36BHBS

[SouthpawHD]

Eyeing a 2014 Salem 36BHBS trailer that appears to be priced well below market value. Appears to be a TT, yet has a sliding door, perhaps making it more of a park model trailer.

If I purchased this, it would be used as a TT, as we like to roam about in the summer time. My truck can pull it no problem.

Anyone have any experience with something like this?

Also, any thoughts as to the quality of Salem trailers?

Thank you.

[D_and_A_plus_6]

We have a Salem Villa 402 qbq, 40 ft, we use ours as a TT and pull if everywhere. Some refer it as a destination trailer, but called factory and they said lots of people are using this model like we do. So far and this will been the 4th camping season, we have had no problems getting into camp grounds or camping spots. But yes on windy days it tells you it is the boss.

[srt20]

SouthpawHD wrote:

Hockeytchr wrote:
Love our Keystone 38fqds..... but cannot imagine towing it. Have it on our seasonal site. But I have seen others towing the same model down the road. If you have the truck to pull it....an the nerves to handle doing so, then go for it....

Why can't you imagine towing it?

The front of the trailer is curved just like regular TTs, so wind resistance wise it should be the same.

I towed my trailer home from dealer in April. Bought it in Eau Claire, I live in Waterown. Approx 180 miles. It was well under my weight capacities, but it was windy that day. I am a very experienced driver and hold a Class A CDL with NT endorsements. It was a pretty rough haul. I just couldn't keep the trailer straight. It was throwing me all around. I had to drive about 62mph Max to keep it in my lane. My front cap is pretty identical to the Salem. But the side wind just pushed the 40ft trailer all over. SRW without sway control.
On side note, when I pulled it to our site, near Antigo approx 180 miles, it was a calm day and it towed fine. Though semis and box trucks still pushed me around pretty good.

[srt20]

SouthpawHD wrote:

srt20 wrote:
Btw where is the trailer at? Just curious, that's the same year as my buds trailer. And I haven't really talked to him much lately, but his daughter told me he is thinking of selling. Just wondering if it's his. We are both in WI.

It's located in Green Bay.

Ok, not same. Thanks

[SouthpawHD]

Hockeytchr wrote:
Love our Keystone 38fqds..... but cannot imagine towing it. Have it on our seasonal site. But I have seen others towing the same model down the road. If you have the truck to pull it....an the nerves to handle doing so, then go for it....

Why can't you imagine towing it?

The front of the trailer is curved just like regular TTs, so wind resistance wise it should be the same.

[SouthpawHD]

srt20 wrote:
Btw where is the trailer at? Just curious, that's the same year as my buds trailer. And I haven't really talked to him much lately, but his daughter told me he is thinking of selling. Just wondering if it's his. We are both in WI.

It's located in Green Bay.

[Hockeytchr]

Love our Keystone 38fqds..... but cannot imagine towing it. Have it on our seasonal site. But I have seen others towing the same model down the road. If you have the truck to pull it....an the nerves to handle doing so, then go for it....

[mowin]

Had a keystone hornet 38bhds I used to pull. Had a slider and keystone labeled it a park model. Even had a king size bed in the master. Had lots of great times with that tt.

[srt20]

Btw where is the trailer at? Just curious, that's the same year as my buds trailer. And I haven't really talked to him much lately, but his daughter told me he is thinking of selling. Just wondering if it's his. We are both in WI.

[srt20]

My bud has that model, he uses it as a destination trailer. Says on a seasonal all summer, takes it home in fall.
I have a similar trailer. Keystone Hideout 38fkts. Sliding door, residential fridge, holding tanks.

Keystone calls it a TT, some dealers call it a park model, I call it a destination trailer or a TT. It's 40ft long and stays on my site all year.

I consider park models, no holding tanks, pitched roof, wood style siding. But I guess it really doesn't make much of a difference except maybe to the insurance company.

[NanciL]

We just bought a new 38 foot long Forest river travel trailer and it has patio doors and it is considered a trailer not a park model.

Jack L

[SouthpawHD]

Good information, thanks!!

Yes, it does have holding tanks, which is a good thing!

And my payload is just under 3k, so I should be good in that department.

[DutchmenSport]

I would consider that TT a Park Model. I did a bit of internet searching and it does have holding tanks. A true "Park Model" will not have holding tanks, and the toilet will be a residential toilet and plumbing is directly to a sewer.

Your Salem has an RV toilet, and holding tanks, so I think I would call this a "cross-over park model!" 🙂

From my experiences, the difference between park models and an Travel Trailer:

Park Model has:

Sliding patio door
Residential refrigerator
Residential style toilet
No holding tanks
Real furniture (or stand alone furniture ... not built in ... like Dinettes).

Your's has a mix of both, basically a regular Travel Trailer with the Sliding door. I would still put this with "Park Model" though.

Salem is a good brand of camper. It's not a "top of the line" camper that a movie star would ever own, but Salem's are good, (Mid-range / mid-grade), depending upon the model style).

[dodge_guy]

I believe they call those park trailers. Still a TT but made to be parked in one spot. The only thing to consider is the CCC! Some have a very low CCC because they weren't meant to be towed all over loaded up.

The next step up from my trailer when I bought was a park trailer and its CCC was I think 450lbs! Not much there.

I just looked yours up. It has a 3k lb CCC. So it seems well suited for towing. I did notice it only shows a dry TW of 720lbs and a dry weight of 7900 lbs. make sure you load it heavy up front to get it back to a 12% TW.

[beemerphile1]

Forest River calls it a TT but it sure is big and will limit where you can go. Your truck and trailer will be almost 60' together.